NKU vs. VCU

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

NKU VCU
Location Highland Heights, KY Richmond, VA
Setting Large Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 15,801 28,082
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #805 #442
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nku.edu vcu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

NKU VCU
Tuition (In State) $10,208 $12,458
Tuition (Out of State) $20,464 $33,726
Room & Board $11,248 $12,279
Avg Net Price $7,259 $21,294
Avg Grant Aid $11,275 $12,583
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 83%

Admission

NKU VCU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,905 18,242
Admitted 5,939 16,600
Acceptance Rate 86% 91%
Enrolled % 27.6% 25.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 3.75
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Average Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/25 22/30
SAT Range 1030/1290 1030/1290
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 Jan 18, 2025

Academics

NKU VCU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (26%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (13%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)

Outcomes

NKU VCU
Graduation Rate 37% 53%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,700 $47,500
Making Student Loan Payments 53% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,950 $23,250
Median Loan Payment $257 $240

Diversity

NKU VCU
% Men 36% 36%
% Women 64% 64%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 82% 50%
% Black 7% 18%
% Hispanic 3% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 6%
% International 3% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

NKU VCU
% In-State 66% 92%
% Out-of-State 26% 6%

Campus

NKU VCU
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

  • Virginia Commonwealth University is larger than than NKU based on total student enrollment (28,082 students vs. 15,801 students)

NKU vs. VCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NKU or VCU?

  • Virginia Commonwealth University is 22% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($12,458.00 vs. $10,208.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 64.8% higher at VCU than Northern Kentucky University ($33,726.00 vs. $20,464.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than VCU ($7,259 vs. $21,294)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 9.2% lower than costs at Virginia Commonwealth University ($11,248 vs. $12,279)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than Virginia Commonwealth University (100% vs. 83%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Commonwealth University students is 11.6% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($12,583 vs. $11,275)

NKU vs. VCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Virginia Commonwealth University (1097) is 29 points higher than at NKU (1068)
  • Incoming VCU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at NKU (23)
  • Accepted freshman VCU students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at NKU (3.42)
  • VCU has a higher acceptance rate (91%) than NKU (86%)

NKU vs. VCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at VCU is higher than Northern Kentucky University (53% vs. 37%)
  • Graduates from Virginia Commonwealth University earn on average $7,800 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($47,500 vs. $39,700)
  • Virginia Commonwealth University students graduate with a $1,700 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($23,250 vs. $24,950)
  • VCU graduates are paying $17 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($240 vs. $257)
  • More VCU 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/