Northern Kentucky University

Highland Heights, KY · Public · Doctoral / professional

SAT middle 50% (admitted students)

950–1150

Median ~1050

Acceptance rate

68%

Enrollment

8,246

ACT middle 50%

18–25

What the numbers say about NKU

The reported middle 50% spans 200 points, from 950 to 1150. A planning score near or above 1190 gives you a target above that historical range, not an admission guarantee.
The reported section midpoints are 540 Reading and Writing and 560 Math. Use the lower section as the first place to look for recoverable points in your own score split.
The Scorecard snapshot reports a 68% acceptance rate. That rate describes a past applicant pool and should not be read as your personal admission probability.
Reported outcomes include a 52% completion rate and $50,220 in median earnings 10 years after entry. Compare those figures with cost and program fit, not in isolation.

Understand a 1050 SAT score Plan for a 1200 Verify current admissions policy

Tuition and outcomes

Tuition (in-state)

$11,088

Tuition (out-of-state)

$21,912

Median earnings 10 years after entry

$50,220

4-year completion rate (150% time)

52%

Source: US Department of Education College Scorecard. Documentation version September 2025; repository snapshot imported April 25, 2026. Scorecard fields can come from different reporting years, and this snapshot does not encode one universal data year. SAT totals are rounded to the nearest valid 10 points. Tuition excludes room, board, fees, and books. Read the methodology.

How your SAT score lines up

The Scorecard snapshot places the middle 50% of reported scores between 950 and 1150. This is descriptive data, not an admission threshold or probability estimate.

1190 SAT planning target: Above the reported middle-50% range.
1150 SAT (reported 75th percentile): At the upper end of the reported middle-50% range.
1050 SAT (median): Within the upper half of the reported range.
950 SAT (reported 25th percentile): Within the lower half of the reported range.

Compare to other colleges →

Colleges with similar SAT scores

Ranked by proximity to NKU's reported SAT midpoint. Similar scores do not imply similar programs, cost, or admission odds.

College	Location	SAT middle 50%	Acceptance rate
Georgia Southern University	Statesboro, GA	990–1130	88%
West Texas A & M University	Canyon, TX	950–1170	99%
Saginaw Valley State University	University Center, MI	920–1170	72%
Angelo State University	San Angelo, TX	910–1150	83%
University of Arkansas at Little Rock	Little Rock, AR	960–1210	59%
Northeastern State University	Tahlequah, OK	870–1140	100%

FAQs

What SAT score do I need for NKU?

Northern Kentucky University's Scorecard snapshot shows a middle-50% SAT range of 950–1150, rounded to valid 10-point totals. 1190 is a planning target above the reported range, not an admission cutoff.

What is NKU's acceptance rate?

Northern Kentucky University's most recently reported acceptance rate is approximately 68%.

How much does it cost to attend NKU?

In-state tuition is approximately $11,088 and out-of-state is approximately $21,912. These figures exclude room, board, and fees.

Is NKU test-optional?

Many US universities adjusted test policies after 2020. Check Northern Kentucky University's admissions page for current test-optional, test-required, or test-flexible policy.

Official site: www.nku.edu

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