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Northern Kentucky University

NKU

Highland Heights, Kentucky 41099

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Campus Vibe

Mid-SizeSuburbanPublicBusiness Focus

Known for business — excellent value

Northern Kentucky University is a public institution in Highland Heights with particular strength in business and health sciences. With an average SAT of 1114, the school attracts a broad applicant pool.

A mid-sized campus of 8.1K undergraduates with a 18:1 student-faculty ratio. The suburban location offers a balance of campus life and nearby amenities.

48% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $50,220 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $7,168.

Established
1968
Mascot
Victor E. Viking
Type
Public university
Division
Division I

Plan Your Visit

96%Acceptance
1114SAT Avg
8,065Students
18:1Student:Faculty
48%Grad Rate
$50,220Earnings 10yr
$7,168Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

Northern Kentucky University Launches New Data Science Minor

Starting Fall 2026, students can pursue an interdisciplinary data science minor combining CS, statistics, and domain courses.

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

The board of trustees approved a 3.2% tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, in line with peer institutions.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate96.0%

SAT Score Ranges

Average: 1114

Reading & WritingMid: 535
458573
MathMid: 562
458560

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 23
1925

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

96.0%

Trend

SAT Avg

1114

Yield Rate

35.0%

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Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition (in-state)$10,896
Tuition (out-of-state)$21,480
Room & Board$11,660
Books & Supplies$800
Total Cost of Attendance$19,471
Average Net Price$7,168
Median Debt at Graduation$23,000
Monthly Payment (10yr)$244

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$1,813
$30–48K$3,022
$48–75K$6,638
$75–110K$11,227
$110K+$13,270

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

69.1%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$15,159

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Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

56

Peer Average

92

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus police, emergency alert system, blue-light phones

Incident Breakdown (2024)

13

Burglary

3

Aggravated Assault

2

Robbery

4

Motor Vehicle Theft

6

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

16

Drug Arrests

12

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (120)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

78%

Negative
  • •78% first-year retention rate
  • •Active student organizations
  • •Engaged campus community

Mental Health Services

Counselor Ratio

1:350

24/7 Crisis Line

Yes

Free Sessions

12 per year

Avg Wait

5 days

Walk-in hours available weekdays

Disability Services

Dedicated OfficeOffice of Disability Services
Extended test timeNote-taking assistanceHousing accommodationsAccessible transportation

ADA-compliant campus with ongoing accessibility improvements

Dining

Rating

★★★★☆

Score

4/5

Meal Plan

$6,200/yr

VegetarianVeganGluten-freeHalalKosher

Multiple dining halls with farm-to-table options

Student Body

Undergrads
8,065
Gender Split
59% / 41%
Women / Men
First Generation
38%
Pell Grant Recipients
24%

Race & Ethnicity

White 76%
Black 7%
Hispanic 5%
Asian 2%
Two+ 3%
Int'l 4%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate48.3%
Freshman Retention77.8%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$42,105
10 Years$50,220

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#382
↓1
vs 2024
Washington Monthly
#338
↑2
vs 2024

More About This School

Varsity Sports

BasketballTrackVolleyballSoccer clubWrestlingLacrosse club

History & Fun Facts

  • •The main campus moved from Covington to Highland Heights, Kentucky, in 1972.
  • •NKSC awarded its first bachelor's degrees in 1973.
  • •Rapid expansion resulted in the school being upgraded to university status in 1976.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
30°
Dec
25°
Jan
28°
Feb
38°
Mar
50°
Apr
62°
May
Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647
90 miles(95 min)
Hartfordpop. 121,054
60 miles(70 min)

Transit Scores

BikeableCampus shuttle: Free campus shuttle runs 7am-midnight
72
Walk Score
45
Transit Score
68
Bike Score

Local Economy

Unemployment Rate3.2%
Top Employers
UniversityRegional Medical CenterTech corridor firms
Key Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnology

Getting There

Nearest Airports

CVG Cincinnati11 mi
CMH Columbus107 mi
IND Indianapolis109 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA738 mi · ~21h 19m drive
New York, NY566 mi · ~16h 21m drive
Hartford, CT648 mi · ~18h 43m drive
Providence, RI712 mi · ~20h 34m drive
Albany, NY613 mi · ~17h 43m drive
Syracuse, NY514 mi · ~14h 51m drive
Rochester, NY457 mi · ~13h 12m drive
Buffalo, NY395 mi · ~11h 25m drive
Philadelphia, PA500 mi · ~14h 27m drive
Pittsburgh, PA257 mi · ~7h 25m drive
Harrisburg, PA412 mi · ~11h 54m drive
Newark, NJ558 mi · ~16h 7m drive
Washington, DC399 mi · ~11h 32m drive
Baltimore, MD421 mi · ~12h 10m drive
Atlanta, GA365 mi · ~10h 33m drive
Charlotte, NC330 mi · ~9h 32m drive
Raleigh, NC391 mi · ~11h 18m drive
Miami, FL950 mi · ~27h 27m drive
Orlando, FL746 mi · ~21h 33m drive
Tampa, FL774 mi · ~22h 22m drive
Nashville, TN235 mi · ~6h 47m drive
New Orleans, LA704 mi · ~20h 20m drive
Richmond, VA395 mi · ~11h 25m drive
Chicago, IL258 mi · ~7h 27m drive
Detroit, MI240 mi · ~6h 56m drive
Minneapolis, MN610 mi · ~17h 37m drive
St. Louis, MO310 mi · ~8h 57m drive
Kansas City, MO542 mi · ~15h 39m drive
Indianapolis, IN104 mi · ~3h drive
Columbus, OH101 mi · ~2h 55m drive
Cleveland, OH225 mi · ~6h 30m drive
Milwaukee, WI330 mi · ~9h 32m drive
Dallas, TX813 mi · ~23h 29m drive
Houston, TX891 mi · ~25h 44m drive
Austin, TX966 mi · ~27h 54m drive
San Antonio, TX1038 mi · ~29h 59m drive
Los Angeles, CA1895 mi · ~54h 45m drive
San Francisco, CA2042 mi · ~58h 59m drive
San Diego, CA1871 mi · ~54h 3m drive
Seattle, WA1972 mi · ~56h 58m drive
Portland, OR1985 mi · ~57h 21m drive
Denver, CO1095 mi · ~31h 38m drive
Phoenix, AZ1580 mi · ~45h 39m drive
Salt Lake City, UT1453 mi · ~41h 59m drive
Honolulu, HI4434 mi · ~128h 6m drive
Mid-Atlantic / Central (moderate winters, warm summers)

Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park
Visitor parking lot
Free parking with visitor pass
9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions
Admissions Office
10:00 AMInformation session
Welcome Center
45 minutes
11:00 AMCampus tour
Starts at Welcome Center
75 minutes, student-led
12:30 PMLunch
Main Dining Hall
Visitor meal passes available
1:30 PMDepartment visit
Academic buildings
Schedule with department directly
2:30 PMExplore campus independently
Library, student center, residence halls

Airport Transit

Cincinnati (CVG)11 miles
Rental car
17 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
22 min$13-22
Columbus (CMH)107 miles
Rental car
161 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
214 min$128-214

Deadline Calendar

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Northern Kentucky University Application Checklist

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Decision Notifications

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Northern Kentucky University — v2 Preview — TourStack