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Kentucky University of Toledo Eastern Murray State University WKU Xavier UC Morehead State University Louisville BGSU RU BSU| Northern Kentucky University | The University of Virginia's College at Wise | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
NKU | UVa-Wise | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Wise, VA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 14,961 | 1,911 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #912 | #765 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | uvawise.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | UVa-Wise | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,512 | $6,040 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $21,096 | $26,182 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,660 | $12,535 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $8,151 | $10,409 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,492 | $13,702 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 100% |
Admission |
NKU | UVa-Wise | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,417 | 1,414 | ||
| Admitted | 6,162 | 1,328 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 96% | 93.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21% | 21.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.57 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 20/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 916/1133 | 935/1175 | ||
| 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 | Aug 1, 2026 |
Academics |
NKU | UVa-Wise | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | UVa-Wise | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 39% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $42,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 57% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $20,827 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $215 |
Diversity |
NKU | UVa-Wise | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 10% | 14% | ||
| % Women | 24% | 22% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 78% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 12% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 0% | ||
| % International | 3% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 7% |
Students |
NKU | UVa-Wise | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 71% | 74% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 28% | 25% | ||
Campus |
NKU | UVa-Wise | ||
| 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
- Northern Kentucky University is larger than than UVa-Wise based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 1,911 students)
NKU vs. UVa-Wise Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or UVa-Wise?
- Northern Kentucky University is 74% more expensive to attend than UVa-Wise for in-state tuition ($10,512.00 vs. $6,040.00)
- Out of state tuition is 24.1% higher at UVa-Wise than Northern Kentucky University ($26,182.00 vs. $21,096.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than UVa-Wise ($8,151 vs. $10,409)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 7.5% lower than costs at The University of Virginia's College at Wise ($11,660 vs. $12,535)
- More students receive financial grant aid at The University of Virginia's College at Wise than Northern Kentucky University (100% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Virginia's College at Wise students is 19.2% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($13,702 vs. $11,492)
NKU vs. UVa-Wise Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or UVa-Wise? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UVa-Wise or NKU .
- The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 126 points higher than at UVa-Wise (942)
- Incoming NKU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at UVa-Wise (20)
- Accepted freshman UVa-Wise students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at NKU (3.42)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than UVa-Wise (93.9%)
NKU vs. UVa-Wise Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or UVa-Wise? 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 UVa-Wise and NKU.
- The graduation rate at UVa-Wise is higher than Northern Kentucky University (39% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from The University of Virginia's College at Wise earn on average $2,400 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($42,100 vs. $39,700)
- The University of Virginia's College at Wise students graduate with a $4,123 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($20,827 vs. $24,950)
- UVa-Wise graduates are paying $42 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($215 vs. $257)
- More UVa-Wise graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 53%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/