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Northern Kentucky University: Northern Kentucky University Griffin Hall
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College · Catholic life on campus

Northern Kentucky University

  • LocationHighland Heights, KY
  • Type and sizePublic · 4-year · 14,961 students
Official website

Northern Kentucky University is not a Catholic college. This rating measures Catholic life on campus: campus ministry, priests, Mass and confession, student groups, and nearby parishes.

The NKU Catholic Newman Center serves Catholic students at Northern Kentucky University. Its published contact address is St. John the Baptist Parish in Wilder, Kentucky. The center lists a Thursday evening Mass, weekly Thursday confession, Monday and Thursday adoration, and a Tuesday Bible study. A deacon serves as campus minister, and a priest is listed as chaplain. The Sunday Mass the center lists is at St. Joseph in Cold Spring.

Mass, confession, and adoration

Confirm with the parish

Mass 2

  • Thursday7:00 PMNewman Center
  • Sunday7:00 PMSt. Joseph Cold Spring · Parish Mass listed by the Newman Center; not at the Newman Center.

Confession 1

  • Thursday6:00 PMNewman Center · Listed as 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

Adoration 2

  • Monday2:00 PMNewman Center · Listed as 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
  • Thursday6:00 PMNewman Center · Listed as 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

Times come only from official parish, chaplaincy, or school pages, and can change with the season. Last verified Oct. 12, 2026.

Sources for these times (1)
  1. Worship & Sacraments | NKU Newmannkunewman.org/sacraments · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Thursdays 7:00pm | Newman Center Sundays 7:00pm | St. Joseph Cold Spring”
    The center lists a Thursday 7:00 PM Mass at the Newman Center and a Sunday 7:00 PM Mass at St. Joseph in Cold Spring.
    “Thursdays 7:00pm | Newman Center Sundays 7:00pm | St. Joseph Cold Spring”
    The center lists a Thursday 7:00 PM Mass at the Newman Center and a Sunday 7:00 PM Mass at St. Joseph in Cold Spring.
    “Confession Thursdays 6:00pm - 7:00pm | Newman Center”
    Confession is listed on Thursdays from 6:00 to 7:00 PM at the Newman Center.
    “Adoration Mondays 2:00pm - 6:00pm | Newman Center Thursdays 6:00pm - 7:00pm | Newman Center”
    Adoration is listed on Mondays from 2:00 to 6:00 PM and on Thursdays from 6:00 to 7:00 PM at the Newman Center.
    “Adoration Mondays 2:00pm - 6:00pm | Newman Center Thursdays 6:00pm - 7:00pm | Newman Center”
    Adoration is listed on Mondays from 2:00 to 6:00 PM and on Thursdays from 6:00 to 7:00 PM at the Newman Center.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of Northern Kentucky University, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches1 mi2 mi3 miNKU Catholic Newman Center: 0.2 mi1Saint Joseph Catholic Church: 1.3 mi2Saint John The Baptist Catholic Church: 1.7 mi3Saint Anthony Catholic Church: 2.3 mi4Holy Cross Catholic Church: 2.4 mi5Holy Cross Catholic Church: 2.4 mi6NKU Catholic Newman Center: 1.7 miNorthern Kentucky University (campus)N1 mi
CampusCatholic centerCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. NKU Catholic Newman Center — 0.2 mi · 19 Clearview Drive, Highland Heights
  2. Saint Joseph Catholic Church — 1.3 mi
  3. Saint John The Baptist Catholic Church — 1.7 mi
  4. Saint Anthony Catholic Church — 2.3 mi
  5. Holy Cross Catholic Church — 2.4 mi
  6. Holy Cross Catholic Church — 2.4 mi · 3612 Church Street, Latonia

Within 3 miles, as mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The map may be incomplete. Confirm with the parish or diocese.

Catholic life scorecard

Each line is one thing we looked for. A check means yes, a half means partly, a dash means no. “Not enough information” means official sources did not say.

CCatholic life on campus: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.

Catholic life on campus

66 of 100 points on what we could document.

  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Catholic campus ministry serving this campus (Catholic center, campus ministry, or chaplaincy)Yes
    Sources (2)
    1. NKU Newman | Homenkunewman.org · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “NKU Catholic Newman Center”
      The NKU Catholic Newman Center is the Catholic campus ministry for Northern Kentucky University.
    2. About | NKU Newmannkunewman.org/about · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “The NKU Catholic Newman Center is a Christ-centered Catholic community where students find fellowship and support.”
      The NKU Catholic Newman Center describes itself as a Catholic community for students.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Dedicated Catholic center or chapel on or next to campusNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Priest chaplain assigned to campus ministryPart-time or shared priest (Father Andrew Young is listed as Chaplain. No page says he serves the campus full time, and his listed contact is a parish address.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Contact | NKU Newmannkunewman.org/contact · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Father Andrew Young - Chaplain pastor@stjoeparish.net | (859) 927-2275”
      Father Andrew Young is listed as Chaplain of the NKU Newman Center.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Weekday Mass at the campus ministry1–4 weekdays (Weekday Mass is listed on Thursdays only (1 weekday) at the Newman Center.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Worship & Sacraments | NKU Newmannkunewman.org/sacraments · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Thursdays 7:00pm | Newman Center Sundays 7:00pm | St. Joseph Cold Spring”
      The center lists a Thursday 7:00 PM Mass at the Newman Center and a Sunday 7:00 PM Mass at St. Joseph in Cold Spring.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Sunday Mass at the campus ministry or a campus chapelOne weekend Mass (The ministry's own Mass page lists one Sunday Mass, at 7:00 PM at St. Joseph Cold Spring, the parish whose pastor is the ministry's chaplain.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Worship & Sacraments | NKU Newmannkunewman.org/sacraments · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Thursdays 7:00pm | Newman Center Sundays 7:00pm | St. Joseph Cold Spring”
      The center lists a Thursday 7:00 PM Mass at the Newman Center and a Sunday 7:00 PM Mass at St. Joseph in Cold Spring.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Scheduled confession at the campus ministryWeekly or more often
    Sources (1)
    1. Worship & Sacraments | NKU Newmannkunewman.org/sacraments · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Confession Thursdays 6:00pm - 7:00pm | Newman Center”
      Confession is listed on Thursdays from 6:00 to 7:00 PM at the Newman Center.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Catholic student groups and missionary outreach (e.g., FOCUS, Saint Paul's Outreach, Knights of Columbus, Bible studies)One (The center's Tuesday Bible study is the only Catholic group found on its pages.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Events | NKU Newmannkunewman.org/events · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Join us from 7:00pm - 8:00pm at the Newman Center for bible study.”
      The Newman Center holds a Tuesday evening Bible study from 7:00 to 8:00 PM.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Formation programs (retreats, OCIA/RCIA, service, small groups)One kind (Only one kind of formation program (small-group Bible and book study) is listed.)
    Sources (2)
    1. NKU Newman | Homenkunewman.org · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Bible Study Adoration Book Study Fellowship And More”
      The home page lists Bible study, adoration, book study, and fellowship among ways to get involved.
    2. Events | NKU Newmannkunewman.org/events · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Join us from 7:00pm - 8:00pm at the Newman Center for bible study.”
      The Newman Center holds a Tuesday evening Bible study from 7:00 to 8:00 PM.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Catholic church within walking distance (computed from OpenStreetMap)Within 1 mile of campusComputed from OpenStreetMap church locations.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Published weekly schedule of Mass, confession, and adoration1 to 5 times a week (5 weekly times documented: 2 Mass, 1 confession, 2 adoration.)Computed from the verified Mass, confession, and adoration times listed on this page (each day a time is offered counts once).

Grades come from the documented indicators under the published rubric. “Not enough information” does not mean the school lacks it.

Strengths

  • The Newman Center lists a Catholic campus minister and a priest as chaplain.
    Sources (1)
    1. Contact | NKU Newmannkunewman.org/contact · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Deacon Brian Cox - Campus Minister bcox@covdio.org | (859) 663-1822”
      Deacon Brian Cox is the Campus Minister of the NKU Catholic Newman Center.
      “Father Andrew Young - Chaplain pastor@stjoeparish.net | (859) 927-2275”
      Father Andrew Young is listed as Chaplain of the NKU Newman Center.
  • Confession and adoration are listed on a weekly schedule at the Newman Center.
    Sources (1)
    1. Worship & Sacraments | NKU Newmannkunewman.org/sacraments · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Confession Thursdays 6:00pm - 7:00pm | Newman Center”
      Confession is listed on Thursdays from 6:00 to 7:00 PM at the Newman Center.
      “Adoration Mondays 2:00pm - 6:00pm | Newman Center Thursdays 6:00pm - 7:00pm | Newman Center”
      Adoration is listed on Mondays from 2:00 to 6:00 PM and on Thursdays from 6:00 to 7:00 PM at the Newman Center.

Concerns

  • The Sunday Mass is at a parish in Cold Spring.
    Sources (1)
    1. Worship & Sacraments | NKU Newmannkunewman.org/sacraments · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Thursdays 7:00pm | Newman Center Sundays 7:00pm | St. Joseph Cold Spring”
      The center lists a Thursday 7:00 PM Mass at the Newman Center and a Sunday 7:00 PM Mass at St. Joseph in Cold Spring.
  • Weekday Mass is listed on Thursdays only.
    Sources (1)
    1. Worship & Sacraments | NKU Newmannkunewman.org/sacraments · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Thursdays 7:00pm | Newman Center Sundays 7:00pm | St. Joseph Cold Spring”
      The center lists a Thursday 7:00 PM Mass at the Newman Center and a Sunday 7:00 PM Mass at St. Joseph in Cold Spring.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

The Catholic center

NKU Catholic Newman Center

  • Address: 1309 Johns Hill Rd, Wilder, KY 41076
  • Distance from campus: 1.7 mi (straight line from the campus point in federal IPEDS data)

View on map ↗

Source: nkunewman.org, verified Oct. 12, 2026, nkunewman.org, verified Oct. 12, 2026

Catholic clubs and student life

4 groups and regular activities · 0 on campus, 0 off campus, 4 location not published

Faith formation 2

  • Bible Study
    Tuesdays 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
    Weekly Bible study at the Newman Center.
    nkunewman.org
  • Book Study
    Listed on the Newman Center home page.
    nkunewman.org

Liturgy and prayer 1

  • Rosary
    Wednesdays at 9:00 PM
    Evening rosary at the Newman Center.
    nkunewman.org

Social life 1

  • Thursday dinner for students
    Thursdays 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM
    Dinner that follows the Thursday evening program at the Newman Center.
    nkunewman.org

Everything listed is published by the school, its campus ministry, or the parish. Ask the campus minister what’s happening this semester.

Catholic campus ministry

Sources (3)
  1. NKU Newman | Homenkunewman.org · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “NKU Catholic Newman Center”
    The NKU Catholic Newman Center is the Catholic campus ministry for Northern Kentucky University.
  2. About | NKU Newmannkunewman.org/about · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “The NKU Catholic Newman Center is a Christ-centered Catholic community where students find fellowship and support.”
    The NKU Catholic Newman Center describes itself as a Catholic community for students.
    “The NKU Catholic Newman Center is a Christ-centered Catholic community where students find fellowship and support.”
    The NKU Catholic Newman Center describes itself as a Catholic community for students.
  3. Contact | NKU Newmannkunewman.org/contact · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “St. John the Baptist Parish 1309 Johns Hill Rd, Wilder, KY 41076”
    The Newman Center's published contact address is 1309 Johns Hill Road, Wilder, Kentucky, at St. John the Baptist Parish.

Reach out

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Academic Excellence

CAcademic Excellence: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.
56 of 100
From federal data, on fixed published scales.

Each measure counts for the share shown.

  • Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.52%
  • First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.76%
  • Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,087 · ACT 21.5
  • Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.19 to 1
  • Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$9,637

Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.

Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))

Campus facts

SportsNCAA Division I · Horizon League
SettingSuburb
ROTCArmy · Air Force
Study abroadOffered
Students per faculty member19 to 1

Federal data (IPEDS). None of this changes the faith grades.

Cost and value

Federal data, shown separately. Cost, debt, and earnings are never part of any grade.

Undergraduate students
Fall enrollment (IPEDS)
9,927
Total students14,961
Average net price (per year)
After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid
$8,191
Cost of attendance (per year)$19,725
Median federal debt at graduation$23,000
Graduation rate
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time
52%
First-year retention76%
Median earnings 10 years after entry$50,220
Admission rate68%
Students receiving Pell grants25%
Admission test scores (middle 50% of admitted students who submitted scores)
Average SAT1087
SAT reading & writing473–590
SAT math480–560
ACT composite18–25
Test policyConsidered but not required

Value index: 61 / 100 (how it’s computed)

Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.

Local Church

Diocese of Covington

The Most Reverend John C. Iffert, Bishop of Covington

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

Cathedral: Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption

Source: covdio.org, covdio.org, verified Oct. 7, 2026.

Diocese determined from the county, using the diocese’s county list (Wikipedia). Confirm with the diocese.

About this school’s data

  • IPEDS unit ID 157447
  • Carnegie classification: Doctoral/professional university
  • Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges d.b.a. Commission on Colleges and Universities (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
  • Report an error or a newer source
  • Respond as this school

Questions families ask

Is Northern Kentucky University a Catholic college?
No. Northern Kentucky University is not a Catholic college. Catholic School Compass rates the Catholic life on its campus instead. Catholic students are served by NKU Catholic Newman Center.
What is Northern Kentucky University’s Catholic Life Score?
63 out of 100 (grade C). It measures Catholic life on campus: campus ministry, priests, Mass and confession, student groups, and nearby parishes, together with academics.
Where is Mass celebrated at Northern Kentucky University?
Mass is listed at Newman Center and St. Joseph Cold Spring. Days and times are on this page; please confirm with the parish or campus ministry before you go.

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