The average acceptance rate at NKU over the past 10 years is 86.95%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 67.65%. Compared to the previous year, it became much more competitive to gain admission to NKU in 2025.
The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 33.44%, and the 2025 yield is 36.85%. Overall, the yield has increased by 10.53% from 2015 to 2025.
The number of NKU applicants decreased by 5.59% (359 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants decreased by 18.10% overall.
The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 67.65%, representing an increasingly selective admissions process. This indicates that NKU has become more competitive over the past decade, as the institution receives a growing number of applications while maintaining or reducing the number of admitted students.
The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 36.85%. This rising yield trend demonstrates that NKU is increasingly successful at converting admitted students into enrolled students. An increasing yield rate suggests stronger student preference for NKU and indicates that the institution's admitted class quality and perceived value continue to improve.
For the 2025 admission cycle, NKU received approximately 6,058 applications, admitted 4,098 students, and enrolled 1,510 students. The declining application volume may indicate shifts in student interest patterns or broader demographic changes affecting college enrollment. Understanding these trends is crucial for prospective students and families assessing NKU's position in the competitive admissions landscape.
NKU 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at NKU over the past decade show a relatively stable trend, with fluctuations in both directions. The average acceptance rate over this period is 86.95%, while the most recent rate stands at 67.65%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.
For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 67.65%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 87.47% and for women is 86.72%.
The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at NKU have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 91.89% | 91.80% | 91.94% |
| 2016-17 | 91.09% -0.80% |
91.14% -0.66% |
91.06% -0.89% |
| 2017-18 | 90.38% -0.71% |
90.65% -0.49% |
90.21% -0.85% |
| 2018-19 | 89.26% -1.12% |
89.23% -1.42% |
89.28% -0.93% |
| 2019-20 | 90.18% 0.92% |
91.37% 2.14% |
89.47% 0.19% |
| 2020-21 | 87.03% -3.15% |
88.34% -3.03% |
86.28% -3.19% |
| 2021-22 | 80.01% -7.03% |
81.99% -6.35% |
79.00% -7.28% |
| 2022-23 | 86.01% 6.00% |
85.83% 3.84% |
86.11% 7.11% |
| 2023-24 | 96.03% 10.02% |
95.70% 9.87% |
96.21% 10.10% |
| 2024-25 | 67.65% -28.38% |
68.64% -27.06% |
67.62% -28.59% |
| Average | 86.95% | 87.47% | 86.72% |
NKU has demonstrated an improvement in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has increased from 33.34% in 2015 to 36.85% in 2025, representing a 10.53% increase. The 10-year average yield stands at 33.44%, reflecting strengthening enrollment performance.
The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at NKU from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has increased by 10.53% over this period.
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 33.34% | 41.44% | 28.44% |
| 2016-17 | 38.92% 5.58% |
43.23% 1.79% |
36.24% 7.80% |
| 2017-18 | 40.56% 1.64% |
45.40% 2.17% |
37.48% 1.24% |
| 2018-19 | 37.00% -3.55% |
40.95% -4.46% |
34.67% -2.81% |
| 2019-20 | 35.56% -1.44% |
40.00% -0.95% |
32.84% -1.83% |
| 2020-21 | 31.55% -4.01% |
34.48% -5.52% |
29.83% -3.01% |
| 2021-22 | 32.00% 0.44% |
35.99% 1.51% |
29.00% -0.83% |
| 2022-23 | 27.58% -4.42% |
33.25% -2.74% |
24.44% -4.56% |
| 2023-24 | 21.02% -6.56% |
23.93% -9.32% |
19.36% -5.08% |
| 2024-25 | 36.85% 15.83% |
44.53% 20.59% |
33.10% 13.73% |
| Average | 33.44% | 38.32% | 30.54% |
Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 6,409, the average number of admitted is 5,577, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 1,847.
The number of NKU applicants decreased by 5.59% (359 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants decreased by 18.10% overall.
The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at Northern Kentucky University from 2015 to 2025.
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 7,397 | 6,797 | 2,266 |
| 2016-17 | 6,059 -18.09% |
5,519 -18.80% |
2,148 -5.21% |
| 2017-18 | 5,852 -3.42% |
5,289 -4.17% |
2,145 -0.14% |
| 2018-19 | 5,995 2.44% |
5,351 1.17% |
1,980 -7.69% |
| 2019-20 | 6,080 1.42% |
5,483 2.47% |
1,950 -1.52% |
| 2020-21 | 6,686 9.97% |
5,819 6.13% |
1,836 -5.85% |
| 2021-22 | 6,637 -0.73% |
5,310 -8.75% |
1,699 -7.46% |
| 2022-23 | 6,905 4.04% |
5,939 11.85% |
1,638 -3.59% |
| 2023-24 | 6,417 -7.07% |
6,162 3.75% |
1,295 -20.94% |
| 2024-25 | 6,058 -5.59% |
4,098 -33.50% |
1,510 16.60% |
| Average | 6,409 | 5,577 | 1,847 |
The following table compares Northern Kentucky University' acceptance rate to similar schools.
| 2024 | 2025 | Change % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Kentucky University | 96.03% | 67.65% | -29.55% |
| Wright State University-Main Campus | 96.33% | 95.15% | 1.24% |
| Cleveland State University | 91.30% | 95.48% | -4.38% |
| Indiana University-Indianapolis | 76.37% | 81.39% | -6.17% |
| Oakland University | 87.84% | 70.24% | 25.06% |
| University of Detroit Mercy | 75.42% | 80.14% | -5.89% |
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