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ECU ASU UNC Charlotte UNCW Kentucky University of North Carolina at Asheville ETSU University of Toledo UNCG NC State Eastern Murray State University| Northern Kentucky University | Western Carolina University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
NKU | WCU | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Cullowhee, NC | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 15,801 | 11,635 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #805 | #763 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | wcu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | WCU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,208 | $1,000 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $20,464 | $5,000 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,248 | $11,173 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $7,259 | $13,022 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,275 | $4,526 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 99% |
Admission |
NKU | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,905 | 17,917 | ||
| Admitted | 5,939 | 15,201 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86% | 84.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 27.6% | 12.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.44 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 19/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 1030/1290 | 1020/1240 | ||
| 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 | Mar 1, 2025 |
Academics |
NKU | WCU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | WCU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $39,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 58% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $22,010 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $227 |
Diversity |
NKU | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 36% | 41% | ||
| % Women | 64% | 59% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 79% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 4% | ||
| % International | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
NKU | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 66% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 26% | 18% | ||
Campus |
NKU | WCU | ||
| 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 WCU based on total student enrollment (15,801 students vs. 11,635 students)
NKU vs. WCU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or WCU?
- Northern Kentucky University is 920.8% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($10,208.00 vs. $1,000.00)
- Out of state tuition is 309.3% higher at NKU than Western Carolina University ($20,464.00 vs. $5,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than WCU ($7,259 vs. $13,022)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Carolina University are 0.7% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($11,173 vs. $11,248)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than Western Carolina University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 149.1% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($11,275 vs. $4,526)
NKU vs. WCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or WCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WCU or NKU .
- The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 36 points higher than at WCU (1032)
- Incoming NKU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at WCU (22)
- Accepted freshman WCU students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.44) than students at NKU (3.42)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than WCU (84.8%)
NKU vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or WCU? 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 WCU and NKU.
- The graduation rate at WCU is higher than Northern Kentucky University (50% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Northern Kentucky University earn on average $600 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($39,700 vs. $39,100)
- Western Carolina University students graduate with a $2,940 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($22,010 vs. $24,950)
- WCU graduates are paying $30 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($227 vs. $257)
- More WCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 53%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/