Northern Kentucky University
Academics

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How strong are the academics at Northern Kentucky University?

Let's cover class sizes, graduation rates, and outcomes.

18:1
Student to faculty ratio
22
Average class size
35%
4-year grad rate

Class Sizes

Class sizes likely stayed the same for you through high school. You'll find that college is much different. Some of the largest universities have classes that can seat hundreds of students in giant lecture halls. Conversely, as they progress and their focus narrows, higher-level courses can sometimes have just a handful of students.

NKU has an average student-to-faculty ratio of 18:1. The typical school is 14:1. While this ratio is important, what’s more important is how big a typical class is.

Class Sizes
2-9
118
10-19
434
20-29
276
30-39
134
40-49
33
50-99
21
100+
4

Honors Programs

Northern Kentucky University has an honors program and/or honors college. Specifics of these programs vary, but benefits of being in an Honors Program might include priority registration, being part of a tight-knit community, and accessing unique learning opportunities.

Learn more about honors options on NKU's website.

Outcomes

It’s critical to understand a school’s outcomes to understand if your four (or more) years at the school will be worth it. Here are some key statistics about the outcomes of students who enroll at Northern Kentucky University:

78%
First-year retention rate
35%
4-year grad rate
50%
6-year grad rate

Majors

Many students choose a school largely based on the what they want to study. The are Northern Kentucky University's most popular majors, ranked by how many people graduated with the concentration in the most recent year:

Business Administration and Management, General
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
Psychology, General
Elementary Education and Teaching
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
28.8
87.84
146.88
205.92
264.96
324

The Full List

Major Graduates
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
  • Biology/Biological Sciences, General 68
  • Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology 30
  • Neuroscience 8
Business
  • Business Administration and Management, General 324
  • Organizational Behavior Studies 56
  • Construction Management, General 33
  • Management Information Systems, General 22
  • Business/Commerce, General 1
  • Accounting 0
  • Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies 0
  • Finance, General 0
  • Human Resources Development 0
  • Marketing/Marketing Management, General 0
Communication
  • Speech Communication and Rhetoric 49
  • Broadcast Journalism 42
  • Public Relations/Image Management 13
  • Journalism 4
  • Health Communication 0
Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services
  • Information Technology 75
  • Computer and Information Sciences, General 55
  • Information Science/Studies 24
  • Computer and Information Sciences, Other 7
  • Computer Software and Media Applications, Other 4
  • Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance 3
Education
  • Elementary Education and Teaching 81
  • Kindergarten/Preschool Education and Teaching 21
  • Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching 17
  • Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education 7
  • Secondary Education and Teaching 6
  • Special Education and Teaching, General 5
  • Music Teacher Education 4
  • Physical Education Teaching and Coaching 3
  • Business and Innovation/Entrepreneurship Teacher Education 0
Engineering
  • Engineering Physics/Applied Physics 0
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians
  • Manufacturing Engineering Technology/Technician 30
  • Electrical, Electronic, and Communications Engineering Technology/Technician 10
  • Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other 10
English Language And Literature/Letters
  • English Language and Literature, General 23
Foreign Languages
  • Japanese Language and Literature 3
  • Spanish Language and Literature 2
  • German Language and Literature 2
  • French Language and Literature 1
Health Professions And Related Programs
  • Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 231
  • Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General 78
  • Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General 78
  • HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND RELATED PROGRAMS 78
  • Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist 29
  • Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiographer 15
  • Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions, Other 5
  • Medical Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiation Therapist 5
  • Medical Informatics 4
  • Athletic Training/Trainer 1
History
  • History, General 52
Homeland Security
  • Criminal Justice/Safety Studies 54
Legal Professions And Studies
  • Non-Professional Legal Studies 6
  • Legal Studies 6
  • LEGAL PROFESSIONS AND STUDIES 6
Liberal Arts And Sciences
  • Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 64
Mathematics And Statistics
  • Mathematics, General 11
  • Statistics, General 5
Natural Resources And Conservation
  • Environmental Science 14
Philosophy And Religious Studies
  • Philosophy 3
Physical Sciences
  • Chemistry, General 15
  • Geology/Earth Science, General 3
  • Physics, General 2
Psychology
  • Psychology, General 90
Public Administration And Social Service Professions
  • Social Work 67
Social Sciences
  • Political Science and Government, General 17
  • Econometrics and Quantitative Economics 12
  • Anthropology, General 10
  • International Relations and Affairs 8
  • Sociology, General 6
  • Social Sciences, General 1
  • Geography 1
Visual And Performing Arts
  • Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General 47
  • Fine/Studio Arts, General 41
  • Music, General 13
  • Design and Visual Communications, General 9

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