Northern Kentucky University

Basic Information

Type Public
Geographical Reach Regional
Population 1,700,000

Weather

Comfortable Days 115 (84%)
Sunshine Hours 2,543 (47%)
Days Without Precipitation 235 (29%)

Demographics

Total Undergraduates 7,241
Men / Women 42% / 58%
From State 70%
From Region 28%
Athletes 388 (5.7%)

Racial/Ethnic

White 74%
Black 8%
Hispanic 5%
Mixed 4%
International 4%
Asian 2%
Native American 0%

Schools & Majors

⇅ Ranked Trends Degrees Male White Asian Black Hispanic Intl Earnings Earn % Earn z ROI Employment Debt-to-Earn Accept SAT p25 SAT p75
College of Arts and Sciences 652 32% 77% 2% 7% 6% 2% $56,058 3 -0.17 48 94% 8.4%
Engineering Physics 2 — 100% 50% 0% 0% 0% 50% $91,439 27 -0.54 92 — — — — —
Chemistry 17 +1 29% 71% 0% 6% 0% 18% $71,741 59 +0.01 78 96% — — — —
Geology 5 +1 60% 40% 20% 20% 20% 0% $60,706 35 -0.39 60 100% — — — —
Mathematics 11 +1 82% 91% 0% 0% 0% 9% $73,928 41 -0.43 80 86% — — — —
Physics 9 +2 67% 78% 0% 0% 11% 0% $74,840 22 -0.63 81 — — — — —
Statistics — — — — — — — — $75,723 6 -1.04 82 — — — — —
Biological Sciences 76 — 25% 72% 3% 5% 7% 5% $68,049 59 +0.19 73 93% — — — —
Neuroscience 9 — 22% 67% 0% 0% 0% 22% $71,097 66 +0.36 77 — — — — —
Environmental Science 18 — 44% 78% 0% 6% 6% 0% $55,999 37 -0.33 48 94% — — — —
English 38 +1 24% 87% 0% 5% 5% 0% $46,766 22 -0.69 23 89% — — — —
French 1 +1 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% $51,791 28 -0.56 37 96% — — — —
German 1 — 100% 100% 0% 0% 0% 0% $50,862 24 -0.64 34 — — — — —
History 30 +10 57% 73% 0% 7% 13% 0% $54,959 48 -0.19 45 92% 10.5% — — —
Integrative Studies 84 +1 42% 77% 1% 12% 0% 0% $50,787 20 -0.63 34 92% 7.5% — — —
Japanese 3 — 67% 100% 0% 0% 0% 0% $50,774 24 -0.65 34 — — — — —
Philosophy — +1 — — — — — — $49,546 16 -0.90 31 — — — — —
Spanish 3 — 0% 67% 0% 33% 0% 0% $51,791 28 -0.56 37 96% — — — —
Anthropology 11 +1 27% 82% 0% 0% 18% 0% $48,147 11 -0.79 27 — — — — —
International Studies 11 — 55% 55% 0% 9% 18% 9% $43,886 1 -1.50 17 82% — — — —
Political Science 11 — 36% 82% 0% 9% 9% 0% $59,379 16 -0.94 57 94% — — — —
Psychological Science 115 +2 18% 77% 3% 9% 7% 1% $53,442 44 -0.25 41 94% 8.6% — — —
Social Sciences 11 +2 64% 100% 0% 0% 0% 0% $47,656 9 -0.84 26 — — — — —
Sociology 9 — 22% 67% 0% 11% 11% 0% $44,247 3 -1.15 18 95% — — — —
Art 51 — 8% 73% 4% 0% 6% 4% $51,186 74 +0.47 35 98% — — — —
Music 7 — 43% 71% 0% 14% 0% 0% $44,690 41 -0.22 19 86% — — — —
Theatre 32 — 28% 84% 3% 3% 6% 0% $44,856 66 +0.24 19 97% — — — —
Visual Communication Design 12 — 33% 92% 0% 0% 0% 8% $58,886 93 +1.29 56 97% — — — —
Criminal Justice 52 +1 33% 83% 0% 10% 4% 0% $62,038 68 +0.30 63 96% 8.1% — — —
Legal Studies 23 — 35% 74% 0% 13% 4% 0% $61,313 63 +0.20 61 — — — — —
⇅ Ranked Trends Degrees Male White Asian Black Hispanic Intl Earnings Earn % Earn z ROI Employment Debt-to-Earn Accept SAT p25 SAT p75
College of Education 115 14% 87% 3% 2% 6% 0% $46,120 1 -0.95 22 96%
Early Childhood Education 16 — 0% 81% 0% 12% 6% 0% $44,823 10 -1.11 19 96% — — — —
Elementary Education 59 — 7% 90% 3% 0% 5% 0% $44,823 10 -1.11 19 96% — — — —
Middle Grade Education 9 — 11% 78% 11% 0% 11% 0% $44,823 9 -1.20 19 96% — — — —
Physical Education 6 — 33% 83% 0% 0% 17% 0% $51,678 23 -0.75 37 97% — — — —
Secondary Education 5 +6 60% 80% 0% 0% 20% 0% $44,823 9 -1.20 19 96% — — — —
Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education 7 — 14% 100% 0% 0% 0% 0% $48,757 7 -1.12 29 — — — — —
Special Education 2 +2 0% 100% 0% 0% 0% 0% $47,376 7 -1.29 25 93% — — — —
Music Education 11 — 45% 82% 0% 0% 0% 0% $51,678 71 +0.53 37 97% — — — —
⇅ Ranked Trends Degrees Male White Asian Black Hispanic Intl Earnings Earn % Earn z ROI Employment Debt-to-Earn Accept SAT p25 SAT p75
College of Health and Human Services 427 18% 80% 2% 9% 4% 0% $78,708 69 -0.21 85 96% 4.6%
Athletic Training — — — — — — — — $70,061 49 -0.02 76 99% 6.7% — — —
Exercise Science 33 — 52% 91% 0% 6% 3% 0% $82,239 99 +2.39 87 — — — — —
Health Science 60 — 10% 73% 3% 18% 3% 0% $77,487 82 +0.62 83 95% 4.0% — — —
Nursing 241 — 15% 85% 1% 6% 3% 0% $84,920 20 -0.73 89 96% 4.3% — — —
Radiation Therapy 5 — 0% 60% 20% 0% 0% 0% $70,061 18 -0.79 76 99% 6.7% — — —
Radiologic Science 17 — 24% 82% 6% 0% 0% 0% $70,061 18 -0.79 76 99% 6.7% — — —
Respiratory Care 33 — 30% 55% 12% 18% 12% 0% $70,061 49 -0.02 76 99% 6.7% — — —
Human Services and Addictions 4 — 0% 100% 0% 0% 0% 0% $54,062 51 +0.09 43 89% — — — —
Social Work 34 — 9% 74% 0% 15% 6% 0% $50,301 29 -0.35 33 92% — — — —
⇅ Ranked Trends Degrees Male White Asian Black Hispanic Intl Earnings Earn % Earn z ROI Employment Debt-to-Earn Accept SAT p25 SAT p75
College of Informatics 340 63% 69% 2% 6% 6% 13% $75,489 58 -0.62 82 96% 8.4%
Applied Software Engineering 9 — 33% 33% 11% 0% 0% 56% $91,787 13 -0.97 93 97% — — — —
Computer Science 47 — 81% 49% 2% 2% 2% 43% $91,787 13 -0.97 93 97% — — — —
Cybersecurity 16 — 81% 69% 0% 0% 12% 0% $88,652 41 -0.27 91 — — — — —
Data Analytics 3 +1 67% 100% 0% 0% 0% 0% $67,223 2 -2.00 72 — — — — —
Data Science 32 — 56% 84% 0% 3% 3% 6% $56,894 0 -2.47 50 91% 10.1% — — —
Information Technology 71 +2 83% 61% 3% 6% 10% 14% $91,787 39 -0.32 93 97% — — — —
Health Informatics 3 — 33% 67% 0% 33% 0% 0% $64,990 57 -0.07 68 — — — — —
Communication Studies 53 — 34% 85% 2% 11% 2% 0% $61,457 52 -0.04 61 95% 7.4% — — —
Electronic Media and Broadcasting 33 — 64% 85% 0% 3% 9% 0% $50,961 13 -1.02 34 98% — — — —
Journalism 10 +2 20% 80% 0% 0% 0% 10% $50,961 8 -1.27 34 98% — — — —
Organizational Communication — — — — — — — — $58,898 13 -1.17 56 95% — — — —
Public Relations 18 — 6% 72% 0% 17% 0% 6% $58,898 13 -1.17 56 95% — — — —
Media Informatics 12 — 58% 58% 0% 0% 17% 0% $51,481 45 -0.28 36 — — — — —
Advanced Manufacturing and Design 14 — 100% 79% 7% 7% 7% 0% $105,305 94 +1.38 97 97% — — — —
Electrical Engineering Technology 11 — 91% 45% 0% 18% 0% 36% $94,075 72 +0.44 94 — — — — —
Engineering Technology 8 — 75% 88% 0% 0% 12% 0% $92,294 62 +0.30 93 — — — — —
⇅ Ranked Trends Degrees Male White Asian Black Hispanic Intl Earnings Earn % Earn z ROI Employment Debt-to-Earn Accept SAT p25 SAT p75
Haile College of Business 491 55% 82% 1% 5% 5% 4% $73,293 53 -0.34 79 94% 5.5%
Business — — — — — — — — $84,499 76 +0.36 89 94% — — — —
Business Informatics 14 — 71% 50% 0% 7% 7% 14% $101,907 89 +1.26 96 96% 4.1% — — —
Economics 13 — 85% 69% 0% 0% 0% 31% $73,747 14 -0.91 80 — — — — —
Management 372 +10 53% 84% 2% 3% 5% 4% $71,777 48 -0.30 78 93% 5.6% — — —
Organizational Leadership 64 — 41% 80% 0% 17% 3% 0% $69,889 34 -0.44 76 94% 6.4% — — —
Geography — — — — — — — — $55,361 19 -0.78 46 — — — — —
Construction Management 28 — 93% 89% 0% 4% 4% 0% $86,705 11 -1.22 90 100% 3.4% — — —

Financial

In-State Tuition & Fees $11,649
Out-of-State Tuition & Fees $23,311
Est. In-State Cost $15,069
Est. Out-of-State Cost $30,155
ROI Percentile 72th

Retention & Graduation

Full-Time Retention 76%
4-Year Graduation Rate 36%
6-Year Graduation Rate 52%
Transfer-Out Rate 0%

Earnings by Major Category

Each major category's degree-weighted estimated median 5-year earnings at this college, expressed as a z-score against the national degree-weighted distribution for that category. 0 is the national average. The shaded band between +1.28 and −1.28 marks the central 80% of the national distribution (10th–90th percentile).

Academics

⇅ % Degrees Male White Asian Black Hispanic Intl Earnings Earn % Earn z ROI Employment Debt-to-Earn
Business & Economics 23.0% 466 53% 82% 2% 5% 5% 4% $72,434 33 -0.29 79 93% 5.7%
Health Sciences 19.2% 389 19% 81% 3% 8% 4% 0% $81,445 68 -0.20 87 97% 4.6%
Social Sciences 15.8% 320 28% 79% 1% 9% 6% 1% $53,653 27 -0.51 42 94% 8.2%
Computer Science 8.8% 178 75% 62% 2% 3% 6% 21% $84,818 10 -0.93 89 96% 10.1%
Humanities 7.9% 160 40% 79% 1% 9% 4% 0% $50,640 24 -0.56 34 92% 8.3%
Professional 6.7% 136 60% 79% 1% 9% 4% 3% $75,819 67 +0.09 82 97% 6.5%
Arts 6.2% 125 26% 77% 2% 2% 6% 2% $50,013 43 +0.38 32 97% —
Education 5.1% 104 11% 88% 3% 2% 7% 0% $45,532 7 -1.11 20 96% —
Life & Natural Sciences 4.2% 85 25% 72% 2% 5% 6% 7% $68,372 52 +0.20 73 93% —
Physical Sciences & Math 2.1% 42 55% 74% 2% 5% 5% 10% $71,664 30 -0.29 78 94% —
Agriculture & Food Science 0.9% 18 44% 78% 0% 6% 6% 0% $55,999 33 -0.33 48 94% —
Engineering 0.1% 2 100% 50% 0% 0% 0% 50% $91,439 7 -0.54 92 — —

Research R3

⇅ Research $ Rank Federal Industry $ PhDs Rank PhD students Postdocs
Humanities & Social Sciences $1.1M #308 66% $0 — — — —
Life & Natural Sciences $0.9M #343 65% $0 — — — —
Health Sciences $0.6M #278 88% $0.0M — — 28 —
Physical Sciences & Math $0.6M #425 74% $0 — — — —
Computer Science $0.1M #429 62% $0 — — — —
Business & Economics $0.0M #409 0% $0 — — — —
Education $0.0M #451 0% $0 16 #251 — —
Agriculture & Food Science $0 #318 — $0 — — — —
Engineering $0 #449 — $0 — — — —
Total $3.2M #437 71% $0.0M 16 #413 28 —

Expenditure and funding source: NSF HERD, FY2024. Degrees: IPEDS completions, 2023–24. Students and postdocs: NSF Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates, fall 2024, which covers science, engineering and selected health fields only. An em dash means the source does not report the figure, which is not the same as zero.

Sports NCAA D1

⇅ Athletes ▼ Revenue Expenses Net
Track & Field (combined) 98 $328K $328K $0
Baseball 38 $927K $927K $0
Soccer 32 $593K $593K $0
Basketball 16 $2.9M $2.9M $0
Swimming 12 $153K $153K $0
Golf 11 $250K $250K $0
Tennis 7 $191K $191K $0
Other Sports 6 $138K $138K $0
Total 162 $5.5M $5.5M $0
⇅ Athletes ▼ Revenue Expenses Net
Track & Field (combined) 100 $564K $564K $0
Other Sports 62 $274K $274K $0
Soccer 28 $752K $752K $0
Softball 21 $643K $643K $0
Basketball 16 $1.6M $1.6M $0
Volleyball 16 $727K $727K $0
Golf 11 $350K $350K $0
Tennis 6 $275K $275K $0
Swimming 2 $106K $106K $0
Total 226 $5.3M $5.3M $0
⇅ Athletes ▼ Revenue Expenses Net
Track & Field (combined) 198 $892K $892K $0
Other Sports 68 $412K $412K $0
Soccer 60 $1.3M $1.3M $0
Baseball 38 $927K $927K $0
Basketball 32 $4.5M $4.5M $0
Golf 22 $600K $600K $0
Softball 21 $643K $643K $0
Volleyball 16 $727K $727K $0
Swimming 14 $259K $259K $0
Tennis 13 $466K $466K $0
Total 388 $18.8M $18.8M $0

Source: U.S. Department of Education, Equity in Athletics Data Analysis. Each team's revenue and expenses are what the college attributes to it. The Total view's totals row is the department's grand total, which also includes money not attributed to any team; the Male and Female totals rows only add up their teams.

Admissions

Uses Common App Yes
Acceptance Rate 85%
Yield (non-ED) 35%
Regular Decision Jan 1

Acceptance Rates

In-State Out-of-State International
Regular Decision 85% 85% 85%

This college’s Common Data Set does not break down admissions by applicant demographics, so in-state, out-of-state, and international applicants share one Regular Decision rate.

Standardized Tests

Test Policy optional
Submitted Test Scores 78%
SAT Range 950 – 1150
SAT Math Range 480 – 560
SAT RW Range 470 – 590