Oregon State vs Northern Kentucky University (NKU)
Oregon State University and Northern Kentucky University, located in the Pacific Northwest and the Bluegrass State, respectively, offer distinct educational experiences. Oregon State, a public research university, boasts a higher acceptance rate (73%) compared to Northern Kentucky's 88%. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, with Oregon State excelling in fields like engineering, forestry, and agriculture, while Northern Kentucky is known for its strong business, education, and nursing programs. Oregon State's student body is more diverse, with a higher percentage of international students, while Northern Kentucky has a slightly higher graduation rate. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more key differences and make an informed decision about which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Northern Kentucky University |
![]() Oregon State University |
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Overview |
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Location | Highland Heights, Kentucky | Corvallis, Oregon |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | City: Small |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Quarter |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 70.0% | 87.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 80.3% | 89.2% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$40
Graduate:
$40
|
Undergraduate:
$65
Graduate:
$75
|
SAT range | 983 - 1210 | 1120 - 1370 |
ACT range | 20 - 26 | 21 - 28 |
Students submitting SAT score | 7.0% | 25.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 84.0% | 13.0% |
Total number of applicants | 6,637 | 23,188 |
Total number of admissions given out | 5,329 | 20,687 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,690 | 3,965 |
Yield rate | 31.7% | 19.2% |
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) | Not required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$28,010
Out of state:
$38,066
|
In state:
$29,393
Out of state:
$48,784
|
Average net price | $7,443 | $20,318 |
Tuition |
In state:
$10,008
Out of state:
$20,064
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In state:
$10,065
Out of state:
$29,456
|
Room & board | $11,454 |
Room/dormitory:
$10,260
Meal plan:
$4,500
|
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
99.0%
Average amount $10,343 |
87.0%
Average amount $9,156 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
43.0%
Average amount $4,988 |
28.0%
Average amount $4,944 |
Students taking out private loans |
3.0%
Average amount $10,090 |
4.0%
Average amount $18,709 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
10,814
Men 39.8% Women 60.2% |
27,564
Men 52.0% Women 48.0% |
Graduate students |
5,165
Men 25.9% Women 74.1% |
5,629
Men 46.2% Women 53.8% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Very Low
|
Low
|
Out-of-state students | N/A | 35.8% |
International students | 2.0% | 7.6% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | City: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 1,376 | 5,055 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Ohio Indiana Florida Maryland | Oregon California Washington Hawaii Colorado |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 17:1 | 18:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 47.8% | 68.2% |
Dropout rate | 49.3% | 10.0% |
Transferred out | N/A | 18.9% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
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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Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
Education, General (Doctoral Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Veterinary Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Construction Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Industrial Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Manufacturing Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
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