Northern Kentucky University (NKU) vs Maine USM
Northern Kentucky University (NKU) and University of Southern Maine (USM) are two distinct institutions of higher learning, each offering unique opportunities and experiences to their students. NKU, located in Highland Heights, Kentucky, boasts a higher acceptance rate (86%) compared to USM's 79%, making it a more accessible option for prospective students. NKU's student body is predominantly undergraduate, with a larger population of male students, while USM has a more balanced gender ratio and a higher percentage of graduate students. Both universities offer a diverse range of academic programs, with popular majors at NKU including Business, Health Professions, and Education, while USM excels in fields such as Business, Nursing, and Social Sciences. While NKU has a slightly higher graduation rate (59%) than USM (57%), both universities provide ample support and resources to help students succeed in their academic pursuits. Explore the detailed comparison table below to delve deeper into the differences between these two institutions and make an
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![]() Northern Kentucky University |
![]() University of Southern Maine |
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Overview |
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Location | Highland Heights, Kentucky | Portland, Maine |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | City: Small |
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 | 70.0% | 65.0% |
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Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 80.3% | 87.0% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$40
Graduate:
$40
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SAT range | 983 - 1210 | 995 - 1230 |
ACT range | 20 - 26 | 19 - 24 |
Students submitting SAT score | 7.0% | 18.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 84.0% | 1.0% |
Total number of applicants | 6,637 | 5,397 |
Total number of admissions given out | 5,329 | 4,695 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,690 | 895 |
Yield rate | 31.7% | 19.1% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$28,010
Out of state:
$38,066
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In state:
$23,842
Out of state:
$37,842
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Average net price | $7,443 | $9,793 |
Tuition |
In state:
$10,008
Out of state:
$20,064
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In state:
$8,064
Out of state:
$22,064
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Room & board | $11,454 |
Room/dormitory:
$5,460
Meal plan:
$4,980
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
99.0%
Average amount $10,343 |
92.0%
Average amount $8,886 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
43.0%
Average amount $4,988 |
45.0%
Average amount $4,969 |
Students taking out private loans |
3.0%
Average amount $10,090 |
6.0%
Average amount $10,975 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
10,814
Men 39.8% Women 60.2% |
5,956
Men 40.6% Women 59.4% |
Graduate students |
5,165
Men 25.9% Women 74.1% |
2,040
Men 25.3% Women 74.7% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Very Low
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Very Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | 23.4% |
International students | 2.0% | 1.2% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | City: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 1,376 | 1,189 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Ohio Indiana Florida Maryland | Maine New Hampshire Mississippi Vermont Connecticut |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 17:1 | 13:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | New England Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 47.8% | 34.5% |
Dropout rate | 49.3% | 33.0% |
Transferred out | N/A | 30.0% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
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)
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Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
Public Policy Analysis (Master's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
Marketing (Bachelor's Degrees)
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