NKU vs. Memphis

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

NKU Memphis
Location Highland Heights, KY Memphis, TN
Setting Large Suburban Large City
Enrollment 15,801 21,917
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #805 #883
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nku.edu memphis.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

NKU Memphis
Tuition (In State) $10,208 $8,352
Tuition (Out of State) $20,464 $12,576
Room & Board $11,248 $10,126
Avg Net Price $7,259 $13,873
Avg Grant Aid $11,275 $9,625
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 98%

Admission

NKU Memphis
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,905 15,767
Admitted 5,939 14,916
Acceptance Rate 86% 94.6%
Enrolled % 27.6% 16.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 3.48
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/25 17/24
SAT Range 1030/1290 930/1230
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 Jul 1, 2025

Academics

NKU Memphis
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (26%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Business (21%)
  • General Studies (11%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (6%)

Outcomes

NKU Memphis
Graduation Rate 37% 38%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,700 $42,200
Making Student Loan Payments 53% 37%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,950 $25,250
Median Loan Payment $257 $261

Diversity

NKU Memphis
% Men 36% 40%
% Women 64% 60%
Racial Diversity Very Low High
HBCU No No
% White 82% 50%
% Black 7% 37%
% Hispanic 3% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

NKU Memphis
% In-State 66% 81%
% Out-of-State 26% 17%

Campus

NKU Memphis
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 Memphis is larger than than NKU based on total student enrollment (21,917 students vs. 15,801 students)

NKU vs. Memphis Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NKU or Memphis?

  • Northern Kentucky University is 22.2% more expensive to attend than Memphis for in-state tuition ($10,208.00 vs. $8,352.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 62.7% higher at NKU than University of Memphis ($20,464.00 vs. $12,576.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than Memphis ($7,259 vs. $13,873)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Memphis are 11.1% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($10,126 vs. $11,248)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than University of Memphis (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 17.1% larger than aid received University of Memphis ($11,275 vs. $9,625)

NKU vs. Memphis Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 39 points higher than at Memphis (1029)
  • Incoming NKU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Memphis (22)
  • Accepted freshman Memphis students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at NKU (3.42)
  • Memphis has a higher acceptance rate (94.6%) than NKU (86%)

NKU vs. Memphis Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, NKU or Memphis? 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 Memphis and NKU.

  • The graduation rate at Memphis is higher than Northern Kentucky University (38% vs. 37%)
  • Graduates from University of Memphis earn on average $2,500 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($42,200 vs. $39,700)
  • Northern Kentucky University students graduate with a $300 lower median federal student loan debt than Memphis graduates. ($24,950 vs. $25,250)
  • NKU graduates are paying $4 less per month on federal student loans than Memphis graduates. ($257 vs. $261)
  • More NKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Memphis students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 37%)

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