Principia College vs. NKU

Should I go to Principia College or Northern Kentucky University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Principia 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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Principia College vs. Northern Kentucky University comparison
Principia College Northern Kentucky University College 3 College 4
Northern Kentucky University
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Overview

Principia College NKU
Location Elsah, Illinois Highland Heights, KY
Setting Rural Fringe Large Suburban
Enrollment 323 15,801
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #805
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website principiacollege.edu nku.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Principia College NKU
Tuition (In State) $31,200 $10,208
Tuition (Out of State) $31,200 $20,464
Room & Board $12,870 $11,248
Avg Net Price $18,039 $7,259
Avg Grant Aid $27,051 $11,275
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 100%

Admission

Principia College NKU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 209 6,905
Admitted 100 5,939
Acceptance Rate 47.8% 86%
Enrolled % 61% 27.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.34 3.42
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/25
SAT Range 970/1300 1030/1290
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

Principia College NKU
Student to Faculty Ratio 6:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (26%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

Principia College NKU
Graduation Rate - 37%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) N/A $39,700
Making Student Loan Payments - 53%
Median Student Loan Debt N/A $24,950
Median Loan Payment N/A $257

Diversity

Principia College NKU
% Men 59% 36%
% Women 41% 64%
Racial Diversity - Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 0% 82%
% Black 0% 7%
% Hispanic 0% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 2%
% International 0% 3%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Principia College NKU
% In-State 3% 66%
% Out-of-State 41% 26%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Northern Kentucky University is larger than than Principia College based on total student enrollment (15,801 students vs. 323 students)

Principia College vs. NKU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Principia College or NKU?

  • Principia College is 205.6% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($31,200.00 vs. $10,208.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 52.5% higher at Principia College than Northern Kentucky University ($31,200.00 vs. $20,464.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than Principia College ($7,259 vs. $18,039)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 14.4% lower than costs at Principia College ($11,248 vs. $12,870)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than Principia College (100% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Principia College students is 139.9% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($27,051 vs. $11,275)

Principia College vs. NKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman NKU students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Principia College (3.34)
  • NKU has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than Principia College (47.8%)

Principia College vs. NKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Principia 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 Principia College.

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