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Kentucky University of Toledo Eastern Murray State University WKU Xavier UC Morehead State University Louisville BGSU BSU Kent State| Northern Kentucky University | Wisconsin Lutheran College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
NKU | WLC | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Milwaukee, WI | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 15,801 | 1,086 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #805 | #532 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | wlc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | WLC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,208 | $33,210 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $20,464 | $33,210 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,248 | $11,380 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $7,259 | $22,682 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,275 | $23,128 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 100% |
Admission |
NKU | WLC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,905 | 1,474 | ||
| Admitted | 5,939 | 1,383 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86% | 93.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 27.6% | 22.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.54 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 22/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1030/1290 | 1038/1243 | ||
| 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 | WLC | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | WLC | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 63% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $43,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 77% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $25,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $258 |
Diversity |
NKU | WLC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 36% | 44% | ||
| % Women | 64% | 56% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 83% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 2% | ||
| % International | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
NKU | WLC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 66% | 66% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 26% | 33% | ||
Campus |
NKU | WLC | ||
| 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 WLC based on total student enrollment (15,801 students vs. 1,086 students)
NKU vs. WLC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or WLC?
- Wisconsin Lutheran College is 225.3% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($33,210.00 vs. $10,208.00)
- Out of state tuition is 62.3% higher at WLC than Northern Kentucky University ($33,210.00 vs. $20,464.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than WLC ($7,259 vs. $22,682)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 1.2% lower than costs at Wisconsin Lutheran College ($11,248 vs. $11,380)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University as Wisconsin Lutheran College (100% vs. 100%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Wisconsin Lutheran College students is 105.1% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($23,128 vs. $11,275)
NKU vs. WLC Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or WLC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WLC or NKU .
- The average SAT score at Wisconsin Lutheran College (1101) is 33 points higher than at NKU (1068)
- Incoming WLC students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at NKU (23)
- Accepted freshman WLC students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.54) than students at NKU (3.42)
- WLC has a higher acceptance rate (93.8%) than NKU (86%)
NKU vs. WLC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or WLC? 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 WLC and NKU.
- The graduation rate at WLC is higher than Northern Kentucky University (63% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Wisconsin Lutheran College earn on average $3,300 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($43,000 vs. $39,700)
- Northern Kentucky University students graduate with a $50 lower median federal student loan debt than WLC graduates. ($24,950 vs. $25,000)
- NKU graduates are paying $1 less per month on federal student loans than WLC graduates. ($257 vs. $258)
- More WLC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 53%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/