NKU vs. Tusculum College

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

NKU Tusculum College
Location Highland Heights, KY Greeneville, TN
Setting Large Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 14,961 1,200
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #912 #993
Religious Affiliation - Presbyterian Church (USA) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nku.edu tusculum.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

NKU Tusculum College
Tuition (In State) $10,512 $27,500
Tuition (Out of State) $21,096 $27,500
Room & Board $11,660 $10,750
Avg Net Price $8,151 $22,961
Avg Grant Aid $11,492 $20,374
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 100%

Admission

NKU Tusculum College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,417 758
Admitted 6,162 458
Acceptance Rate 96% 60.4%
Enrolled % 21% 47.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 3.18
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Very Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/25 17/22
SAT Range 916/1133 910/1110
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

NKU Tusculum College
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (26%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Business (55%)
  • Education (31%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
  • Biology (3%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (1%)

Outcomes

NKU Tusculum College
Graduation Rate 37% 38%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,700 $41,900
Making Student Loan Payments 53% 52%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,950 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $257 $279

Diversity

NKU Tusculum College
% Men 10% 8%
% Women 24% 7%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 82% 74%
% Black 7% 14%
% Hispanic 3% 3%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 1%
% International 3% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 5%

Students

NKU Tusculum College
% In-State 71% 45%
% Out-of-State 28% 44%

Campus

NKU Tusculum College
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 Tusculum College based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 1,200 students)

NKU vs. Tusculum College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NKU or Tusculum College?

  • Tusculum College is 161.6% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($27,500.00 vs. $10,512.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 30.4% higher at Tusculum College than Northern Kentucky University ($27,500.00 vs. $21,096.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than Tusculum College ($8,151 vs. $22,961)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Tusculum College are 8.5% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($10,750 vs. $11,660)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Tusculum College than Northern Kentucky University (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Tusculum College students is 77.3% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($20,374 vs. $11,492)

NKU vs. Tusculum College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 108 points higher than at Tusculum College (960)
  • Incoming NKU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Tusculum College (21)
  • Accepted freshman NKU students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Tusculum College (3.18)
  • NKU has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than Tusculum College (60.4%)

NKU vs. Tusculum College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, NKU or Tusculum College? 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 Tusculum College and NKU.

  • The graduation rate at Tusculum College is higher than Northern Kentucky University (38% vs. 37%)
  • Graduates from Tusculum College earn on average $2,200 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($41,900 vs. $39,700)
  • Northern Kentucky University students graduate with a $2,050 lower median federal student loan debt than Tusculum College graduates. ($24,950 vs. $27,000)
  • NKU graduates are paying $22 less per month on federal student loans than Tusculum College graduates. ($257 vs. $279)
  • More NKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tusculum College students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 52%)

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