About
Northern Kentucky University, located in Highland Heights, Kentucky, was founded in 1948 as a branch campus of the University of Kentucky. Originally known as the UK Northern Extension Center, the campus became independent in 1968 and became known as Northern Kentucky State College. Two years later the school was merged with Salmon P. Chase College of Law, a private school in Cincinnati, after which the school found a new location in Highland Heights, awarding its first bachelor's degree one year later (1973), followed by a name change to Northern Kentucky University in 1976. Since the school's founding and quick transformation to university, the school has sought to modernize and expand, resulting a large number of projects over the school's history, and well into current times, to be on the cutting edge of development, updating and renovating as necessary to keep facilities on campus current and relevant for the modern student.
Academics
NKU offers a large number of programs, both undergraduate and graduate, to meet student needs and demands. The large number of programs ensures that students will be able to pursue their academic and professional goals. Undergraduate majors, typically taking four years to complete, will have a mixture of general education courses along side lower and upper division courses related to their major. A major may be augmented through a number of minor degrees, or otherwise assist students in exploring interests outside of their area of focus. The school offers resources for study, including an extensive library for research, laboratories and computer centers.Graduate level programs require separate admissions with different criteria, including having earned the necessary prerequisite degree and the appropriate GRE or LSAT (for the law program) score.
Programs offered at UALR include:
Admissions and Financial Aid
Students interested in enrollment at Northern Kentucky University may submit an application for admission, as well as provide transcripts and standardized test scores. The supplied material will be reviewed and a decision rendered based on school admissions criteria, taking into consideration any issues or extenuating circumstance when forming a final answer. Students will be notified shortly after the decision is made, with admitted students receiving additional information on how to begin their college career.
Financial aid is available in the form of loans, grants, scholarships and work study programs available at the federal and state levels. Students in need of assistance must complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) prior to the financial aid deadline. Once submitted, the resulting student aid report (SAR) will be used by the financial aid to determine need, eligibility and awards, and use the information to forma financial aid packet that best serves the student's needs.Students may be chosen at random to provide additional information to verify the accuracy of the FAFSA and SAR due to new federal regulations regarding financial aid. Financial aid must be reapplied for prior to each academic year, this is due to changing financial circumstances for students and families from year to year requiring adjustments in aid offerings.
Athletics
The NKU Norse participate in a number of intercollegiate athletic activities and programs through the NCAA Atlantic Sun Conference. Athletic programs allow students to develop skills and responsibilities that may be useful in one's personal, academic and professional life. These include, discipline, teamwork, leadership good health, and time management among others. Students will take part in the camaraderie that develops between teammates that experience the same successes and failures in pursuit of a common goal. Students participating in athletic programs will have to maintain a schedule that allows for both academic and athletic development, including scheduling hours for training as well as meeting the standards of excellence of the school regarding academic progress.
Athletic programs offered at UALR:
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Softball
- Golf
- Soccer
- Swimming
- Diving
- Cross Country
- Track and Field
- Tennis
- Volleyball
Admission Requirements & Details
The information regarding admissions below may give you an idea of the students NKU accepts. The details may include application requirements and recommendations, as well as any college credits that may be transferred.
College Credits Accepted
- Dual Credits
- Life Experience Credits
- AP Course Credits
Student Enrollment
Northern Kentucky University has a total student population of about 15,000, where graduate students make up roughly 15% of the student body.
Estimated Costs & Financial Aid
The average "out of pocket" cost of attendance, after any grants and scholarships are considered, is around $9,200. To calculate a more personalized cost visit the net price calculator. There is also a $40 application fee for students applying to the school. The figures listed below are for informational purposes only and do not represent current or future tuition, fees, and expenses.
Tuition & Fees Information
- Annual tuition estimates are:
- In-State Tuition: $8,700-$10,000
- Nonresident Student Tuition: $17,000-$20,970
- Part-time students are charged:
- State Residents: $360-$440 per credit unit
- Nonresidents: $730-$870 per credit unit
- Room and board is estimated to cost around $11,000
Financial Aid Details
The information below lists the financial aid types students are receiving. Also shown are the percent of students receiving aid and the average amount of aid per student per year.
| Percent of Students | Average Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| Any Financial Aid | 95% | - |
| Receiving Grants & Scholarships | 86% | $7,286 |
| Receiving Student Loans | 59% | $5,711 |
Academics & Student Services
Student Services
To support students and graduates, Northern Kentucky University may provide services like:- Online course work available
- Weekend and night classes available
- Remedial instructional courses
- Counseling assistance
- Student employment
- Assisting students to find work
- Day care
Graduation Rates
Northern Kentucky University has an overall graduation rate which is close to 38%.
| Number of Year to Graduate | Percent of Entering Class |
|---|---|
| Students Graduating in 4 Years | 13% |
| Graduating in 5 Years | 17% |
| Graduating in 6 Years | 7% |
Specialized Programs & Accreditations
- Law Program
- Music Program
- Doctorate Degree in Nursing (DSN) Program
- Master's Degree in Nursing (MSN) Program
- Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN) Program
- Radiology Technician Program
- Elementary and Secondary School Teacher Education Program
Intercollegiate Athletics
Northern Kentucky University is a Member of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), with many of the sports belonging to the NCAA Division II (without football) classification. The most popular sports played are listed below:
- Baseball (Horizon League)
- Basketball (Horizon League)
- Track and Field (Horizon League)
- Golf
- Soccer
- Softball
- Tennis
- Volleyball
Programs Offered
The program list below is organized by areas of study. The programs that have a link will direct you to the program's profile page where you can learn more about education requirements and career pathways.
Get more information about the programs offered by Northern Kentucky University by clicking the request information to the right.
(C) Certificate or Award | (A) Associate's | (B) Bachelor's | (M) Master's Degree | (D) Doctorate (PhD,...)
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Business and Marketing Studies
- Organizational Behavior Studies (B, C, M)
- Commerce (A, B, M)
- Accounting (B, M)
- Advertising and Marketing (B)
- Finance (B)
- Business Administration (B)
- Construction Management (B)
- Information Systems (B, C, M)
- Corporate Communications (C)
- Business Economics (B)
- Entrepreneurship (B)
- Human Resources Development (B)
- Organizational and Nonprofit Management (C)
- Financial Planning
- Marketing Research
Communications and Journalism
- Communications (B, M)
- Broadcast Journalism (B)
- Public Relations (B)
- Journalism (B)
- Radio and Television (B)
- Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (C)
Computer and Information Sciences
- Information Technology (B)
- Computer (B)
- Information Science (B)
- System Networking (M)
- Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (B)
- Computer Science (M)
- Computer Software and Media Applications (C)
- Computer and Information Systems Security (C)
- Computer Information Technology Services Administration and Management (C)
- Computer and Information Sciences
- Computer Programming
- Information Technology Project Management
Education
- Elementary Education (B, M)
- Middle School Teacher (B)
- Physical Education (B)
- Educational Leadership and Administration (D, M)
- Guidance Counselor (M)
- Education (M)
- Kindergarten and Preschool Education (B)
- Teacher and Professional Development (C)
- Trade and Industrial Teacher Education (B)
- Educational Administration
- Secondary Education
- Business Teacher Education
- Foreign Language Teacher Education
- Technology Teacher Education Teacher Education
- Technical Teacher Education
Engineering Technology
- Manufacturing Engineering Technician (B)
- Electrical and Communications Engineering Technology (B)
- Architectural Engineering (A)
- Mechanical Drafting and Mechanical Drafting cad
- Engineering Management
English Language and Literature
- English (B, M)
- Technical and Business Writing (C)
- Writing, General (C)
- Creative Writing (C)
- American Literature (C)
Foreign Languages and Literature
- Spanish Language and Literature (B)
- German Language and Literature (B)
- French Language and Literature (B)
Health and Clinical Professions
- Nursing (B, M)
- Health Services (B)
- Athletic Training (B)
- Health Informatics (C, M)
- Radiology Technician (A)
- Mental Health Counseling (M)
- Adult Health Nurse (C)
- Respiratory Therapy (A)
- Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions (B)
- Nursing Practice (D)
- Radiologic Technology
- Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse
History
- History (B)
- Public and Applied History and Archival Administration (M)
Legal Professions and Studies
- Law (D)
Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Liberal Arts (A, B, M)
- General Studies
Mathematics and Statistics
- Math (B)
- Statistics (B)
Natural Resources and Conservation
Philosophy and Religious Studies
- Philosophy (B)
Physical Sciences
Psychology
Public Administration and Social Services
- Social Work (B, M)
- Public Administration (M)
Recreation and Fitness Studies
Security and Protective Services
- Criminal Justice (B)
- Police Science (A)
Social Sciences
- Political Science (B)
- International Relations (B)
- Sociology (B)
- Anthropology (B)
- Social Science (B)
- Geography (B, C)
Visual and Performing Arts
Other 4-Year Public Colleges
The list of schools below have been selected by researching which schools offer similar programs to Northern Kentucky University.
- Miami University - Oxford in Oxford, OH (36 miles away)
- Wright State University in Dayton, OH (55 miles away)
- Central State University in Wilberforce, OH (56 miles away)
- Kentucky State University in Frankfort, KY (62 miles away)
- Indiana University - East in Richmond, IN (62 miles away)
Also, you can compare schools by looking through our list of colleges & universities:
- Compare all colleges & universities in Kentucky
- See all public colleges in Kentucky