Tuition, Fees, Living Costs, and Cost of Attendance (COA)
Undergraduate Program Tuition & Fees
For the academic year 2023-2024, the undergraduate tuition & fees at Northern Kentucky University is $10,896 for Kentucky residents and $21,480 for out-of-state students. It has been risen by 2.87% for Kentucky residents and increased by 3.03% for out-of-state rates compared to the previous year. Its in-state undergraduate tuition & fees is a little bit higher than the average amount ($10,086) and its out-of-state undergraduate tuition & fees is a little bit higher than the average amount for similar schools' tuition of $19,667.
The 2025 estimated undergraduate tuition & fees of NKU is $11,209 for Kentucky residents and $22,131 for out-of-state students, a 3.0% increase compared to 2024's rate.
| Year | In-State | Out-of-State | On Campus Room & Board, Other Expenses |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-2023 | $10,592 | $20,848 | $13,748 |
| 2023-2024 | $10,896 | $21,480 | $14,160 |
| Change % 2023-2024 | 2.87% | 3.03% | 3.00% |
| 2024-2025 | $11,209 | $22,131 | $14,584 |
Graduate Program Tuition & Fees
For graduate programs, the in-state graduate tuition & fees is $10,590 and out-of-state tuition & fees is $16,044. Its in-state graduate tuition & fees is around the average amount ($10,520) and its out-of-state graduate tuition & fees is a little bit lower than the average amount for similar schools' tuition of $18,149.
The 2025 estimated tuition & fees at NKU is $10,905 for Kentucky residents and $16,507 for out-of-state students , a 2.9% increase compared to 2024's rate.
Northern Kentucky University has a law school and its tuition is different from other graduate programs, usually higher. The law school tuition is $24,619 for in-state and $38,165 for out-of-state students. See the detailed law school tuition at Salmon P. Chase College of Law page.
| Year | In-State | Out-of-State | On Campus Room & Board, Other Expenses |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-2023 | $10,284 | $15,594 | $13,748 |
| 2023-2024 | $10,590 | $16,044 | $14,160 |
| Change % 2023-2024 | 2.98% | 2.89% | 3.00% |
| 2024-2025 | $10,905 | $16,507 | $14,584 |
Cost Per Credit Hour
The below table describes the cost per credit hour for part-time students and/or full-time students who take additional courses more than regular credit hours at NKU. The undergraduate cost per credit hour is $437 for Kentucky residents and $879 for out-of-state students. The graduate tuition per credit hour is $566 for Kentucky residents and $869 for out-of-state students.
| Year | In-State | Out-of-State | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 2022-2023 | $425 | $853 |
| 2023-2024 | $437 | $879 | |
| 2024-2025 | $449 | $906 | |
| Graduate | 2022-2023 | $550 | $845 |
| 2023-2024 | $566 | $869 | |
| 2024-2025 | $582 | $894 |
Cost of Attendance with Living Costs and Books & Supplies
The living costs including for room, board, transpiration, and other personal expenses is $14,160 for year 2024. The on-campus living costs increased by 3.00% compared to the previous year. The off-campus living costs increased by 2.23% compared to the previous year.
The NKU's 2024 on-campus COA is $25,856 for state residents and $36,440 for out-of-state students. The off-campus COA is $30,576 for state residents and $41,160 for out-of-state students.
| On-Campus | Off Campus | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & Fees (In-State) | $10,896 | |
| Tuition & Fees (Out-of-State) | $21,480 | |
| Room & Board | $11,660 | $11,660 |
| Personal Expenses | $2,500 | $7,220 |
| Books & Supplies | $800 | |
| COA (In-State) | $25,856 | $30,576 |
| COA (Out-of-State) | $36,440 | $41,160 |
Data source: IPEDS (integrated Postsecondary Education Dta System)
Updated with 2023-2024 tuition (Last update: 03/01/2024)
Cost estimates for 2024-2025 are based on last year's rate of change.
NKU Tuition Charts
The following charts visualize tuition, fees, living costs, and other expenses at NKU. You can enlarge the chart to view detailed information.
4-Years Costs of Attendance
How Much is the tuition for 4 years at NKU?
For the entering class 2024, the estimated tuition for 4 years at NKU is $45,105 for Kentucky residents and $89,024 for out-of-state students.
The estimation excludes the book, supplies, and living costs before receiving any financial aid. See the other tabs for estimating 4-year total costs of attendance and after financial aid. The next table shows the estimated 4-years tuition & fees for the next 5 admission years. The estimation is based on 4-years changes in tuition & fees at the school.
| Residency | Freshmen | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | 4 Years Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class of 2028 (Entering Fall 2024) | In-State | $11,046 | $11,198 | $11,352 | $11,509 | $45,105 |
| Out-of-State | $21,786 | $22,096 | $22,411 | $22,730 | $89,024 | |
| Class of 2029 (Entering Fall 2025) | In-State | $11,198 | $11,352 | $11,509 | $11,667 | $45,726 |
| Out-of-State | $22,096 | $22,411 | $22,730 | $23,054 | $90,292 | |
| Class of 2030 (Entering Fall 2026) | In-State | $11,352 | $11,509 | $11,667 | $11,828 | $46,355 |
| Out-of-State | $22,411 | $22,730 | $23,054 | $23,383 | $91,578 | |
| Class of 2031 (Entering Fall 2027) | In-State | $11,509 | $11,667 | $11,828 | $11,990 | $46,993 |
| Out-of-State | $22,730 | $23,054 | $23,383 | $23,716 | $92,883 | |
| Class of 2032 (Entering Fall 2028) | In-State | $11,667 | $11,828 | $11,990 | $12,155 | $47,640 |
| Out-of-State | $23,054 | $23,383 | $23,716 | $24,054 | $94,206 |
COA including Books, Living Costs and Personal Expenses
The table shows the 4-years estimation of total costs of attendance (COA). It includes the tuition & fees, books & supplies costs, room & board charges, and other living expenses.
For the students who were admitted in Fall 2024, the estimated 4-years COA is $109,096 for Kentucky residents and $153,016 for out-of-state students.
| Residency | Freshmen | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | 4 Years Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class of 2028 (Entering Fall 2024) | In-State | $26,410 | $26,977 | $27,558 | $28,153 | $109,096 |
| Out-of-State | $37,150 | $37,875 | $38,616 | $39,375 | $153,016 | |
| Class of 2029 (Entering Fall 2025) | In-State | $26,977 | $27,558 | $28,153 | $28,763 | $111,450 |
| Out-of-State | $37,875 | $38,616 | $39,375 | $40,150 | $156,016 | |
| Class of 2030 (Entering Fall 2026) | In-State | $27,558 | $28,153 | $28,763 | $29,388 | $113,861 |
| Out-of-State | $38,616 | $39,375 | $40,150 | $40,943 | $159,084 | |
| Class of 2031 (Entering Fall 2027) | In-State | $28,153 | $28,763 | $29,388 | $30,028 | $116,331 |
| Out-of-State | $39,375 | $40,150 | $40,943 | $41,754 | $162,221 | |
| Class of 2032 (Entering Fall 2028) | In-State | $28,763 | $29,388 | $30,028 | $30,684 | $118,863 |
| Out-of-State | $40,150 | $40,943 | $41,754 | $42,583 | $165,429 |
Actual COA after Receiving Financial Aid
Last year, 88% of enrolled undergraduate students have received grants or scholarship aid. It includes any financial aid from the federal government, state, local, institute, and other sources known by the institution. It excludes federal/private student loans.
After receiving the financial aid, the net price for 4 years of attending the school is $73,784 for Kentucky residents and $117,704 for out-of-state students.
| Residency | Freshmen | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | 4 Years Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class of 2028 (Entering Fall 2024) | In-State | $17,582 | $18,149 | $18,730 | $19,325 | $73,784 |
| Out-of-State | $28,322 | $29,047 | $29,788 | $30,547 | $117,704 | |
| Class of 2029 (Entering Fall 2025) | In-State | $18,149 | $18,730 | $19,325 | $19,935 | $76,138 |
| Out-of-State | $29,047 | $29,788 | $30,547 | $31,322 | $120,704 | |
| Class of 2030 (Entering Fall 2026) | In-State | $18,730 | $19,325 | $19,935 | $20,560 | $78,549 |
| Out-of-State | $29,788 | $30,547 | $31,322 | $32,115 | $123,772 | |
| Class of 2031 (Entering Fall 2027) | In-State | $19,325 | $19,935 | $20,560 | $21,200 | $81,019 |
| Out-of-State | $30,547 | $31,322 | $32,115 | $32,926 | $126,909 | |
| Class of 2032 (Entering Fall 2028) | In-State | $19,935 | $20,560 | $21,200 | $21,856 | $83,551 |
| Out-of-State | $31,322 | $32,115 | $32,926 | $33,755 | $130,117 |
Compare Tuition with Similar Colleges
The following table compares tuition & fees between Northern Kentucky University and its similar schools. The similar schools are based on academic factors such as school type, level, and rivalry schools.
| In-State | Out-of-State | |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Kentucky University | $10,896 | $21,480 |
| Cleveland State University | $12,613 | $17,973 |
| Youngstown State University | $10,791 | $11,151 |
| Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis | $10,449 | $33,717 |
| Oakland University | $14,694 | $23,188 |
| University of Illinois Chicago | $14,338 | $29,360 |
College Cost Explorer
The following tool gives a comprehensice way to explore tuition and other college expenses year by year. It provides the past 5 years' colleges costs so that you can check increase rate and estimate future year cost. In addition, financial aid data including grant, scholarship, and federal student loans is also available for the past five years. Use the left menu to explore the tuition and college cost at Northern Kentucky University.
Northern Kentucky University 2024 Costs of Attendance
| In-State | Out-of-State | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| tuition & fees | Book & Supplies | Living Costs | Tuition & Fees | Book & Supplies | Living Costs | |
| Undergraduate | $10,896 | $800 | $14,160 | $21,480 | $800 | $14,160 |
| Graduate | $10,590 | $800 | $14,160 | $16,044 | $800 | $14,160 |