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Old Dominion Longwood University Kentucky JMU University of Toledo Eastern VSU Murray State University Virginia Tech WKU VCU Mason| Northern Kentucky University | Radford University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
NKU | RU | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Radford, VA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 14,961 | 7,531 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #912 | #449 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | radford.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | RU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,512 | $8,401 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $21,096 | $20,853 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,660 | $11,973 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $8,151 | $18,282 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,492 | $8,968 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 99% |
Admission |
NKU | RU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,417 | 11,072 | ||
| Admitted | 6,162 | 10,036 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 96% | 90.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21% | 11% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.31 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 19/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 916/1133 | 950/1170 | ||
| 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, 2026 |
Academics |
NKU | RU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | RU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 56% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $47,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 70% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $23,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $237 |
Diversity |
NKU | RU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 10% | 5% | ||
| % Women | 24% | 19% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 71% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 13% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 5% | ||
| % International | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
NKU | RU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 71% | 88% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 28% | 11% | ||
Campus |
NKU | RU | ||
| 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 RU based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 7,531 students)
NKU vs. RU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or RU?
- Northern Kentucky University is 25.1% more expensive to attend than RU for in-state tuition ($10,512.00 vs. $8,401.00)
- Out of state tuition is 1.2% higher at NKU than Radford University ($21,096.00 vs. $20,853.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than RU ($8,151 vs. $18,282)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 2.7% lower than costs at Radford University ($11,660 vs. $11,973)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Radford University than Northern Kentucky University (99% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 28.1% larger than aid received Radford University ($11,492 vs. $8,968)
NKU vs. RU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or RU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between RU or NKU .
- Accepted freshman NKU students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at RU (3.31)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than RU (90.6%)
NKU vs. RU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or RU? 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 RU and NKU.
- The graduation rate at RU is higher than Northern Kentucky University (56% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Radford University earn on average $7,700 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($47,400 vs. $39,700)
- Radford University students graduate with a $1,950 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($23,000 vs. $24,950)
- RU graduates are paying $20 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($237 vs. $257)
- More RU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 53%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/