Northern Kentucky University

School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More

Highland Heights, KY

$9,912

Avg in-state tuition

$19,872

Avg out-of-state tuition

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About Northern Kentucky University

School Type: Public

Status: Non-profit

Accreditation: Regional

Religious Affiliation: N/A While the student experience is largely unaffected at most schools with religious affiliations, some schools place more of an emphasis on religion. Learn how religious affiliations may impact students' experience.

Military Friendly: YesMilitary-friendly schools are Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges, offer the Yellow Ribbon Program, and have a dedicated point of contact to support veterans, military service members, and their families. Explore our college guide for service members and veterans to learn more.

Northern Kentucky University is a medium-sized public university located on a suburban campus in Highland Heights, Kentucky. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 11,507, and admissions are selective, with an acceptance rate of 87%. The university offers 73 bachelor's degrees, has an average graduation rate of 47%, and a student-faculty ratio of 18:1. Tuition and fees for in-state students are $9,912, while tuition and fees for out-of-state students are $19,872.

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Rankings

Learn more about how this school compares to other schools with rankings by BestColleges.

Admissions Breakdown

Acceptance Rate Insight

This school has a high acceptance rate.

This school accepts students at a higher rate than other schools. High acceptance schools welcome 51-100% of all applicants.

87% of students were accepted during the 2020-2021 school year. Sometimes schools with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but are still accessible to many students who apply.

Retention Rate Insight

75% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2019 and returned in Fall 2020.

Graduation Rate Insight

47% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2014. Keep in mind many students who enroll are not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners. Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.

Application Considerations

Test scores Required

High school transcript Required

High school rank Recommended

Letter of recommendation Not required or recommended

High school GPA Required

Open admission No

Completion of college prep program Required

Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL) Recommended

Transfer Credit Policy

Dual enrollment Yes

Credit for qualified life experience* Yes

Advance placement (AP) credits Yes

*This can include previous jobs, trainings, licenses/credentials, or seminars. You may need to complete an exam or provide a portfolio to earn credit.

SAT & ACT

ACT 25th-75th Percentile 20-26

SAT 25th-75th Percentile 960-1190

Learning Environment

Student Body Stats

This school has a student body of more than 15,000 students.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

16k

Students enrolled

94%

Online student enrollment

18:1

Student to faculty ratio

Ways Students Can Learn

Online Check Bold
On-campus Check Bold
Hybrid The program is a combination of on-campus and online learning and varies per program. Check Bold
International Online classes are available for students around the world. Check Bold

Demographics

White

80%

Black

8%

Hispanic

4%

Two or more races

3%

Non-U.S. Citizen

2%

Asian

2%

Unknown

1%

American Indian/Alaska Native

0%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%

Female student population

64%

Socio-economic diversity

35% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

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Online Programs

Offers Online Programs

Yes

Online Programs

30

Total Online Enrollment

15,166

Student Location Breakout

Percent of Programs Online

78% On-campus

22% Online

Types of Online Programs Offered

Certificates X Bold Not offered

Associate X Bold Not offered

Bachelor's Check Bold 19% online

Graduate Certificate Check Bold 20% online

Master's Check Bold 36% online

Doctorate Check Bold 67% online

Student Charges

Tuition and Required Fees

Student Level In-state Out-of-state
Undergraduate $9,912 $19,872
Graduate $11,034 $16,974

Cost of Undergraduate Attendance

Costs based on full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduates for the 2020–2021 academic year.

Costs to Consider Price
Books and supplies $800
On-campus room and board $10,046
On-campus other expenses $2,500
Off-campus (not with family) room and board $10,046
Off-campus (not with family) other expenses $5,364
Off-campus (with family) other expenses $2,500

Total Undergraduate Cost

Total cost by category In-state Out-of-state
On-campus $23,258 $33,218
Off-campus without family $26,122 $36,082
Off-campus with family $13,212 $23,172

Financial Breakdown

Students Receiving Aid

Federal Grant Aid

35%

State Grant Aid

67%

Institution Grant Aid

84%

Pell Grant

35%

Average Aid Awarded

Federal Grant Aid $5,132
State Grant Aid $2,493
Institution Grant Aid $7,097
Pell Grant Aid $4,981

Financial Outlook

$24k

Average student debt after graduation

$35k

Average salary 6 years after starting school

Varsity Athletic Teams

NCAA Division I without football

of the overall student body is a member of an athletic team.

Participation

Men Women
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Golf
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Tennis
  • Volleyball
  • All Track Combined

Degrees Awarded by Program

Degrees given for the 2020-2021 academic year.

1

Biological And Biomedical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

2

Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

3

Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs

BA

MA

DOC

4

Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

5

Education

BA

MA

DOC

6

Engineering Technologies/Technicians

BA

MA

DOC

7

English Language And Literature/Letters

BA

MA

DOC

8

Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics

BA

MA

DOC

9

Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

10

History

BA

MA

DOC

11

Legal Professions And Studies

BA

MA

DOC

12

Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities

BA

MA

DOC

13

Mathematics And Statistics

BA

MA

DOC

14

Natural Resources And Conservation

BA

MA

DOC

15

Philosophy And Religious Studies

BA

MA

DOC

16

Physical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

17

Psychology

BA

MA

DOC

18

Public Administration And Social Service Professions

BA

MA

DOC

19

Security And Protective Services

BA

MA

DOC

20

Social Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

21

Visual And Performing Arts

BA

MA

DOC

Resource

Financial Aid Overview

Resource

Understanding Grants & Scholarships

Explore Rankings

Explore More Resources

Data collected from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), [2020-2021]. In the absence of IPED data, information was collected directly from the school and is accurate as of the date of collection. Contact the school directly for the most current and complete information.