Northern Kentucky University campus
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Northern Kentucky University

Highland Heights, KY 4 year Public
Type 4 year, Public
Campus locale Suburb: Large
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate
Calendar system Semester
Student body size Medium
Common app member Yes
Dormitory capacity 1,376
Student to faculty ratio 17 to 1
Acceptance rate 80%
Students retention rate 70%
On-time graduation rate 48%

Located in Highland Heights, Kentucky, NKU is a public, institution that offers undergraduate and graduate degrees. The college operates on a semester-based calendar system, providing students with structured academic terms.

The acceptance rate of 80% indicates that NKU is open to a wide range of applicants, providing opportunities for a diverse student body.

Northern Kentucky University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, ensuring that the institution meets certain standards of quality and effectiveness. This accreditation also allows students to transfer credits to other accredited institutions if they choose to continue their education elsewhere.

While the on-time graduation rate at NKU is reported to be 48%, it is essential to consider the context of this statistic. For comparison, Kentucky state's graduation rate for the 2021-2022 was 52% whereas the national average was 49%.

The retention rate of students at NKU is 70% , which is lower than both the state and national averages. The state average retention rate in Kentucky is 74%, while the national average is 72%. This indicates that a significant proportion of students who enroll at NKU do not continue their studies after the first year.


  • Accredited by: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
  • The institution provides on-campus housing

Acceptance Rate

Fall 2021 admitted students

80.3%

In-State Tuition & Fees

$10,392

Cost of attendance at Northern Kentucky University in 2022 for students from Kentucky.

See how the college's in-state sticker price compares to 4 year , public colleges in the state as well as nationally.

Kentucky's average $10,481
National average $8,573

Out-of-State Tuition & Fees

$20,448

Cost of attendance at Northern Kentucky University in 2022 for the out-of-state and international students

See how the college's out-of-state sticker price compares to 4 year , public colleges in the state as well as nationally.

Kentucky's average $21,663
National average $18,862

Average Grant & Scholarships

In 2022, 99 of freshman students at Northern Kentucky University received on average $10,343 in grant and scholarships from the college, the state and/or the federal government. Below is detail stats of the aid provided to full-time, freshman students.

$10,343
Students Receiving Aid Average Amount Total Amount
Pell Grant 523 30% $5,330 $2,787,825
Other Federal Grant 524 30% $5,487 $2,875,002
State Grant/Scholarships 1,125 64% $2,483 $2,793,150
Institutional Grant/Scholarships 1,679 95% $7,312 $12,277,033
Total Grant & Scholarships 1,735 99% $10,343 $17,945,185

Graduation Rate

The following chart shows the graduation rate of Northern Kentucky University students who enrolled in 2015 and after. The stat covers all undergraduates registered as full-time students to study a 4-year bachelor's degree program for the first time.

The breakdown shows the graduation rate by race/ethnicity of US students. All international students are represented under one group.

As of August 31, 2021, the average graduation rate of Northern Kentucky University students is 47.8%. Female students graduated at a rate of 51.2%, whereas male students graduated at a rate of 43.9%.

47.8%

  • asian 47.1% 8 students
  • African American 38.5% 70 students
  • white 49.5% 886 students
  • unknown 60.0% 6 students
  • hispanic 51.2% 41 students
  • International Students 60.0% 18 students
  • Mixed Race 26.4% 23 students

Sport Conferences

  • Baseball Horizon League
  • Basketball Horizon League
  • Track and Cross Country Horizon League

Athletic Associations

  • NCAA
    National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)

Service Offerings

Northern Kentucky University provides the following additional services to its students
  • On-campus day care for students' children
  • Remedial services
  • Placement services for graduates
  • Academic/career counseling services
  • Employment services for students

Educational Offerings

Northern Kentucky University offers educational programs in the following categories. Check the programs section to learn more about specific programs that you are interested in.
  • Academic
  • Occupational
  • Postbaccalaureate Recreational or avocational education
  • Adult basic remedial or high school equivalent

Special Learning Opportunities

  • Weekend/evening classes
  • Study abroad
  • Teacher certification
  • ROTC - Army
  • ROTC - Air Force

Veteran Services

  • Member of Service-members Opportunity Colleges
  • Dedicated point of contact for support services for veterans, military service-members, and their families
  • Recognized student veteran organization
  • Credit for military training
  • Yellow Ribbon Program (officially known as Post-9/11 GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon Program)