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JMU Mason Virginia Tech Mary Washington College Old Dominion CNU William & Mary UVA Kentucky University of Toledo WVU UMBC| Northern Kentucky University | Virginia Commonwealth University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
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 | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 16:1 | ||
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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/