Northern Kentucky University (NKU) vs Case Western Reserve University (CWRU)
Northern Kentucky University and Case Western Reserve University, two distinct institutions of higher learning, offer unique educational experiences to their students. Northern Kentucky University, located in Highland Heights, Kentucky, is a public university with an acceptance rate of 88%, while Case Western Reserve University, situated in Cleveland, Ohio, is a private research university with a more selective acceptance rate of 31%. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate programs, with popular majors at Northern Kentucky University including Business, Education, and Nursing, and popular majors at Case Western Reserve University including Engineering, Biology, and Computer Science. While Northern Kentucky University boasts a larger student body with a higher percentage of female students, Case Western Reserve University has a slightly higher graduation rate. To help you make an informed decision about your higher education journey, we have compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into these aspects and more, allowing you to assess which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Case Western Reserve University |
![]() Northern Kentucky University |
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Overview |
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Location | Cleveland, Ohio | Highland Heights, Kentucky |
Campus setting | City: Large | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 94.0% | 70.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 30.2% | 80.3% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$70
Graduate:
$50
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Undergraduate:
$40
Graduate:
$40
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SAT range | 1410 - 1530 | 983 - 1210 |
ACT range | 32 - 35 | 20 - 26 |
Students submitting SAT score | 39.0% | 7.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 31.0% | 84.0% |
Total number of applicants | 33,232 | 6,637 |
Total number of admissions given out | 10,049 | 5,329 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,606 | 1,690 |
Yield rate | 16.0% | 31.7% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Not required |
High school transcript | Required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $74,114 |
In state:
$28,010
Out of state:
$38,066
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Average net price | $38,166 | $7,443 |
Tuition | $54,020 |
In state:
$10,008
Out of state:
$20,064
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$9,584
Meal plan:
$6,898
|
$11,454 |
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
81.0%
Average amount $33,761 |
99.0%
Average amount $10,343 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
61.0%
Average amount $5,091 |
43.0%
Average amount $4,988 |
Students taking out private loans |
7.0%
Average amount $11,016 |
3.0%
Average amount $10,090 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
5,792
Men 52.5% Women 47.5% |
10,814
Men 39.8% Women 60.2% |
Graduate students |
6,350
Men 45.1% Women 54.9% |
5,165
Men 25.9% Women 74.1% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Very Low
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Out-of-state students | 79.8% | N/A |
International students | 19.2% | 2.0% |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 4,494 | 1,376 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Ohio New York Illinois Pennsylvania California | Ohio Indiana Florida Maryland |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 9:1 | 17:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 84.4% | 47.8% |
Dropout rate | 15.1% | 49.3% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Doctoral Degrees)
Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (First Professional Degrees)
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
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Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
Construction Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
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