Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Kentucky WKU University of Toledo Eastern WVU Ohio State Bellarmine University IU Murray State University LSU UC Xavier| University of Louisville | Northern Kentucky University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Louisville | NKU | ||
| Location | Louisville, KY | Highland Heights, KY | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 22,017 | 15,801 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #382 | #805 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | louisville.edu | nku.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Louisville | NKU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $12,324 | $10,208 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $28,670 | $20,464 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,668 | $11,248 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,327 | $7,259 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $12,216 | $11,275 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 97% | 100% |
Admission |
Louisville | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 15,462 | 6,905 | ||
| Admitted | 12,608 | 5,939 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 81.5% | 86% | ||
| Enrolled % | 23.2% | 27.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.64 | 3.42 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/27 | 19/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 1070/1270 | 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 | Feb 15, 2025 | Aug 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Louisville | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 17:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Louisville | NKU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 51% | 37% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $45,200 | $39,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 58% | 53% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $19,656 | $24,950 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $203 | $257 |
Diversity |
Louisville | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 44% | 36% | ||
| % Women | 56% | 64% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 76% | 82% | ||
| % Black | 11% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 2% | ||
| % International | 1% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 1% |
Students |
Louisville | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 73% | 66% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 27% | 26% | ||
Campus |
Louisville | 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
- University of Louisville is larger than than NKU based on total student enrollment (22,017 students vs. 15,801 students)
Louisville vs. NKU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Louisville or NKU?
- University of Louisville is 20.7% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($12,324.00 vs. $10,208.00)
- Out of state tuition is 40.1% higher at Louisville than Northern Kentucky University ($28,670.00 vs. $20,464.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than Louisville ($7,259 vs. $19,327)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Louisville are 5.4% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($10,668 vs. $11,248)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than University of Louisville (100% vs. 97%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Louisville students is 8.3% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($12,216 vs. $11,275)
Louisville vs. NKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Louisville or NKU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NKU or Louisville .
- The average SAT score at University of Louisville (1159) is 91 points higher than at NKU (1068)
- Incoming Louisville students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at NKU (23)
- Accepted freshman Louisville students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at NKU (3.42)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than Louisville (81.5%)
Louisville vs. NKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Louisville 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 Louisville.
- The graduation rate at Louisville is higher than Northern Kentucky University (51% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from University of Louisville earn on average $5,500 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($45,200 vs. $39,700)
- University of Louisville students graduate with a $5,294 lower median federal student loan debt than NKU graduates. ($19,656 vs. $24,950)
- Louisville graduates are paying $54 less per month on federal student loans than NKU graduates. ($203 vs. $257)
- More Louisville graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 53%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/