Cal State Fullerton vs. WKU

Should I go to California State University Fullerton or Western Kentucky University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Cal State Fullerton 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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California State University Fullerton vs. Western Kentucky University comparison
California State University Fullerton Western Kentucky University College 3 College 4
California State University Fullerton Western Kentucky University
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Overview

Cal State Fullerton WKU
Location Fullerton, CA Bowling Green, KY
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 40,386 16,493
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #699 #875
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fullerton.edu wku.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Cal State Fullerton WKU
Tuition (In State) $5,742 $11,112
Tuition (Out of State) $17,622 $27,000
Room & Board $16,702 $11,072
Avg Net Price $7,925 $12,625
Avg Grant Aid $9,194 $10,260
% Receiving Grant Aid 74% 99%

Admission

Cal State Fullerton WKU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 48,748 7,505
Admitted 32,527 7,276
Acceptance Rate 66.7% 96.9%
Enrolled % 16.2% 37.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.77 3.42
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/23 18/25
SAT Range 1000/1180 980/1170
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Nov 30, 2024 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Cal State Fullerton WKU
Student to Faculty Ratio 24:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (25%)
  • Communication (14%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)

Outcomes

Cal State Fullerton WKU
Graduation Rate 50% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,000 $37,100
Making Student Loan Payments 69% 47%
Median Student Loan Debt $15,000 $24,250
Median Loan Payment $155 $250

Diversity

Cal State Fullerton WKU
% Men 42% 37%
% Women 58% 63%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 22% 76%
% Black 2% 10%
% Hispanic 40% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 6% 6%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

Cal State Fullerton WKU
% In-State 99% 70%
% Out-of-State 1% 29%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • California State University Fullerton is larger than than WKU based on total student enrollment (40,386 students vs. 16,493 students)

Cal State Fullerton vs. WKU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State Fullerton or WKU?

  • Western Kentucky University is 93.5% more expensive to attend than Cal State Fullerton for in-state tuition ($11,112.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 53.2% higher at WKU than California State University Fullerton ($27,000.00 vs. $17,622.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University Fullerton than WKU ($7,925 vs. $12,625)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Kentucky University are 50.8% lower than costs at California State University Fullerton ($11,072 vs. $16,702)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Western Kentucky University than California State University Fullerton (99% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Western Kentucky University students is 11.6% larger than aid received California State University Fullerton ($10,260 vs. $9,194)

Cal State Fullerton vs. WKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Western Kentucky University (1047) is 23 points higher than at Cal State Fullerton (1024)
  • Incoming WKU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Cal State Fullerton (22)
  • Accepted freshman Cal State Fullerton students have a 0.35 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at WKU (3.42)
  • WKU has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) than Cal State Fullerton (66.7%)

Cal State Fullerton vs. WKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Cal State Fullerton 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 Cal State Fullerton.

  • The graduation rate at Cal State Fullerton is the same as at Western Kentucky University (50% vs. 50%)
  • Graduates from California State University Fullerton earn on average $11,900 more per year than WKU graduates after ten years. ($49,000 vs. $37,100)
  • California State University Fullerton students graduate with a $9,250 lower median federal student loan debt than WKU graduates. ($15,000 vs. $24,250)
  • Cal State Fullerton graduates are paying $95 less per month on federal student loans than WKU graduates. ($155 vs. $250)
  • More Cal State Fullerton graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WKU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 47%)

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