Northern Kentucky University

Highland Heights, KY · SoutheastQuad's selectivityAccessible

Website Admissions Apply Visit Financial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

7 in 10 applicants admitted

Northern Kentucky admits about 7 in 10 applicants (68%). That puts it in the "Accessible" tier, more selective than 67% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

68%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityAccessible

Applied

6,058

Admitted

4,098

Yield

37%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

953–1150

8001600

ACT middle 50%

18–25

1236

Applications −4% since fall 2014 · admit rate 91% → 68%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A medium campus of 8,246 undergrads, where 25% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

8.2K

undergrads · larger than 86% of colleges

Diversity index

0.43

Pell Grant

25%

below the median

First generation

38%

above the median

Large suburbNCAA D-I · Horizon LeagueROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research

More diverse · index 0.32 → 0.43 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Business Administration and Management, General (18% of graduates). 19 students for every faculty member, more than at 87% of colleges. 55% of faculty are full-time. Spends $9,637 a year on instruction per student.

19 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 87% of colleges

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $18,825 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $5.5K less than the national median. The 98% who received grants paid $9,211 on average; the other 2% paid the full sticker price of $25,856 in-state / $36,440 out-of-state.

35%

$18.8K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $5.5K below the national median

Full price, in-state: $25,856 a year; tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid: Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes

Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 35% of full price

Federal loans

31%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits

Cost falling · −12% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $50,220 ten years after enrolling, more than at 39% of colleges; 51% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.5 years of that salary.

51%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$50.2K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$23K

≈ $244/month for 10 years

Retention

76%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 36% → 52% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price held about steady after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 12%, because grants grew faster. Applications fell 4% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 91% to 68%.

Cost
Falling
−12% after inflation
Applications
Steady
−4%
Selectivity
More selective
admit rate 91% → 68%
Diversity
More diverse
index 0.32 → 0.43

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

University of Central Missouri

64% admit · 5.6K undergrads

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State University of New York at Cortland

62% admit · 5.9K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso public

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Idaho State University

7.6K undergrads

Similar sizeAlso public

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University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

75% admit · 6.4K undergrads

Similar sizeAlso public

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

1
IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
2
College Scorecard
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12
3
IPEDS Admissions survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
4
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
5
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
6
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
7
IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12
8
College Scorecard Field of Study data
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
9
IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
10
IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
11
Common Data Set
Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
12
IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12
13
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
14
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
15
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
16
IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
17
IPEDS Outcome Measures survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12
18
Northern Kentucky University (2026)
Northern Kentucky University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 157447 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything