San Diego State vs. NKU

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

San Diego State NKU
Location San Diego, CA Highland Heights, KY
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 37,402 15,801
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #337 #805
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website sdsu.edu nku.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

San Diego State NKU
Tuition (In State) $5,742 $10,208
Tuition (Out of State) $17,622 $20,464
Room & Board $19,714 $11,248
Avg Net Price $13,017 $7,259
Avg Grant Aid $9,934 $11,275
% Receiving Grant Aid 43% 100%

Admission

San Diego State NKU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 77,250 6,905
Admitted 30,331 5,939
Acceptance Rate 39.3% 86%
Enrolled % 21.7% 27.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.82 3.42
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Average
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 22/29 19/25
SAT Range 1090/1300 1030/1290
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Nov 30, 2024 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

San Diego State NKU
Student to Faculty Ratio 25:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Business (26%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

San Diego State NKU
Graduation Rate 66% 37%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $53,400 $39,700
Making Student Loan Payments 65% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $15,349 $24,950
Median Loan Payment $158 $257

Diversity

San Diego State NKU
% Men 42% 36%
% Women 58% 64%
Racial Diversity Very High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 34% 82%
% Black 4% 7%
% Hispanic 31% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 2%
% International 6% 3%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

San Diego State NKU
% In-State 77% 66%
% Out-of-State 21% 26%

Campus

San Diego State NKU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • San Diego State University is larger than than NKU based on total student enrollment (37,402 students vs. 15,801 students)

San Diego State vs. NKU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, San Diego State or NKU?

  • Northern Kentucky University is 77.8% more expensive to attend than San Diego State for in-state tuition ($10,208.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 16.1% higher at NKU than San Diego State University ($20,464.00 vs. $17,622.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than San Diego State ($7,259 vs. $13,017)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 75.3% lower than costs at San Diego State University ($11,248 vs. $19,714)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than San Diego State University (100% vs. 43%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 13.5% larger than aid received San Diego State University ($11,275 vs. $9,934)

San Diego State vs. NKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at San Diego State University (1130) is 62 points higher than at NKU (1068)
  • Incoming San Diego State students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at NKU (23)
  • Accepted freshman San Diego State students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at NKU (3.42)
  • NKU has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than San Diego State (39.3%)

San Diego State vs. NKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, San Diego State 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 San Diego State.

  • The graduation rate at San Diego State is higher than Northern Kentucky University (66% vs. 37%)
  • Graduates from San Diego State University earn on average $13,700 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($53,400 vs. $39,700)
  • San Diego State University students graduate with a $9,601 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($15,349 vs. $24,950)
  • San Diego State graduates are paying $99 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($158 vs. $257)
  • More San Diego State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (65% vs. 53%)

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