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Kentucky Ohio State University of Toledo University of Dayton Eastern Murray State University Otterbein University Miami WKU JCU Xavier UC| Northern Kentucky University | Ohio Northern University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
NKU | ONU | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Ada, OH | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 15,801 | 3,015 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #805 | #211 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | United Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | onu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | ONU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,208 | $35,480 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $20,464 | $35,480 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,248 | $12,900 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $7,259 | $27,398 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,275 | $24,235 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 97% |
Admission |
NKU | ONU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,905 | 6,625 | ||
| Admitted | 5,939 | 3,602 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86% | 54.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 27.6% | 18.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.78 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 25/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1030/1290 | 1160/1340 | ||
| 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, 2025 | Aug 15, 2025 |
Academics |
NKU | ONU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | ONU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 65% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $71,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 82% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $279 |
Diversity |
NKU | ONU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 36% | 52% | ||
| % Women | 64% | 48% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 84% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 4% | ||
| % International | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 3% |
Students |
NKU | ONU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 66% | 83% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 26% | 16% | ||
Campus |
NKU | ONU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Northern Kentucky University is larger than than ONU based on total student enrollment (15,801 students vs. 3,015 students)
NKU vs. ONU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or ONU?
- Ohio Northern University is 247.6% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($35,480.00 vs. $10,208.00)
- Out of state tuition is 73.4% higher at ONU than Northern Kentucky University ($35,480.00 vs. $20,464.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than ONU ($7,259 vs. $27,398)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 14.7% lower than costs at Ohio Northern University ($11,248 vs. $12,900)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than Ohio Northern University (100% vs. 97%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio Northern University students is 114.9% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($24,235 vs. $11,275)
NKU vs. ONU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or ONU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ONU or NKU .
- The average SAT score at Ohio Northern University (1158) is 90 points higher than at NKU (1068)
- Incoming ONU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at NKU (23)
- Accepted freshman ONU students have a 0.36 point higher average high school GPA (3.78) than students at NKU (3.42)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than ONU (54.4%)
NKU vs. ONU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or ONU? 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 ONU and NKU.
- The graduation rate at ONU is higher than Northern Kentucky University (65% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Ohio Northern University earn on average $31,500 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($71,200 vs. $39,700)
- Northern Kentucky University students graduate with a $2,050 lower median federal student loan debt than ONU graduates. ($24,950 vs. $27,000)
- NKU graduates are paying $22 less per month on federal student loans than ONU graduates. ($257 vs. $279)
- More ONU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 53%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/