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Marshall University JMU ECU Penn State TU Ohio University Kentucky WCU Kent State WVSU Old Dominion Mason| Northern Kentucky University | West Virginia University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
NKU | WVU | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Morgantown, WV | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 15,801 | 24,741 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #805 | #559 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | wvu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | WVU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,208 | $9,360 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $20,464 | $26,568 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,248 | $11,618 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $7,259 | $12,202 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,275 | $11,685 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 94% |
Admission |
NKU | WVU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,905 | 18,206 | ||
| Admitted | 5,939 | 16,091 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86% | 88.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 27.6% | 28.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.45 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 20/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 1030/1290 | 1000/1220 | ||
| 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 |
Academics |
NKU | WVU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | WVU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 57% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $50,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 59% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $24,001 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $248 |
Diversity |
NKU | WVU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 36% | 47% | ||
| % Women | 64% | 53% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 81% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 6% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 0% |
Students |
NKU | WVU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 66% | 42% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 26% | 57% | ||
Campus |
NKU | WVU | ||
| 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
- West Virginia University is larger than than NKU based on total student enrollment (24,741 students vs. 15,801 students)
NKU vs. WVU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or WVU?
- Northern Kentucky University is 9.1% more expensive to attend than WVU for in-state tuition ($10,208.00 vs. $9,360.00)
- Out of state tuition is 29.8% higher at WVU than Northern Kentucky University ($26,568.00 vs. $20,464.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than WVU ($7,259 vs. $12,202)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 3.3% lower than costs at West Virginia University ($11,248 vs. $11,618)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than West Virginia University (100% vs. 94%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by West Virginia University students is 3.6% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($11,685 vs. $11,275)
NKU vs. WVU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or WVU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WVU or NKU .
- The average SAT score at West Virginia University (1078) is 10 points higher than at NKU (1068)
- Incoming WVU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at NKU (23)
- Accepted freshman WVU students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at NKU (3.42)
- WVU has a higher acceptance rate (88.4%) than NKU (86%)
NKU vs. WVU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or WVU? 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 WVU and NKU.
- The graduation rate at WVU is higher than Northern Kentucky University (57% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from West Virginia University earn on average $10,900 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($50,600 vs. $39,700)
- West Virginia University students graduate with a $949 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($24,001 vs. $24,950)
- WVU graduates are paying $9 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($248 vs. $257)
- More WVU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 53%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/