Get Matched With Online Colleges
Northern Kentucky University (NKU) is a mid-to-large sized university located in Highland Heights, KY. The student body is comprised of over 10,000 undergraduate and over 5,000 graduate students. These students are in hot pursuit of over 90 undergraduate majors, 22 graduate degrees, or involved in the law program. These academic programs have been recognized by Forbes, which has named the school 11 times to its list of best colleges.
Search All Programs
Overview of Northern Kentucky University (NKU)
The Highland Heights campus has more than classrooms and hard classes, however. After class, students can take advantage of excellent resources that support their physical, social, and even professional well-being. The campus recreation center is home to a lap pool, whirlpool, aqua climbing feature, and more. Students also love taking advantage of the indoor track, fitness machines, racquetball courts, gymnasiums, and bouldering wall. Students can compete in friendly intramural leagues such as flag football, 3x3 soccer, E-sports, volleyball, and more. The back pavilion also offers students an idyllic spot where they can congregate, engage in intellectual discussions, or take in the scenery.
Students have plenty of dining options available on campus. For lunch, students might enjoy a few tacos or a slice from Sbarro. There are also multiple options for a latte or plain old cup of coffee to help keep the brain working during exam periods.
General Information
School Type | Public |
---|---|
Campus Setting | Suburb: Large |
Campus Housing | Yes |
Student Faculty Ratio | 17:1 |
Graduation Rate | 48% |
Year Founded | 1968 |
Student Enrollment
Total Students15,979
10,814
5,165
Undergraduate Student
Male 4,326
Female 6,488
Graduate Student
Male 2,066
Female 3,099
Explore Map
Top Rankings For Northern Kentucky University
NKU Acceptance Rate and Admissions
APPLICATIONS6,637
ACCEPTANCE5,310
Acceptance Rate80%
Enrollment 1,699
Admissions | |
---|---|
Application Fee | $40 |
High School GPA | Required |
High School Rank | Recommended |
High School Transcripts | Required |
College Prep Courses | Required |
Recommendations | NA |
SAT/ACT | Considered But Not Required |
Other Test (Wonderlic,WISC-III,etc) | Required |
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) | Recommended |
Application Deadline | August 1 |
Common Application Accepted | Yes |
NKU Tuition Cost & Financial Aid
As a public university, Northern Kentucky University is able to contain costs for students. While out-of-state scholars must pay more, Kentucky residents receive a stellar value in higher education. That is, Kentucky residents pay around $11,000 for a year of tuition, books, and supplies. Non-residents pay close to $10,000 more for the same strong academics.
Once costs for room, board, and other living costs are tallied, Kentucky residents face gross costs of between $25,000 for on-campus living and $28,000 for independent, off-campus living. These figures rise by $10,000 for out-of-state students. However, these gross figures are not the whole story.
When the financial aid office applies grants and scholarships for students, it is able to mitigate much of these costs. Indeed, the average gross cost of a year at NKU is a mere $7,500. This figure plummets for lower income individuals who face a net price tag of only $1,300. Meanwhile, the top income bracket sees a net price tag of a mere $12,000, which includes all tuition, living, and other costs.
Average net price | 2020-2021 |
---|---|
Net Price | $7,443 |
Average Total Aid | $10,343 |
Students Receiving Financial Aid | 99% |
Room & Board | $11,454 |
Sticker Price
- Tuition In-State - $10,392
- Tuition Out-of-State - $20,448
- Books and Supplies - $800
- Room & Board - $11,454
- Other - $2,500
Academics
Northern Kentucky has a lot of benefits to offer students, not the least of which are its academic programs. Students flock to the northern Kentucky campus for many reasons, but our researchers want to be sure that they have an objective assessment prior to enrollment. That is, students apply to schools based on factors such as a family heritage, friends, or sports teams. However, there are other things to consider, and our research shows that there are terrific academic reasons to enroll in NKU.
When we reviewed the retention rate, graduation rate, and other academic metrics, it was clear that NKU is a terrific school. The retention rate, a number that reflects the number of first-time, full-time students who return for a second year, is especially sunny. NKU reports that 70% are retained for a second year, which is above the national average and a good sign that students feel they are receiving everything they need in their freshman year. Then, around 50% stick around for graduation. Unfortunately, NKU does not report its transfer out rate but it's likely that even non-graduates are able to use their NKU education as a springboard to an education elsewhere. NKU also maintains a healthy student to faculty ratio of 17 to 1, which helps students learn, grow, and thrive.
Retention
Rate
4 year
Graduation
Rate
6 year
Graduation
Rate
Student Population Total
Student Population 15,979
10,814
5,165
Most Popular Programs & Majors
(# of Diplomas Awarded by Subject)
All Business Majors | 519 Total Graduates / 23% |
---|---|
Business Administration and Management, General | 356 Graduates |
Organizational Behavior Studies | 80 Graduates |
Construction Management, General | 32 Graduates |
Management Information Systems, General | 25 Graduates |
Health Professions and Related Programs | 385 Total Graduates / 17% |
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | 251 Graduates |
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | 73 Graduates |
Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiographer | 21 Graduates |
Athletic Training/Trainer | 18 Graduates |
All Computer Information Science Majors | 167 Total Graduates / 8% |
Information Technology | 67 Graduates |
Computer and Information Sciences, General | 57 Graduates |
Information Science/Studies | 38 Graduates |
Computer and Information Sciences, Other | 5 Graduates |
Visual and Performing Arts | 147 Total Graduates / 7% |
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General | 64 Graduates |
Fine/Studio Arts, General | 49 Graduates |
Design and Visual Communications, General | 18 Graduates |
Music, General | 16 Graduates |
All Education Majors | 134 Total Graduates / 6% |
Elementary Education and Teaching | 81 Graduates |
Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching | 23 Graduates |
Kindergarten/Preschool Education and Teaching | 18 Graduates |
Music Teacher Education | 4 Graduates |
Physical Education Teaching and Coaching | 4 Graduates |
Secondary Education and Teaching | 4 Graduates |
All Other Diplomas | 39% |
Outcome & Salary
Students at Northern Kentucky University are always interested to know how their degrees will pay off in the job market. While there are no guarantees, prospective students can look to alumni to get some idea of what may lie ahead. Researchers have reviewed self-reported salary data from NKU's past students and found that students with degrees in industrial production technologies reported a median salary of nearly $75,000. Rounding out the top five earning degrees were students with accounting degrees, whose median reported salary was $58,000. The third highest earning degree came from the computer information sciences students, whose median reported salary was $67,000.
Graduates Salary | |
---|---|
College Grads Early Career Salary | $53,500 |
College Grads Average Salary | $68,000 |
College Grads Mid Career Salary | $91,400 |
Return on Investment (ROI) | |
---|---|
10 Year Salary Earnings Potential | $680,000 |
20 Year Salary Earnings Potential | $1,594,000 |
Cost of Education (Net Price) 4 Year | $29,772 |
10 Year Projected ROI | $650,228 |
20 Year Projected ROI | $1,564,228 |
No College Education Salary Comparison | |
---|---|
National Average Salary | $38,792 |
10 Year Projected Income | $387,920 |
20 Year Projected Income | $775,840 |
Photos & Videos
Related Top College Resources