Northern Kentucky University
Highland Heights, KY · Public · offers Graduate degrees
68%Acceptance rate
$8,191Average net price / year
52%Graduation rate
$50,220Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$23,000Median debt at graduation
8,246Undergraduates
Cost
- In-state tuition & fees
- $11,088
- Out-of-state tuition
- $21,912
- Total cost of attendance
- $19,725
- Room & board
- $12,712
- Books & supplies
- $800
- Average net price
- $8,191
Net price by family income
- $0–30k
- $2,603
- $30–48k
- $3,630
- $48–75k
- $6,761
- $75–110k
- $12,679
- $110k+
- $14,522
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 67.7%
- Average SAT
- 1087
- SAT reading (25–75%)
- 473–590
- SAT math (25–75%)
- 480–560
- ACT composite (25–75%)
- 18–25
Outcomes
- Graduation rate
- 52%
- First-year retention
- 76%
- Median earnings (6 yrs)
- $42,105
- Median earnings (10 yrs)
- $50,220
- Median debt (graduates)
- $23,000
- 3-year loan default rate
- 0.0%
- Students with Pell grants
- 25%
- Students with federal loans
- 31%
Programs: what graduates earn
65 of 133 programs have published earnings or debt data. Earnings are median salaries of graduates one year after completing the program (or the latest available year).
Associate's degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians | 1 | $80,544 | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 44 | $34,541 | $18,625 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | — | $60,471 | — |
| Business/Commerce, General | 1 | $72,323 | — |
Bachelor's degree
Master's degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human Resources Management and Services | 18 | $106,262 | $40,705 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 662 | $101,465 | $40,975 |
| Information Science/Studies | 23 | $85,634 | — |
| Business/Commerce, General | 353 | $77,876 | $29,830 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 33 | $66,621 | — |
| Public Administration | 20 | $58,199 | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 12 | $57,094 | — |
| Social Work | 90 | $47,684 | $32,038 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 47 | $44,388 | $24,400 |
| Medical Illustration and Informatics | 20 | $105,350 | — |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | 22 | $46,734 | — |
| Accounting and Related Services | 33 | $65,990 | — |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | 10 | $85,127 | — |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 2 | $44,268 | — |
Doctoral degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | — | $138,264 | $63,614 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 5 | $99,691 | — |
First professional degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Law | 102 | $47,291 | $101,097 |
Non-credential program
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | — | $122,300 | — |
Students
- Undergraduates
- 8,246
- Graduate students
- 6,980
- Part-time
- 18%
- Women / men
- 59% / 41%
- White
- 75%
- Hispanic
- 5%
- Black
- 8%
- Asian
- 2%
- International
- 4%
Faculty & school
- Student–faculty ratio
- 19:1
- Avg faculty salary
- $78,237 / year
- Full-time faculty
- 55%
- Accreditor
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Website
- www.nku.edu
- Also known as
- NKU
Most popular fields
- Communication & Journalism – 5% of degrees
- Computer & Information Sciences – 9% of degrees
- Education – 6% of degrees
- English – 2% of degrees
- Liberal Arts & General Studies – 7% of degrees
- Biological Sciences – 6% of degrees
Frequently asked questions
What is the acceptance rate at Northern Kentucky University?
67.7% of applicants were admitted, and admitted students averaged 1087 on the SAT.
How much does Northern Kentucky University cost?
The average net price after grants is $8,191 per year; in-state tuition and fees are $11,088 and the full cost of attendance is $19,725.
How much do Northern Kentucky University graduates earn?
Students who enrolled earn a median of $50,220 ten years later. See the program table above for salaries by major.
What is the graduation rate?
52% of first-time, full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.