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Kentucky University of Toledo Eastern Murray State University WKU WSC Xavier UC Morehead State University Louisville BGSU BSU| Northern Kentucky University | University of Nebraska at Kearney | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
NKU | UNK | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Kearney, NE | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 14,961 | 6,017 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #912 | #574 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | unk.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | UNK | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,512 | $6,450 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $21,096 | $12,418 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,660 | $11,936 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $8,151 | $16,249 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,492 | $8,779 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 86% |
Admission |
NKU | UNK | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,417 | 7,253 | ||
| Admitted | 6,162 | 6,222 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 96% | 85.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21% | 14.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.24 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 18/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 916/1133 | 970/1150 | ||
| 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 | Aug 15, 2025 |
Academics |
NKU | UNK | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | UNK | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 61% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $43,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 71% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $21,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $219 |
Diversity |
NKU | UNK | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 10% | 8% | ||
| % Women | 24% | 22% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 79% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 11% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 2% | ||
| % International | 3% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
NKU | UNK | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 71% | 86% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 28% | 9% | ||
Campus |
NKU | UNK | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Northern Kentucky University is larger than than UNK based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 6,017 students)
NKU vs. UNK Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or UNK?
- Northern Kentucky University is 63% more expensive to attend than UNK for in-state tuition ($10,512.00 vs. $6,450.00)
- Out of state tuition is 69.9% higher at NKU than University of Nebraska at Kearney ($21,096.00 vs. $12,418.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than UNK ($8,151 vs. $16,249)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 2.4% lower than costs at University of Nebraska at Kearney ($11,660 vs. $11,936)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than University of Nebraska at Kearney (98% vs. 86%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 30.9% larger than aid received University of Nebraska at Kearney ($11,492 vs. $8,779)
NKU vs. UNK Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or UNK? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UNK or NKU .
- The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 19 points higher than at UNK (1049)
- Incoming NKU students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at UNK (23)
- Accepted freshman NKU students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at UNK (3.24)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than UNK (85.8%)
NKU vs. UNK Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or UNK? 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 UNK and NKU.
- The graduation rate at UNK is higher than Northern Kentucky University (61% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from University of Nebraska at Kearney earn on average $3,700 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($43,400 vs. $39,700)
- University of Nebraska at Kearney students graduate with a $3,700 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($21,250 vs. $24,950)
- UNK graduates are paying $38 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($219 vs. $257)
- More UNK graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 53%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/