Wabash College vs. NKU

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

Wabash College NKU
Location Crawfordsville, IN Highland Heights, KY
Setting Distant Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 835 15,801
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #805
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wabash.edu nku.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Wabash College NKU
Tuition (In State) $46,600 $10,208
Tuition (Out of State) $46,600 $20,464
Room & Board $12,500 $11,248
Avg Net Price $22,976 $7,259
Avg Grant Aid $37,119 $11,275
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Wabash College NKU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,914 6,905
Admitted 1,177 5,939
Acceptance Rate 61.5% 86%
Enrolled % 21.9% 27.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.6 3.42
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 22/30 19/25
SAT Range 1122/1320 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 Jul 1, 2025 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Wabash College NKU
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (17%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (14%)
  • Mathematics (10%)
  • History (10%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • Business (26%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

Wabash College NKU
Graduation Rate 75% 37%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $62,800 $39,700
Making Student Loan Payments 70% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $24,950
Median Loan Payment $258 $257

Diversity

Wabash College NKU
% Men 100% 36%
% Women 0% 64%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 74% 82%
% Black 6% 7%
% Hispanic 7% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 7% 3%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

Wabash College NKU
% In-State 66% 66%
% Out-of-State 25% 26%

Campus

Wabash College NKU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes 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 Wabash College based on total student enrollment (15,801 students vs. 835 students)

Wabash College vs. NKU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wabash College or NKU?

  • Wabash College is 356.5% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($46,600.00 vs. $10,208.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 127.7% higher at Wabash College than Northern Kentucky University ($46,600.00 vs. $20,464.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than Wabash College ($7,259 vs. $22,976)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 11.1% lower than costs at Wabash College ($11,248 vs. $12,500)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Wabash College as Northern Kentucky University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wabash College students is 229.2% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($37,119 vs. $11,275)

Wabash College vs. NKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Wabash College (1145) is 77 points higher than at NKU (1068)
  • Incoming Wabash College students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at NKU (23)
  • Accepted freshman Wabash College students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at NKU (3.42)
  • NKU has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than Wabash College (61.5%)

Wabash College vs. NKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Wabash 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 Wabash College.

  • The graduation rate at Wabash College is higher than Northern Kentucky University (75% vs. 37%)
  • Graduates from Wabash College earn on average $23,100 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($62,800 vs. $39,700)
  • Northern Kentucky University students graduate with a $50 lower median federal student loan debt than Wabash College graduates. ($24,950 vs. $25,000)
  • NKU graduates are paying $1 less per month on federal student loans than Wabash College graduates. ($257 vs. $258)
  • More Wabash College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 53%)

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