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Kentucky SCAD University of Toledo Eastern Murray State University WKU Xavier UC Morehead State University Louisville BGSU BSU| Northern Kentucky University | University of North Carolina School of the Arts | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
NKU | UNCSA | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Winston-Salem, NC | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 15,801 | 1,104 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #805 | #291 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | uncsa.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | UNCSA | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,208 | $6,497 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $20,464 | $23,731 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,248 | $12,902 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $7,259 | $11,251 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,275 | $10,868 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 69% |
Admission |
NKU | UNCSA | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,905 | 1,139 | ||
| Admitted | 5,939 | 362 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86% | 31.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 27.6% | 58% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.75 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | |||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 22/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1030/1290 | 1115/1350 | ||
| 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 15, 2025 |
Academics |
NKU | UNCSA | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 6:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | UNCSA | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 58% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $39,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 56% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $279 |
Diversity |
NKU | UNCSA | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 36% | 41% | ||
| % Women | 64% | 59% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 72% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 9% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 5% | ||
| % International | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 2% |
Students |
NKU | UNCSA | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 66% | 43% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 26% | 52% | ||
Campus |
NKU | UNCSA | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Northern Kentucky University is larger than than UNCSA based on total student enrollment (15,801 students vs. 1,104 students)
NKU vs. UNCSA Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or UNCSA?
- Northern Kentucky University is 57.1% more expensive to attend than UNCSA for in-state tuition ($10,208.00 vs. $6,497.00)
- Out of state tuition is 16% higher at UNCSA than Northern Kentucky University ($23,731.00 vs. $20,464.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than UNCSA ($7,259 vs. $11,251)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 14.7% lower than costs at University of North Carolina School of the Arts ($11,248 vs. $12,902)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than University of North Carolina School of the Arts (100% vs. 69%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 3.7% larger than aid received University of North Carolina School of the Arts ($11,275 vs. $10,868)
NKU vs. UNCSA Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or UNCSA? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UNCSA or NKU .
- The average SAT score at University of North Carolina School of the Arts (1108) is 40 points higher than at NKU (1068)
- Incoming UNCSA students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at NKU (23)
- Accepted freshman UNCSA students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at NKU (3.42)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than UNCSA (31.8%)
NKU vs. UNCSA Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or UNCSA? 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 UNCSA and NKU.
- The graduation rate at UNCSA is higher than Northern Kentucky University (58% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Northern Kentucky University earn on average $600 more per year than UNCSA graduates after ten years. ($39,700 vs. $39,100)
- Northern Kentucky University students graduate with a $2,050 lower median federal student loan debt than UNCSA graduates. ($24,950 vs. $27,000)
- NKU graduates are paying $22 less per month on federal student loans than UNCSA graduates. ($257 vs. $279)
- More UNCSA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 53%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/