Northern Kentucky University
Highland Heights, Kentucky · Public · 67.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 58/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Northern Kentucky University, a regional public in suburban Cincinnati's Kentucky tier, scores 58 out of 100 - a Below Average Value rating that is much closer to the Fair Value boundary than the headline suggests. The standout strength: NKU's earnings-premium sub-score of 88, reflecting a strong 0.465 earnings premium over the high-school baseline. Median earnings six years after entry are $35,200, climbing to $50,220 at year ten. Median debt is a moderate $23,000 against a 0.653 debt-to-earnings ratio. Payback period is 11.4 years - meaningfully better than most regional publics. The drag factors: 52.2% completion rate and a 70% repayment rate. Net price is exceptionally low at $8,191 (in-state tuition is $11,088), producing a four-year total cost of just $32,764 - one of the most affordable public-school price points in the dataset. NKU's program mix has real strength in nursing, MIS, construction management, and CIS, all with B/B+ grades. The combination of low cost, strong earnings premium, and decent program quality makes NKU a more attractive ROI play than its Below Average tier rating implies.
Northern Kentucky University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $11,088/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $21,912/yr |
| Average net price | $8,191/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $32,764 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $50,220 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $35,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $244 |
| Estimated payback period | 11.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 52.2% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 8,246 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $11,088/year ($21,912/year out-of-state). Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $8,191/year, or roughly $32,764 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $2,603/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $14,522/year. If money is tight, that matters: this school gives low-income students enough aid to land well below the sticker price.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $23,000 in federal loans, which works out to about $244 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $50,220 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.65, within the range advisors call workable but worth keeping an eye on.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $2,603 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $3,630 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $6,761 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $12,679 |
| $110,001+ | $14,522 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay just $2,603 net annually - one of the lowest low-income net prices in the dataset, suggesting Pell + KEES (Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship) + state aid does very strong work here. Four-year exposure of about $10,400 is genuinely affordable. NKU is a credible affordability play for low-income Cincinnati-region students; the combination of low cost and a 0.465 earnings premium produces strong ROI math.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $6,761, and $75,001-$110,000 jumps to $12,679 - progressive net pricing. Four-year cost runs $27,000-$51,000. Middle-income families get an excellent in-state public price; NKU's earnings outcomes for graduates of strong programs make this one of the better mid-income ROI plays among regional publics.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households above $110,000 pay $14,522 net per year - four-year cost of about $58,000. Still very competitive for a public university. At this tier NKU's value proposition narrows somewhat versus University of Kentucky or University of Louisville, but for students committed to specific NKU programs (nursing, MIS, construction management) the ROI math still works.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Northern Kentucky University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $67,319 | C+ |
| Registered Nursing | $77,404 | C+ |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $82,982 | B |
| Teacher Education | $42,709 | D |
| Psychology | $47,280 | D |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $73,478 | C+ |
| Biology | $56,999 | C |
| Social Work | $44,914 | D |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $50,322 | D |
| Human Resources Management | $65,960 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business admin is NKU's largest program at 341 graduates: $44,564 first-year earnings, $67,319 by year four, $20,500 median debt, and a 0.46 debt-to-earnings ratio for a C+ grade. The low debt load combined with reasonable earnings produces solid ROI math. Cincinnati's Fortune 500 corporate base (Procter & Gamble, Kroger, Fifth Third) supports placement. For ROI-focused business students this is a defensible track.
Registered Nursing
Nursing produces 231 graduates with $68,649 first-year earnings, $77,404 by year four, $31,000 median debt - the highest debt cohort on file at NKU - and a 0.452 ratio for a C+ grade. Strong placement into the Cincinnati hospital network (UC Health, TriHealth, Christ Hospital) drives the earnings outcomes. The debt level is higher than typical at NKU because nursing program supplies and clinical fees push the cost up; students should plan accordingly.
Computer and Information Sciences
CIS produces 139 graduates with $62,411 first-year earnings rising to $82,982 by year four, $25,000 median debt, and a 0.401 ratio for a B grade. One of the strongest ROI tracks at NKU. The Cincinnati tech ecosystem (84.51, Cincom, Kroger Digital) absorbs graduates well, and the four-year earnings ramp is meaningful. For ROI-focused students this is among the top reasons to choose NKU.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education produces 131 graduates with $38,059 first-year earnings, $42,709 by year four, $27,000 median debt, and a 0.709 ratio for a D grade. The structural ROI pressure on K-12 teaching shows clearly here: earnings are flat, debt is moderate, and the year-four earnings figure is actually only marginally higher than year-one. Students entering should plan around PSLF eligibility and the long earnings ramp.
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Drama/Theatre produces 48 graduates with $19,929 first-year earnings, $35,624 by year four, $21,175 median debt, and a 1.063 debt-to-earnings ratio earning an F grade. This is a structural ROI failure: bachelor's drama programs nationwide produce weak earnings, and NKU's outcomes confirm the pattern. Students drawn to theatre should expect to need significant graduate training, day jobs, or industry geography (NYC/LA) to make the math work.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 64.4% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 69.9% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 59.4% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 65.6% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Northern Kentucky University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2023).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 67.7% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 480-560 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 473-590 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 18-25 |
| Enrollment | 8,246 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 25.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,693 |
Admission rate is 67.65%. SAT mid-50% bands sit at 480-560 Math and 473-590 Reading; ACT composite spans 18-25. These bands are typical for regional publics in this tier, somewhat below national medians but solid for a non-flagship in-state option. The 52% completion rate aligns with the prep distribution; students arriving in the upper half of the mid-50% are statistically far more likely to complete and capture the school's strong-program ROI.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
NKU's peer set includes Eastern Kentucky University, Kentucky State University, Empire State University, University of Alaska Anchorage, and University of Idaho. Eastern Kentucky is the most direct functional peer - another KY regional public with similar program mix. Idaho posts modestly stronger ROI thanks to a wider degree mix. Alaska Anchorage and Empire State have unique location/format profiles. Kentucky State is an HBCU with different demographics. Within this peer set NKU's earnings premium is the single strongest signal - noticeably better than EKU and KSU on that dimension.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Kentucky University (this school) | 58 | $8,191 | $50,220 |
| Empire State University | 61 | $11,676 | $54,080 |
| University of Idaho | 59 | $14,831 | $54,670 |
| University of Alaska Anchorage | 54 | $15,301 | $51,871 |
| Eastern Kentucky University | 39 | $11,040 | $45,795 |
| Kentucky State University | 9 | $8,040 | $36,382 |
Who Thrives Here
NKU fits Cincinnati-region students who want an in-state Kentucky public option close to home, with strong programs in nursing, business, IT, and construction management. Pell rate is 25.23% - middle-class skew, relatively higher-income than most peers. Total enrollment is 8,246. Greater Cincinnati's healthcare, manufacturing, and IT employers absorb graduates well, which drives the strong earnings premium. Students drawn to humanities or fine arts should weight the data carefully - those programs post weak ROI even at NKU's affordable net price.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Northern Kentucky University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $8,191 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $50,220 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 11.4 years to earn the cost back - slower than most four-year schools. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates. What to keep an eye on: its 52.2% graduation rate, high debt relative to what graduates earn, concerning loan repayment rates.
Median debt of $23,000 against $50,220 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.