NKU vs. Simmons College of Kentucky

Deciding between Northern Kentucky University and Simmons College of Kentucky? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Northern Kentucky University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • NKU Highland Heights, KY
  • Simmons College of Kentucky Louisville, KY
  • Setting
  • NKU Large Suburban
  • Simmons College of Kentucky Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • NKU 15,347
  • Simmons College of Kentucky 506
  • Type
  • NKU Public 4 Year
  • Simmons College of Kentucky Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • NKU #854
  • Simmons College of Kentucky
  • Religious Affiliation
  • NKU -
  • Simmons College of Kentucky American Baptist
  • Status
  • NKU Non-profit
  • Simmons College of Kentucky Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • NKU
  • Simmons College of Kentucky
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • NKU $11,088
  • Simmons College of Kentucky $16,398
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • NKU $21,912
  • Simmons College of Kentucky $16,398
  • Room & Board
  • NKU $12,712
  • Simmons College of Kentucky $10,664
  • Average Net Price
  • NKU $9,211
  • Simmons College of Kentucky $16,723
  • Average Grant Aid
  • NKU $10,332
  • Simmons College of Kentucky $9,873
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • NKU 98%
  • Simmons College of Kentucky 54%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • NKU 6,058
  • Simmons College of Kentucky 178
  • Admitted
  • NKU 4,098
  • Simmons College of Kentucky 178
  • Acceptance Rate
  • NKU 67.6%
  • Simmons College of Kentucky 100% Open
  • Enrolled
  • NKU 36.8%
  • Simmons College of Kentucky 81.5% Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • NKU 1050
  • Simmons College of Kentucky
  • Typical ACT score
  • NKU 21
  • Simmons College of Kentucky
  • Average High School GPA
  • NKU 3.42
  • Simmons College of Kentucky -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • NKU B+
  • Simmons College of Kentucky -
  • Admissions Standards
  • NKU Very Easy
  • Simmons College of Kentucky Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • NKU Low
  • Simmons College of Kentucky
  • ACT Range
  • NKU 18/25
  • Simmons College of Kentucky
  • SAT Range
  • NKU 953/1150
  • Simmons College of Kentucky
  • Submit Test Scores
  • NKU Test optional
  • Simmons College of Kentucky Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • NKU Aug 15, 2027
  • Simmons College of Kentucky
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • NKU 19:1
  • Simmons College of Kentucky 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • NKU
    • Business (26%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Simmons College of Kentucky
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies (100%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • NKU 37%
  • Simmons College of Kentucky -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • NKU $39,700
  • Simmons College of Kentucky N/A
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • NKU 53%
  • Simmons College of Kentucky -
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • NKU $24,950
  • Simmons College of Kentucky N/A
  • Median Loan Payment
  • NKU $257
  • Simmons College of Kentucky N/A
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • NKU 37%
  • Simmons College of Kentucky 55%
  • % Women
  • NKU 63%
  • Simmons College of Kentucky 45%
  • Racial Diversity
  • NKU Very Low
  • Simmons College of Kentucky Extremely Low
  • HBCU
  • NKU No
  • Simmons College of Kentucky Yes
  • % White
  • NKU 82%
  • Simmons College of Kentucky 1%
  • % Asian
  • NKU 1%
  • Simmons College of Kentucky 0%
  • % Black
  • NKU 7%
  • Simmons College of Kentucky 98%
  • % Hispanic
  • NKU 3%
  • Simmons College of Kentucky 0%
  • % Native American
  • NKU 0%
  • Simmons College of Kentucky 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • NKU 0%
  • Simmons College of Kentucky 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • NKU 2%
  • Simmons College of Kentucky 0%
  • % International
  • NKU 3%
  • Simmons College of Kentucky 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • NKU 1%
  • Simmons College of Kentucky 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • NKU 69%
  • Simmons College of Kentucky 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • NKU 29%
  • Simmons College of Kentucky 12%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • NKU Yes
  • Simmons College of Kentucky No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • NKU No
  • Simmons College of Kentucky No
  • Meal Plan
  • NKU Yes
  • Simmons College of Kentucky No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • NKU Yes
  • Simmons College of Kentucky No
  • Daycare Facility
  • NKU Yes
  • Simmons College of Kentucky No

Comparable Facts

Compare Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights, KY with Simmons College of Kentucky in Louisville, KY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Northern Kentucky University is larger than Simmons College of Kentucky based on total student enrollment (15,347 students vs. 506 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Northern Kentucky University is located in Highland Heights, KY (Large Suburban setting); Simmons College of Kentucky is in Louisville, KY (Large City setting).
  • Northern Kentucky University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Simmons College of Kentucky is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Northern Kentucky University 19:1; Simmons College of Kentucky 10:1.

NKU vs. Simmons College of Kentucky Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NKU or Simmons College of Kentucky? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than Simmons College of Kentucky ($9,211 vs. $16,723).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Simmons College of Kentucky are 16.1% lower than at Northern Kentucky University ($10,664 vs. $12,712).
  • Simmons College of Kentucky is 47.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than NKU (about $5,310 more per year; $16,398.00 vs. $11,088.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 33.6% higher at NKU than at Simmons College of Kentucky (about $5,514 more per year; $21,912.00 vs. $16,398.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than at Simmons College of Kentucky (98% vs. 54%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 4.6% larger than aid received by Simmons College of Kentucky students ($10,332 vs. $9,873).

NKU vs. Simmons College of Kentucky Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NKU or Simmons College of Kentucky? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Simmons College of Kentucky and NKU.

  • Simmons College of Kentucky reports an open admissions policy.
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northern Kentucky University 953/1150.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northern Kentucky University 18/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NKU - Test optional; Simmons College of Kentucky - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: NKU Aug 15, 2027.
  • Simmons College of Kentucky has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than NKU (67.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 36.8% at NKU vs. 81.5% at Simmons College of Kentucky.

NKU vs. Simmons College of Kentucky Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NKU and Simmons College of Kentucky? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.