AAMU vs. WKU

Should I go to Alabama A & M University or Western Kentucky University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if AAMU or WKU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Alabama A & M University vs. Western Kentucky University comparison
Alabama A & M University Western Kentucky University College 3 College 4
Alabama A & M University Western Kentucky University
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Overview

 AAMU WKU
Location Normal, AL Bowling Green, KY
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 6,614 16,759
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1012 #968
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website aamu.edu wku.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 AAMU WKU
Tuition (In State) $8,610 $11,436
Tuition (Out of State) $17,220 $27,000
Room & Board $11,402 $12,043
Avg Net Price $14,064 $12,054
Avg Grant Aid $11,612 $10,906
% Receiving Grant Aid 86% 99%

Admission

 AAMU WKU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 15,628 7,720
Admitted 10,349 7,492
Acceptance Rate 66.2% 97%
Enrolled % 18.9% 37.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.02 3.42
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 14/19 16/20
SAT Range 810/1060 820/1010
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2026

Academics

 AAMU WKU
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (19%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Human Services (6%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)

Outcomes

 AAMU WKU
Graduation Rate 32% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $34,300 $37,100
Making Student Loan Payments 25% 47%
Median Student Loan Debt $35,000 $24,250
Median Loan Payment $361 $250

Diversity

 AAMU WKU
% Men 4% 4%
% Women 8% 9%
Racial Diversity Extremely Low Low
HBCU Yes No
% White 3% 76%
% Black 92% 10%
% Hispanic 1% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 3%
% International 1% 6%
% Unknown Race 3% 1%

Students

 AAMU WKU
% In-State 51% 70%
% Out-of-State 38% 29%

Campus

 AAMU WKU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Western Kentucky University is larger than than AAMU based on total student enrollment (16,759 students vs. 6,614 students)

AAMU vs. WKU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AAMU or WKU?

  • Western Kentucky University is 32.8% more expensive to attend than AAMU for in-state tuition ($11,436.00 vs. $8,610.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 56.8% higher at WKU than Alabama A & M University ($27,000.00 vs. $17,220.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than AAMU ($12,054 vs. $14,064)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Alabama A & M University are 5.6% lower than costs at Western Kentucky University ($11,402 vs. $12,043)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Western Kentucky University than Alabama A & M University (99% vs. 86%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Alabama A & M University students is 6.5% larger than aid received Western Kentucky University ($11,612 vs. $10,906)

AAMU vs. WKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AAMU or WKU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WKU or AAMU .

  • The average SAT score at Western Kentucky University (1047) is 197 points higher than at AAMU (850)
  • Incoming WKU students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at AAMU (18)
  • Accepted freshman WKU students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at AAMU (3.02)
  • WKU has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than AAMU (66.2%)

AAMU vs. WKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, AAMU or WKU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between WKU and AAMU.

  • The graduation rate at WKU is higher than Alabama A & M University (50% vs. 32%)
  • Graduates from Western Kentucky University earn on average $2,800 more per year than AAMU graduates after ten years. ($37,100 vs. $34,300)
  • Western Kentucky University students graduate with a $10,750 lower median federal student loan debt than AAMU graduates. ($24,250 vs. $35,000)
  • WKU graduates are paying $111 less per month on federal student loans than AAMU graduates. ($250 vs. $361)
  • More WKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AAMU students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 25%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/