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 |
![]() 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% |
![]() |
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 |
|
|
|
||
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 |
|
|
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)
Psychology, General (Master's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Construction Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Engineering-Related Fields (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
Construction Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
|
Compare Similar Colleges
The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing
statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you
don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page.
There, you can search for the
specific colleges and initiate your comparison.




























































































































































































