CSU vs. KWC

Deciding between Chicago State University and Kentucky Wesleyan College? 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.

Chicago State University
Kentucky Wesleyan College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • CSU Chicago, IL
  • KWC Owensboro, KY
  • Setting
  • CSU Large City
  • KWC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • CSU 2,238
  • KWC 887
  • Type
  • CSU Public 4 Year
  • KWC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CSU #814
  • KWC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CSU -
  • KWC United Methodist
  • Status
  • CSU Non-profit
  • KWC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CSU
  • KWC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CSU $12,754
  • KWC $34,673
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CSU $12,754
  • KWC $34,673
  • Room & Board
  • CSU $11,550
  • KWC $11,855
  • Average Net Price
  • CSU $10,441
  • KWC $20,999
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CSU $18,194
  • KWC $25,538
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CSU 99%
  • KWC 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CSU 10,638
  • KWC 2,113
  • Admitted
  • CSU 4,602
  • KWC 1,513
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CSU 43.3%
  • KWC 71.6%
  • Enrolled
  • CSU 3.8%
  • KWC 17.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CSU 860
  • KWC 1010
  • Typical ACT score
  • CSU 17
  • KWC 19
  • Average High School GPA
  • CSU 3.18
  • KWC 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CSU B+
  • KWC B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • CSU Extremely Easy
  • KWC Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • CSU Low
  • KWC Low
  • ACT Range
  • CSU 15/19
  • KWC 16/23
  • SAT Range
  • CSU 750/963
  • KWC 890/1130
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CSU Test-free
  • KWC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • CSU
  • KWC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CSU 9:1
  • KWC 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CSU
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (31%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Education (7%)
  • KWC
    • Education (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CSU 21%
  • KWC 44%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CSU $38,300
  • KWC $38,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CSU 25%
  • KWC 54%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CSU $31,250
  • KWC $22,907
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CSU $323
  • KWC $236

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CSU 30%
  • KWC 50%
  • % Women
  • CSU 70%
  • KWC 50%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CSU Very Low
  • KWC Low
  • HBCU
  • CSU No
  • KWC No
  • % White
  • CSU 3%
  • KWC 73%
  • % Asian
  • CSU 1%
  • KWC 0%
  • % Black
  • CSU 75%
  • KWC 15%
  • % Hispanic
  • CSU 8%
  • KWC 1%
  • % Native American
  • CSU 0%
  • KWC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CSU 0%
  • KWC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CSU 0%
  • KWC 0%
  • % International
  • CSU 2%
  • KWC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CSU 12%
  • KWC 9%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CSU 70%
  • KWC 56%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CSU 28%
  • KWC 38%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Chicago State University in Chicago, IL with Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, KY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Chicago State University is larger than KWC based on total student enrollment (2,238 students vs. 887 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Chicago State University is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Kentucky Wesleyan College is in Owensboro, KY (Small City setting).
  • Chicago State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Kentucky Wesleyan College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Chicago State University 9:1; Kentucky Wesleyan College 15:1.

CSU vs. KWC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU or KWC? 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 Chicago State University than KWC ($10,441 vs. $20,999).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Chicago State University are 2.6% lower than at Kentucky Wesleyan College ($11,550 vs. $11,855).
  • Kentucky Wesleyan College is 171.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSU (about $21,919 more per year; $34,673.00 vs. $12,754.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 171.9% higher at KWC than at Chicago State University (about $21,919 more per year; $34,673.00 vs. $12,754.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kentucky Wesleyan College than at Chicago State University (100% vs. 99%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Kentucky Wesleyan College students is 40.4% larger than aid received by Chicago State University students ($25,538 vs. $18,194).

CSU vs. KWC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU or KWC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between KWC and CSU.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Kentucky Wesleyan College (1010) is 150 points higher than at CSU (860).
  • Incoming KWC students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (19 vs. 17 at CSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Chicago State University 750/963; Kentucky Wesleyan College 890/1130.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Chicago State University 15/19; Kentucky Wesleyan College 16/23.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSU - Test-free; KWC - Test optional.
  • Enrolled freshman KWC students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at CSU (3.18).
  • KWC has a higher acceptance rate (71.6%) than CSU (43.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 3.8% at CSU vs. 17.7% at KWC.

CSU vs. KWC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU and KWC? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Kentucky Wesleyan College's six-year graduation rate (44%) is higher than Chicago State University's (21%).
  • Graduates from Kentucky Wesleyan College earn a median of about $200 more per year than CSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,500 vs. $38,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Kentucky Wesleyan College graduates have a $8,343 lower median loan debt than CSU graduates ($22,907 vs. $31,250).
  • Among borrowers, KWC graduates have an estimated $87 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CSU graduates ($236 vs. $323).
  • More KWC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU students, three years after graduation. (54% 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.