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Eastern Murray State University Kentucky Louisville UTC NKU University of Southern Indiana Middle Tennessee State University Austin Peay State University KSU University of Missouri-St Louis ETSU| Bellarmine University | Western Kentucky University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Bellarmine University | WKU | ||
| Location | Louisville, KY | Bowling Green, KY | ||
| Setting | Large City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 2,970 | 16,493 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #375 | #875 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Roman Catholic | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | bellarmine.edu | wku.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Bellarmine University | WKU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $44,040 | $11,112 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $44,040 | $27,000 | ||
| Room & Board | $9,714 | $11,072 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $22,813 | $12,625 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $36,264 | $10,260 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 99% |
Admission |
Bellarmine University | WKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 3,878 | 7,505 | ||
| Admitted | 3,404 | 7,276 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 87.8% | 96.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 16% | 37.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.42 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/27 | 18/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 1100/1290 | 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 | Feb 1, 2025 | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Bellarmine University | WKU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Bellarmine University | WKU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 66% | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $50,300 | $37,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 73% | 47% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $24,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $250 |
Diversity |
Bellarmine University | WKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 37% | 37% | ||
| % Women | 63% | 63% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 85% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 10% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 1% | 6% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
Bellarmine University | WKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 67% | 70% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 31% | 29% | ||
Campus |
Bellarmine University | WKU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Western Kentucky University is larger than than Bellarmine University based on total student enrollment (16,493 students vs. 2,970 students)
Bellarmine University vs. WKU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Bellarmine University or WKU?
- Bellarmine University is 296.3% more expensive to attend than WKU for in-state tuition ($44,040.00 vs. $11,112.00)
- Out of state tuition is 63.1% higher at Bellarmine University than Western Kentucky University ($44,040.00 vs. $27,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than Bellarmine University ($12,625 vs. $22,813)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bellarmine University are 14% lower than costs at Western Kentucky University ($9,714 vs. $11,072)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Bellarmine University than Western Kentucky University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Bellarmine University students is 253.5% larger than aid received Western Kentucky University ($36,264 vs. $10,260)
Bellarmine University vs. WKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Bellarmine University or WKU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WKU or Bellarmine University .
- The average SAT score at Bellarmine University (1120) is 73 points higher than at WKU (1047)
- Incoming Bellarmine University students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at WKU (23)
- Accepted freshman Bellarmine University students have at the same average high school GPA (3.42) as students at WKU (3.42)
- WKU has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) than Bellarmine University (87.8%)
Bellarmine University vs. WKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Bellarmine 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 Bellarmine University.
- The graduation rate at Bellarmine University is higher than Western Kentucky University (66% vs. 50%)
- Graduates from Bellarmine University earn on average $13,200 more per year than WKU graduates after ten years. ($50,300 vs. $37,100)
- Western Kentucky University students graduate with a $750 lower median federal student loan debt than Bellarmine University graduates. ($24,250 vs. $25,000)
- WKU graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than Bellarmine University graduates. ($250 vs. $258)
- More Bellarmine University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WKU students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 47%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/