Quad

Head-to-head

State University of New York at Cortland
Northern Kentucky

Key differences

The biggest gaps between these schools, largest first.

  1. 1

    Northern Kentucky's yield is 25 pts higher than State University of New York at Cortland's

    Yield rate
  2. 2

    State University of New York at Cortland graduates 19 pts more of its students than Northern Kentucky (71% vs. 51%)

    Graduation rate
  3. 3

    Northern Kentucky's grants cover 35% of its full price on average, vs. 18% at State University of New York at Cortland

    Aid generosity
  4. 4

    Northern Kentucky has 11 pts more first-gen students than State University of New York at Cortland (38% vs. 27%)

    First-generation students
  5. 5

    State University of New York at Cortland grads earn $10K more ten years out than Northern Kentucky's ($60,236 vs. $50,220)

    Median earnings, 10 yrs
  6. 6

    Northern Kentucky costs about $4.9K less per year on average than State University of New York at Cortland ($18,825 vs. $23,678, 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

State University of New York at Cortland admits 62%, Northern Kentucky 68%; Northern Kentucky's yield is higher, at 37%.

Acceptance rate
State University of New York at Cortland62%
Northern Kentucky68%
Quad's selectivity
  • State University of New York at CortlandSelectivefrom New YorkAccessiblefrom other states
  • Northern KentuckyAccessible
SAT middle 50%Axis 800–1600
State University of New York at CortlandTest-blind
Northern Kentucky
953–1150
How they read a recordfirst-years at 3.75+
  • State University of New York at CortlandRigor and GPA very important22%
  • Northern KentuckyGPA, school record, and prep program required

Who's on each campus

Northern Kentucky is a bit larger than State University of New York at Cortland (8,246 vs. 5,875 undergrads).

Undergrads
State University of New York at Cortland5.9K
Northern Kentucky8.2K
Pell Grant share
State University of New York at Cortland27%
Northern Kentucky25%

Majors and faculty

Physical Education Teaching and Coaching leads at State University of New York at Cortland, and Business Administration and Management at Northern Kentucky.

Students per faculty member
State University of New York at Cortland15 to 1
Northern Kentucky19 to 1
Most popular majorshare of graduates
  • State University of New York at CortlandPhysical Education Teaching and Coaching14%
  • Northern KentuckyBusiness Administration and Management, General18%

What each costs

Northern Kentucky costs about $4.9K less a year than State University of New York at Cortland on average, and its grants cover the larger share of its price.

Average cost, all students
State University of New York at Cortland$23.7K
Northern Kentucky$18.8K
Aid generosity
State University of New York at Cortland18%
Northern Kentucky35%

What each pays off

State University of New York at Cortland's former students earn more, a median $60.2K ten years after enrolling; both graduate more than 50% within six years.

Median earnings, 10 years
State University of New York at Cortland$60.2K
Northern Kentucky$50.2K
Graduation rate
State University of New York at Cortland71%
Northern Kentucky51%

How each has changed

Applications grew at State University of New York at Cortland but held steady at Northern Kentucky.

Applications, 10-year change
  • State University of New York at CortlandGrowing+57%
  • 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:State University of New York at Cortland Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, most recent release;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;State University of New York at Cortland Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024;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 2018;College Scorecard, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023About 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