Northern Kentucky University — College Profile

About

Located just minutes from downtown Cincinnati in Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University (NKU) is a forward-thinking public institution recognized for its accessible education, robust regional partnerships, and emphasis on applied learning. Academically, NKU is celebrated for its cutting-edge College of Informatics—headquartered in the high-tech Griffin Hall—alongside highly regarded programs in nursing, cybersecurity, business, and the Salmon P. Chase College of Law. Campus life features an active community driven by NCAA Division I Norse athletics, undergraduate research initiatives, and strong support systems for first-generation college students. A major distinctive advantage for students is the university's prime location, which provides direct pipelines to Fortune 500 internships, clinical rotations, and career opportunities across the Greater Cincinnati metropolitan area.

Wikipedia:Northern Kentucky University is a public university in Highland Heights, Kentucky, United States. Established in 1968, it is the youngest of Kentucky's eight public universities. The university has seven constituent colleges in arts and science, business, education, informatics, health, and the Salmon P. Chase College of Law.

Location

Highland Heights, KY, 41099 · Suburb campus

✈

Nearest airport from college

CVG · Cincinnati

11 mi away

Open in Google Maps

Cost & aid

Cost of attendance

These figures are federal data and may be out of date.

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition & fees$11,088$21,912

Housing & food (on campus)$12,712$12,712

Books & supplies$800$800

Cost of attendance$19,725$30,549 est.

Average net price$8,191Not published

Out-of-state prices

Tuition & fees$21,912

In-state: $11,088

Housing & food (on campus)$12,712

Books & supplies$800

Cost of attendance$30,549 est.

In-state: $19,725

Average net priceNot published

In-state: $8,191

est. = the in-state cost of attendance with out-of-state tuition swapped in; no out-of-state figure is published.

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24

$0–30k

$2,603

$30–48k

$3,630

$48–75k

$6,761

$75–110k

$12,679

$110k+

$14,522

Your family's actual price → Northern Kentucky University net price calculator

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Merit aid · 2025-26

Awarded without financial need. Students with financial need can get merit awards too; they're counted as need-based aid.

Average award$3,019

First-years who got one387

Source: Northern Kentucky University's Common Data Set — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures (PDF).

Outcomes

Completion

Within 6 yrs

50%

Entered 2017–18

Within 4 yrs

36%

Back for yr 2

76%

Transferred

8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students

50% graduated · 33% transferred · 1% still enrolled · 16% left or unknown

Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021

6 yrs after entry$42,105

10 yrs after entry$50,220

Debt

Median at graduation$23,000

Monthly payment$244

Middle 50% owe$5.5k–$27k

90th percentile$38,749

Admissions

Getting in · applied for fall 2024

Admit rate

68%

Test policy

Test optional

Per College Scorecard

SAT average

1087

R 473–590 · M 480–560

ACT midpoint

Comp 18–25 · E 17–25 · M 17–24

SAT middle 50%: 953–1150

40080012001600

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Essay prompts

If Northern Kentucky University asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body

Gender

Men 41%Women 59%

Who enrolls

Faculty ratio

19 : 1

Pell grant

25%

First-gen

38%

Family income

$48,195

Independent

24%

Veterans

Age at entry

22.0

Part-time

18%

Race & ethnicity

White

75%

Hispanic

Black

Asian

Two or more

Non-resident

Unknown

Varsity sports

NCAA Division I without football · EADA 2024-25

Baseball
Men's
Basketball
Men's · Women's
Golf
Men's · Women's
Other Sports
Men's · Women's
Soccer
Men's · Women's
Softball
Women's
Swimming
Men's · Women's
Tennis
Men's · Women's
Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
Men's · Women's
Volleyball
Women's

Programs & Earnings

Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings

Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021

After 6 yrs

$42,105

After 10 yrs

$50,220

Business Administration, Management and Operations341

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing231

Computer and Information Sciences, General139

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods131

Psychology, General92

Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General78

Biology, General68

Social Work67

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities65

Criminal Justice and Corrections57

Human Resources Management and Services57

History57

Communication and Media Studies52

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions50

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft48

Journalism47

Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.

Institutional

Resources

Endowment

$139M

Full-time faculty

55%

Faculty salary

$8,693/mo

Teaching spend

$9,637

per student

Federal loans

31%

Classification

Carnegie type

Doctoral/Professional University

Research activity

Research college or university

$4M research spending · 16 research doctorates a year

Undergraduate profile

Four-year, selective admissions