Safety Score
1.07 /1K students
incidents per 1,000 enrolled
Highland Heights, KY · Clery Act 2023 · Public
Northern Kentucky University
According to the U.S. Department of Education's Clery Act filings, this profile covers campus safety, crime statistics, fire-safety data, and peer comparison for this 14,961-student campus.
- 1.07
- Incidents / 1k students
- #1,626
- Rank of 3,050
- #29
- KY rank
- 14,961
- Enrolled students
Data updated June 2026
The verdict
Northern Kentucky University reports 1.07 on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students, ranking #1,626 of 3,050 ranked U.S. campuses - safer than 50% of ranked campuses its size.
- 1.07
- incidents / 1,000 students
- #1,626
- of 3,050 ranked nationally
- 50%
- safer than ranked campuses its size
- 12
- on-campus incidents, 2023
Safety score = reported on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is safer).
Reporting-period change
What changed in 2023
Northern Kentucky University decreased from 15 to 12 reported on-campus incidents between the 2022 and 2023 reporting years in the U.S. Department of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey.
This is a change in reported incidents, not a measure of individual safety. Enrollment, reporting practice, and category coverage can affect the count.
See national reporting-year changesNorthern Kentucky University is a Public institution located in Highland Heights, KY, enrolling approximately 14,961 students. Clery Act data spanning 2021–2023 records 39 total on-campus incidents across all reported crime categories. Within KY, it ranks #29 by safety score. Verify with the U.S. Department of Education Clery Act database →
With 14,961 enrolled students, this campus sits in the mid-sized institution bracket, which shapes how raw incident counts should be interpreted.
The most frequently reported category at Northern Kentucky University is "Rape" with 15 cumulative incidents across the reporting window. Compared to 5 peer institutions of similar enrollment size in KY averaging 1.68 incidents per 1,000 students, Northern Kentucky University reports 36% fewer incidents per student.
Fire safety data covers 1 reporting year for on-campus residential facilities, logging 0 total fires. Arrests and disciplinary actions span 18 category-year records, covering liquor law violations, drug law violations, and weapons possession on-campus. No Department of Education Clery Act enforcement actions are recorded against this institution.
National Rank
#1626
See peer comparison
State Rank (KY)
#29
within state peers
Incidents (2023)
12
across 11 crime categories
Where Northern Kentucky University sits among ranked U.S. campuses
On-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 students, every ranked campus with 2,000+ students
1 safer than 50% of 1,807 ranked campuses
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more ranked campuses. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Education, Campus Safety & Security Survey (Clery Act) · 2023
Safety percentile vs. peers
Northern Kentucky University percentile rank 46.7%
National median
Higher percentile = safer than more peers. Rank #1626 out of 3,050 ranked institutions (enrollment >= 500) in the OPE Campus Safety Survey.
Reporting density vs peer median
Northern Kentucky University reports 36% fewer incidents per student than the median of 5 peer institutions.
Academic & Financial Profile
Tuition & Costs
- In-State Tuition
- $11,088
- Out-of-State Tuition
- $21,912
- Avg Net Price
- $8,191
- Median Debt
- $23,000
- Pell Grant Recipients
- 25%
Admissions
- Acceptance Rate
- 68%
- SAT Average
- 1087
- SAT Math Range
- 480–560
- ACT Average
- 23
- ACT Range
- 18–25
Outcomes
- 4-Year Graduation Rate
- 50%
- Retention Rate
- 76%
- Median Earnings (6yr)
- $42,105
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $50,220
- Loan Repayment (3yr)
- 70%
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard. Methodology.
Crime Statistics by Year
11 categories 3 reporting years on-campus onlyNorthern Kentucky University: on-campus incidents by year
Stable 0% (12 → 12 incidents)
| Crime Type | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aggravated Assault | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Burglary | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Fondling | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| Incest | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Murder / Non-Negligent Manslaughter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Negligent Manslaughter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rape | 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Robbery | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Statutory Rape | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Source: US Dept US Dept of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey. Figures show on-campus incidents
Fire Safety
| Year | Fires | Inj. | Deaths | Cat I | Cat II |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Arrests & Disciplinary Actions
18 category-year records| Category | Year | Arrests | Discipline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drugs | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2023 | 2 | 7 |
| Liquor | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Liquor | 2023 | 0 | 6 |
| Weapons | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Weapons | 2023 | 0 | 1 |
| Drugs | 2022 | 0 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2022 | 0 | 12 |
| Liquor | 2022 | 0 | 0 |
| Liquor | 2022 | 0 | 15 |
| Weapons | 2022 | 0 | 0 |
| Weapons | 2022 | 0 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2021 | 0 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2021 | 0 | 11 |
| Liquor | 2021 | 0 | 0 |
| Liquor | 2021 | 0 | 17 |
| Weapons | 2021 | 0 | 0 |
| Weapons | 2021 | 0 | 0 |
Northern Kentucky University vs peer institutions
Side-by-side safety scores for 3 peers of similar enrollment
Scores are incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is fewer).
KY
Northern Kentucky University
1.07 incidents / 1,000 students
CA
Cosumnes River College
0.53 incidents / 1,000 students
OH
University of Toledo
2.61 incidents / 1,000 students
Similar Institutions
Cosumnes River College
Sacramento, CA · 14,980 enrolled
Safety Score 0.53
University of Toledo
Toledo, OH · 14,939 enrolled
Safety Score 2.61
Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond, KY · 15,008 enrolled
Safety Score 2.60
CUNY City College
New York, NY · 15,012 enrolled
Safety Score 0.87
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Omaha, NE · 15,015 enrolled
Safety Score 1.80
Closest by National Rank
Institutions ranked nearest Northern Kentucky University nationally (rank #1626), regardless of size or state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Northern Kentucky University safe?
Northern Kentucky University has a safety score of 1.07 (total on-campus incidents per 1,000 enrolled students) and ranks #1,626 nationally out of 3,050+ ranked institutions. Compare this with peer institutions for context.
What crimes are reported at Northern Kentucky University?
Aggravated Assault, Arson, Burglary, Fondling, Incest, and other categories, for calendar year 2023.
How does Northern Kentucky University compare to similar schools?
See the Similar Institutions section below for peers of similar enrollment in KY.
Does Northern Kentucky University have fire safety data?
Yes. Northern Kentucky University reports fire safety data for on-campus residential facilities, including total fires, injuries, deaths, and fire damage categories. No fires were reported in the most recent year.
Understanding Northern Kentucky University's Safety Profile
Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights, KY enrolls 14,961 students and has a safety score of 1.07 incidents per 1,000 enrolled students , ranking #1626 nationally. This relatively low score indicates fewer reported on-campus incidents relative to enrollment size.
Reported incidents cover 2021 to 2023. On-campus incidents decreased from 15 in 2022 to 12 in 2023.
Fire safety data covers on-campus residential facilities. No fires were reported in the most recent year, indicating effective fire prevention measures.
What this means for you
Northern Kentucky University's 1.07 reported on-campus incidents per 1,000 students is a starting point for comparison, not a verdict on any student's safety.
- Weigh Northern Kentucky University against similar-size campuses, scale changes what the raw count means. Compare campuses
- A higher count can mean stronger reporting, not more danger. How the data works
- Clery covers campus grounds only. Campus vs. city crime
Figures reflect the 2023 Clery Act reporting year as filed with the U.S. Department of Education.
Data sourced from the U.S. Department of Education, OPE Campus Safety & Security Survey (Clery Act). See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCampus Editorial
Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal Clery Act source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.