Colleges by Location
Colleges by Fields of Study
Colleges by Tuition Range
Colleges by GPA Range
College by SAT Range
Colleges by ACT Score
Graduate Schools by Location
Graduate Schools by Fields of Study
Graduate School by Degree Type
Paying for Graduate School
Online Graduate Programs
Test Preparation
Career Planning
College Planning
Graduate School Planning
Applying to Graduate School
- More
Highland Heights , KY
Northern Kentucky University (NKU) is a public university located in Highland Heights, Kentucky, just seven miles from downtown Cincinnati. Established in 1968, NKU has grown to become one of the largest universities in the region, serving over 13,000 students. The university offers a diverse range of academic programs across six colleges, including the College of Informatics, College of Education and Human Services, and the Haile/US Bank College of Business. NKU is known for its strong co-op and internship programs, providing students with hands-on experience and valuable industry connections.
One of the standout features of NKU is its commitment to student success and engagement. The university provides a supportive learning environment and numerous resources to help students achieve their goals. The Office of First-Year Programs offers a comprehensive orientation program and ongoing support to help students transition smoothly into college life. Additionally, NKU offers a variety of opportunities for involvement and leadership through its many student organizations, clubs, and athletics teams.
NKU is renowned for its emphasis on experiential learning, offering students numerous opportunities to apply their knowledge in real-world settings. The universityÆs robust co-op and internship programs allow students to gain practical experience in their chosen fields while still in school. NKU's close proximity to the metropolitan area of Cincinnati provides students with access to a vibrant job market, cultural experiences, and networking opportunities. With its commitment to student success, engaging academic programs, and emphasis on experiential learning, NKU provides an excellent education and prepares students for successful careers.
Northern Kentucky University is a public university located in Highland Heights, KY. This school uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 83%. The freshman retention rate at Northern Kentucky University is 75.42% and the six-year graduation rate is 54%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is August 19. Explore this school's profile to find out all the essential things about Northern Kentucky University.
Quick Facts
10,163
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
18:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
54%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
In order to improve your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the university's criteria for admission. Learn some essential info about admission at Northern Kentucky University.
According to the newest information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 6,453 in 2025.
Test Scores
4.9% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 72.72% submitted ACT scores, out of the total number of those who submitted test scores. The percent of new students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 5.1, 27.05 between 24-29, 47.36 in the range between 18-23, 20.4 between 12-17, and 0.09 between 6-11.
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.35. Accordingly, you'll probably need an above-average GPA in order to be granted acceptance.
Deadlines
The last day for submitting applications to this school is August 19.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. When you create your list of possible schools to attend, you should consider the freshman retention rate, among other things.
The freshman retention rate for Northern Kentucky University was 75.42% in 2025, indicative of the exceptional educational experience and supportive environment at this school.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. This academic institution has the six-year graduation rate of 54%.
Student Body
Figuring out which school is the right fit for you is not a task you should take lightly. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by finding out more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the institution enrolled 15,347 students.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 28.25% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 10,163, 292 of which were foreign students. 896 students enrolled as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 3,390 male and 5,163 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 159, while the number of African American students was 667. 417 undergraduates at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 326 identified with more than one race. The school also had 3 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 6 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 224 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you submit an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. Here are some details you should know about the expenses at Northern Kentucky University that the majority of students face.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition price for this university.
For the students who live in the area, the tuition cost was $11,496, as reported by public county or municipal institutions. Tuition fees were $22,752 for students coming from a different state. If you are an international student at Northern Kentucky University, you should know that the 2025 tuition came to $22,752, as well. Full-time students in 2025 were mandated to pay additional fees in the amount of $384.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $22,752 | $384 | $23,136 |
| In-State | $11,496 | $384 | $11,880 |
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to consider the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,000.
Boarding
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. What do colleges and universities typically charge for room and board?
At Northern Kentucky University, the 2025 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $12,924.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 11,496 |
| Room and Board | $ 12,924 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,000 |
| Total Expense | $ 25,420 |
Financial Aid
There are different types of financial help: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. Check out some recent data to get the information about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid students could get at Northern Kentucky University.
According to the most recent data, 945 freshmen were awarded financial aid. Students of this school received an average of $16,872 in financial help.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
There were 2,691 students who secured need-based financial aid of any kind. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was 3,849. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution reached $19,835,824, and state $12,183,924.
$7,620
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
2,599 students, including freshmen, got institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid at this institution in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 874 full-time freshman. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $19,835,824 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $28,349. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $28,905,109. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $2,764,059 USD.
Majors
Faculty
18:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Northern Kentucky University was 18:1: that means 18 students per one teacher. The faculty of this school consists of 1,005 members, according to the most recent data reported. Out of that number, there were 397 male and 608 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at Northern Kentucky University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at Northern Kentucky University: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Find out some info about campus life at Northern Kentucky University.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. Interested in media and communication? Northern Kentucky University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
FAQ
-
Northern Kentucky University is located in Highland Heights, KY.
-
This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
-
The most recent reported acceptance rate for Northern Kentucky University is 83%.
-
According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for Northern Kentucky University is 75.42%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
Find the best schools for you.
Need help with choosing grad school? We got you.
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
