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Kentucky WVU University of Toledo Fairmont State Eastern Marshall University Murray State University WKU Morgan State Xavier UC Morehead State University| Northern Kentucky University | West Virginia State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
NKU | WVSU | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Institute, WV | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Midsize Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 14,961 | 3,458 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #912 | #1003 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | wvstateu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | WVSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,512 | $8,524 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $21,096 | $13,948 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,660 | $12,936 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $8,151 | $10,878 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,492 | $8,657 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 83% |
Admission |
NKU | WVSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,417 | 4,465 | ||
| Admitted | 6,162 | 4,303 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 96% | 96.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21% | 7.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.24 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 16/22 | ||
| SAT Range | 916/1133 | 830/1073 | ||
| 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 | WVSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | WVSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 25% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $32,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 35% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $23,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $240 |
Diversity |
NKU | WVSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 10% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 24% | 2% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | Yes | ||
| % White | 82% | 65% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 14% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 10% | ||
| % International | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 9% |
Students |
NKU | WVSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 71% | 81% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 28% | 17% | ||
Campus |
NKU | WVSU | ||
| 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 WVSU based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 3,458 students)
NKU vs. WVSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or WVSU?
- Northern Kentucky University is 23.3% more expensive to attend than WVSU for in-state tuition ($10,512.00 vs. $8,524.00)
- Out of state tuition is 51.2% higher at NKU than West Virginia State University ($21,096.00 vs. $13,948.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than WVSU ($8,151 vs. $10,878)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 10.9% lower than costs at West Virginia State University ($11,660 vs. $12,936)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than West Virginia State University (98% vs. 83%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 32.7% larger than aid received West Virginia State University ($11,492 vs. $8,657)
NKU vs. WVSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or WVSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WVSU or NKU .
- The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 141 points higher than at WVSU (927)
- Incoming NKU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at WVSU (20)
- Accepted freshman NKU students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at WVSU (3.24)
- WVSU has a higher acceptance rate (96.4%) than NKU (96%)
NKU vs. WVSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or WVSU? 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 WVSU and NKU.
- The graduation rate at NKU is higher than West Virginia State University (37% vs. 25%)
- Graduates from Northern Kentucky University earn on average $7,000 more per year than WVSU graduates after ten years. ($39,700 vs. $32,700)
- West Virginia State University students graduate with a $1,700 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($23,250 vs. $24,950)
- WVSU graduates are paying $17 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($240 vs. $257)
- More NKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WVSU students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 35%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/