US CollegesGetting in
Northern Kentucky University admits 68% of those who apply, which makes it moderately selective. The median admission rate of colleges on this site that report one is 77%. The average SAT score of admitted students is 1087 out of 1600 (midpoints: 535 in reading and writing, 562 in maths). The midpoint ACT score is 23 out of 36.
What it costs
| Tuition and fees, students from Kentucky | $11,496 |
| Tuition and fees, students from elsewhere | $22,752 |
| Room and meals on campus | $12,924 |
| Books and supplies | $1,000 |
| Average full cost of a year (tuition, living, books), before aid | $19,772 |
| Average net price after grants and scholarships | $8,976 |
The net price is what students who got federal aid paid on average for a year after grants and scholarships were taken off (for a public college, students from inside the state). It is 49% below the median net price of colleges in Kentucky on this site ($17,637). International students are normally charged the out-of-state tuition and do not receive US federal aid.
Net price by family income
| Family income a year | Average net price |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | $6,260 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $6,642 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $8,734 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $10,740 |
| Above $110,000 | $8,740 |
For students who received federal aid. A negative figure means grants were larger than the cost counted.
For an estimate that fits your own family, use the college's net price calculator.
Results
| Measure | This college | KY median | US median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students who come back for a second year | 76% | 74% | 73% |
| Students who finish their degree (within one and a half times the normal length) | 54% | 49% | 49% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting | $55,024 | $48,071 | $53,132 |
| Median federal loan debt of those who finish | $20,750 | $21,324 | $19,994 |
Medians are the middle value of the colleges on this site in Kentucky and in the whole country. Completion and return rates count first-time, full-time students. Earnings and debt count students who received federal aid.
The students
31% of undergraduates receive a Pell Grant, the federal grant for students from lower-income families. 34% take a federal student loan. The undergraduate body is 59% women and 41% men. By undergraduate numbers it is number 5 of the 36 colleges in Kentucky on this site that report a size; the middle-sized one has 1,278.
Other colleges in Kentucky of a similar size
- University of the CumberlandsWilliamsburg, private nonprofit
- Murray State UniversityMurray, public
- Galen College of Nursing-LouisvilleLouisville, private for-profit
- Morehead State UniversityMorehead, public
- Western Kentucky UniversityBowling Green, public
- Eastern Kentucky UniversityRichmond, public
Common questions
What is the acceptance rate of Northern Kentucky University?
Northern Kentucky University admits 68% of applicants, according to the College Scorecard.
How much is tuition at Northern Kentucky University?
Published tuition and fees are $11,496 a year for students from Kentucky and $22,752 for others. Most students with aid pay less: see the net price.
What is the graduation rate of Northern Kentucky University?
54% of first-time, full-time students finish within one and a half times the normal length of the course.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, data released on 2 November 2026; checked in November 2026. Net price, debt and earnings describe students who received US federal aid. Costs change each year. This is official data for general information, not advice: confirm costs and admission rules on the college's own website and at collegescorecard.ed.gov.