NKU vs. Tennessee

Should I go to Northern Kentucky University or The University of Tennessee? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if NKU or Tennessee is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Northern Kentucky University vs. The University of Tennessee comparison
Northern Kentucky University The University of Tennessee College 3 College 4
Northern Kentucky University The University of Tennessee
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Overview

NKU Tennessee
Location Highland Heights, KY Knoxville, TN
Setting Large Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 15,801 33,805
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #805 #232
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nku.edu tennessee.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

NKU Tennessee
Tuition (In State) $10,208 $11,332
Tuition (Out of State) $20,464 $29,522
Room & Board $11,248 $12,150
Avg Net Price $7,259 $21,880
Avg Grant Aid $11,275 $10,593
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 88%

Admission

NKU Tennessee
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,905 36,290
Admitted 5,939 24,826
Acceptance Rate 86% 68.4%
Enrolled % 27.6% 27.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 3.66
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/25 25/31
SAT Range 1030/1290 1170/1330
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

NKU Tennessee
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (26%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Engineering (8%)

Outcomes

NKU Tennessee
Graduation Rate 37% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,700 $56,300
Making Student Loan Payments 53% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,950 $20,000
Median Loan Payment $257 $206

Diversity

NKU Tennessee
% Men 36% 45%
% Women 64% 55%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 82% 79%
% Black 7% 7%
% Hispanic 3% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

NKU Tennessee
% In-State 66% 54%
% Out-of-State 26% 45%

Campus

NKU Tennessee
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

  • The University of Tennessee is larger than than NKU based on total student enrollment (33,805 students vs. 15,801 students)

NKU vs. Tennessee Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NKU or Tennessee?

  • The University of Tennessee is 11% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($11,332.00 vs. $10,208.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 44.3% higher at Tennessee than Northern Kentucky University ($29,522.00 vs. $20,464.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than Tennessee ($7,259 vs. $21,880)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 8% lower than costs at The University of Tennessee ($11,248 vs. $12,150)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than The University of Tennessee (100% vs. 88%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 6.4% larger than aid received The University of Tennessee ($11,275 vs. $10,593)

NKU vs. Tennessee Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NKU or Tennessee? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Tennessee or NKU .

  • The average SAT score at The University of Tennessee (1214) is 146 points higher than at NKU (1068)
  • Incoming Tennessee students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at NKU (23)
  • Accepted freshman Tennessee students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at NKU (3.42)
  • NKU has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than Tennessee (68.4%)

NKU vs. Tennessee Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, NKU or Tennessee? 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 and NKU.

  • The graduation rate at Tennessee is higher than Northern Kentucky University (63% vs. 37%)
  • Graduates from The University of Tennessee earn on average $16,600 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($56,300 vs. $39,700)
  • The University of Tennessee students graduate with a $4,950 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($20,000 vs. $24,950)
  • Tennessee graduates are paying $51 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($206 vs. $257)
  • More Tennessee graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 53%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/