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Miami IU Kentucky Ohio State Xavier UIC University of Dayton Purdue UB Ohio University ASU Michigan State| Northern Kentucky University | University of Cincinnati Main Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
NKU | UC | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Cincinnati, OH | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 15,801 | 41,155 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #805 | #413 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | uc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | UC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,208 | $11,498 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $20,464 | $26,862 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,248 | $12,852 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $7,259 | $20,149 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,275 | $8,733 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 64% |
Admission |
NKU | UC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,905 | 29,025 | ||
| Admitted | 5,939 | 25,024 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86% | 86.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 27.6% | 25.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.69 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 24/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1030/1290 | 1160/1360 | ||
| 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 | Mar 1, 2025 |
Academics |
NKU | UC | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | UC | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 59% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $45,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 57% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $23,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $237 |
Diversity |
NKU | UC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 36% | 46% | ||
| % Women | 64% | 54% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 75% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 4% |
Students |
NKU | UC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 66% | 78% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 26% | 17% | ||
Campus |
NKU | UC | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Cincinnati Main Campus is larger than than NKU based on total student enrollment (41,155 students vs. 15,801 students)
NKU vs. UC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or UC?
- University of Cincinnati Main Campus is 12.6% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($11,498.00 vs. $10,208.00)
- Out of state tuition is 31.3% higher at UC than Northern Kentucky University ($26,862.00 vs. $20,464.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than UC ($7,259 vs. $20,149)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 14.3% lower than costs at University of Cincinnati Main Campus ($11,248 vs. $12,852)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than University of Cincinnati Main Campus (100% vs. 64%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 29.1% larger than aid received University of Cincinnati Main Campus ($11,275 vs. $8,733)
NKU vs. UC Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or UC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UC or NKU .
- The average SAT score at University of Cincinnati Main Campus (1165) is 97 points higher than at NKU (1068)
- Incoming UC students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at NKU (23)
- Accepted freshman UC students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at NKU (3.42)
- UC has a higher acceptance rate (86.2%) than NKU (86%)
NKU vs. UC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or UC? 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 UC and NKU.
- The graduation rate at UC is higher than Northern Kentucky University (59% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from University of Cincinnati Main Campus earn on average $5,900 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($45,600 vs. $39,700)
- University of Cincinnati Main Campus students graduate with a $1,950 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($23,000 vs. $24,950)
- UC graduates are paying $20 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($237 vs. $257)
- More UC 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/