NKU vs. Sewanee

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

NKU Sewanee
Location Highland Heights, KY Sewanee, TN
Setting Large Suburban Distant Rural
Enrollment 15,801 1,704
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #805 #83
Religious Affiliation - Protestant Episcopal - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nku.edu sewanee.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

NKU Sewanee
Tuition (In State) $10,208 $50,874
Tuition (Out of State) $20,464 $50,874
Room & Board $11,248 $14,608
Avg Net Price $7,259 $33,061
Avg Grant Aid $11,275 $34,241
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 97%

Admission

NKU Sewanee
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,905 4,578
Admitted 5,939 2,395
Acceptance Rate 86% 52.3%
Enrolled % 27.6% 17.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 -
Typical High School Grades B+ -
Admissions Standards Average Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/25 27/32
SAT Range 1030/1290 1233/1380
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 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

NKU Sewanee
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (26%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Social Sciences (17%)
  • English and Literature (14%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • General Studies (10%)

Outcomes

NKU Sewanee
Graduation Rate 37% 86%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,700 $49,800
Making Student Loan Payments 53% 83%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,950 $19,000
Median Loan Payment $257 $196

Diversity

NKU Sewanee
% Men 36% 48%
% Women 64% 52%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 82% 82%
% Black 7% 4%
% Hispanic 3% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 3% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

NKU Sewanee
% In-State 66% 21%
% Out-of-State 26% 75%

Campus

NKU Sewanee
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
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 Sewanee based on total student enrollment (15,801 students vs. 1,704 students)

NKU vs. Sewanee Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NKU or Sewanee?

  • Sewanee The University of the South is 398.4% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($50,874.00 vs. $10,208.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 148.6% higher at Sewanee than Northern Kentucky University ($50,874.00 vs. $20,464.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than Sewanee ($7,259 vs. $33,061)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 29.9% lower than costs at Sewanee The University of the South ($11,248 vs. $14,608)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than Sewanee The University of the South (100% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Sewanee The University of the South students is 203.7% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($34,241 vs. $11,275)

NKU vs. Sewanee Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • NKU has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than Sewanee (52.3%)

NKU vs. Sewanee Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, NKU or Sewanee? 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 Sewanee and NKU.

  • The graduation rate at Sewanee is higher than Northern Kentucky University (86% vs. 37%)
  • Graduates from Sewanee The University of the South earn on average $10,100 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($49,800 vs. $39,700)
  • Sewanee The University of the South students graduate with a $5,950 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($19,000 vs. $24,950)
  • Sewanee graduates are paying $61 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($196 vs. $257)
  • More Sewanee graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 53%)

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