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
36%
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
129
10-19
425
20-29
244
30-39
139
40-49
30
50-99
27
100+
6

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:

75%
First-year retention rate
36%
4-year grad rate
54%
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
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
20
84.8
149.6
214.4
279.2
344

The Full List

Major Graduates
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
  • Biology/Biological Sciences, General 74
  • Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology 44
  • Neuroscience 17
  • Neuroscience 1
Business
  • Business Administration and Management, General 344
  • Organizational Behavior Studies 57
  • Business Administration and Management, General 27
  • Construction Management, General 23
  • Management Information Systems, General 20
  • Human Resources Development 0
  • Marketing/Marketing Management, General 0
  • Business/Commerce, General 0
  • Accounting 0
  • Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies 0
  • Finance, General 0
Communication
  • Speech Communication and Rhetoric 56
  • Broadcast Journalism 39
  • Public Relations/Image Management 14
  • Journalism 13
  • Health Communication 6
  • Journalism 2
  • Speech Communication and Rhetoric 1
Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services
  • Information Technology 65
  • Computer and Information Sciences, General 41
  • Information Science/Studies 15
  • Computer and Information Sciences, Other 13
  • Computer Software and Media Applications, Other 5
  • Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance 4
  • Computer and Information Sciences, General 2
  • Computer Software and Media Applications, Other 2
Education
  • Elementary Education and Teaching 77
  • Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching 18
  • Kindergarten/Preschool Education and Teaching 9
  • Music Teacher Education 8
  • Special Education and Teaching, General 6
  • Physical Education Teaching and Coaching 4
  • Secondary Education and Teaching 4
  • Special Education and Teaching, General 4
  • Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education 3
  • Business and Innovation/Entrepreneurship Teacher Education 0
  • Secondary Education and Teaching 0
Engineering
  • Engineering Physics/Applied Physics 0
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians
  • Manufacturing Engineering Technology/Technician 21
  • Electrical, Electronic, and Communications Engineering Technology/Technician 9
  • Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other 2
  • Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other 2
English Language And Literature/Letters
  • English Language and Literature, General 32
  • English Language and Literature, General 1
Foreign Languages
  • Japanese Language and Literature 4
  • Spanish Language and Literature 2
  • Spanish Language and Literature 1
  • German Language and Literature 1
  • French Language and Literature 0
Health Professions And Related Programs
  • Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 239
  • Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General 66
  • Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General 66
  • HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND RELATED PROGRAMS 66
  • Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist 40
  • Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiographer 14
  • Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions, Other 8
  • Medical Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiation Therapist 7
  • Medical Informatics 4
  • Athletic Training/Trainer 0
History
  • History, General 26
  • History, General 3
Homeland Security
  • Criminal Justice/Safety Studies 43
Legal Professions And Studies
  • LEGAL PROFESSIONS AND STUDIES 12
  • Non-Professional Legal Studies 12
  • Legal Studies 12
Liberal Arts And Sciences
  • Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 56
Mathematics And Statistics
  • Mathematics, General 6
  • Statistics, General 2
  • Mathematics, General 1
  • Statistics, General 1
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
  • Data Analytics, General 5
  • Data Analytics, General 1
Natural Resources And Conservation
  • Environmental Science 10
Philosophy And Religious Studies
  • Philosophy 5
Physical Sciences
  • Chemistry, General 10
  • Physics, General 5
  • Geology/Earth Science, General 4
  • Chemistry, General 1
Psychology
  • Psychology, General 128
  • Psychology, General 6
Public Administration And Social Service Professions
  • Social Work 40
Social Sciences
  • Econometrics and Quantitative Economics 15
  • Political Science and Government, General 14
  • Anthropology, General 11
  • Sociology, General 10
  • Social Sciences, General 4
  • International Relations and Affairs 2
  • Anthropology, General 2
  • Econometrics and Quantitative Economics 1
  • Geography 0
Visual And Performing Arts
  • Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General 44
  • Fine/Studio Arts, General 37
  • Design and Visual Communications, General 12
  • Music, General 8
  • Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General 2
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