Support Proven Results
With the highest return on investment of any public university in the Commonwealth, NKU plays a critical role in preparing the region’s workforce, expanding access to higher education and delivering strong outcomes for students and taxpayers alike. Ensuring our funding is aligned with our impact is essential to sustaining this work.
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Despite NKU's growing impact, our state funding does not reflect the size of our student body or the essential services we provide for the region. The time has come to align NKU’s funding with its peers and fully invest in the success it delivers for Kentucky.
Why This Matters for Kentucky: NKU Delivers Exceptional Return on Investment
NKU is one of the most cost-effective, high-value universities in Kentucky.
NKU leads the Commonwealth in reducing student debt, dropping 19.5% per student over the last seven years
NKU is nationally recognized for best value by the Wall Street Journal for the third year in a row.
The Wall Street Journal ranked NKU among the nation’s best universities for return on investment, placing us 62nd out of 500 institutions— the highest ranking of any public university in our region and the entire Commonwealth.
Simply put: NKU students are graduating sooner with lucrative careers and less debt than other students in the Commonwealth.
NKU is:
Student success and affordability
A nationally recognized high-value degree
Regional economic development
Workforce readiness in high-demand fields
Aligning NKU’s base funding with the statewide median ensures that our students receive the same level of support as students at other public universities in Kentucky.
The Funding Gap:
• NKU: $5,176 per FTE student
• Statewide median: $5,644 per FTE student
• Difference: $488 less per student
With over 10,000 FTE students, this gap adds up.
The result is millions less in annual support to serve the same types of students and deliver the same essential programs as our peer universities.
Aligning NKU’s base funding with the statewide median ensures that our students receive the same level of support as students at other public universities in Kentucky.
Comparison of base funding per FTE. NKU receives approximately $488 less per student than the median of non-R1 institutions.
NKU Receives the Lowest Base Funding Support Per Student*
*Per Full-Time-Equivalent Student
Comparison of base state funding per student at Kentucky public universities.
NKU students get less support than students at every other public KY university.
Our Budget Request:
$5 Million to Ensure General Funding Alignment
To close this gap and align NKU’s funding with the statewide median, we are requesting $5 million in recurring base funding.
(Roughly 0.33% of Kentucky’s $1.5 billion annual higher-ed funding.)
This investment will:
Provide fair, per-student funding comparable to our peer universities
Strengthen academic programs and student support services
Sustain NKU’s nationally recognized value and affordability
Ensure NKU can continue fueling workforce and economic growth
Support long-term financial stability and affordability for students
A more balanced funding model will allow NKU to continue serving the Northern Kentucky region and Commonwealth with excellence—today, tomorrow, and for generations to come.
A Proven Investment:
NKU students are graduating sooner with lucrative careers and less debt than other students in the Commonwealth.
NKU is one of the most cost-effective, high-value universities in Kentucky.
NKU leads the Commonwealth in reducing student debt, dropping 19.5% per student over the last seven years
NKU is nationally recognized for best value by The Wall Street Journal for the third year in a row.
The Wall Street Journal ranked NKU among the nation’s best universities for return on investment, placing us 62nd out of 500 institutions— the highest ranking of any public university in our region and the entire Commonwealth.
NKU Delivers for Kentucky:
Student success and affordability
A nationally recognized high-value degree
Regional economic development
Workforce readiness in high-demand fields
KY Public University Funding Breakdown:
| Institution | 25/26 Net General Fund | Fall 24 FTE Students | Gen Fund/FTE |
|---|---|---|---|
| KSU | $19,343,900 | 1,347 | $14,366 |
| Morehead St | $36,665,400 | 4,653 | $7,880 |
| UofL | $131,309,900 | 18,731 | $7,010 |
| UK | $195,715,200 | 33,132 | $5,907 |
| Murray St | $ 42,428,500 | 7,326 | $5,791 |
| WKU | $70,693,900 | 12,766 | $5,537 |
| EKU | $63,708,500 | 12,217 | $5,215 |
| NKU | $53,013,500 | 10,241 | $5,176 |