Northern Kentucky University Rankings

Nora Roberts

July 16, 2025

Located in Highland Heights, KY, Northern Kentucky University is one of the best universities in the state of Kentucky. On this page, you will find in-depth rankings for Northern Kentucky University in the following areas: graduation rates, teaching  resources, financing opportunities, and alumni donations. Latest acceptance rate is also given to show how competitive is Northern Kentucky University.

Nunn Drive Highland Heights, KY 41099
Phone: (800) 637-9948
Email: admitnku@nku.edu
Web site: http://www.nku.edu

Rankings: Northern Kentucky University

  • NKU has an enrollment over 14,000 students and employs 871 full-time staff and 568 full-time faculty.
  • Northern Kentucky University provides a distance education program, study abroad programs, and evening/weekend study opportunity, which is a great option for those who work full-time.
  • Northern Kentucky University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 11,933, with a gender distribution of 42 percent male students and 58 percent female students.
Rankings, Ratings, and Admissions Statistics
Peer college rating (out of 5) 2.8
Graduation and retention ranking: 80
Average freshman retention rate: 69.2%
6-year graduation rate: 36.3%
Predicted graduation rate: N/A
Overperformance(+)/Underperformance(-): N/A
Faculty resources ranking: 77
Classes with under 20 students (2020): 38.9%
Classes with 50 or more students (2020): 2.2%
Student faculty ratio (2020): 17:1
Percent of faculty who are full-time (2020) 75.2%
Student selectivity ranking: 88
SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile (2020) 19-24
2020 Freshmen in top 10 percent of high school class: 9%
Freshmen in top 25 percent of high school class (2020): 29%
Fall 2020 Acceptance rate: 77.8%
Financial resources rank: 61
Alumni giving rank: 55
Average alumni giving rate (2020): 8.1%

 

Essential Facts: Northern Kentucky University

Rules and regulations Sports Activities 

General Information  
Percent of undergraduate students who live in college-owned, operated, or affiliated housing: 12%
Percent of undergraduates who are members of a fraternity: 6%
Percent of student body who are members of a sorority: 6%
Average percentage of students on campus during weekends: 30%
Are all students permitted to have cars on campus? Yes
Percent of students who have cars on campus: N/A
Is alcohol permitted on campus for students of legal age? No
Additional policies and regulations: class attendance policies set by individual instructors, hazing prohibited, other
Collegiate athletic association: NCAA II
Men’s scholarship sports: baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis
Women’s scholarship sports: basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, volleyball
Student activities: campus ministries, choral groups, concert band, dance, drama/theater, international student organization, jazz band, literary magazine, music ensembles, musical theater, pep band, radio station, student government, student newspaper, television station