Northern Kentucky University
- Kentucky
- Northern Kentucky University
Check out the most popular majors and specific degrees students have earned at Northern Kentucky University.
*Sources for school statistics and data include the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Data may vary depending on school and academic year.
Check out the online programs offered at Northern Kentucky University.
Nursing (MNUR) - Master's program
Nursing (NUR) - Baccalaureate program American Bar Association, Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar Law (LAW) - Professional schools Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology Radiologic Technology (RAD) - Programs for radiographers
While not everyone is familiar with the word “informatics,” people certainly are aware of its influence on 21st-century life. As a formal definition, informatics is the study of information technology in a context. In everyday life, this can translate into new apps, effective webpages, better data security, and improvements to healthcare management, to name but a few. To students at NKU, a degree from one of the three departments in the College of Informatics (communication, computer science, and business informatics) means solid, cutting-edge training that provides an advantage when seeking employment. Many students enrich their studies through the College’s outreach arm, the Center for Applied Informatics. Its “virtual co-op” lets students work on projects for real-world clients (some 200 of them during the 2013-14 schoolyear alone) while remaining on campus and being supervised by professional project managers and administrators. The arrangement is particularly attractive to start-ups and non-profits because they can recruit impressive tech talent at an affordable cost. Students get fair pay, course credit, exposure to employers, and experience that will help their resumes shine. It’s not every new college grad who can say he developed an app that alerts people trained in CPR when someone nearby needs assistance or she created a website promoting Cincinnati’s vibrant community of performing artists!
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Television writer Suzanne Fitzpatrick, radio personality Rockin' Ron Schumacher, Cincinnati Reds public-address announcer Joe Zerhusen, E.W. Scripps Company president and CEO Rich Boehne, and former Cincinnati mayor Tom Luken all call Northern Kentucky University their alma mater.
NKU is located in the quiet suburb of Highland Heights, Ky., just seven miles southeast of Cincinnati, Ohio. Buildings vary in style and age, from the five-story poured-in-place concrete Nunn Hall that dates back to 1972 to the 9,400-seat BB&T Arena that opened in 2008. The social hub of campus is the Votruba Student Union, a modern and dramatic building with expansive glass exterior walls and sky lights that create a feeling of openness.
Whether you are a working registered nurse looking to further your career with a bachelor’s of science degree or a recent high school graduate who would like to pursue collegiate studies while remaining at home, NKU’s online programs fit your interests and schedule. There’s even a program called Gateway 2NKU Online Pathways that allows participants to earn an associate’s degree and then be guaranteed admission to the university to complete a bachelor’s degree. At the graduate level, NKU offers online certificate and degree opportunities in nursing, health, science, education, and informatics.
The Norse compete in the Horizon League. The university fields teams in men’s and women’s basketball, cross country, golf, tennis, soccer, and track and field. There is also a men’s baseball team and women’s volleyball and softball teams. Before advancing to NCAA Division I at the start of the 2012-13 academic year, NKU team had won three national championships and 22 regional titles at the Division II level.
In 2013-14, the most popular undergraduate majors were organizational leadership, elementary education, communication studies, and accounting. The university has received national recognition for its first-year programs designed to ease the transition from high school to college and provide a solid foundation for success. Exceptional students can apply to the NKU Honors Program, which is known for its innovative, interdisciplinary seminars. Participants also receive super-priority registration, one-on-one mentoring and research opportunities with faculty, and distinction at graduation.
Most employment opportunities in Highland Heights tend to be at Northern Kentucky University (NKU) and neighborhood establishments frequented by the college crowd. But Cincinnati, Ohio, is only seven miles away, and data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis shows that its metropolitan area’s economy grew the fastest among major cities in the Midwest in 2014.
Hit the road (Highland Heights is accessible from four major highways) to find opportunities available at large Cincinnati-area employers such as Kroger, Procter & Gamble, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, and GE Aviation. In 2014, the metro area enjoyed a 2.5 percent increase in economic output, outpacing the 2.3 percent increase for all U.S. metro areas. Growth in the professional and business services sector (legal, accounting, architecture, engineering, advertising, etc.) is credited with generating that figure.
NKU’s website describes Highland Heights as a “sleepy suburb.” It was a rural area before the university was built in 1968, but the town now has about 6,500 residents in addition to the roughly 15,000 students who keep the campus hopping.
Serene, safe Highland Heights is wonderful for bike riders and others who enjoy outdoor activities as it features numerous parks and a four-mile nature trail. Local restaurants and NKU Division I sporting events are popular among students and locals alike. And if the town starts feeling too quiet, people can make the short trip to Cincinnati to check out the latest exhibit at the Cincinnati Art Museum or cheer on the Reds at Great American Ball Park.
Women somewhat outnumber men both at NKU and in the town itself. Remember, though, that proximity to Cincinnati expands both the dating pool and the places at which to meet new people. (And George Clooney studied broadcast journalism at NKU for a bit, so you never know . . . .)