Eastern vs. WKU

Deciding between Eastern Kentucky University and Western Kentucky University? 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.

Eastern Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Eastern Richmond, KY
  • WKU Bowling Green, KY
  • Setting
  • Eastern Distant Town
  • WKU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Eastern 15,673
  • WKU 16,291
  • Type
  • Eastern Public 4 Year
  • WKU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Eastern #886
  • WKU #970
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Eastern -
  • WKU -
  • Status
  • Eastern Non-profit
  • WKU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Eastern
  • WKU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Eastern $10,320
  • WKU $11,652
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Eastern $21,230
  • WKU $27,000
  • Room & Board
  • Eastern $12,268
  • WKU $12,582
  • Average Net Price
  • Eastern $12,279
  • WKU $12,548
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Eastern $11,468
  • WKU $10,921
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Eastern 98%
  • WKU 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Eastern 17,024
  • WKU 9,840
  • Admitted
  • Eastern 13,212
  • WKU 9,237
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Eastern 77.6%
  • WKU 93.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Eastern 19.9%
  • WKU 30.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Eastern 980
  • WKU 950
  • Typical ACT score
  • Eastern 22
  • WKU 18
  • Average High School GPA
  • Eastern 3.39
  • WKU 3.42
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Eastern B+
  • WKU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Eastern Very Easy
  • WKU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Eastern
  • WKU
  • ACT Range
  • Eastern 19/25
  • WKU 16/21
  • SAT Range
  • Eastern 880/1080
  • WKU 840/1050
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Eastern Test optional
  • WKU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Eastern Aug 1, 2027
  • WKU Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Eastern 17:1
  • WKU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Eastern
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • WKU
    • Business (16%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Eastern 38%
  • WKU 50%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Eastern $37,900
  • WKU $37,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Eastern 49%
  • WKU 47%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Eastern $23,695
  • WKU $24,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Eastern $245
  • WKU $250

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Eastern 39%
  • WKU 38%
  • % Women
  • Eastern 61%
  • WKU 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Eastern Very Low
  • WKU Low
  • HBCU
  • Eastern No
  • WKU No
  • % White
  • Eastern 85%
  • WKU 76%
  • % Asian
  • Eastern 1%
  • WKU 1%
  • % Black
  • Eastern 6%
  • WKU 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • Eastern 2%
  • WKU 3%
  • % Native American
  • Eastern 0%
  • WKU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Eastern 0%
  • WKU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Eastern 2%
  • WKU 3%
  • % International
  • Eastern 2%
  • WKU 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Eastern 1%
  • WKU 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Eastern 91%
  • WKU 66%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Eastern 9%
  • WKU 33%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, KY with Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, KY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Western Kentucky University is larger than Eastern based on total student enrollment (16,291 students vs. 15,673 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Eastern Kentucky University is located in Richmond, KY (Distant Town setting); Western Kentucky University is in Bowling Green, KY (Small City setting).
  • Eastern Kentucky University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Western Kentucky University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Eastern Kentucky University 17:1; Western Kentucky University 19:1.

Eastern vs. WKU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Eastern or WKU? 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 Eastern Kentucky University than WKU ($12,279 vs. $12,548).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Eastern Kentucky University are 2.5% lower than at Western Kentucky University ($12,268 vs. $12,582).
  • Western Kentucky University is 12.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Eastern (about $1,332 more per year; $11,652.00 vs. $10,320.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 27.2% higher at WKU than at Eastern Kentucky University (about $5,770 more per year; $27,000.00 vs. $21,230.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Western Kentucky University than at Eastern Kentucky University (99% vs. 98%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Kentucky University students is 5% larger than aid received by Western Kentucky University students ($11,468 vs. $10,921).

Eastern vs. WKU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Eastern or WKU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between WKU and Eastern.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Eastern Kentucky University (980) is 30 points higher than at WKU (950).
  • Incoming Eastern students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 18 at WKU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Eastern Kentucky University 880/1080; Western Kentucky University 840/1050.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Eastern Kentucky University 19/25; Western Kentucky University 16/21.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Eastern - Test optional; WKU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Eastern Aug 1, 2027; WKU Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman WKU students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Eastern (3.39).
  • WKU has a higher acceptance rate (93.9%) than Eastern (77.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.9% at Eastern vs. 30.2% at WKU.

Eastern vs. WKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Eastern and WKU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Western Kentucky University's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than Eastern Kentucky University's (38%).
  • Graduates from Eastern Kentucky University earn a median of about $800 more per year than WKU graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,900 vs. $37,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Eastern Kentucky University graduates have a $555 lower median loan debt than WKU graduates ($23,695 vs. $24,250).
  • Among borrowers, Eastern graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WKU graduates ($245 vs. $250).
  • More Eastern graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WKU students, three years after graduation. (49% vs. 47%)

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.