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North Carolina Central University NCAT Fayetteville State University Kentucky University of Toledo Eastern UNCG ECSU Murray State University Wake Forest WKU Xavier| Northern Kentucky University | Winston Salem State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
NKU | WSSU | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Winston-Salem, NC | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 14,961 | 4,776 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #912 | #953 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | wssu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | WSSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,512 | $3,401 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $21,096 | $14,057 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,660 | $11,484 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $8,151 | $12,948 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,492 | $9,254 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 88% |
Admission |
NKU | WSSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,417 | 9,273 | ||
| Admitted | 6,162 | 6,357 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 96% | 68.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21% | 13.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.01 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 14/18 | ||
| SAT Range | 916/1133 | 820/1050 | ||
| 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 | Feb 15, 2026 |
Academics |
NKU | WSSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | WSSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 41% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $35,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 33% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $25,663 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $265 |
Diversity |
NKU | WSSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 10% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 24% | 9% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | Yes | ||
| % White | 82% | 16% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 72% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 4% | ||
| % International | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 2% |
Students |
NKU | WSSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 71% | 77% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 28% | 22% | ||
Campus |
NKU | WSSU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Northern Kentucky University is larger than than WSSU based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 4,776 students)
NKU vs. WSSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or WSSU?
- Northern Kentucky University is 209.1% more expensive to attend than WSSU for in-state tuition ($10,512.00 vs. $3,401.00)
- Out of state tuition is 50.1% higher at NKU than Winston Salem State University ($21,096.00 vs. $14,057.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than WSSU ($8,151 vs. $12,948)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Winston Salem State University are 1.5% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($11,484 vs. $11,660)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than Winston Salem State University (98% vs. 88%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 24.2% larger than aid received Winston Salem State University ($11,492 vs. $9,254)
NKU vs. WSSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or WSSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WSSU or NKU .
- The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 198 points higher than at WSSU (870)
- Incoming NKU students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at WSSU (18)
- Accepted freshman NKU students have a 0.41 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at WSSU (3.01)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than WSSU (68.6%)
NKU vs. WSSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or WSSU? 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 WSSU and NKU.
- The graduation rate at WSSU is higher than Northern Kentucky University (41% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Northern Kentucky University earn on average $4,000 more per year than WSSU graduates after ten years. ($39,700 vs. $35,700)
- Northern Kentucky University students graduate with a $713 lower median federal student loan debt than WSSU graduates. ($24,950 vs. $25,663)
- NKU graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than WSSU graduates. ($257 vs. $265)
- More NKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSSU students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 33%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/