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Kentucky University of Toledo Virginia Tech JMU Eastern Annapolis Murray State University Washington and Lee Citadel Military College of South Carolina WKU Xavier UC| Northern Kentucky University | Virginia Military Institute | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
NKU | VMI | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Lexington, VA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Distant Rural | ||
| Enrollment | 15,801 | 1,512 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #805 | #150 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | vmi.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | VMI | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,208 | $9,782 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $20,464 | $39,590 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,248 | $10,674 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $7,259 | $18,129 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,275 | $19,111 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 69% |
Admission |
NKU | VMI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,905 | 1,192 | ||
| Admitted | 5,939 | 847 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86% | 71.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 27.6% | 42.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.65 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 22/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1030/1290 | 1105/1300 | ||
| 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 | Feb 1, 2025 |
Academics |
NKU | VMI | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 10:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | VMI | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 69% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $62,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 84% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $25,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $258 |
Diversity |
NKU | VMI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 36% | 87% | ||
| % Women | 64% | 13% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 80% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 2% | ||
| % International | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 0% |
Students |
NKU | VMI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 66% | 63% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 26% | 35% | ||
Campus |
NKU | VMI | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| 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 VMI based on total student enrollment (15,801 students vs. 1,512 students)
NKU vs. VMI Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or VMI?
- Northern Kentucky University is 4.4% more expensive to attend than VMI for in-state tuition ($10,208.00 vs. $9,782.00)
- Out of state tuition is 93.5% higher at VMI than Northern Kentucky University ($39,590.00 vs. $20,464.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than VMI ($7,259 vs. $18,129)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Military Institute are 5.4% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($10,674 vs. $11,248)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than Virginia Military Institute (100% vs. 69%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Military Institute students is 69.5% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($19,111 vs. $11,275)
NKU vs. VMI Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or VMI? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between VMI or NKU .
- The average SAT score at Virginia Military Institute (1139) is 71 points higher than at NKU (1068)
- Incoming VMI students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at NKU (23)
- Accepted freshman VMI students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at NKU (3.42)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than VMI (71.1%)
NKU vs. VMI Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or VMI? 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 VMI and NKU.
- The graduation rate at VMI is higher than Northern Kentucky University (69% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Virginia Military Institute earn on average $22,400 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($62,100 vs. $39,700)
- Northern Kentucky University students graduate with a $50 lower median federal student loan debt than VMI graduates. ($24,950 vs. $25,000)
- NKU graduates are paying $1 less per month on federal student loans than VMI graduates. ($257 vs. $258)
- More VMI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 53%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/