Head-to-head comparison
Northern Kentucky University vs Transylvania University: which has better ROI?
Option A Highland Heights, KY
Northern Kentucky University
- Net price / year
- $8,191
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,220
- Payback
- 17.6 yrs
Option B Lexington, KY
Transylvania University
- Net price / year
- $21,913
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,705
- Payback
- 13.8 yrs
Transylvania University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $87,652 in 13.8 years versus 17.6 years at Northern Kentucky University, on median earnings of $54,705 vs $50,220 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Northern Kentucky University | Transylvania University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,191 | $21,913 |
| Total net cost | $32,764 | $87,652 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $50,220 | $54,705 |
| Median debt | $23,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 17.6 yrs | 13.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $4,436 | $39,248 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Northern Kentucky University or Transylvania University?
Northern Kentucky University, at $8,191 a year after aid versus $21,913 — a gap of $13,722 a year, or $54,888 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Northern Kentucky University or Transylvania University graduates earn more?
Transylvania University graduates report a median $54,705 ten years after entry, $4,485 more than the $50,220 at Northern Kentucky University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Northern Kentucky University or Transylvania University?
Northern Kentucky University: its completers carry a median $23,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Transylvania University, a difference of $4,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
71% of students finish at Transylvania University, against 52% at Northern Kentucky University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.