AUM vs. WKU

Should I go to Auburn University at Montgomery or Western Kentucky University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if AUM 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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Auburn University at Montgomery vs. Western Kentucky University comparison
Auburn University at Montgomery Western Kentucky University College 3 College 4
Auburn University at Montgomery Western Kentucky University
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Overview

AUM WKU
Location Montgomery, AL Bowling Green, KY
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 5,109 16,493
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #903 #875
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website aum.edu wku.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

AUM WKU
Tuition (In State) $8,232 $11,112
Tuition (Out of State) $18,480 $27,000
Room & Board $7,368 $11,072
Avg Net Price $13,163 $12,625
Avg Grant Aid $6,935 $10,260
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 99%

Admission

AUM WKU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,290 7,505
Admitted 2,112 7,276
Acceptance Rate 92.2% 96.9%
Enrolled % 19.3% 37.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.4 3.42
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/25 18/25
SAT Range 1010/1190 980/1170
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

AUM WKU
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (31%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Education (15%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)

Outcomes

AUM WKU
Graduation Rate 33% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,900 $37,100
Making Student Loan Payments 42% 47%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,192 $24,250
Median Loan Payment $229 $250

Diversity

AUM WKU
% Men 37% 37%
% Women 63% 63%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 54% 76%
% Black 35% 10%
% Hispanic 1% 3%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 3% 6%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

AUM WKU
% In-State 100% 70%
% Out-of-State 0% 29%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Western Kentucky University is larger than than AUM based on total student enrollment (16,493 students vs. 5,109 students)

AUM vs. WKU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AUM or WKU?

  • Western Kentucky University is 35% more expensive to attend than AUM for in-state tuition ($11,112.00 vs. $8,232.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 46.1% higher at WKU than Auburn University at Montgomery ($27,000.00 vs. $18,480.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than AUM ($12,625 vs. $13,163)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Auburn University at Montgomery are 50.3% lower than costs at Western Kentucky University ($7,368 vs. $11,072)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Auburn University at Montgomery as Western Kentucky University (99% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Western Kentucky University students is 47.9% larger than aid received Auburn University at Montgomery ($10,260 vs. $6,935)

AUM vs. WKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Western Kentucky University (1047) is 57 points higher than at AUM (990)
  • Incoming WKU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at AUM (21)
  • Accepted freshman WKU students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at AUM (3.4)
  • WKU has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) than AUM (92.2%)

AUM vs. WKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, AUM 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 AUM.

  • The graduation rate at WKU is higher than Auburn University at Montgomery (50% vs. 33%)
  • Graduates from Auburn University at Montgomery earn on average $800 more per year than WKU graduates after ten years. ($37,900 vs. $37,100)
  • Auburn University at Montgomery students graduate with a $2,058 lower median federal student loan debt than WKU graduates. ($22,192 vs. $24,250)
  • AUM graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than WKU graduates. ($229 vs. $250)
  • More WKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AUM students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 42%)

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