Northern Kentucky University

www.nku.edu

Add Comparison

2024 Undergraduate Tuition

$10,704

1.83% growth from 2023

2024 Average Net Price

$9,211

After Financial Aid

2024 Acceptance Rate

67.6%

6,058 Applicants

2024 Enrolled Students

15,347

55.7% Full-Time

2024 Graduation Rate

54.1%

984 Graduates

About

Northern Kentucky University is a higher education institution located in Campbell County, KY. In 2024, the most popular Masters Degree concentrations at Northern Kentucky University were Registered Nursing (625 degrees awarded), General Business (453 degrees), and Social Work (92 degrees).

In 2024, 3,945 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Northern Kentucky University. 66.9% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 33.1% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (3,061 degrees), 8.39 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (365 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Northern Kentucky University is $10,704, which is $−21,216 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

Doctoral Universities: Moderate Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

In 2024, the median undergraduate tuition at Northern Kentucky University is $10,704, which is $21,216 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $9,211.

In 2024, 86% of undergraduate students attending Northern Kentucky University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 31% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$10,704

2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at Northern Kentucky University was $10,704. The cost of tuition at Northern Kentucky University is $−21,216 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Northern Kentucky University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$9,211

2024 Value

13%

1 Year Growth

In 2024 Northern Kentucky University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $9,211. Between 2023 and 2024, the average net price of Northern Kentucky University grew by 13%.

This chart compares the average net price of Northern Kentucky University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$11,660

Room and Board

$800

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Northern Kentucky University was of $11,660 in 2024. The cost of room and board increased by 3.66% between 2023 and 2024.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $800. The cost of books and supplies did not change during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Northern Kentucky University (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

86%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

31%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

86% of undergraduate students at Northern Kentucky University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2024. This represents a growth of 1.18% with respect to 2023, when 85% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Northern Kentucky University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Admissions

Northern Kentucky University received 6,058 undergraduate applications in 2024, which represents a 5.59% annual growth. Out of those 6,058 applicants, 4,098 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 67.6% acceptance rate.

There were 15,347 students enrolled at Northern Kentucky University in 2024. 5% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Northern Kentucky University has an overall enrollment yield of 36.8%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

67.6%

Acceptance Rate in 2024

4,098

Accepted Out of 6,058

In 2024, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Northern Kentucky University was 67.6% (4,098 admissions from 6,058 applications). This is lower than the acceptance rate of 2023, which was 96%. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of applicants declined by 5.59%, while admissions declined by 33.5%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Northern Kentucky University (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

Submission Percentage (2024)

Scores Submitted (2024)

5% of enrolled first-time students at Northern Kentucky University in 2024 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Northern Kentucky University had a total enrollment of 15,347 students in 2024. The full-time enrollment at Northern Kentucky University is 8,554 students and the part-time enrollment is 6,793. This means that 55.7% of students enrolled at Northern Kentucky University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Northern Kentucky University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 74.5% White, 9.8% Black or African American, 4.37% Hispanic or Latino, 3.41% Two or More Races, 2.3% Asian, 0.117% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0521% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Northern Kentucky University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (43.7%), followed by White Male (31.2%) and Black or African American Female (4.53%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (50.3%), followed by White Male (21.7%) and Black or African American Female (8.26%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

55.7%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Northern Kentucky University in 2024, both undergraduate and graduate, is 15,347 students. The full-time enrollment at Northern Kentucky University is 8,554 and the part-time enrollment is 6,793. This means that 55.7% of students enrolled at Northern Kentucky University are enrolled full-time compared with 77.3% at similar Doctoral Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Northern Kentucky University (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

76%

2024 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Northern Kentucky University was 76%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (82%), Northern Kentucky University had a retention rate lower than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Northern Kentucky University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
11,428 enrolled students
Black or African American
1,504 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
671 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Northern Kentucky University is 74.5% White, 9.8% Black or African American, 4.37% Hispanic or Latino, 3.41% Two or More Races, 2.3% Asian, 0.117% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0521% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Doctoral Universities is 46.2% White, 16.3% Hispanic or Latino, and 10.4% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 395 students (2.57%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2024, 1,333 more women than men received degrees from Northern Kentucky University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Northern Kentucky University is white (3,061 degrees awarded). There were 8.39 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (365 degrees).

The most common Masters Degree concentration at Northern Kentucky University is Registered Nursing (625 degrees awarded), followed by General Business (453 degrees) and Social Work (92 degrees).

In 2024, the most specialized majors across all degree types at Northern Kentucky University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Legal (153 degrees awarded), Public Administration and Social Service (143 degrees), and History (46 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Registered nurses

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Northern Kentucky University are Registered nurses (1,528,193 people), Other managers (279,850 people), Elementary & middle school teachers (194,568 people), Medical & health services managers (192,817 people), and Social workers, all other (186,431 people).

The most specialized majors at Northern Kentucky University in 2024 are Legal (153 degrees awarded), Public Administration and Social Service (143 degrees), History (46 degrees), Communications (137 degrees), and Health (1,246 degrees) (as of 2024).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Northern Kentucky University are Surgeons, Diagnostic medical sonographers, Magnetic resonance imaging technologists, Physicians, and Nuclear medicine technologists and medical dosimetrists

The most specialized majors at Northern Kentucky University are Legal (153 degrees awarded), Public Administration and Social Service (143 degrees), History (46 degrees), Communications (137 degrees), and Health (1,246 degrees) (as of 2024).

Common Industries by Major

General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Northern Kentucky University are General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (1,739,438 people), Elementary & secondary schools (636,836 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (369,678 people), Outpatient care centers (361,829 people), and Offices of physicians (230,600 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Northern Kentucky University.

Liberal Arts & Sciences

Most Common (2024)

38 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common associates degree concentration at Northern Kentucky University was Liberal Arts & Sciences with 38 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from associates degree programs at Northern Kentucky University according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

1,306

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2024

2,639

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2024

In 2024, 1,306 degrees were awarded to men at Northern Kentucky University, which is 0.495 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (2,639).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Northern Kentucky University by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2024, 221 degrees were awarded to men at Northern Kentucky University in General Business, which is 0.953 times less than the 232 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2024, 756 degrees were awarded to men at Northern Kentucky University in Registered Nursing, which is 7 times more than the 108 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

34%

100% Completion Time

52%

150% Completion Time

In 2024, 34% of students graduating from Northern Kentucky University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 52% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 53% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Doctoral Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
3,061 degrees awarded
Black or African American
365 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
146 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Northern Kentucky University is white (3,061 degrees awarded). There were 8.39 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (365 degrees).

1.55% of degree recipients (61 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2024)

White Female
2,063 degrees awarded
White Female
2,047 degrees awarded
White Female
2,038 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Northern Kentucky University is white female (2,063 degrees awarded). There were 1.01 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white female (2,047 degrees).

Operations

Northern Kentucky University has an endowment valued at nearly $139M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 7.5M (5.41%) compared to the 9.4% average return (23.7M on 252M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2024, Northern Kentucky University had a total salary expenditure of 270M. Northern Kentucky University employs 201 Lecturers, 128 Associate professors and 115 Professors. Most academics at Northern Kentucky University are Female Lecturer (131), Female Associate professor (77), and Male Lecturer (70).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Northern Kentucky University are: Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media, with 190 employees, Office and Administrative Support, with 148 employees, and Computer, Engineering, and Science with 122 employees.

Endowment

$139M

2024 Endowment

9.66%

growth from 2023

Northern Kentucky University has an endowment valued at about $139M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The endowment of Northern Kentucky University grew 9.66% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $113M lower than than the median endowment of Doctoral Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Northern Kentucky University (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Doctoral Universities: Moderate Research Activity Carnegie Classification grouping.

Government Grants and Contracts

Grants & Contracts

$4.48M - Federal
$3.96M - State
$18k - Local

As of 2024, Northern Kentucky University received $4.48M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $3.96M from state grants and contracts, and $18k from local grants and contracts.

Salary Expenditure

$110M

2024 Salaries

6.89%

decline from 2023

In 2024, Northern Kentucky University paid a median of $110M in salaries, which represents 40.7% of their overall expenditure ($270M) and a 6.89% decline from the previous year. This is compared to a 8.66% growth between 2022 and 2023, and a 6.73% growth between 2021 and 2022.

Instructional Salaries

$42M

Instructional Salaries

505

Number of Employees

In 2024, Northern Kentucky University paid a total of $42M to 505 employees working as instructors, which represents 38.2% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $4.1M (2.29%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Occupations by Share

In 2024, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Northern Kentucky University were Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 190 employees, Office and Administrative Support with 148 employees, and Computer, Engineering, and Science with 122 employees.

Keep Exploring

West Chester University of Pennsylvania

University

CUNY Brooklyn College

University

Florida Gulf Coast University

University

Pennsylvania State University-World Campus

University

Jefferson (Philadelphia University + Thomas Jefferson University)

University