AAMU vs. WKU

Deciding between Alabama A & M University and Western Kentucky University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Alabama A & M University
Western Kentucky University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • AAMU Normal, AL
  • WKU Bowling Green, KY
  • Setting
  • AAMU Midsize City
  • WKU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • AAMU 7,295
  • WKU 16,291
  • Type
  • AAMU Public 4 Year
  • WKU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AAMU #1011
  • WKU #970
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AAMU -
  • WKU -
  • Status
  • AAMU Non-profit
  • WKU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AAMU
  • WKU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AAMU $10,024
  • WKU $11,652
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AAMU $18,634
  • WKU $27,000
  • Room & Board
  • AAMU $11,402
  • WKU $12,582
  • Average Net Price
  • AAMU $17,152
  • WKU $12,548
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AAMU $12,844
  • WKU $10,921
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AAMU 86%
  • WKU 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AAMU 23,406
  • WKU 9,840
  • Admitted
  • AAMU 13,564
  • WKU 9,237
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AAMU 58%
  • WKU 93.9%
  • Enrolled
  • AAMU 14.5%
  • WKU 30.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AAMU 930
  • WKU 950
  • Typical ACT score
  • AAMU 16
  • WKU 18
  • Average High School GPA
  • AAMU 3.02
  • WKU 3.42
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AAMU B
  • WKU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • AAMU Extremely Easy
  • WKU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • AAMU Low
  • WKU
  • ACT Range
  • AAMU 14/19
  • WKU 16/21
  • SAT Range
  • AAMU 810/1040
  • WKU 840/1050
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AAMU Test optional
  • WKU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • AAMU
  • WKU Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

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

  • Outcomes

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

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AAMU 41%
  • WKU 38%
  • % Women
  • AAMU 59%
  • WKU 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AAMU Extremely Low
  • WKU Low
  • HBCU
  • AAMU Yes
  • WKU No
  • % White
  • AAMU 3%
  • WKU 76%
  • % Asian
  • AAMU 0%
  • WKU 1%
  • % Black
  • AAMU 92%
  • WKU 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • AAMU 1%
  • WKU 3%
  • % Native American
  • AAMU 0%
  • WKU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AAMU 0%
  • WKU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AAMU 0%
  • WKU 3%
  • % International
  • AAMU 1%
  • WKU 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AAMU 3%
  • WKU 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AAMU 45%
  • WKU 66%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AAMU 54%
  • WKU 33%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Alabama A & M University in Normal, AL with Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, KY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Western Kentucky University is larger than AAMU based on total student enrollment (16,291 students vs. 7,295 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Alabama A & M University is located in Normal, AL (Midsize City setting); Western Kentucky University is in Bowling Green, KY (Small City setting).
  • Alabama A & M University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Western Kentucky University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Alabama A & M University 19:1; Western Kentucky University 19:1.

AAMU vs. WKU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AAMU or WKU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than AAMU ($12,548 vs. $17,152).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Alabama A & M University are 9.4% lower than at Western Kentucky University ($11,402 vs. $12,582).
  • Western Kentucky University is 16.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than AAMU (about $1,628 more per year; $11,652.00 vs. $10,024.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 44.9% higher at WKU than at Alabama A & M University (about $8,366 more per year; $27,000.00 vs. $18,634.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Western Kentucky University than at Alabama A & M University (99% vs. 86%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Alabama A & M University students is 17.6% larger than aid received by Western Kentucky University students ($12,844 vs. $10,921).

AAMU vs. WKU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AAMU or WKU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between WKU and AAMU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Western Kentucky University (950) is 20 points higher than at AAMU (930).
  • Incoming WKU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (18 vs. 16 at AAMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Alabama A & M University 810/1040; Western Kentucky University 840/1050.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Alabama A & M University 14/19; Western Kentucky University 16/21.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AAMU - Test optional; WKU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: WKU Aug 1, 2027.
  • 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 (93.9%) than AAMU (58%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.5% at AAMU vs. 30.2% at WKU.

AAMU vs. WKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AAMU and WKU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Western Kentucky University's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than Alabama A & M University's (32%).
  • Graduates from Western Kentucky University earn a median of about $2,800 more per year than AAMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,100 vs. $34,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Kentucky University graduates have a $10,750 lower median loan debt than AAMU graduates ($24,250 vs. $35,000).
  • Among borrowers, WKU graduates have an estimated $111 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.