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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 | Olivet College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
NKU | OC Comets | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Olivet, MI | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Distant Rural | ||
| Enrollment | 14,961 | 973 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #912 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | United Church of Christ | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | olivetcollege.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | OC Comets | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,512 | $32,694 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $21,096 | $32,694 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,660 | $11,886 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $8,151 | $23,533 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,492 | $22,602 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 100% |
Admission |
NKU | OC Comets | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,417 | 1,417 | ||
| Admitted | 6,162 | 1,376 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 96% | 97.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21% | 24.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 18/23 | ||
| SAT Range | 916/1133 | 910/1120 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 15, 2026 |
Academics |
NKU | OC Comets | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 14:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | OC Comets | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 46% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $39,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 53% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $279 |
Diversity |
NKU | OC Comets | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 10% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 24% | 2% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 75% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 13% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 0% |
Students |
NKU | OC Comets | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 71% | 92% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 28% | 8% | ||
Campus |
NKU | OC Comets | ||
| 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 OC Comets based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 973 students)
NKU vs. OC Comets Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or OC Comets?
- Olivet College is 211% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($32,694.00 vs. $10,512.00)
- Out of state tuition is 55% higher at OC Comets than Northern Kentucky University ($32,694.00 vs. $21,096.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than OC Comets ($8,151 vs. $23,533)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 1.9% lower than costs at Olivet College ($11,660 vs. $11,886)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Olivet College than Northern Kentucky University (100% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Olivet College students is 96.7% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($22,602 vs. $11,492)
NKU vs. OC Comets Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or OC Comets? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between OC Comets or NKU .
- The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 137 points higher than at OC Comets (931)
- Incoming NKU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at OC Comets (20)
- OC Comets has a higher acceptance rate (97.1%) than NKU (96%)
NKU vs. OC Comets Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or OC Comets? 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 OC Comets and NKU.
- The graduation rate at OC Comets is higher than Northern Kentucky University (46% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Northern Kentucky University earn on average $400 more per year than OC Comets graduates after ten years. ($39,700 vs. $39,300)
- Northern Kentucky University students graduate with a $2,050 lower median federal student loan debt than OC Comets graduates. ($24,950 vs. $27,000)
- NKU graduates are paying $22 less per month on federal student loans than OC Comets graduates. ($257 vs. $279)
- More NKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former OC Comets students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 53%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/