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Eastern Murray State University Kentucky Louisville UTC Elmhurst College NKU Northern Illinois University of Southern Indiana Middle Tennessee State University Austin Peay State University KSU| Aurora University | Western Kentucky University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Aurora University | WKU | ||
| Location | Aurora, IL | Bowling Green, KY | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 5,918 | 16,493 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #851 | #875 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | aurora.edu | wku.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Aurora University | WKU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $27,200 | $11,112 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $27,200 | $27,000 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,360 | $11,072 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,350 | $12,625 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $19,830 | $10,260 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 99% |
Admission |
Aurora University | WKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,922 | 7,505 | ||
| Admitted | 2,393 | 7,276 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 81.9% | 96.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 28.1% | 37.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.56 | 3.42 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 18/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 980/1198 | 980/1170 | ||
| 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, 2025 |
Academics |
Aurora University | WKU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Aurora University | WKU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 44% | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $42,900 | $37,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 63% | 47% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,337 | $24,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $230 | $250 |
Diversity |
Aurora University | WKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 29% | 37% | ||
| % Women | 71% | 63% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 56% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 10% | ||
| % Hispanic | 25% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 0% | 6% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 1% |
Students |
Aurora University | WKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 84% | 70% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 15% | 29% | ||
Campus |
Aurora University | 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 Aurora University based on total student enrollment (16,493 students vs. 5,918 students)
Aurora University vs. WKU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Aurora University or WKU?
- Aurora University is 144.8% more expensive to attend than WKU for in-state tuition ($27,200.00 vs. $11,112.00)
- Out of state tuition is 0.7% higher at Aurora University than Western Kentucky University ($27,200.00 vs. $27,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than Aurora University ($12,625 vs. $19,350)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Kentucky University are 11.6% lower than costs at Aurora University ($11,072 vs. $12,360)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Aurora University than Western Kentucky University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Aurora University students is 93.3% larger than aid received Western Kentucky University ($19,830 vs. $10,260)
Aurora University vs. WKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Aurora University or WKU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WKU or Aurora University .
- The average SAT score at Western Kentucky University (1047) is 57 points higher than at Aurora University (990)
- Incoming WKU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Aurora University (21)
- Accepted freshman Aurora University students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at WKU (3.42)
- WKU has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) than Aurora University (81.9%)
Aurora University vs. WKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Aurora University 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 Aurora University.
- The graduation rate at WKU is higher than Aurora University (50% vs. 44%)
- Graduates from Aurora University earn on average $5,800 more per year than WKU graduates after ten years. ($42,900 vs. $37,100)
- Aurora University students graduate with a $1,913 lower median federal student loan debt than WKU graduates. ($22,337 vs. $24,250)
- Aurora University graduates are paying $20 less per month on federal student loans than WKU graduates. ($230 vs. $250)
- More Aurora University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WKU students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 47%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/