# NKU SAT Scores: Admissions Range & Acceptance Rate | 1600.now Source: https://1600.now/college/northern-kentucky-university --- ## Northern Kentucky University SAT scores and admissions Written by [Luke Finigan](https://1600.now/about) Highland Heights, KY · Public · Doctoral / professional SAT middle 50% (historical enrolled scores): 950–1150 · Range midpoint ~1050 Acceptance rate: 68% Enrollment: 8,246 ACT middle 50%: 18–25 The figures above are the stored federal Scorecard snapshot, imported April 25, 2026. Its fields can cover different reporting years. Current university profiles below can describe a different cohort or applicant group. ### How NKU compares - Its SAT rank in the stored federal dataset is #181 of 197 US colleges with published SAT ranges in this snapshot and #2 of 3 in KY. - Its 68% acceptance rate is more selective than 48% of the 197 colleges in the same ranked pool. - Reported section midpoints skew 20 points toward Math (560 Math vs 540 Reading and Writing). - Median earnings 10 years after entry ($50,220) are $12,846 below the $63,066 median across that pool. - Out-of-state students pay $10,824 more per year than in-state students ($21,912 vs $11,088). National SAT rank: #181 of 197 SAT rank in KY: #2 of 3 More selective than: 48% of ranked colleges Earnings vs national median: −$12,846 ### 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](https://1600.now/sat-score/1050) [Plan for a 1200](https://1600.now/how-to-get-1200-sat) [Verify current admissions policy](https://www.nku.edu/) ### 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; our 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](https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/files/InstitutionDataDocumentation.pdf). ### 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, not an admission guarantee. - **1150 SAT (reported 75th percentile):** At the upper end of the reported middle-50% range. - **1050 SAT (range midpoint):** Within the reported range; not a measured median. - **950 SAT (reported 25th percentile):** At the lower end of the reported middle-50% range. At or above 1150 Strong relative score At the upper end of the reported range. Consider submitting if the current policy accepts scores. 950–1140 Within the reported range Compare your exact position, section split, and the rest of your academic record. Below 950 Below the reported range Check the current testing policy before deciding whether to withhold the score or retake. [Compare to other colleges →](https://1600.now/what-sat-score-do-i-need) ### 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 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Brevard College](https://1600.now/college/brevard-college) | Brevard, NC | 870–1220 | 42% | | [Grand Canyon University](https://1600.now/college/grand-canyon-university) | Phoenix, AZ | 1010–1110 | 79% | | [Georgia State University](https://1600.now/college/georgia-state-university) | Atlanta, GA | 940–1180 | 55% | | [Kean University](https://1600.now/college/kean-university) | Union, NJ | 930–1150 | 76% | | [Georgia Southern University](https://1600.now/college/georgia-southern-university) | Statesboro, GA | 990–1130 | 88% | | [Pennsylvania Western University](https://1600.now/college/pennsylvania-western-university) | California, PA | 940–1140 | 94% | ### Questions about NKU #### 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 historical College Scorecard snapshot reports approximately 68%. This is a past institution-wide applicant pool, not an individual admission probability. #### How much does it cost to attend NKU? Historical annual 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? The College Scorecard does not record testing policy, and this page has not checked Northern Kentucky University's current rule. Confirm whether it is test-optional, test-required, or test-blind on its admissions page before you apply. Official site: [www.nku.edu](https://www.nku.edu/)