Quad

Head-to-head

U. Central Missouri
Northern Kentucky

Key differences

The biggest gaps between these schools, largest first.

  1. 1

    Northern Kentucky's yield is 8 pts higher than U. Central Missouri's

    Yield rate
  2. 2

    U. Central Missouri graduates 7 pts more of its students than Northern Kentucky (58% vs. 51%)

    Graduation rate
  3. 3

    Northern Kentucky is a bit larger (8,246 vs. 5,648)

    Undergrads
  4. 4

    Northern Kentucky has 5 pts more first-gen students than U. Central Missouri (38% vs. 33%)

    First-generation students
  5. 5

    Northern Kentucky's grants cover 35% of its full price on average, vs. 31% at U. Central Missouri

    Aid generosity
  6. 6

    U. Central Missouri costs about $2.3K less per year on average than Northern Kentucky ($16,535 vs. $18,825, all students)

    Average cost, all 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

U. Central Missouri admits 64%, Northern Kentucky 68%; Northern Kentucky's yield is higher, at 37%.

Acceptance rate
U. Central Missouri64%
Northern Kentucky68%
Quad's selectivity
  • U. Central MissouriAccessible
  • Northern KentuckyAccessible
SAT middle 50%Axis 800–1600
U. Central MissouriNot reported
Northern Kentucky
953–1150
How they read a recordfirst-years at 3.75+
  • U. Central MissouriGPA and school record required
  • Northern KentuckyGPA, school record, and prep program required

Who's on each campus

Northern Kentucky is a bit larger than U. Central Missouri (8,246 vs. 5,648 undergrads); U. Central Missouri has the larger Pell share.

Undergrads
U. Central Missouri5.6K
Northern Kentucky8.2K
Pell Grant share
U. Central Missouri27%
Northern Kentucky25%

Majors and faculty

Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration leads at U. Central Missouri, and Business Administration and Management at Northern Kentucky.

Students per faculty member
U. Central Missouri18 to 1
Northern Kentucky19 to 1
Most popular majorshare of graduates
  • U. Central MissouriCriminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration7%
  • Northern KentuckyBusiness Administration and Management, General18%

What each costs

U. Central Missouri costs about $2.3K less a year than Northern Kentucky on average; Northern Kentucky's grants cover the larger share of its price.

Average cost, all students
U. Central Missouri$16.5K
Northern Kentucky$18.8K
Aid generosity
U. Central Missouri31%
Northern Kentucky35%

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
U. Central Missouri$49.6K
Northern Kentucky$50.2K
Graduation rate
U. Central Missouri58%
Northern Kentucky51%

How each has changed

Applications grew at U. Central Missouri but held steady at Northern Kentucky; both got more selective.

Applications, 10-year change
  • U. Central MissouriGrowing+22%
  • Northern KentuckySteady−4%
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