Northern Kentucky University
PublicHighland Heights, KY
Northern Kentucky University is a public large school in Highland Heights, KY, enrolling about 8,246 undergraduates. Admissions are not highly selective, admitting a majority of applicants here -- roughly 68% of applicants get in. Its highest-earning reported major is Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields), where graduates report median earnings of $88,492/year four years out. On-campus housing isn't required, so many students live off campus.
Admissions
Test scores for the Fall 2024 entering class come from Northern Kentucky University's own 2024-25 Common Data Set: 5% submitted SAT scores (reading & writing 473–590, math 480–560; no composite reported), 73% submitted ACT scores.
Cost & outcomes
Out-of-state students pay $10,824 more per year in tuition and fees (2.0x the in-state rate).
From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field. Tuition & fees are the sticker price for a full-time first-year undergrad, before financial aid, and don't include room and board.
Paying less as an out-of-state student
Northern Kentucky University takes part in this regional program, which can cut the out-of-state rate for students from nearby states.
Academic Common Market
Residents of Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia can pay in-state tuition for a specific major that no public college in their home state offers. You need admission to that major and approval from your home state's coordinator.
Where do you stand against Northern Kentucky University's numbers?
Check your chances hereHow Northern Kentucky University weighs your application
From Northern Kentucky University's own Common Data Set, 2024-25, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?
See full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what Northern Kentucky University weighs in your application
Paying it back
"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.
Majors & earnings
Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.
Campus life
Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.
What matters in your application
From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.
Frequently asked questions
What does Northern Kentucky University look for in applicants?
Per Northern Kentucky University's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates academic GPA as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.
What is Northern Kentucky University's acceptance rate?
Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights, KY admits approximately 68% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.
What SAT score do I need for Northern Kentucky University?
Admitted students at Northern Kentucky University typically score between 953–1150 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile).
What ACT score do I need for Northern Kentucky University?
Per Northern Kentucky University's own 2024-25 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 18–25 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).
How much does Northern Kentucky University cost?
Northern Kentucky University's total cost of attendance is reported at $19,725 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.
Does Northern Kentucky University offer reduced tuition for out-of-state students?
Yes -- Northern Kentucky University takes part in the Academic Common Market, a regional program that lets qualifying out-of-state students pay less than the full out-of-state rate. Eligibility depends on your home state, and the school sets its own requirements.
What is out-of-state tuition at Northern Kentucky University?
For 2024-25, Northern Kentucky University's published tuition and required fees were $21,912 for out-of-state students and $11,088 for in-state students -- $10,824 more per year for out-of-state students. That's before financial aid, and room and board are extra.
Does Northern Kentucky University require students to live on campus?
No -- Northern Kentucky University doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.
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