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Kentucky Fisk University University of Toledo KY State Eastern Jackson State University Middle Tennessee State University Murray State University TSU WKU Southern University and A & M College AAMU| Northern Kentucky University | Tennessee State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
NKU | Tennessee State University | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Nashville, TN | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 14,961 | 8,198 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #912 | #998 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | tnstate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | Tennessee State University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,512 | $7,320 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $21,096 | $21,036 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,660 | $10,120 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $8,151 | $9,231 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,492 | $15,589 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 94% |
Admission |
NKU | Tennessee State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,417 | 12,890 | ||
| Admitted | 6,162 | 11,940 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 96% | 92.6%Open | ||
| Enrolled % | 21% | 14.8%Open | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.22 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 16/21 | ||
| SAT Range | 916/1133 | 856/1068 | ||
| 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 |
Academics |
NKU | Tennessee State University | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | Tennessee State University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 36% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $38,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 29% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $28,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $289 |
Diversity |
NKU | Tennessee State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 10% | 6% | ||
| % Women | 24% | 11% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | Yes | ||
| % White | 82% | 14% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 70% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 0% |
Students |
NKU | Tennessee State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 71% | 32% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 28% | 65% | ||
Campus |
NKU | Tennessee State University | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| 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 Tennessee State University based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 8,198 students)
NKU vs. Tennessee State University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or Tennessee State University?
- Northern Kentucky University is 43.6% more expensive to attend than Tennessee State University for in-state tuition ($10,512.00 vs. $7,320.00)
- Out of state tuition is 0.3% higher at NKU than Tennessee State University ($21,096.00 vs. $21,036.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than Tennessee State University ($8,151 vs. $9,231)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Tennessee State University are 15.2% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($10,120 vs. $11,660)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than Tennessee State University (98% vs. 94%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Tennessee State University students is 35.7% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($15,589 vs. $11,492)
NKU vs. Tennessee State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or Tennessee State University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Tennessee State University or NKU .
- Accepted freshman NKU students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Tennessee State University (3.22)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than Tennessee State University (92.6%)
NKU vs. Tennessee State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or Tennessee State 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 Tennessee State University and NKU.
- The graduation rate at NKU is higher than Tennessee State University (37% vs. 36%)
- Graduates from Northern Kentucky University earn on average $1,300 more per year than Tennessee State University graduates after ten years. ($39,700 vs. $38,400)
- Northern Kentucky University students graduate with a $3,050 lower median federal student loan debt than Tennessee State University graduates. ($24,950 vs. $28,000)
- NKU graduates are paying $32 less per month on federal student loans than Tennessee State University graduates. ($257 vs. $289)
- More NKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tennessee State University students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 29%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/