NKU vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College

Should I go to Northern Kentucky University or Penn State Erie Behrend College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if NKU or Penn State Erie-Behrend College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Northern Kentucky University vs. Penn State Erie Behrend College comparison
Northern Kentucky University Penn State Erie Behrend College College 3 College 4
Northern Kentucky University Penn State Erie Behrend College
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Overview

NKU Penn State Erie-Behrend College
Location Highland Heights, KY Erie, PA
Setting Large Suburban Rural Fringe
Enrollment 15,801 3,295
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #805 #503
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nku.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

NKU Penn State Erie-Behrend College
Tuition (In State) $10,208 $15,388
Tuition (Out of State) $20,464 $25,854
Room & Board $11,248 $12,984
Avg Net Price $7,259 $21,968
Avg Grant Aid $11,275 $9,685
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 71%

Admission

NKU Penn State Erie-Behrend College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,905 4,363
Admitted 5,939 4,164
Acceptance Rate 86% 95.4%
Enrolled % 27.6% 19.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 3.49
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/25 22/30
SAT Range 1030/1290 1095/1330
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 Erie-Behrend College
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (26%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Business (38%)
  • Engineering (14%)
  • Engineering Technology (9%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Psychology (6%)

Outcomes

NKU Penn State Erie-Behrend College
Graduation Rate 37% 66%
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 Erie-Behrend College
% Men 36% 64%
% Women 64% 36%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 82% 79%
% Black 7% 4%
% Hispanic 3% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 3% 9%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

NKU Penn State Erie-Behrend College
% In-State 66% 74%
% Out-of-State 26% 19%

Campus

NKU Penn State Erie-Behrend College
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 Penn State Erie-Behrend College based on total student enrollment (15,801 students vs. 3,295 students)

NKU vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NKU or Penn State Erie-Behrend College?

  • Penn State Erie Behrend College is 50.7% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($15,388.00 vs. $10,208.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 26.3% higher at Penn State Erie-Behrend College than Northern Kentucky University ($25,854.00 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 Erie-Behrend College ($7,259 vs. $21,968)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 15.4% lower than costs at Penn State Erie Behrend College ($11,248 vs. $12,984)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than Penn State Erie Behrend College (100% vs. 71%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 16.4% larger than aid received Penn State Erie Behrend College ($11,275 vs. $9,685)

NKU vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NKU or Penn State Erie-Behrend College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State Erie-Behrend College or NKU .

  • The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 14 points higher than at Penn State Erie-Behrend College (1054)
  • Incoming NKU students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at Penn State Erie-Behrend College (23)
  • Accepted freshman Penn State Erie-Behrend College students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.49) than students at NKU (3.42)
  • Penn State Erie-Behrend College has a higher acceptance rate (95.4%) than NKU (86%)

NKU vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, NKU or Penn State Erie-Behrend College? 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 Erie-Behrend College and NKU.

  • The graduation rate at Penn State Erie-Behrend College is higher than Northern Kentucky University (66% vs. 37%)
  • Graduates from Penn State Erie Behrend College 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 Erie-Behrend College graduates. ($24,950 vs. $26,818)
  • NKU graduates are paying $20 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Erie-Behrend College graduates. ($257 vs. $277)
  • More Penn State Erie-Behrend College 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/