Northern Kentucky University (NKU) vs Murray State

Northern Kentucky University and Murray State University, both esteemed institutions of higher learning in Kentucky, offer distinct educational experiences. NKU, located in the vibrant city of Highland Heights, boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option for aspiring students. Murray State, nestled in the charming town of Murray, stands out with its lower student-to-faculty ratio, fostering a more personalized learning environment. While NKU excels in fields like business and nursing, Murray State shines in areas such as agriculture and education. Explore the detailed comparison table to delve into further distinctions, including student body demographics, graduation rates, and additional academic offerings, to determine which university best aligns with your aspirations and goals.
Murray State University logo

Murray State University

Northern Kentucky University logo

Northern Kentucky University

Overview

Location Murray, Kentucky Highland Heights, Kentucky
Campus setting Town: Remote Suburb: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 75.0% 70.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 85.2% 80.3%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $40

Graduate: $40
Undergraduate: $40

Graduate: $40
SAT range 960 - 1200 983 - 1210
ACT range 20 - 27 20 - 26
Students submitting SAT score 16.0% 7.0%
Students submitting ACT score 86.0% 84.0%
Total number of applicants 9,144 6,637
Total number of admissions given out 7,787 5,329
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,395 1,690
Yield rate 17.9% 31.7%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $26,219

Out of state: $35,495
In state: $28,010

Out of state: $38,066
Average net price $11,237 $7,443
Tuition
In state: $8,040

Out of state: $17,316
In state: $10,008

Out of state: $20,064
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $5,538

Meal plan: $4,330
$11,454
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

99.0%
Average amount $11,753
99.0%
Average amount $10,343
Students receiving federal student loan 47.0%
Average amount $6,997
43.0%
Average amount $4,988
Students taking out private loans 7.0%
Average amount $10,075
3.0%
Average amount $10,090

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 7,651
Men 37.5% Women 62.5%
10,814
Men 39.8% Women 60.2%
Graduate students 1,763
Men 35.1% Women 64.9%
5,165
Men 25.9% Women 74.1%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Very Low
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students 5.4% 2.0%
Campus local/setting Town: Remote Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity 3,064 1,376
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Illinois Tennessee Indiana Missouri Ohio Indiana Florida Maryland

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Business
  • Agriculture
  • Engineering Technologies
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Education
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Visual & Performing Arts
Students to faculty ratio 16:1 17:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 55.9% 47.8%
Dropout rate 42.8% 49.3%
Transferred out N/A N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $162,817
  • Year 3: $178,780
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,792
  • Year 2: $79,473
  • Year 3: $88,757
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,448
  • Year 2: $66,969
  • Year 3: $69,761
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $43,888
  • Year 2: $53,775
  • Year 3: $66,008
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,643
  • Year 2: $59,485
  • Year 3: $65,410
Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,121
  • Year 2: $55,964
  • Year 3: $59,977
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,148
  • Year 2: $58,142
  • Year 3: $55,771
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $44,974
  • Year 2: $59,485
  • Year 3: $54,238
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,117
  • Year 2: $56,641
  • Year 3: $52,217
Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,964
  • Year 2: $50,856
  • Year 3: $50,840
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $94,408
  • Year 3: $98,497
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $92,665
  • Year 2: $90,245
  • Year 3: $95,400
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $74,690
  • Year 2: $101,406
  • Year 3: $91,600
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $86,069
  • Year 2: $81,333
  • Year 3: $79,768
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,058
  • Year 2: $67,420
  • Year 3: $74,689
Construction Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,266
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $72,692
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,922
  • Year 2: $59,071
  • Year 3: $66,724
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,135
  • Year 2: $59,534
  • Year 3: $65,990
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,914
  • Year 2: $56,867
  • Year 3: $62,291
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $41,900
  • Year 2: $50,856
  • Year 3: $61,904

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