NKU vs. UT Martin

Should I go to Northern Kentucky University or The University of Tennessee Martin? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if NKU or UT Martin 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 Martin comparison
Northern Kentucky University The University of Tennessee Martin College 3 College 4
Northern Kentucky University
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Overview

NKU UT Martin
Location Highland Heights, KY Martin, TN
Setting Large Suburban Remote Town
Enrollment 15,801 6,868
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #805 #776
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nku.edu utm.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

NKU UT Martin
Tuition (In State) $10,208 $8,378
Tuition (Out of State) $20,464 $14,418
Room & Board $11,248 $7,082
Avg Net Price $7,259 $12,619
Avg Grant Aid $11,275 $9,261
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 98%

Admission

NKU UT Martin
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,905 5,502
Admitted 5,939 4,866
Acceptance Rate 86% 88.4%
Enrolled % 27.6% 22.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 3.6
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/25 19/25
SAT Range 1030/1290 1020/1240
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 UT Martin
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (26%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Education (14%)
  • General Studies (13%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Agriculture (7%)

Outcomes

NKU UT Martin
Graduation Rate 37% 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,700 $39,100
Making Student Loan Payments 53% 54%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,950 $23,500
Median Loan Payment $257 $242

Diversity

NKU UT Martin
% Men 36% 37%
% Women 64% 63%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 82% 77%
% Black 7% 15%
% Hispanic 3% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 3% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

NKU UT Martin
% In-State 66% 90%
% Out-of-State 26% 9%

Campus

NKU UT Martin
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 UT Martin based on total student enrollment (15,801 students vs. 6,868 students)

NKU vs. UT Martin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NKU or UT Martin?

  • Northern Kentucky University is 21.8% more expensive to attend than UT Martin for in-state tuition ($10,208.00 vs. $8,378.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 41.9% higher at NKU than The University of Tennessee Martin ($20,464.00 vs. $14,418.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than UT Martin ($7,259 vs. $12,619)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Tennessee Martin are 58.8% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($7,082 vs. $11,248)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than The University of Tennessee Martin (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 21.7% larger than aid received The University of Tennessee Martin ($11,275 vs. $9,261)

NKU vs. UT Martin Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 18 points higher than at UT Martin (1050)
  • Incoming NKU students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at UT Martin (23)
  • Accepted freshman UT Martin students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at NKU (3.42)
  • UT Martin has a higher acceptance rate (88.4%) than NKU (86%)

NKU vs. UT Martin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, NKU or UT Martin? 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 UT Martin and NKU.

  • The graduation rate at UT Martin is higher than Northern Kentucky University (48% vs. 37%)
  • Graduates from Northern Kentucky University earn on average $600 more per year than UT Martin graduates after ten years. ($39,700 vs. $39,100)
  • The University of Tennessee Martin students graduate with a $1,450 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($23,500 vs. $24,950)
  • UT Martin graduates are paying $15 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($242 vs. $257)
  • More UT Martin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 53%)

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