Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $19,725. College Scorecard.
Net price by family income
Average after grants and scholarships for Kentucky residents receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard, latest reported year
Sticker price, line by line
| Per year, living on campus | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $11,088 | $21,912 |
| Housing & meals | $11,660 | $11,660 |
| Books & supplies | $800 | $800 |
| Personal & travel | $2,500 | $2,500 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$6,323 | −$6,323 |
| Total cost of attendance | $19,725 | $30,549 |
Cost items: IPEDS 2023-24, on-campus budget. Total: College Scorecard, which averages students living on and off campus; the adjustment row reconciles the two. Out-of-state total = in-state total with out-of-state tuition.
Debt after graduation
College Scorecard; Urban Institute Education Data Portal
Who gets aid
College Scorecard
NKU net price compared with other Kentucky colleges
NKU has the 3rd-lowest average net price of 28 Kentucky colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Avg. net price | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Berea College | $6,106 | 58% | $43,150 |
| 2 | Kentucky State University | $8,040 | 32% | $36,382 |
| 3 | Northern Kentucky University | $8,191 | 52% | $50,220 |
| 4 | Brescia University | $8,709 | 54% | $45,500 |
| 5 | Murray State University | $9,096 | 61% | $44,737 |
| 6 | Morehead State University | $9,793 | 52% | $43,197 |
| 7 | Clear Creek Baptist Bible College | $10,949 | 38% | $41,623 |
| 8 | Western Kentucky University | $10,990 | 56% | $43,889 |
| 9 | Eastern Kentucky University | $11,040 | 50% | $45,795 |
College Scorecard, latest year. Average for all aided students; your price depends on income. All Kentucky colleges →
Why NKU costs more or less than similar schools
| School | Acceptance | You'd pay | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs | Price gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Kentucky University | 68% | $8,191 | 52% | $50,220 | This school |
| Morehead State University | 77% | $9,793 | 52% | $43,197 | |
| Eastern Kentucky University | 78% | $11,040 | 50% | $45,795 | |
| Murray State University | 86% | $9,096 | 61% | $44,737 | |
| University of Louisville | 79% | $17,988 | 61% | $53,899 |
College Scorecard, latest reported year. “You'd pay” follows your residency and income choices above.
Why the price is different
Northern Kentucky University would cost you $1,602 less per year than Morehead State University, on average.
- Lower sticker price at Northern Kentucky University, mostly from more Northern Kentucky University students living at home, which lowers its average (−$5,944).
- Morehead State University gives aided families $634 more in grants, on average.
| Per year, Kentucky resident | NKU | Morehead State University | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $11,088 | $10,024 | +$1,064 |
| Books & supplies | $800 | $480 | +$320 |
| Housing & meals | $11,660 | $8,942 | +$2,718 |
| Personal & travel | $2,500 | $2,894 | −$394 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$6,323 | −$379 | −$5,944 |
| Sticker price | $19,725 | $21,961 | −$2,236 |
| Average grants | −$11,534 | −$12,168 | +$634 |
| You pay | $8,191 | $9,793 | −$1,602 |
“+” means NKU costs more; “−” means it costs less. Grants are the sticker price minus the net price. Cost items: IPEDS, on-campus budget. Sticker and net price: College Scorecard, latest reported year; the adjustment reconciles the two. Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote.
NKU cost questions
How much is tuition at NKU?
Tuition and fees are $11,088 a year for Kentucky residents and $21,912 for out-of-state students.
What is the total cost of attending NKU?
The total cost of attendance, including housing, meals, books and personal costs, is $19,725 a year for Kentucky residents living on campus and about $30,549 for out-of-state students.
What do families actually pay at NKU?
After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $8,191 a year on average. Families earning $0–30k pay $2,603; $48–75k pay $6,761; $110k+ pay $14,522. These figures are for Kentucky residents.
How much debt do NKU graduates have?
The median federal loan debt at graduation is $15,159, and 7.2% of borrowers defaulted within three years of entering repayment (2017 cohort).
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By). Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote; confirm with the school's net price calculator. Back to Northern Kentucky University overview