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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.
Located in Highland Heights, KY, Northern Kentucky University is a public university. This educational institution operates on 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. Learn more about what Northern Kentucky University has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
10,163
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
18:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
54%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Discovering as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission increases your chances of getting admitted. What are the admission requirements for Northern Kentucky University?
According to the most recent data, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 6,453 in 2025.
Test Scores
Out of the number of students who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 4.9% and ACT scores 72.72%. The percent of freshmen 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. That means you'll most likely need an above-average GPA to get accepted.
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. Why is that information important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Northern Kentucky University was 75.42%, a testament to the outstanding educational experience provided by this institution.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This metric measures how efficiently students complete their degrees within a specific time period. The six-year completion rate at this institution is 54%.
Student Body
It is always challenging to figure out which school is best for you. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by learning more about the student body.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at Northern Kentucky University in 2025 was 15,347.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 28.25% for that year. There was a total of 10,163 undergraduate students, including 292 international students. 896 students were admitted as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 3,390 male and 5,163 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to focusing on the diversity of its student body and improving students' sense of inclusion and belonging. 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.
This school had 159 Asian students and 667 Afro-American students in 2025. 417 undergraduate students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 326 as multirace. The school also had 3 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 6 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 224 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Financial planning for school is one of the most important things to consider before you apply. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
If you were wondering how much the tuition cost for Northern Kentucky University is, here are some recent data that will come in handy.
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 out of state. For the students coming from abroad, tuition at this school was $22,752, as well. Fees per academic year required of full-time students totaled $384 in 2025.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $22,752 | $384 | $23,136 |
| In-State | $11,496 | $384 | $11,880 |
Books and Supplies
The estimated cost of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into account as another significant financial factor. Most students have to give about $1,000 for books and supplies during their time at Northern Kentucky University.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. How much do room and board fees average around at schools?
In 2025, room and board cost at Northern Kentucky University amounted to $12,924 a year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 11,496 |
| Room and Board | $ 12,924 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,000 |
| Total Expense | $ 25,420 |
Financial Aid
Obtaining some financial support in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be vital for completing your studies. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Northern Kentucky University, here are some recent data you should consider.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 945 freshmen. The average financial aid package awarded to students added up to $16,872.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet certain eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
There were 2,691 students who acquired need-based financial aid of any kind. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need amounted to 3,849. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution stood at $19,835,824, and state $12,183,924.
$7,620
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-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.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 2,599 students overall (including freshmen) at Northern Kentucky University in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 874 full-time freshmen. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $19,835,824 while the state aid is $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. $2,764,059 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
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.
In 2025, this ratio at Northern Kentucky University was 18:1. That means that there were 18 times more students than teachers at this school. This school has recently reported to have 1,005 faculty members. This number included 397 men and 608 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality 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. Check 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 exclusively of current students and/or alumni.
For individuals with a passion for acting, there is a drama club available. Interested in media and communication? Northern Kentucky University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
FAQ
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Northern Kentucky University is located in Highland Heights, KY.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Northern Kentucky University is 83%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for Northern Kentucky University is 75.42%.
Contact Information
Northern Kentucky University
Louie B Nunn Dr
Highland Heights , KY
41099
859 572-5100
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.
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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.