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Kentucky University at Albany- SUNY University of Toledo Eastern Murray State University WKU Xavier UC Morehead State University Louisville BGSU TU| Northern Kentucky University | Penn State Beaver | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
NKU | Penn State Beaver | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Monaca, PA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 15,801 | 522 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #805 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | psu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | Penn State Beaver | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,208 | $13,824 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $20,464 | $23,086 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,248 | $12,254 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $7,259 | $18,113 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,275 | $9,274 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 87% |
Admission |
NKU | Penn State Beaver | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,905 | 1,707 | ||
| Admitted | 5,939 | 1,591 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86% | 93.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 27.6% | 10.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 20/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1030/1290 | 1050/1260 | ||
| 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 |
Academics |
NKU | Penn State Beaver | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | Penn State Beaver | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 47% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $55,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $26,818 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $277 |
Diversity |
NKU | Penn State Beaver | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 36% | 55% | ||
| % Women | 64% | 45% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 75% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 9% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 2% | ||
| % International | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
NKU | Penn State Beaver | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 66% | 63% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 26% | 34% | ||
Campus |
NKU | Penn State Beaver | ||
| 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 Penn State Beaver based on total student enrollment (15,801 students vs. 522 students)
NKU vs. Penn State Beaver Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or Penn State Beaver?
- Penn State Beaver is 35.4% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($13,824.00 vs. $10,208.00)
- Out of state tuition is 12.8% higher at Penn State Beaver than Northern Kentucky University ($23,086.00 vs. $20,464.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than Penn State Beaver ($7,259 vs. $18,113)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 8.9% lower than costs at Penn State Beaver ($11,248 vs. $12,254)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than Penn State Beaver (100% vs. 87%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 21.6% larger than aid received Penn State Beaver ($11,275 vs. $9,274)
NKU vs. Penn State Beaver Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or Penn State Beaver? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State Beaver or NKU .
- The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 69 points higher than at Penn State Beaver (999)
- Incoming NKU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Penn State Beaver (21)
- Penn State Beaver has a higher acceptance rate (93.2%) than NKU (86%)
NKU vs. Penn State Beaver Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or Penn State Beaver? 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 Penn State Beaver and NKU.
- The graduation rate at Penn State Beaver is higher than Northern Kentucky University (47% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Penn State Beaver earn on average $15,600 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $39,700)
- Northern Kentucky University students graduate with a $1,868 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State Beaver graduates. ($24,950 vs. $26,818)
- NKU graduates are paying $20 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Beaver graduates. ($257 vs. $277)
- More Penn State Beaver graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 53%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/