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Kentucky University of Toledo Eastern Wesley College Murray State University WKU Xavier UC Morehead State University Louisville BGSU BSU| Northern Kentucky University | Ohio Wesleyan University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
NKU | OWU | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Delaware, OH | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 15,801 | 1,410 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #805 | #356 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | United Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | owu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | OWU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,208 | $49,262 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $20,464 | $49,262 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,248 | $13,745 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $7,259 | $27,311 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,275 | $36,757 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 100% |
Admission |
NKU | OWU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,905 | 5,324 | ||
| Admitted | 5,939 | 2,778 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86% | 52.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 27.6% | 16.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.54 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 23/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1030/1290 | 1123/1358 | ||
| 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 | Mar 1, 2025 |
Academics |
NKU | OWU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | OWU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 61% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $49,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 80% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $279 |
Diversity |
NKU | OWU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 36% | 44% | ||
| % Women | 64% | 56% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 70% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 5% | ||
| % International | 3% | 6% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 3% |
Students |
NKU | OWU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 66% | 66% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 26% | 27% | ||
Campus |
NKU | OWU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Northern Kentucky University is larger than than OWU based on total student enrollment (15,801 students vs. 1,410 students)
NKU vs. OWU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or OWU?
- Ohio Wesleyan University is 382.6% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($49,262.00 vs. $10,208.00)
- Out of state tuition is 140.7% higher at OWU than Northern Kentucky University ($49,262.00 vs. $20,464.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than OWU ($7,259 vs. $27,311)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 22.2% lower than costs at Ohio Wesleyan University ($11,248 vs. $13,745)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University as Ohio Wesleyan University (100% vs. 100%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio Wesleyan University students is 226% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($36,757 vs. $11,275)
NKU vs. OWU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or OWU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between OWU or NKU .
- Accepted freshman OWU students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.54) than students at NKU (3.42)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than OWU (52.2%)
NKU vs. OWU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or OWU? 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 OWU and NKU.
- The graduation rate at OWU is higher than Northern Kentucky University (61% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Ohio Wesleyan University earn on average $9,900 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($49,600 vs. $39,700)
- Northern Kentucky University students graduate with a $2,050 lower median federal student loan debt than OWU graduates. ($24,950 vs. $27,000)
- NKU graduates are paying $22 less per month on federal student loans than OWU graduates. ($257 vs. $279)
- More OWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 53%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/