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CMU GVSU Oakland WSU Michigan State ISU Kentucky Eastern Michigan University Northern Illinois Michigan Tech University of Toledo Michigan| Northern Kentucky University | Western Michigan University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
NKU | WMU | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Kalamazoo, MI | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 15,801 | 17,000 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #805 | #634 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | wmich.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | WMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,208 | $14,523 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $20,464 | $18,154 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,248 | $11,102 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $7,259 | $20,030 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,275 | $6,813 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 93% |
Admission |
NKU | WMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,905 | 20,501 | ||
| Admitted | 5,939 | 17,334 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86% | 84.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 27.6% | 15.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.5 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 19/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1030/1290 | 990/1220 | ||
| 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 | WMU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | WMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 56% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $48,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 54% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $26,633 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $275 |
Diversity |
NKU | WMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 36% | 47% | ||
| % Women | 64% | 53% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 72% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 12% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
NKU | WMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 66% | 79% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 26% | 19% | ||
Campus |
NKU | WMU | ||
| 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
- Western Michigan University is larger than than NKU based on total student enrollment (17,000 students vs. 15,801 students)
NKU vs. WMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or WMU?
- Western Michigan University is 42.3% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($14,523.00 vs. $10,208.00)
- Out of state tuition is 12.7% higher at NKU than Western Michigan University ($20,464.00 vs. $18,154.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than WMU ($7,259 vs. $20,030)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Michigan University are 1.3% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($11,102 vs. $11,248)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than Western Michigan University (100% vs. 93%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 65.5% larger than aid received Western Michigan University ($11,275 vs. $6,813)
NKU vs. WMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or WMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WMU or NKU .
- The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 38 points higher than at WMU (1030)
- Incoming NKU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at WMU (22)
- Accepted freshman WMU students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at NKU (3.42)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than WMU (84.6%)
NKU vs. WMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or WMU? 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 WMU and NKU.
- The graduation rate at WMU is higher than Northern Kentucky University (56% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Western Michigan University earn on average $9,200 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($48,900 vs. $39,700)
- Northern Kentucky University students graduate with a $1,683 lower median federal student loan debt than WMU graduates. ($24,950 vs. $26,633)
- NKU graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than WMU graduates. ($257 vs. $275)
- More WMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 53%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/