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Kentucky University of Toledo Eastern Murray State University WKU Xavier UC Morehead State University Louisville BGSU BSU Kent State| Northern Kentucky University | Northern State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
NKU | NSU | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Aberdeen, SD | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 14,961 | 3,521 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #912 | #871 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | northern.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | NSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,512 | $7,616 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $21,096 | $10,718 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,660 | $10,300 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $8,151 | $16,873 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,492 | $5,565 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 93% |
Admission |
NKU | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,417 | 1,082 | ||
| Admitted | 6,162 | 1,004 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 96% | 92.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21% | 31.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.37 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 18/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 916/1133 | 800/1150 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 15, 2026 |
Academics |
NKU | NSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | NSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 42% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $37,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 63% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $24,399 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $252 |
Diversity |
NKU | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 10% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 24% | 13% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 83% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 3% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 2% | ||
| % International | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 0% |
Students |
NKU | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 71% | 72% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 28% | 28% | ||
Campus |
NKU | NSU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Northern Kentucky University is larger than than NSU based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 3,521 students)
NKU vs. NSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or NSU?
- Northern Kentucky University is 38% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($10,512.00 vs. $7,616.00)
- Out of state tuition is 96.8% higher at NKU than Northern State University ($21,096.00 vs. $10,718.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than NSU ($8,151 vs. $16,873)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern State University are 13.2% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($10,300 vs. $11,660)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than Northern State University (98% vs. 93%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 106.5% larger than aid received Northern State University ($11,492 vs. $5,565)
NKU vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or NSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NSU or NKU .
- The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 44 points higher than at NSU (1024)
- Incoming NKU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at NSU (22)
- Accepted freshman NKU students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at NSU (3.37)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than NSU (92.8%)
NKU vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or NSU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between NSU and NKU.
- The graduation rate at NSU is higher than Northern Kentucky University (42% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Northern Kentucky University earn on average $2,300 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($39,700 vs. $37,400)
- Northern State University students graduate with a $551 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($24,399 vs. $24,950)
- NSU graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($252 vs. $257)
- More NSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 53%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/