Northern Kentucky University
Tuition, net price, acceptance rate, SAT/ACT scores, graduation rate, and graduate salary · Highland Heights, Kentucky
Net price / year
$8,191
after grants & scholarships
lower than 81% of public 4-year colleges
Acceptance rate
68%
Graduation rate
50%
within 150% of normal time
higher than 55% of public 4-year colleges
Median earnings
$58,429
4 years after graduating
lower than 52% of public 4-year colleges
Northern Kentucky University at a glance
- What is the tuition at Northern Kentucky University?
- In-state undergraduate tuition and fees are $11,088 for the 2024-25 academic year, or $21,912 for out-of-state students.
- What is the cost of attendance at Northern Kentucky University?
- The average cost of attendance is $19,725 a year before financial aid (2023-24), counting tuition, books, housing and other living expenses.
- What is the net price at Northern Kentucky University?
- The average net price for in-state students is $8,191 a year after grants and scholarships (2023-24).
- What is the acceptance rate at Northern Kentucky University?
- About 68% of applicants were admitted (fall 2024).
- What SAT and ACT scores are typical at Northern Kentucky University?
- The middle 50% of admitted students who submitted scores had an SAT total of about 953–1150 and an ACT composite of 18–25 (fall 2024). Test policy reported: Considered if submitted, but not required.
- What is the graduation rate at Northern Kentucky University?
- 50% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time, or 6 years (entering classes through fall 2018).
- How much do graduates of Northern Kentucky University earn?
- The median graduate earns $58,429 four years after finishing, among graduates working and not enrolled (2024 dollars).
Key takeaways
- The earnings premium over a typical high-school graduate would cover the estimated net cost in about 1.4 years of work (not counting income forgone while studying).
- At $8,191 a year, the average net price is lower than 81% of public 4-year colleges.
- Families earning under $30,000 pay about $2,603 a year on average, versus $14,522 for families earning over $110,000.
- The school admits 68% of applicants, so most who apply are accepted.
- One year into repayment, 16% of federal-loan borrowers had paid in full or were making progress on their balance (5,299 borrowers).
Tuition and cost of attendance at Northern Kentucky University
Average net price (in-state)
$8,191 per year
Cost of attendance minus average grants and scholarships, for first-time full-time students receiving federal aid.
Estimate your own price with the Northern Kentucky University net price calculator ↗
Estimated total net cost
$32,764
Net price × 4 years, at today's prices and assuming on-time completion. Your actual cost depends on your aid.
Net price by family income
Average yearly net price for students receiving federal aid.
- $0–30k $2,603
- $30–48k $3,630
- $48–75k $6,761
- $75–110k $12,679
- $110k+ $14,522
Where the sticker price goes· Cost of attendance $19,725
- Tuition & fees$11,088
- Books & supplies$800
- Room & board$12,712
- Other expenses$2,500
- Tuition & fees (in-state)
- $11,088
- Tuition & fees (out-of-state)
- $21,912
Northern Kentucky University acceptance rate and SAT/ACT scores
Acceptance rate
Share of applicants admitted.
Test policy: Considered if submitted, but not required
Graduation rate and salary after graduating from Northern Kentucky University
Graduation rate
50%
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time.
Retention rate
77%
Full-time first-years who return the next fall.
Typical monthly payment
$244
On a standard 10-year federal plan.
Years of earnings premium to cover cost
1.4 years
Net cost ÷ (graduate earnings − high-school graduate earnings). Excludes income forgone while studying and assumes today's earnings. A rough guide, not a prediction.
Earnings vs debt
Of graduates working and not enrolled, in 2024 dollars.
- Debt-to-earnings
- 0.4×Median debt divided by median earnings 4 years after graduating.
- Share of pay going to loans
- 5%
- 3-year loan default rate
- 0%
Outcomes by student group
The Scorecard reports some outcomes separately for groups of students. A group is left out when it is too small to report. These are school-level figures and say nothing about any individual student.
Completion within 150% of normal time, by group
Share of students who entered in 2018 and completed within 150% of normal time (six years at a four-year college, three at a two-year college).
All students, same entering cohort: 52%
Group rates and the all-student rate come from the same 2018 entering cohort, so they can be compared directly. Groups at small colleges can rest on very few students. Data period: Entering cohort 2018 (IPEDS).
Earnings ten years after entry
All students who entered this college, whether or not they graduated, in 2022 dollars, ten years after entry.
Typical range: middle half of students
25th percentile $34,271 · median $50,220 · 75th percentile $71,430
Median by family income
Median by sex
This is not the same as the graduates' earnings shown above. It covers everyone who entered, including students who left without a degree, ten years after entry and in 2022 dollars. The graduates' figure covers only completers, four years after finishing, in 2024 dollars. Do not compare the two directly.
Data period: Students who entered in academic years 2009-10 and 2010-11 (pooled), earnings measured in 2020 and 2021, 2022 dollars (Treasury).
Median federal student debt, by group
Median federal loan debt of students who borrowed, when they left school, by group.
By Pell Grant status
By first-generation status
By family income
By gender
Data period: Loans in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (pooled, NSLDS).
How borrowers are doing
One year after leaving school and entering repayment, here is where the 5,299 federal-loan borrowers from this college stood. It covers borrowers only, not students who did not take federal loans.
Repayment status one year after entering repayment
- Paid in full 7%
- Making progress 9%
- Not making progress 13%
- Delinquent 2%
- Default 0%
- Forbearance 56%
- Deferment 12%
- Discharged 0%
What the terms mean
- Paid in full:
- The borrower has paid off the loans completely.
- Making progress:
- Payments are reducing the loan balance, not just covering interest.
- Not making progress:
- The borrower is paying, but not enough to shrink the balance.
- Delinquent:
- Payments are late but the loan is not yet in default.
- Default:
- The borrower has missed payments for so long that the loan is officially in default.
- Forbearance:
- Payments are temporarily paused or reduced, and interest may keep adding up.
- Deferment:
- Payments are on hold for an approved reason, such as returning to school.
- Discharged:
- The loan was cancelled, for example because of a disability or a school closure.
5,299 borrowers · Data period: Borrowers who entered repayment in the AY2018-19 and AY2019-20 cohorts (pooled, NSLDS).
Programs and majors at Northern Kentucky University ranked by earnings
| Program | Earnings, 4 yrs after | Earnings over time | Compared with the U.S. median for this field | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians Associate · Graduates: 20 Small sample | $92,849 | 1 yr$80,5444 yrs$92,849 | U.S. median $55,767 U.S. middle half $40.5K–$70.8K · Above the U.S. median | — |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians Bachelor's · Graduates: 34 | $88,492 | 1 yr$67,6414 yrs$88,4925 yrs$84,729 | U.S. median $80,890 U.S. middle half $61.2K–$99.3K · Above the U.S. median | $26,000 |
| Management Information Systems and Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 36 | $85,697 | 1 yr$68,6284 yrs$85,6975 yrs$88,946 | U.S. median $83,290 U.S. middle half $58.8K–$111.6K · Above the U.S. median | $22,125 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General Bachelor's · Graduates: 146 | $82,982 | 1 yr$62,4114 yrs$82,9825 yrs$86,745 | U.S. median $92,374 U.S. middle half $64.2K–$128.2K · Below the U.S. median | $22,925 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 41 | $81,833 | 1 yr$67,2954 yrs$81,8335 yrs$89,765 | U.S. median $95,124 U.S. middle half $77.1K–$115.2K · Below the U.S. median | $17,875 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Bachelor's · Graduates: 191 | $77,404 | 1 yr$68,6494 yrs$77,4045 yrs$70,920 | U.S. median $88,910 U.S. middle half $67.9K–$114.5K · Below the U.S. median | $23,050 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General Bachelor's · Graduates: 96 | $73,478 | 1 yr$58,9704 yrs$73,4785 yrs$74,867 | U.S. median $61,296 U.S. middle half $42.8K–$82.3K · Above the U.S. median | $18,750 |
| Associate · Graduates: 19 Small sample | $72,323 | — | U.S. median $49,927 U.S. middle half $33.1K–$69.5K · Above the U.S. median | — |
| Accounting and Related Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 95 | $69,610 | 1 yr$52,4254 yrs$69,6105 yrs$69,638 | U.S. median $76,194 U.S. middle half $56.2K–$97.2K · Below the U.S. median | $19,465 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 80 | $68,409 | 1 yr$50,4574 yrs$68,4095 yrs$69,586 | U.S. median $83,343 U.S. middle half $60.8K–$111.5K · Below the U.S. median | $21,237 |
Show all 40 programs
| Business Administration, Management and Operations Bachelor's · Graduates: 62 | $67,319 | 1 yr$44,5644 yrs$67,3195 yrs$63,791 | U.S. median $68,257 U.S. middle half $47.6K–$93.6K · Below the U.S. median | $19,500 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 82 | $67,174 | 1 yr$48,6544 yrs$67,1745 yrs$65,218 | U.S. median $68,407 U.S. middle half $48.2K–$94.6K · Below the U.S. median | $27,750 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 87 | $67,018 | 1 yr$45,3864 yrs$67,0185 yrs$61,687 | U.S. median $69,303 U.S. middle half $49.7K–$93.2K · Below the U.S. median | $20,500 |
| Human Resources Management and Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 214 | $65,960 | 1 yr$49,8034 yrs$65,9605 yrs$63,578 | U.S. median $68,069 U.S. middle half $50.2K–$90.6K · Below the U.S. median | $25,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 22 Small sample | $65,038 | 4 yrs$65,0385 yrs$63,085 | U.S. median $65,120 U.S. middle half $48.3K–$84K · Below the U.S. median | — |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Bachelor's · Graduates: 76 | $61,173 | 1 yr$52,0944 yrs$61,1735 yrs$55,224 | U.S. median $70,786 U.S. middle half $50.9K–$95.9K · Below the U.S. median | $27,250 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness Bachelor's · Graduates: 28 Small sample | $60,377 | 1 yr$42,7254 yrs$60,3775 yrs$56,835 | U.S. median $54,562 U.S. middle half $39K–$73K · Above the U.S. median | $23,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 63 | $56,999 | 1 yr$38,9704 yrs$56,9995 yrs$56,236 | U.S. median $57,214 U.S. middle half $38.9K–$79.2K · Below the U.S. median | $20,852 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections Bachelor's · Graduates: 82 | $55,835 | 1 yr$35,7244 yrs$55,8355 yrs$51,498 | U.S. median $55,378 U.S. middle half $40.2K–$74.4K · Above the U.S. median | $22,812 |
| Communication and Media Studies Bachelor's · Graduates: 113 | $53,082 | 1 yr$38,6374 yrs$53,0825 yrs$55,596 | U.S. median $56,359 U.S. middle half $39.6K–$76.1K · Below the U.S. median | $22,431 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 27 Small sample | $52,703 | 4 yrs$52,7035 yrs$45,819 | U.S. median $51,490 U.S. middle half $33K–$70.6K · Above the U.S. median | — |
| Political Science and Government Bachelor's · Graduates: 27 Small sample | $50,668 | 4 yrs$50,6685 yrs$54,948 | U.S. median $63,293 U.S. middle half $44.8K–$85.4K · Below the U.S. median | $19,500 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Bachelor's · Graduates: 134 | $50,322 | 1 yr$37,6024 yrs$50,3225 yrs$54,111 | U.S. median $53,072 U.S. middle half $35.8K–$73.3K · Below the U.S. median | $22,100 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 70 | $50,009 | 1 yr$31,3904 yrs$50,0095 yrs$65,863 | U.S. median $85,294 U.S. middle half $59.8K–$116.9K · Below the U.S. median | $25,000 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Bachelor's · Graduates: 60 | $49,989 | 1 yr$41,8424 yrs$49,9895 yrs$52,164 | U.S. median $63,560 U.S. middle half $45.9K–$83.7K · Below the U.S. median | $24,225 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research Bachelor's · Graduates: 17 Small sample | $48,949 | 1 yr$36,8944 yrs$48,949 | U.S. median $55,012 U.S. middle half $39.4K–$72.8K · Below the U.S. median | — |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 51 | $48,109 | 1 yr$29,6194 yrs$48,1095 yrs$44,967 | U.S. median $50,680 U.S. middle half $36.3K–$66.7K · Below the U.S. median | $24,484 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 20 Small sample | $47,343 | 1 yr$34,4284 yrs$47,3435 yrs$41,644 | U.S. median $42,892 U.S. middle half $26K–$58.8K · Above the U.S. median | $26,803 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 115 | $47,280 | 1 yr$36,2094 yrs$47,2805 yrs$42,365 | U.S. median $50,706 U.S. middle half $35.7K–$67.2K · Below the U.S. median | $24,500 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas Bachelor's · Graduates: 57 | $45,738 | 1 yr$33,6734 yrs$45,7385 yrs$48,220 | U.S. median $51,389 U.S. middle half $40.5K–$63.1K · Below the U.S. median | $27,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 140 | $44,914 | 1 yr$37,0374 yrs$44,9145 yrs$42,842 | U.S. median $51,790 U.S. middle half $39.2K–$64.2K · Below the U.S. median | $24,412 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 82 | $44,834 | 1 yr$29,6474 yrs$44,8345 yrs$44,790 | U.S. median $56,278 U.S. middle half $40.6K–$73.9K · Below the U.S. median | $25,417 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics Bachelor's · Graduates: 23 Small sample | $44,561 | — | U.S. median $55,000 U.S. middle half $38.4K–$73.3K · Below the U.S. median | — |
| English Language and Literature, General Bachelor's · Graduates: 60 | $44,385 | 1 yr$31,9264 yrs$44,3855 yrs$35,381 | U.S. median $48,590 U.S. middle half $33.7K–$63.8K · Below the U.S. median | $21,092 |
| Special Education and Teaching Bachelor's · Graduates: 16 Small sample | $42,964 | 1 yr$40,3334 yrs$42,964 | U.S. median $50,499 U.S. middle half $41.4K–$60.1K · Below the U.S. median | $27,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods Bachelor's · Graduates: 148 | $42,709 | 1 yr$38,0594 yrs$42,7095 yrs$41,370 | U.S. median $47,382 U.S. middle half $38.4K–$56.1K · Below the U.S. median | $23,457 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 73 | $42,684 | 1 yr$31,4484 yrs$42,6845 yrs$37,053 | U.S. median $41,367 U.S. middle half $26.2K–$56.7K · Above the U.S. median | $24,883 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies Bachelor's · Graduates: 18 Small sample | $41,730 | 1 yr$21,9154 yrs$41,730 | U.S. median $66,596 U.S. middle half $46K–$87.8K · Below the U.S. median | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Associate · Graduates: 34 | $40,516 | 1 yr$34,5414 yrs$40,516 | U.S. median $44,125 U.S. middle half $28.9K–$61.6K · Below the U.S. median | $18,625 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Bachelor's · Graduates: 65 | $35,624 | 1 yr$19,9294 yrs$35,6245 yrs$30,382 | U.S. median $39,775 U.S. middle half $25.5K–$55.4K · Below the U.S. median | $18,057 |
Earnings are for graduates working and not enrolled, 4 years after completing, in 2024 dollars.
The U.S. median and middle half (25th to 75th percentile) are for graduates of the same field and credential level at all colleges, 4 years after completing.
The 1-year, 4-year and 5-year figures come from different graduating cohorts and dollar years (1-year: AY2018-19 and AY2019-20 graduates, 2022 dollars; 4-year: AY2017-18 and AY2018-19 graduates, 2024 dollars; 5-year: AY2014-15 and AY2015-16 graduates, 2022 dollars), so read them as three separate measures, not a single career path.
Small samples are noisy: the Scorecard adds privacy noise to program figures and some rows are based on only a handful of graduates, so rows marked “small sample” can move a lot from year to year.
What students study
The largest fields among the degrees and certificates this college awarded, grouped by two-digit CIP code (the federal Classification of Instructional Programs). Fields under 1% are left out.
Share of degrees and certificates awarded, by field
A large share means many awards, not necessarily many students or higher earnings. Data period: Awards in academic year 2024-25 (IPEDS).
Who attends
A snapshot of the undergraduate student body as this college reported it to the federal government. Shares are shown as published; they can differ slightly from 100% because of rounding.
Race and ethnicity
- White 74.6%
- Black or African American 8.1%
- Hispanic or Latino 5.1%
- Asian 1.9%
- American Indian or Alaska Native 0.1%
- Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0%
- Two or more races 4%
- U.S. nonresident 3.5%
- Race and ethnicity unknown 2.7%
Federal reporting categories. Students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents are counted as nonresident, and students who did not report are counted as unknown. Data period: Fall 2024 (IPEDS).
Gender
- Men 41.4%
- Women 58.6%
Federal reporting uses two categories. Data period: Fall 2024 (IPEDS).
Students aged 25 or older
16%
of undergraduates
Many adult students work or have families while enrolled. Data period: Fall 2023 (IPEDS).
Students and campus
- Undergraduate enrollment
- 8,246
- Part-time students
- 18%
- Receive Pell Grants
- 25%
- Receive federal loans
- 31%
- Students per faculty member
- 19 : 1
- Setting
- Suburb
Similar colleges
Schools of a similar type, price, size and outcomes.
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Eastern Kentucky University
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Morehead State University
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Indiana State University
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Valdosta State University
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Net price $10,945Earnings $56,067
Where it ranks
This college appears in the top 50 of these TuitionScope rankings.
Guides worth reading
Plain-language explainers that help you read the numbers on this page.
More in Kentucky
In Kentucky
National rankings
Frequently asked questions
How much is tuition at Northern Kentucky University?
For the 2024-25 academic year, Northern Kentucky University reported undergraduate tuition and fees of $11,088 for in-state students and $21,912 for out-of-state students. These are published prices before grants and scholarships; what you pay depends on your aid.
What is the cost of attendance and net price at Northern Kentucky University?
The average cost of attendance at Northern Kentucky University is $19,725 a year (2023-24), counting tuition, books, housing and other living expenses. After grants and scholarships, the average net price is $8,191 a year. That is lower than 81% of public 4-year colleges.
How much financial aid do students at Northern Kentucky University get?
25% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. 31% receive federal loans. The average net price runs from $2,603 a year for families earning under $30,000 to $14,522 for families earning over $110,000 (2023-24).
What is the acceptance rate at Northern Kentucky University?
Northern Kentucky University admitted about 68% of applicants in fall 2024. That means most applicants are admitted.
What SAT and ACT scores do you need for Northern Kentucky University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% had an SAT total of about 953–1150 and an ACT composite of 18–25 (fall 2024). That is a guide, not a cutoff. Reported test policy: Considered if submitted, but not required.
What are the graduation rate and retention rate at Northern Kentucky University?
50% of first-time, full-time students at Northern Kentucky University finish within 150% of normal time. 77% of full-time first-years return the next fall.
How much do Northern Kentucky University graduates earn after graduation?
The median graduate earns $58,429 four years after finishing, among graduates working and not enrolled in further study (2024 dollars). One year after finishing, the median is $44,702.
Is Northern Kentucky University worth it?
There is no single answer: it depends on your major, your aid and whether you finish. For Northern Kentucky University, the data shows this. The earnings premium over a typical high-school graduate would cover the estimated net cost in about 1.4 years of work. Graduates who borrowed have a median debt of $23,000, about 0.4 times their median earnings four years after finishing. 50% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time. These are averages, not predictions, and they do not count income forgone while studying.
Sources and data periods
All figures come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 2026 release). Periods differ by measure:
- Average net price: AcadYr 2023-24, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25
- Acceptance rate: Fall 2024, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25
- Graduation rate: Fall 2018 or AcadYr 2018-19 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25 pooled with previous years (# of total pooled years found in POOLYRS)
- Median earnings: Treasury AY2017-18, AY2018-19 pooled cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Median graduate debt: NSLDS FY2020, FY2021 pooled cohorts
Some figures are blank because the school did not report them or the group was too small to publish. How we calculate things