NKU vs. Rochester College

Should I go to Northern Kentucky University or Rochester College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if NKU or Rochester 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. Rochester College comparison
Northern Kentucky University Rochester College College 3 College 4
Northern Kentucky University
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Overview

NKU Rochester College
Location Highland Heights, KY Rochester Hills, MI
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 14,961 1,173
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #912 #862
Religious Affiliation - Churches of Christ - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nku.edu rc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

NKU Rochester College
Tuition (In State) $10,512 $27,938
Tuition (Out of State) $21,096 $27,938
Room & Board $11,660 $9,800
Avg Net Price $8,151 $19,660
Avg Grant Aid $11,492 $16,548
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 100%

Admission

NKU Rochester College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,417 490
Admitted 6,162 320
Acceptance Rate 96% 65.3%
Enrolled % 21% 44.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 3.13
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Very Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/25 17/23
SAT Range 916/1133 840/1060
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, 2025

Academics

NKU Rochester College
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (26%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Psychology (25%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Communication (19%)
  • Education (14%)
  • General Studies (7%)

Outcomes

NKU Rochester College
Graduation Rate 37% 42%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,700 $38,100
Making Student Loan Payments 53% 45%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,950 $24,403
Median Loan Payment $257 $252

Diversity

NKU Rochester College
% Men 10% 2%
% Women 24% 1%
Racial Diversity Very Low High
HBCU No No
% White 82% 60%
% Black 7% 16%
% Hispanic 3% 1%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 3% 5%
% Unknown Race 1% 14%

Students

NKU Rochester College
% In-State 71% 86%
% Out-of-State 28% 10%

Campus

NKU Rochester College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Northern Kentucky University is larger than than Rochester College based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 1,173 students)

NKU vs. Rochester College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NKU or Rochester College?

  • Rochester College is 165.8% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($27,938.00 vs. $10,512.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 32.4% higher at Rochester College than Northern Kentucky University ($27,938.00 vs. $21,096.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than Rochester College ($8,151 vs. $19,660)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rochester College are 19% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($9,800 vs. $11,660)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rochester College than Northern Kentucky University (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rochester College students is 44% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($16,548 vs. $11,492)

NKU vs. Rochester College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 119 points higher than at Rochester College (949)
  • Incoming NKU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Rochester College (20)
  • Accepted freshman NKU students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Rochester College (3.13)
  • NKU has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than Rochester College (65.3%)

NKU vs. Rochester College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, NKU or Rochester 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 Rochester College and NKU.

  • The graduation rate at Rochester College is higher than Northern Kentucky University (42% vs. 37%)
  • Graduates from Northern Kentucky University earn on average $1,600 more per year than Rochester College graduates after ten years. ($39,700 vs. $38,100)
  • Rochester College students graduate with a $547 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($24,403 vs. $24,950)
  • Rochester College graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($252 vs. $257)
  • More NKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rochester College students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 45%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/