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Kentucky University of Toledo Eastern Murray State University WKU Xavier UC Morehead State University Louisville BGSU BSU Kent State| Northern Kentucky University | Spring Arbor University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
NKU | SAU | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Spring Arbor, MI | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 14,961 | 2,390 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #912 | #553 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Free Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | arbor.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | SAU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,512 | $31,940 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $21,096 | $31,940 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,660 | $10,960 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $8,151 | $21,720 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,492 | $21,522 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 100% |
Admission |
NKU | SAU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,417 | 3,145 | ||
| Admitted | 6,162 | 1,174 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 96% | 37.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21% | 17.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.61 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | |||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 17/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 916/1133 | 935/1165 | ||
| 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 | SAU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | SAU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 56% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $42,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 58% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $24,043 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $248 |
Diversity |
NKU | SAU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 10% | 7% | ||
| % Women | 24% | 48% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 77% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 10% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 5% |
Students |
NKU | SAU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 71% | 82% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 28% | 15% | ||
Campus |
NKU | SAU | ||
| 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 SAU based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 2,390 students)
NKU vs. SAU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or SAU?
- Spring Arbor University is 203.8% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($31,940.00 vs. $10,512.00)
- Out of state tuition is 51.4% higher at SAU than Northern Kentucky University ($31,940.00 vs. $21,096.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than SAU ($8,151 vs. $21,720)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Spring Arbor University are 6.4% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($10,960 vs. $11,660)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Spring Arbor University than Northern Kentucky University (100% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Spring Arbor University students is 87.3% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($21,522 vs. $11,492)
NKU vs. SAU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or SAU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SAU or NKU .
- The average SAT score at Spring Arbor University (1073) is 5 points higher than at NKU (1068)
- Incoming NKU students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at SAU (23)
- Accepted freshman SAU students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at NKU (3.42)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than SAU (37.3%)
NKU vs. SAU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or SAU? 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 SAU and NKU.
- The graduation rate at SAU is higher than Northern Kentucky University (56% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Spring Arbor University earn on average $2,900 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($42,600 vs. $39,700)
- Spring Arbor University students graduate with a $907 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($24,043 vs. $24,950)
- SAU graduates are paying $9 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($248 vs. $257)
- More SAU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 53%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/