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Michigan State UM-Dearborn Oakland Detroit Mercy- UDM- U of D- University of Detroit Eastern Michigan University CMU Michigan GVSU WMU Cleveland State Kentucky Michigan Tech| Northern Kentucky University | Wayne State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
NKU | WSU | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Detroit, MI | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 15,801 | 23,630 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #805 | #582 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | wayne.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | WSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,208 | $12,933 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $20,464 | $29,622 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,248 | $11,321 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $7,259 | $15,347 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,275 | $10,605 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 96% |
Admission |
NKU | WSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,905 | 14,002 | ||
| Admitted | 5,939 | 10,547 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86% | 75.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 27.6% | 24.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.42 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 21/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1030/1290 | 1040/1260 | ||
| 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 | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
NKU | WSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 14:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | WSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 26% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $51,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 38% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $22,258 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $230 |
Diversity |
NKU | WSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 36% | 40% | ||
| % Women | 64% | 60% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 57% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 19% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 5% |
Students |
NKU | WSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 66% | 93% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 26% | 3% | ||
Campus |
NKU | WSU | ||
| 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
- Wayne State University is larger than than NKU based on total student enrollment (23,630 students vs. 15,801 students)
NKU vs. WSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or WSU?
- Wayne State University is 26.7% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($12,933.00 vs. $10,208.00)
- Out of state tuition is 44.8% higher at WSU than Northern Kentucky University ($29,622.00 vs. $20,464.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than WSU ($7,259 vs. $15,347)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 0.6% lower than costs at Wayne State University ($11,248 vs. $11,321)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than Wayne State University (100% vs. 96%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 6.3% larger than aid received Wayne State University ($11,275 vs. $10,605)
NKU vs. WSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or WSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WSU or NKU .
- The average SAT score at Wayne State University (1070) is 2 points higher than at NKU (1068)
- Incoming NKU students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at WSU (23)
- Accepted freshman NKU students have at the same average high school GPA (3.42) as students at WSU (3.42)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than WSU (75.3%)
NKU vs. WSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or WSU? 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 WSU and NKU.
- The graduation rate at NKU is higher than Wayne State University (37% vs. 26%)
- Graduates from Wayne State University earn on average $11,300 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($51,000 vs. $39,700)
- Wayne State University students graduate with a $2,692 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($22,258 vs. $24,950)
- WSU graduates are paying $27 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($230 vs. $257)
- More NKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSU students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 38%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/