NKU vs. WSSU

Deciding between Northern Kentucky University and Winston Salem State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Northern Kentucky University
Winston Salem State University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • NKU Highland Heights, KY
  • WSSU Winston-Salem, NC
  • Setting
  • NKU Large Suburban
  • WSSU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • NKU 15,347
  • WSSU 4,782
  • Type
  • NKU Public 4 Year
  • WSSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • NKU #854
  • WSSU #940
  • Religious Affiliation
  • NKU -
  • WSSU -
  • Status
  • NKU Non-profit
  • WSSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • NKU
  • WSSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • NKU $11,088
  • WSSU $6,126
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • NKU $21,912
  • WSSU $16,782
  • Room & Board
  • NKU $12,712
  • WSSU $11,484
  • Average Net Price
  • NKU $9,211
  • WSSU $12,989
  • Average Grant Aid
  • NKU $10,332
  • WSSU $10,057
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • NKU 98%
  • WSSU 91%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • NKU 6,058
  • WSSU 9,108
  • Admitted
  • NKU 4,098
  • WSSU 7,128
  • Acceptance Rate
  • NKU 67.6%
  • WSSU 78.3%
  • Enrolled
  • NKU 36.8%
  • WSSU 13.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • NKU 1050
  • WSSU 930
  • Typical ACT score
  • NKU 21
  • WSSU 17
  • Average High School GPA
  • NKU 3.42
  • WSSU 3.01
  • Typical High School Grades
  • NKU B+
  • WSSU B
  • Admissions Standards
  • NKU Very Easy
  • WSSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • NKU Low
  • WSSU
  • ACT Range
  • NKU 18/25
  • WSSU 15/20
  • SAT Range
  • NKU 953/1150
  • WSSU 830/1020
  • Submit Test Scores
  • NKU Test optional
  • WSSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • NKU Aug 15, 2027
  • WSSU Feb 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • NKU 19:1
  • WSSU 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • NKU
    • Business (26%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • WSSU
    • Health Professions (50%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Social Sciences (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • NKU 37%
  • WSSU 41%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • NKU $39,700
  • WSSU $35,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • NKU 53%
  • WSSU 33%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • NKU $24,950
  • WSSU $25,663
  • Median Loan Payment
  • NKU $257
  • WSSU $265

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • NKU 37%
  • WSSU 26%
  • % Women
  • NKU 63%
  • WSSU 74%
  • Racial Diversity
  • NKU Very Low
  • WSSU Low
  • HBCU
  • NKU No
  • WSSU Yes
  • % White
  • NKU 82%
  • WSSU 16%
  • % Asian
  • NKU 1%
  • WSSU 1%
  • % Black
  • NKU 7%
  • WSSU 72%
  • % Hispanic
  • NKU 3%
  • WSSU 3%
  • % Native American
  • NKU 0%
  • WSSU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • NKU 0%
  • WSSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • NKU 2%
  • WSSU 4%
  • % International
  • NKU 3%
  • WSSU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • NKU 1%
  • WSSU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • NKU 69%
  • WSSU 75%
  • % Out-of-State
  • NKU 29%
  • WSSU 24%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • NKU Yes
  • WSSU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • NKU No
  • WSSU No
  • Meal Plan
  • NKU Yes
  • WSSU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • NKU Yes
  • WSSU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • NKU Yes
  • WSSU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights, KY with Winston Salem State University in Winston-Salem, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Northern Kentucky University is larger than WSSU based on total student enrollment (15,347 students vs. 4,782 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Northern Kentucky University is located in Highland Heights, KY (Large Suburban setting); Winston Salem State University is in Winston-Salem, NC (Midsize City setting).
  • Northern Kentucky University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Winston Salem State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Northern Kentucky University 19:1; Winston Salem State University 15:1.

NKU vs. WSSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NKU or WSSU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than WSSU ($9,211 vs. $12,989).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Winston Salem State University are 9.7% lower than at Northern Kentucky University ($11,484 vs. $12,712).
  • Northern Kentucky University is 81% more expensive for in-state tuition than WSSU (about $4,962 more per year; $11,088.00 vs. $6,126.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 30.6% higher at NKU than at Winston Salem State University (about $5,130 more per year; $21,912.00 vs. $16,782.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than at Winston Salem State University (98% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 2.7% larger than aid received by Winston Salem State University students ($10,332 vs. $10,057).

NKU vs. WSSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NKU or WSSU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between WSSU and NKU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Northern Kentucky University (1050) is 120 points higher than at WSSU (930).
  • Incoming NKU students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (21 vs. 17 at WSSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northern Kentucky University 953/1150; Winston Salem State University 830/1020.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northern Kentucky University 18/25; Winston Salem State University 15/20.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NKU - Test optional; WSSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: NKU Aug 15, 2027; WSSU Feb 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman NKU students have a 0.41 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at WSSU (3.01).
  • WSSU has a higher acceptance rate (78.3%) than NKU (67.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 36.8% at NKU vs. 13.1% at WSSU.

NKU vs. WSSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NKU and WSSU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Winston Salem State University's six-year graduation rate (41%) is higher than Northern Kentucky University's (37%).
  • Graduates from Northern Kentucky University earn a median of about $4,000 more per year than WSSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,700 vs. $35,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Northern Kentucky University graduates have a $713 lower median loan debt than WSSU graduates ($24,950 vs. $25,663).
  • Among borrowers, NKU graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.