Piedmont College vs. NKU

Should I go to Piedmont College or Northern Kentucky University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Piedmont College or NKU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Piedmont College vs. Northern Kentucky University comparison
Piedmont College Northern Kentucky University College 3 College 4
Piedmont College Northern Kentucky University
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Overview

Piedmont College NKU
Location Demorest, GA Highland Heights, KY
Setting Distant Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,840 14,961
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #718 #912
Religious Affiliation United Church of Christ - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website piedmont.edu nku.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Piedmont College NKU
Tuition (In State) $30,200 $10,512
Tuition (Out of State) $30,200 $21,096
Room & Board $12,300 $11,660
Avg Net Price $21,599 $8,151
Avg Grant Aid $23,701 $11,492
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 98%

Admission

Piedmont College NKU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,066 6,417
Admitted 1,918 6,162
Acceptance Rate 92.8% 96%
Enrolled % 14.9% 21%
Avg High School GPA 3.54 3.42
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24 19/25
SAT Range 990/1170 916/1133
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 Jul 15, 2026 Aug 15, 2026

Academics

Piedmont College NKU
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (40%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Social Sciences (4%)
  • Business (26%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

Piedmont College NKU
Graduation Rate 46% 37%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,000 $39,700
Making Student Loan Payments 44% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,736 $24,950
Median Loan Payment $245 $257

Diversity

Piedmont College NKU
% Men 5% 10%
% Women 26% 24%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 71% 82%
% Black 9% 7%
% Hispanic 5% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 1% 3%
% Unknown Race 10% 1%

Students

Piedmont College NKU
% In-State 85% 71%
% Out-of-State 14% 28%

Campus

Piedmont College NKU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Northern Kentucky University is larger than than Piedmont College based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 1,840 students)

Piedmont College vs. NKU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Piedmont College or NKU?

  • Piedmont College is 187.3% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($30,200.00 vs. $10,512.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 43.2% higher at Piedmont College than Northern Kentucky University ($30,200.00 vs. $21,096.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than Piedmont College ($8,151 vs. $21,599)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 5.5% lower than costs at Piedmont College ($11,660 vs. $12,300)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Piedmont College than Northern Kentucky University (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Piedmont College students is 106.2% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($23,701 vs. $11,492)

Piedmont College vs. NKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Piedmont College or NKU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NKU or Piedmont College .

  • The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 73 points higher than at Piedmont College (995)
  • Incoming NKU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Piedmont College (22)
  • Accepted freshman Piedmont College students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.54) than students at NKU (3.42)
  • NKU has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than Piedmont College (92.8%)

Piedmont College vs. NKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Piedmont College or NKU? 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 NKU and Piedmont College.

  • The graduation rate at Piedmont College is higher than Northern Kentucky University (46% vs. 37%)
  • Graduates from Piedmont College earn on average $1,300 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($41,000 vs. $39,700)
  • Piedmont College students graduate with a $1,214 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($23,736 vs. $24,950)
  • Piedmont College graduates are paying $12 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($245 vs. $257)
  • More NKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Piedmont College students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 44%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/