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SHSU PVAMU TSU UTSA Kentucky UH Lamar University University of Toledo HBU Eastern Murray State University WKU| Northern Kentucky University | University of Houston Downtown | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
NKU | University of Houston-Downtown | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Houston, TX | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 14,961 | 14,105 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #912 | #923 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | uhd.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | University of Houston-Downtown | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,512 | $6,252 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $21,096 | $16,332 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,660 | $9,882 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $8,151 | $14,269 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,492 | $8,246 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 81% |
Admission |
NKU | University of Houston-Downtown | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,417 | 6,953 | ||
| Admitted | 6,162 | 6,302 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 96% | 90.6%Open | ||
| Enrolled % | 21% | 23.7%Open | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.29 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 17/23 | ||
| SAT Range | 916/1133 | 960/1110 | ||
| 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 | Jun 1, 2026 |
Academics |
NKU | University of Houston-Downtown | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | University of Houston-Downtown | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 15% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $47,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 41% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $18,750 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $193 |
Diversity |
NKU | University of Houston-Downtown | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 10% | 3% | ||
| % Women | 24% | 5% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 17% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 23% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 43% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 1% | ||
| % International | 3% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
NKU | University of Houston-Downtown | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 71% | 99% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 28% | 1% | ||
Campus |
NKU | University of Houston-Downtown | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | No | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | No | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Northern Kentucky University is larger than than University of Houston-Downtown based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 14,105 students)
NKU vs. University of Houston-Downtown Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or University of Houston-Downtown?
- Northern Kentucky University is 68.1% more expensive to attend than University of Houston-Downtown for in-state tuition ($10,512.00 vs. $6,252.00)
- Out of state tuition is 29.2% higher at NKU than University of Houston Downtown ($21,096.00 vs. $16,332.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than University of Houston-Downtown ($8,151 vs. $14,269)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Houston Downtown are 18% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($9,882 vs. $11,660)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than University of Houston Downtown (98% vs. 81%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 39.4% larger than aid received University of Houston Downtown ($11,492 vs. $8,246)
NKU vs. University of Houston-Downtown Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or University of Houston-Downtown? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between University of Houston-Downtown or NKU .
- The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 174 points higher than at University of Houston-Downtown (894)
- Incoming NKU students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at University of Houston-Downtown (18)
- Accepted freshman NKU students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at University of Houston-Downtown (3.29)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than University of Houston-Downtown (90.6%)
NKU vs. University of Houston-Downtown Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or University of Houston-Downtown? 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 University of Houston-Downtown and NKU.
- The graduation rate at NKU is higher than University of Houston Downtown (37% vs. 15%)
- Graduates from University of Houston Downtown earn on average $7,700 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($47,400 vs. $39,700)
- University of Houston Downtown students graduate with a $6,200 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($18,750 vs. $24,950)
- University of Houston-Downtown graduates are paying $64 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($193 vs. $257)
- More NKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Houston-Downtown students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 41%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/