Northern Kentucky University

Highland Heights, KY nku.edu 8,065 students

Northern Kentucky University's campus is located in Highland Heights, a suburban setting with convenient access to the Cincinnati metropolitan area. The university is organized into seven colleges, including a law school. Students benefit from a comprehensive range of academic programs and the cultural and professional opportunities afforded by its proximity to a major city.

Programs

Analyzed in dataset

Earnings

$43,181

Average graduate, 1 yr after

Outlook

52/100

Avg DegreeOutlook Score

Tuition

$10,896

In-state sticker price

Out-of-state: $21,480/yr

Financial Aid

The sticker price is rarely what families actually pay. Northern Kentucky University's grant and scholarship aid lowers the net price for most income brackets. 24% of students receive Pell Grants; 31% take federal loans.

Key Insight

Average net price across income brackets is $7,194, roughly 34% lower than the published tuition.

Net Price by Family Income

Academic Year 2025

Income Bracket	Avg Net Price	4-Year Net Cost
$0 – $30K	$1,813	$7,252
$30K – $48K	$3,022	$12,088
$48K – $75K	$6,638	$26,552
$75K – $110K	$11,227	$44,908
$110K+	$13,270	$53,080
Sticker price (no aid)	$10,896	$43,584

Net price = tuition + fees + room & board minus grants and scholarships, by reported family-income bracket. Source: IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey via College Scorecard.

Programs at Northern Kentucky University

33 degree programs ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any program for AI scenario analysis and 10-year earnings projections.

Degree Program	DW Score	1-yr Earnings	AI Risk	ROI
Information Sciences Computer and Information Sciences, General Compare across schools →	83	$62,411/yr	Very High	18.9x
Nursing Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Compare across schools →	81	$68,649/yr	High	15.3x
Construction Management Compare across schools →	80	$67,295/yr	High	19.6x
Accounting Accounting and Related Services Compare across schools →	76	$52,425/yr	Very High	15.0x
Finance Finance and Financial Management Services Compare across schools →	75	$50,457/yr	Very High	15.0x
Management Information Systems Management Information Systems and Services Compare across schools →	71	$68,628/yr	Very High	19.4x
Business Business/Commerce, General Compare across schools →	70	$48,654/yr	High	14.0x
Industrial Production Technology Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians Compare across schools →	68	$67,641/yr	Moderate	18.4x
Business Administration Business Administration, Management and Operations Compare across schools →	68	$44,564/yr	High	13.6x
Human Resources Human Resources Management and Services Compare across schools →	64	$49,803/yr	High	13.6x
Health Sciences Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General Compare across schools →	61	$58,970/yr	High	16.2x
Marketing Compare across schools →	61	$45,386/yr	Very High	13.2x
Allied Health Professions Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Compare across schools →	60	$52,094/yr	Moderate	11.7x
Health & Physical Education Health and Physical Education/Fitness Compare across schools →	54	$42,725/yr	Moderate	12.0x
Public Relations & Advertising Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Compare across schools →	53	$41,842/yr	High	11.0x
Criminal Justice Criminal Justice and Corrections Compare across schools →	53	$35,724/yr	Moderate	10.8x
Information Science Information Science/Studies Compare across schools →	50	$31,390/yr	Very High	14.1x
Biology Biology, General Compare across schools →	49	$38,970/yr	High	11.9x
Teacher Education Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods Compare across schools →	47	$38,059/yr	High	8.5x
Communication and Media Studies Compare across schools →	46	$38,637/yr	High	11.8x
Subject-Area Teaching Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas Compare across schools →	45	$33,673/yr	High	10.1x
Special Education and Teaching Compare across schools →	39	$40,333/yr	High	8.3x
Liberal Arts & Humanities Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Compare across schools →	39	$37,602/yr	Low	11.4x
Social Work Compare across schools →	39	$37,037/yr	Moderate	8.8x
Psychology Psychology, General Compare across schools →	39	$36,209/yr	High	8.7x
History Compare across schools →	37	$29,619/yr	High	9.3x
Natural Resources & Conservation Research Natural Resources Conservation and Research Compare across schools →	35	$36,894/yr	High	7.5x
Music Compare across schools →	35	$34,428/yr	High	8.6x
Fine Arts Fine and Studio Arts Compare across schools →	33	$31,448/yr	Moderate	7.5x
Journalism Compare across schools →	28	$29,647/yr	Very High	9.3x
English English Language and Literature, General Compare across schools →	27	$31,926/yr	Very High	7.1x
International Relations International Relations and National Security Studies Compare across schools →	25	$21,915/yr	High	4.0x
Theater & Drama Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Compare across schools →	20	$19,929/yr	Moderate	6.0x