Quad

Head-to-head

Northern Kentucky
Idaho State

Key differences

The biggest gaps between these schools, largest first.

  1. 1

    Idaho State graduates 5 pts more of its students than Northern Kentucky (56% vs. 51%)

    Graduation rate
  2. 2

    Idaho State costs about $3.6K less per year on average than Northern Kentucky ($15,215 vs. $18,825, all students)

    Average cost, all students
  3. 3

    Idaho State is more diverse (index 0.48 vs. 0.43)

    Diversity index
  4. 4

    Northern Kentucky grads earn $4.6K more ten years out than Idaho State's ($50,220 vs. $45,608)

    Median earnings, 10 yrs
  5. 5

    Idaho State has 3 pts more Pell recipients than Northern Kentucky (28% vs. 25%)

    Pell Grant recipients
  6. 6

    Northern Kentucky has 2 pts more first-gen students than Idaho State (38% vs. 36%)

    First-generation students

The shape of each school

Each axis is a national rank among 4-year colleges; further out = more of it.

SelectivityTest scoresSizePell shareFirst-genDiversity

Hollow dots at the center mean that measure isn't reported.

Who's hardest to get into

Northern Kentucky admits 68%; Idaho State doesn't report an acceptance rate.

Acceptance rate
Northern Kentucky68%
Idaho StateNot reported
Quad's selectivity
  • Northern KentuckyAccessible
  • Idaho StateNot rated
SAT middle 50%Axis 800–1600
Northern Kentucky
953–1150
Idaho StateNot reported
How they read a recordfirst-years at 3.75+
  • Northern KentuckyGPA, school record, and prep program required
  • Idaho StateNot reported

Who's on each campus

Northern Kentucky and Idaho State are about the same size; Idaho State has the larger Pell share.

Undergrads
Northern Kentucky8.2K
Idaho State7.6K
Pell Grant share
Northern Kentucky25%
Idaho State28%

Majors and faculty

Business Administration and Management leads at Northern Kentucky, and Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse at Idaho State.

Students per faculty member
Northern Kentucky19 to 1
Idaho State14 to 1
Most popular majorshare of graduates
  • Northern KentuckyBusiness Administration and Management, General18%
  • Idaho StateRegistered Nursing/Registered Nurse13%

What each costs

Idaho State costs about $3.6K less a year than Northern Kentucky on average, and its grants cover the larger share of its price.

Average cost, all students
Northern Kentucky$18.8K
Idaho State$15.2K
Aid generosity
Northern Kentucky35%
Idaho State36%

What each pays off

Northern Kentucky's former students earn more, a median $50.2K ten years after enrolling; both graduate more than 50% within six years.

Median earnings, 10 years
Northern Kentucky$50.2K
Idaho State$45.6K
Graduation rate
Northern Kentucky51%
Idaho State56%

How each has changed

Applications held steady at Northern Kentucky, which got more selective.

Applications, 10-year change
  • Northern KentuckySteady−4%
  • Idaho StateNot reported
All the numbersEvery figure for these colleges in one table, with differences highlighted.
Sources for this comparisonEvery dataset and year behind the numbers in this comparison; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, most recent release;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D), Fall 2024;IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field), 2024–25 graduates;College Scorecard, 2023–24;IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients), Entered fall 2018About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why