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Compare University of Louisville vs Northern Kentucky University

Louisville, KY · Highland Heights, KY

University of LouisvilleNorthern Kentucky University
Cost
Price after aid (average)$17,988/yr$8,191/yr
Price after aid (family income under $30k)$15,138/yr$2,603/yr
Typical loan debt at graduation$20,500$23,000
Price after aid ($30k–$48k income)$14,601/yr$3,630/yr
Price after aid ($48k–$75k income)$16,419/yr$6,761/yr
Price after aid ($75k–$110k income)$20,995/yr$12,679/yr
Price after aid (income over $110k)$25,186/yr$14,522/yr
Typical loan payment after graduation$217/mo$244/mo
Room & board (on campus)$12,576/yr$12,712/yr
Room & board (off campus)$11,898/yr$12,712/yr
Borrowers who default0%0%
Books & supplies$1,270/yr$800/yr
Other living costs (on campus)$8,132/yr$2,500/yr
Sticker price (before aid)$32,941/yr$19,725/yr
Tuition (in-state)$13,136/yr$11,088/yr
Tuition (out-of-state)$29,482/yr$21,912/yr
Students with Pell Grants31%25%
Students taking federal loans28%31%
Getting in
Students who get accepted79%68%
SAT range (middle 50%)1040–1270953–1150
SAT average11501087
ACT range (middle 50%)19–2718–25
ACT sections (middle 50%)English 19–28 · Math 18–26English 17–25 · Math 17–24
Admissions data fromFall 2023Fall 2023
Applications received14,8216,417
Students accepted11,9376,162
Students who enrolled3,1171,295
Accepted students who enroll26%21%
Enrolled who sent SAT scores15%5%
Enrolled who sent ACT scores88%79%
High-school GPARequiredRequired
High-school transcriptRequiredRequired
EssayOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
Recommendation lettersOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
Class rankOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
College-prep programRequiredRequired
Demonstrated competenciesOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
Work experienceOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
English proficiency testRequiredOptional (considered if sent)
Other admission testsOptional (considered if sent)Required
Legacy consideredNot consideredNot considered
SAT/ACT policyOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Graduation & earnings
Students who graduate61%52%
Freshmen who come back81%76%
Typical earnings 10 years in$53,899/yr$50,220/yr
Earnings range 10 years in$36,512–$79,132$34,271–$71,430
Finish within 8 years (anywhere)59%52%
White students graduating63%53%
Black students graduating55%36%
Hispanic students graduating55%45%
Asian students graduating76%71%
Typical earnings 6 years in$46,571/yr$42,105/yr
Earn more than a HS grad73%68%
Graduate on time44%36%
Pell students who graduate52%43%
First-gen students who finish49%43%
Low-income students who finish46%37%
Typical earnings 8 years in$51,032/yr$46,837/yr
Majors & programs
Top 3 programsBusiness, Management & Marketing 15% · Health Professions 13% · Education 10%Business, Management & Marketing 23% · Health Professions 17% · Computer & Information Sciences 9%
Most popular programBusiness, Management & Marketing — 15% of degreesBusiness, Management & Marketing — 23% of degrees
2nd most popular programHealth Professions — 13% of degreesHealth Professions — 17% of degrees
3rd most popular programEducation — 10% of degreesComputer & Information Sciences — 9% of degrees
4th most popular programEngineering — 10% of degreesLiberal Arts & General Studies — 7% of degrees
5th most popular programPsychology — 8% of degreesBiological & Biomedical Sciences — 6% of degrees
Highest-paying major (1 year out)Dentistry — $131,017/yrHuman Resources Management and Services — $106,262/yr
Degrees in STEM21%18%
Campus & students
Undergrad enrollment14,7278,246
Students per professor14 : 119 : 1
Graduate students5,9795,184
Average professor pay$9,671/mo$8,693/mo
Full-time professors59%55%
Fully onlineNoNo
Accredited bySouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on CollegesSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Median family income$47,376$48,195
SettingCity (large)Suburb (large)
LocationLouisville, KYHighland Heights, KY
RegionSoutheastSoutheast
Founded17981968
Public or privatePublicPublic
Main degree offeredBachelor's degreesBachelor's degrees
Carnegie classificationDoctoral Universities: Very High Research ActivityDoctoral/Professional Universities
Main or branch campusMain campusMain campus
International students1.8%3.5%
Men44%41%
Women56%59%
White students61%75%
Black students16%8.1%
Hispanic or Latino students9%5.1%
Asian students5.6%1.9%
Two or more races6.2%4%
Other / not reported0.3%2.8%
Special typeNoneNone
First-generation students30%38%
Part-time students17%18%
Students age 25+15%16%
Spent on teaching per student$17,552/yr$9,637/yr
Endowment$1.0B$138.6M
Campus life
Campus data from20232023
On-campus housingYes — dorms on campusYes — dorms on campus
Beds in campus housing3,9421,820
Required to live on campusNoNo
Room charge (campus housing)$8,158/yrNo data reported
Meal plan charge$3,532/yrNo data reported
Meal plan offeredYesYes
Meals per weekVaries by weekVaries by week
Academic calendarSemesterSemester
Federal designationNoneNone
Study abroadYesYes
Undergraduate researchNoYes
ROTCYes — Army, Air ForceYes — Army, Air Force
Accepts AP creditYesYes
Accepts dual-enrollment creditNoNo
Credit for life experienceYesYes
Online classesYesYes
Whole degrees onlineYesYes
Weekend & evening classesYesYes
Teacher certificationYesYes
Academic & career counselingYesYes
Job help while you studyYesYes
Job placement for graduatesYesYes
On-campus day careYesYes
Program for students with intellectual disabilitiesNoYes
Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) schoolNoYes
Credit for military trainingYesYes
Student veteran organizationYesYes
Tuition payment planYesYes
Guaranteed (locked) tuitionNoNo
Prepaid tuition planNoNo
Athletics
Athletics data from2024-252024-25
College sports levelNCAA Division I-FBSNCAA Division I without football
Football teamYesNo
Varsity teams1917
Student athletes610388
Athletic scholarships$15.9M$3.3M
Athletics budget$154.8M$18.8M
Athletics revenue$155.9M$18.8M
Recruiting spend$2.4M$170,537

Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.