Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) vs Northern Kentucky University (NKU)

Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) and Northern Kentucky University (NKU) are two public universities located in the southeastern United States. Both offer a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, but there are some key differences between the two institutions. MTSU has a higher acceptance rate and a larger student body, while NKU has a higher graduation rate and a more diverse student body. MTSU is also more affordable than NKU, with lower tuition and fees. To help you make an informed decision about which university is the best fit for you, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table that details the key differences between MTSU and NKU.
Middle Tennessee State University logo

Middle Tennessee State University

Northern Kentucky University logo

Northern Kentucky University

Overview

Location Murfreesboro, Tennessee Highland Heights, Kentucky
Campus setting City: Midsize Suburb: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 75.0% 70.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 68.4% 80.3%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $25

Graduate: $35
Undergraduate: $40

Graduate: $40
SAT range 1010 - 1210 983 - 1210
ACT range 19 - 26 20 - 26
Students submitting SAT score 7.0% 7.0%
Students submitting ACT score 92.0% 84.0%
Total number of applicants 11,244 6,637
Total number of admissions given out 7,691 5,329
Admitted students who chose to enroll 2,752 1,690
Yield rate 35.8% 31.7%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $24,554

Out of state: $43,586
In state: $28,010

Out of state: $38,066
Average net price $12,617 $7,443
Tuition
In state: $7,344

Out of state: $26,376
In state: $10,008

Out of state: $20,064
Room & board $9,576 $11,454
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

97.0%
Average amount $8,747
99.0%
Average amount $10,343
Students receiving federal student loan 36.0%
Average amount $4,835
43.0%
Average amount $4,988
Students taking out private loans 3.0%
Average amount $12,638
3.0%
Average amount $10,090

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 18,603
Men 45.2% Women 54.8%
10,814
Men 39.8% Women 60.2%
Graduate students 2,965
Men 36.1% Women 63.9%
5,165
Men 25.9% Women 74.1%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Very Low
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students 2.4% 2.0%
Campus local/setting City: Midsize Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity 2,518 1,376
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A Ohio Indiana Florida Maryland

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Education
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Education
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Visual & Performing Arts
Students to faculty ratio 16:1 17:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 53.7% 47.8%
Dropout rate 14.7% 49.3%
Transferred out 28.5% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $88,408
  • Year 2: $85,760
  • Year 3: $90,571
Psychology, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,120
  • Year 2: $59,485
  • Year 3: $88,221
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,903
  • Year 2: $66,104
  • Year 3: $78,609
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,709
  • Year 2: $67,101
  • Year 3: $72,118
Construction Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,220
  • Year 2: $66,541
  • Year 3: $69,654
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,896
  • Year 2: $57,860
  • Year 3: $67,093
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,963
  • Year 2: $57,995
  • Year 3: $66,752
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,662
  • Year 2: $54,192
  • Year 3: $66,144
Engineering-Related Fields (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,628
  • Year 2: $58,943
  • Year 3: $61,839
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,209
  • Year 2: $55,061
  • Year 3: $58,677
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $94,408
  • Year 3: $98,497
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $92,665
  • Year 2: $90,245
  • Year 3: $95,400
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $74,690
  • Year 2: $101,406
  • Year 3: $91,600
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $86,069
  • Year 2: $81,333
  • Year 3: $79,768
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,058
  • Year 2: $67,420
  • Year 3: $74,689
Construction Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,266
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $72,692
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,922
  • Year 2: $59,071
  • Year 3: $66,724
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,135
  • Year 2: $59,534
  • Year 3: $65,990
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,914
  • Year 2: $56,867
  • Year 3: $62,291
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $41,900
  • Year 2: $50,856
  • Year 3: $61,904

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