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Eastern Murray State University Kentucky Louisville UTC GS NKU Georgia State University of Southern Indiana University of West Georgia KSU VSU| Columbus State University | Western Kentucky University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Columbus State | WKU | ||
| Location | Columbus, GA | Bowling Green, KY | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 7,479 | 16,493 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #995 | #875 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | columbusstate.edu | wku.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Columbus State | WKU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $4,371 | $11,112 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $15,425 | $27,000 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,080 | $11,072 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $12,902 | $12,625 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,147 | $10,260 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 99% |
Admission |
Columbus State | WKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 3,870 | 7,505 | ||
| Admitted | 3,398 | 7,276 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 87.8% | 96.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 30.4% | 37.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.07 | 3.42 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 16/23 | 18/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 900/1130 | 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 | Jun 30, 2025 | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Columbus State | WKU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Columbus State | WKU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 31% | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,400 | $37,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 37% | 47% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,000 | $24,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $268 | $250 |
Diversity |
Columbus State | WKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 40% | 37% | ||
| % Women | 60% | 63% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 51% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 37% | 10% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 1% | 6% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 1% |
Students |
Columbus State | WKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 92% | 70% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 5% | 29% | ||
Campus |
Columbus State | 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 Columbus State based on total student enrollment (16,493 students vs. 7,479 students)
Columbus State vs. WKU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Columbus State or WKU?
- Western Kentucky University is 154.2% more expensive to attend than Columbus State for in-state tuition ($11,112.00 vs. $4,371.00)
- Out of state tuition is 75% higher at WKU than Columbus State University ($27,000.00 vs. $15,425.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than Columbus State ($12,625 vs. $12,902)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Kentucky University are 9.1% lower than costs at Columbus State University ($11,072 vs. $12,080)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Kentucky University than Columbus State University (99% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Western Kentucky University students is 12.2% larger than aid received Columbus State University ($10,260 vs. $9,147)
Columbus State vs. WKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Columbus State or WKU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WKU or Columbus State .
- The average SAT score at Western Kentucky University (1047) is 86 points higher than at Columbus State (961)
- Incoming WKU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Columbus State (20)
- Accepted freshman WKU students have a 0.35 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Columbus State (3.07)
- WKU has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) than Columbus State (87.8%)
Columbus State vs. WKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Columbus State 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 Columbus State.
- The graduation rate at WKU is higher than Columbus State University (50% vs. 31%)
- Graduates from Columbus State University earn on average $300 more per year than WKU graduates after ten years. ($37,400 vs. $37,100)
- Western Kentucky University students graduate with a $1,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbus State graduates. ($24,250 vs. $26,000)
- WKU graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than Columbus State graduates. ($250 vs. $268)
- More WKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbus State students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 37%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/