Shorter vs. NKU

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

Shorter NKU
Location Rome, GA Highland Heights, KY
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,447 14,961
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #977 #912
Religious Affiliation Baptist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website shorter.edu nku.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Shorter NKU
Tuition (In State) $23,514 $10,512
Tuition (Out of State) $23,514 $21,096
Room & Board $9,784 $11,660
Avg Net Price $16,692 $8,151
Avg Grant Aid $18,168 $11,492
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 98%

Admission

Shorter NKU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 783 6,417
Admitted 759 6,162
Acceptance Rate 96.9% 96%
Enrolled % 35.4% 21%
Avg High School GPA 3.25 3.42
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/23 19/25
SAT Range 900/1130 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 Aug 25, 2026 Aug 15, 2026

Academics

Shorter NKU
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (26%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Business (26%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

Shorter NKU
Graduation Rate 47% 37%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,300 $39,700
Making Student Loan Payments 38% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $28,418 $24,950
Median Loan Payment $293 $257

Diversity

Shorter NKU
% Men 4% 10%
% Women 5% 24%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 62% 82%
% Black 24% 7%
% Hispanic 5% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 4% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Shorter NKU
% In-State 81% 71%
% Out-of-State 16% 28%

Campus

Shorter 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 Shorter based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 1,447 students)

Shorter vs. NKU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Shorter or NKU?

  • Shorter University is 123.7% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($23,514.00 vs. $10,512.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 11.5% higher at Shorter than Northern Kentucky University ($23,514.00 vs. $21,096.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than Shorter ($8,151 vs. $16,692)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shorter University are 19.2% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($9,784 vs. $11,660)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Shorter University than Northern Kentucky University (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Shorter University students is 58.1% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($18,168 vs. $11,492)

Shorter vs. NKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 99 points higher than at Shorter (969)
  • Incoming NKU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Shorter (21)
  • Accepted freshman NKU students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Shorter (3.25)
  • Shorter has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) than NKU (96%)

Shorter vs. NKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Shorter 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 Shorter.

  • The graduation rate at Shorter is higher than Northern Kentucky University (47% vs. 37%)
  • Graduates from Shorter University earn on average $9,600 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($49,300 vs. $39,700)
  • Northern Kentucky University students graduate with a $3,468 lower median federal student loan debt than Shorter graduates. ($24,950 vs. $28,418)
  • NKU graduates are paying $36 less per month on federal student loans than Shorter graduates. ($257 vs. $293)
  • More NKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shorter students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 38%)

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