University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) vs Northern Kentucky University (NKU)

Nestled in the heart of Oklahoma City and Highland Heights, Kentucky, respectively, the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) and Northern Kentucky University (NKU) stand as beacons of higher learning, each offering a unique educational experience. While both universities share a commitment to academic excellence and student success, they differ in several key aspects, including acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. This side-by-side comparison delves into these differences, providing prospective students with valuable insights to help them make informed decisions about their academic journey. Explore the comprehensive table below to discover which institution aligns best with your aspirations and goals.
Northern Kentucky University logo

Northern Kentucky University

University of Central Oklahoma logo

University of Central Oklahoma

Overview

Location Highland Heights, Kentucky Edmond, Oklahoma
Campus setting Suburb: Large 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 70.0% 67.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 80.3% 81.3%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $40

Graduate: $40
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $60
SAT range 983 - 1210 N/A
ACT range 20 - 26 18 - 24
Students submitting SAT score 7.0%
Students submitting ACT score 84.0% 83.0%
Total number of applicants 6,637 8,708
Total number of admissions given out 5,329 7,080
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,690 1,662
Yield rate 31.7% 23.5%
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

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $28,010

Out of state: $38,066
In state: $30,788

Out of state: $41,675
Average net price $7,443 $17,477
Tuition
In state: $10,008

Out of state: $20,064
In state: $6,822

Out of state: $17,709
Room & board $11,454
Room/dormitory: $3,990

Meal plan: $4,550
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Guaranteed tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

99.0%
Average amount $10,343
76.0%
Average amount $6,531
Students receiving federal student loan 43.0%
Average amount $4,988
34.0%
Average amount $6,109
Students taking out private loans 3.0%
Average amount $10,090
5.0%
Average amount $11,559

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 10,814
Men 39.8% Women 60.2%
11,771
Men 37.8% Women 62.2%
Graduate students 5,165
Men 25.9% Women 74.1%
1,479
Men 31.1% Women 68.9%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students N/A 5.1%
International students 2.0% 3.9%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity 1,376 1,860
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 Oklahoma Texas Kansas California Missouri

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Education
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Business
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
  • Liberal Arts
Students to faculty ratio 17:1 16:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 47.8% 37.0%
Dropout rate 49.3% 19.0%
Transferred out N/A 37.9%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
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
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,801
  • Year 2: $54,661
  • Year 3: $72,607
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,936
  • Year 2: $67,324
  • Year 3: $69,619
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,320
  • Year 2: $61,192
  • Year 3: $63,948
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,536
  • Year 2: $55,625
  • Year 3: $58,073
Public Health (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $45,015
  • Year 2: $44,216
  • Year 3: $55,170
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,206
  • Year 2: $49,729
  • Year 3: $54,652
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,587
  • Year 2: $48,265
  • Year 3: $54,308
Public Administration (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,115
  • Year 2: $51,607
  • Year 3: $53,363
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $43,019
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $49,609
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $45,625
  • Year 2: $45,500
  • Year 3: $48,898

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