Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
GS KSU Kentucky University of Toledo Georgia Southwestern Albany State University Eastern Murray State University Clayton State University Georgia State ASU WKU| Valdosta State University | Northern Kentucky University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
VSU | NKU | ||
| Location | Valdosta, GA | Highland Heights, KY | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 10,151 | 14,961 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #967 | #912 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | valdosta.edu | nku.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
VSU | NKU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $4,371 | $10,512 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $15,426 | $21,096 | ||
| Room & Board | $8,922 | $11,660 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $11,532 | $8,151 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,914 | $11,492 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 93% | 98% |
Admission |
VSU | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 4,689 | 6,417 | ||
| Admitted | 3,915 | 6,162 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 83.5% | 96% | ||
| Enrolled % | 29% | 21% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.23 | 3.42 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 17/23 | 19/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 950/1130 | 916/1133 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Required to be considered for admission | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jun 15, 2026 | Aug 15, 2026 |
Academics |
VSU | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 18:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
VSU | NKU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 43% | 37% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $40,300 | $39,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 41% | 53% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $24,950 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $257 |
Diversity |
VSU | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 7% | 10% | ||
| % Women | 21% | 24% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 51% | 82% | ||
| % Black | 36% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 1% |
Students |
VSU | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 75% | 71% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 23% | 28% | ||
Campus |
VSU | NKU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Northern Kentucky University is larger than than VSU based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 10,151 students)
VSU vs. NKU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, VSU or NKU?
- Northern Kentucky University is 140.5% more expensive to attend than VSU for in-state tuition ($10,512.00 vs. $4,371.00)
- Out of state tuition is 36.8% higher at NKU than Valdosta State University ($21,096.00 vs. $15,426.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than VSU ($8,151 vs. $11,532)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Valdosta State University are 30.7% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($8,922 vs. $11,660)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than Valdosta State University (98% vs. 93%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 15.9% larger than aid received Valdosta State University ($11,492 vs. $9,914)
VSU vs. NKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, VSU or NKU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NKU or VSU .
- The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 75 points higher than at VSU (993)
- Incoming NKU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at VSU (21)
- Accepted freshman NKU students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at VSU (3.23)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than VSU (83.5%)
VSU vs. NKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, VSU 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 VSU.
- The graduation rate at VSU is higher than Northern Kentucky University (43% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Valdosta State University earn on average $600 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($40,300 vs. $39,700)
- Northern Kentucky University students graduate with a $50 lower median federal student loan debt than VSU graduates. ($24,950 vs. $25,000)
- NKU graduates are paying $1 less per month on federal student loans than VSU graduates. ($257 vs. $258)
- More NKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VSU students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 41%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/