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Kentucky University of Toledo Eastern Ferris State University Murray State University WKU Xavier UC Morehead State University West Virginia University Tech Frostburg State University Louisville| Northern Kentucky University | Shepherd University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
NKU | Shepherd University | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Shepherdstown, WV | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Town Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 14,961 | 3,318 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #912 | #884 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | shepherd.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | Shepherd University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,512 | $6,288 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $21,096 | $15,774 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,660 | $11,308 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $8,151 | $12,651 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,492 | $8,183 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 95% |
Admission |
NKU | Shepherd University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,417 | 1,793 | ||
| Admitted | 6,162 | 1,715 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 96% | 95.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21% | 33% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.6 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 20/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 916/1133 | 900/1140 | ||
| 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 | Shepherd University | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | Shepherd University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 46% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $41,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 53% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $22,223 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $229 |
Diversity |
NKU | Shepherd University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 10% | 3% | ||
| % Women | 24% | 9% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 82% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 10% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 2% | ||
| % International | 3% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
NKU | Shepherd University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 71% | 72% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 28% | 27% | ||
Campus |
NKU | Shepherd University | ||
| 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 Shepherd University based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 3,318 students)
NKU vs. Shepherd University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or Shepherd University?
- Northern Kentucky University is 67.2% more expensive to attend than Shepherd University for in-state tuition ($10,512.00 vs. $6,288.00)
- Out of state tuition is 33.7% higher at NKU than Shepherd University ($21,096.00 vs. $15,774.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than Shepherd University ($8,151 vs. $12,651)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shepherd University are 3.1% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($11,308 vs. $11,660)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than Shepherd University (98% vs. 95%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 40.4% larger than aid received Shepherd University ($11,492 vs. $8,183)
NKU vs. Shepherd University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or Shepherd University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Shepherd University or NKU .
- The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 73 points higher than at Shepherd University (995)
- Incoming NKU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Shepherd University (22)
- Accepted freshman Shepherd University students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at NKU (3.42)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than Shepherd University (95.6%)
NKU vs. Shepherd University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or Shepherd University? 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 Shepherd University and NKU.
- The graduation rate at Shepherd University is higher than Northern Kentucky University (46% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Shepherd University earn on average $1,800 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($41,500 vs. $39,700)
- Shepherd University students graduate with a $2,727 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($22,223 vs. $24,950)
- Shepherd University graduates are paying $28 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($229 vs. $257)
- More Shepherd University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 53%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/