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Kentucky University of Toledo Eastern Murray State University WKU Xavier UC Morehead State University Louisville BGSU BSU Kent State| Northern Kentucky University | University of South Carolina Upstate | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
NKU | University of South Carolina-Upstate | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Spartanburg, SC | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Midsize Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 14,961 | 4,946 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #912 | #776 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | uscupstate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | University of South Carolina-Upstate | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,512 | $11,208 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $21,096 | $22,170 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,660 | $10,040 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $8,151 | $13,794 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,492 | $10,414 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 97% |
Admission |
NKU | University of South Carolina-Upstate | ||
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| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,417 | 3,557 | ||
| Admitted | 6,162 | 2,476 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 96% | 69.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21% | 27.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 2.53 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | C+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 19/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 916/1133 | 1000/1170 | ||
| 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 |
Academics |
NKU | University of South Carolina-Upstate | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | University of South Carolina-Upstate | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 39% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $39,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 55% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $22,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $232 |
Diversity |
NKU | University of South Carolina-Upstate | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 10% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 24% | 8% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 56% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 29% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 4% | ||
| % International | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 2% |
Students |
NKU | University of South Carolina-Upstate | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 71% | 89% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 28% | 8% | ||
Campus |
NKU | University of South Carolina-Upstate | ||
| 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 University of South Carolina-Upstate based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 4,946 students)
NKU vs. University of South Carolina-Upstate Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or University of South Carolina-Upstate?
- University of South Carolina Upstate is 6.6% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($11,208.00 vs. $10,512.00)
- Out of state tuition is 5.1% higher at University of South Carolina-Upstate than Northern Kentucky University ($22,170.00 vs. $21,096.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than University of South Carolina-Upstate ($8,151 vs. $13,794)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Upstate are 16.1% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($10,040 vs. $11,660)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than University of South Carolina Upstate (98% vs. 97%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 10.4% larger than aid received University of South Carolina Upstate ($11,492 vs. $10,414)
NKU vs. University of South Carolina-Upstate Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or University of South Carolina-Upstate? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between University of South Carolina-Upstate or NKU .
- The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 118 points higher than at University of South Carolina-Upstate (950)
- Incoming NKU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at University of South Carolina-Upstate (20)
- Accepted freshman NKU students have a 0.89 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at University of South Carolina-Upstate (2.53)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than University of South Carolina-Upstate (69.6%)
NKU vs. University of South Carolina-Upstate Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or University of South Carolina-Upstate? 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 South Carolina-Upstate and NKU.
- The graduation rate at University of South Carolina-Upstate is higher than Northern Kentucky University (39% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Northern Kentucky University earn on average $400 more per year than University of South Carolina-Upstate graduates after ten years. ($39,700 vs. $39,300)
- University of South Carolina Upstate students graduate with a $2,450 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($22,500 vs. $24,950)
- University of South Carolina-Upstate graduates are paying $25 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($232 vs. $257)
- More University of South Carolina-Upstate graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 53%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/