Northern Kentucky University Rankings & Recognition

Northern Kentucky University appears in 8 of CollegesRef's value rankings by major. Its best placement is #138 of 379 for criminal justice, and #2 of 7 ranked colleges in Kentucky.

Northern Kentucky University rankings by major

Source: CollegesRef value rankings from U.S. College Scorecard data, 2025

Each ranking compares bachelor's programs in one field. A college's value score is the weighted average of four percentiles among the ranked colleges: graduate earnings, average net price, debt compared with earnings, and graduation rate. Percentiles here are 100 for the best figure in the field. How the rankings work

Criminal justice

Ranked #138 of 379 for value

Criminal Justice and Corrections · 43 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $55,835; Ranked-college median: $55,481
Median debt: $24,368; Ranked-college median: $21,500

Value score 58.4 of 100 · #2 of 7 in Kentucky

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 53th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 91th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 29th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 60th percentile

Average net price $8,976 (median $16,222) · graduation rate 54.4% · debt is 44% of earnings

Ranked just above: University of Massachusetts-Boston (#137)
Ranked just below: Grand Valley State University (#139)

Best colleges for criminal justice

Biology

Ranked #162 of 680 for value

Biology, General · 74 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $56,999; Ranked-college median: $58,001
Median debt: $14,450; Ranked-college median: $20,717

Value score 64 of 100 · #2 of 9 in Kentucky

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 46th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 92th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 86th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 35th percentile

Average net price $8,976 (median $18,049) · graduation rate 54.4% · debt is 25% of earnings

Ranked just above: James Madison University (#161)
Ranked just below: Salisbury University (#163)

Best colleges for biology

Business

Ranked #185 of 986 for value

Business Administration, Management and Operations · 371 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $67,319; Ranked-college median: $64,860
Median debt: $20,000; Ranked-college median: $21,375

Value score 66.7 of 100 · #1 of 17 in Kentucky

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 60th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 92th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 63th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 49th percentile

Average net price $8,976 (median $19,132) · graduation rate 54.4% · debt is 30% of earnings

Ranked just above: Loyola University Chicago (#184)
Ranked just below: University of St Thomas-Minnesota (#186)

Best colleges for business

Communications

Ranked #210 of 388 for value

Communication and Media Studies · 57 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $53,082; Ranked-college median: $56,130
Median debt: $23,000; Ranked-college median: $19,593

Value score 47.8 of 100 · #3 of 7 in Kentucky

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 38th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 93th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 22th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 35th percentile

Average net price $8,976 (median $17,285) · graduation rate 54.4% · debt is 43% of earnings

Ranked just above: Salisbury University (#209)
Ranked just below: California State University-Bakersfield (#211)

Best colleges for communications

Computer science

Ranked #291 of 466 for value

Computer and Information Sciences, General · 121 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $82,982; Ranked-college median: $97,375
Median debt: $20,606; Ranked-college median: $19,500

Value score 41.6 of 100 · #3 of 6 in Kentucky

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 23th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 90th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 25th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 33th percentile

Average net price $8,976 (median $16,804) · graduation rate 54.4% · debt is 25% of earnings

Ranked just above: Wright State University (#290)
Ranked just below: Auburn University (#292)

Best colleges for computer science

Education

Ranked #363 of 521 for value

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods · 108 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $42,709; Ranked-college median: $48,822
Median debt: $21,875; Ranked-college median: $21,500

Value score 39.9 of 100 · #3 of 10 in Kentucky

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 12th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 93th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 27th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 45th percentile

Average net price $8,976 (median $17,201) · graduation rate 54.4% · debt is 51% of earnings

Ranked just above: Tennessee Technological University (#362)
Ranked just below: Newman University (#364)

Best colleges for education

Psychology

Ranked #376 of 814 for value

Psychology, General · 134 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $47,280; Ranked-college median: $51,007
Median debt: $18,984; Ranked-college median: $21,000

Value score 51.9 of 100 · #3 of 12 in Kentucky

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 30th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 93th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 54th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 40th percentile

Average net price $8,976 (median $18,874) · graduation rate 54.4% · debt is 40% of earnings

Ranked just above: Eastern Connecticut State University (#375)
Ranked just below: Carthage College (#377)

Best colleges for psychology

Nursing

Ranked #377 of 686 for value

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · 239 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $77,404; Ranked-college median: $85,171
Median debt: $18,000; Ranked-college median: $20,938

Value score 47.5 of 100 · #6 of 11 in Kentucky

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 15th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 91th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 59th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 48th percentile

Average net price $8,976 (median $18,014) · graduation rate 54.4% · debt is 23% of earnings