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 . . . .)