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Eastern Murray State University Kentucky Louisville UTC University of Toledo University of Southern Indiana Xavier UC Morehead State University Middle Tennessee State University Austin Peay State University| Northern Kentucky University | Western Kentucky University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
NKU | WKU | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Bowling Green, KY | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 15,801 | 16,493 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #805 | #875 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | wku.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | WKU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,208 | $11,112 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $20,464 | $27,000 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,248 | $11,072 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $7,259 | $12,625 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,275 | $10,260 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 99% |
Admission |
NKU | WKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,905 | 7,505 | ||
| Admitted | 5,939 | 7,276 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86% | 96.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 27.6% | 37.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.42 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 18/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 1030/1290 | 980/1170 | ||
| 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 | WKU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | WKU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $37,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 47% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $24,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $250 |
Diversity |
NKU | WKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 36% | 37% | ||
| % Women | 64% | 63% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 10% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 6% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
NKU | WKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 66% | 70% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 26% | 29% | ||
Campus |
NKU | WKU | ||
| 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
- Western Kentucky University is larger than than NKU based on total student enrollment (16,493 students vs. 15,801 students)
NKU vs. WKU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or WKU?
- Western Kentucky University is 8.9% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($11,112.00 vs. $10,208.00)
- Out of state tuition is 31.9% higher at WKU than Northern Kentucky University ($27,000.00 vs. $20,464.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than WKU ($7,259 vs. $12,625)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Kentucky University are 1.6% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($11,072 vs. $11,248)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than Western Kentucky University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 9.9% larger than aid received Western Kentucky University ($11,275 vs. $10,260)
NKU vs. WKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or WKU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WKU or NKU .
- The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 21 points higher than at WKU (1047)
- Incoming NKU students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at WKU (23)
- Accepted freshman NKU students have at the same average high school GPA (3.42) as students at WKU (3.42)
- WKU has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) than NKU (86%)
NKU vs. WKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or WKU? 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 WKU and NKU.
- The graduation rate at WKU is higher than Northern Kentucky University (50% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Northern Kentucky University earn on average $2,600 more per year than WKU graduates after ten years. ($39,700 vs. $37,100)
- Western Kentucky University students graduate with a $700 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($24,250 vs. $24,950)
- WKU graduates are paying $7 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($250 vs. $257)
- More NKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WKU students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 47%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/