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Kentucky University of Toledo Eastern JMU Murray State University University of Lynchburg WKU Xavier Roanoke College UC Morehead State University Louisville| Northern Kentucky University | Shenandoah University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
NKU | SU | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Winchester, VA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 15,801 | 4,260 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #805 | #537 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | United Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | su.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | SU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,208 | $33,790 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $20,464 | $33,790 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,248 | $11,230 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $7,259 | $26,143 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,275 | $23,467 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 100% |
Admission |
NKU | SU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,905 | 2,296 | ||
| Admitted | 5,939 | 1,845 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86% | 80.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 27.6% | 25.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.7 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 19/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 1030/1290 | 1010/1230 | ||
| 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 | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
NKU | SU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | SU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 45% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $48,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 60% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $25,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $258 |
Diversity |
NKU | SU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 36% | 32% | ||
| % Women | 64% | 68% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 59% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 11% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 4% | ||
| % International | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 13% |
Students |
NKU | SU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 66% | 52% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 26% | 48% | ||
Campus |
NKU | SU | ||
| 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 SU based on total student enrollment (15,801 students vs. 4,260 students)
NKU vs. SU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or SU?
- Shenandoah University is 231% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($33,790.00 vs. $10,208.00)
- Out of state tuition is 65.1% higher at SU than Northern Kentucky University ($33,790.00 vs. $20,464.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than SU ($7,259 vs. $26,143)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shenandoah University are 0.2% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($11,230 vs. $11,248)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University as Shenandoah University (100% vs. 100%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Shenandoah University students is 108.1% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($23,467 vs. $11,275)
NKU vs. SU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or SU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SU or NKU .
- The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 63 points higher than at SU (1005)
- Incoming NKU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at SU (22)
- Accepted freshman SU students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at NKU (3.42)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than SU (80.4%)
NKU vs. SU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or SU? 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 SU and NKU.
- The graduation rate at SU is higher than Northern Kentucky University (45% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Shenandoah University earn on average $8,600 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($48,300 vs. $39,700)
- Northern Kentucky University students graduate with a $50 lower median federal student loan debt than SU graduates. ($24,950 vs. $25,000)
- NKU graduates are paying $1 less per month on federal student loans than SU graduates. ($257 vs. $258)
- More SU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 53%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/