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University of Dayton UC Miami JCU Kentucky Ohio State Butler University of Toledo Marquette University Loyola Eastern Michigan State| Northern Kentucky University | Xavier University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
NKU | Xavier | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Cincinnati, OH | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 14,961 | 6,000 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #912 | #279 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Roman Catholic | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | xavier.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | Xavier | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,512 | $47,895 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $21,096 | $47,895 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,660 | $13,820 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $8,151 | $31,542 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,492 | $30,901 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 100% |
Admission |
NKU | Xavier | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,417 | 16,750 | ||
| Admitted | 6,162 | 14,694 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 96% | 87.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21% | 8.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.68 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 22/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 916/1133 | 1060/1298 | ||
| 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 |
Academics |
NKU | Xavier | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | Xavier | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 77% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $54,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 72% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $279 |
Diversity |
NKU | Xavier | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 10% | 8% | ||
| % Women | 24% | 13% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 72% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 10% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 4% | ||
| % International | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 5% |
Students |
NKU | Xavier | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 71% | 43% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 28% | 56% | ||
Campus |
NKU | Xavier | ||
| 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 Xavier based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 6,000 students)
NKU vs. Xavier Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or Xavier?
- Xavier University is 355.6% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($47,895.00 vs. $10,512.00)
- Out of state tuition is 127% higher at Xavier than Northern Kentucky University ($47,895.00 vs. $21,096.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than Xavier ($8,151 vs. $31,542)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 18.5% lower than costs at Xavier University ($11,660 vs. $13,820)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Xavier University than Northern Kentucky University (100% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Xavier University students is 168.9% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($30,901 vs. $11,492)
NKU vs. Xavier Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or Xavier? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Xavier or NKU .
- The average SAT score at Xavier University (1111) is 43 points higher than at NKU (1068)
- Incoming Xavier students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at NKU (23)
- Accepted freshman Xavier students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at NKU (3.42)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than Xavier (87.7%)
NKU vs. Xavier Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or Xavier? 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 Xavier and NKU.
- The graduation rate at Xavier is higher than Northern Kentucky University (77% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Xavier University earn on average $14,800 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($54,500 vs. $39,700)
- Northern Kentucky University students graduate with a $2,050 lower median federal student loan debt than Xavier graduates. ($24,950 vs. $27,000)
- NKU graduates are paying $22 less per month on federal student loans than Xavier graduates. ($257 vs. $279)
- More Xavier graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 53%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/