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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| Gordon College | Western Kentucky University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Gordon | WKU | ||
| Location | Barnesville, GA | Bowling Green, KY | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 3,129 | 16,759 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #968 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | gdn.edu | wku.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Gordon | WKU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $2,563 | $11,436 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $9,469 | $27,000 | ||
| Room & Board | $9,142 | $12,043 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $8,255 | $12,054 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $6,304 | $10,906 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 89% | 99% |
Admission |
Gordon | WKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,126 | 7,720 | ||
| Admitted | 1,845 | 7,492 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86.8% | 97% | ||
| Enrolled % | 39.5% | 37.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | 3.42 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 15/19 | 16/20 | ||
| SAT Range | 870/1080 | 820/1010 | ||
| 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 | Aug 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Gordon | WKU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 21:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Gordon | WKU | ||
| Graduation Rate | - | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $34,100 | $37,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 26% | 47% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $17,500 | $24,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $180 | $250 |
Diversity |
Gordon | WKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 6% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 11% | 9% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 50% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 42% | 10% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 0% | 6% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 1% |
Students |
Gordon | WKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 98% | 70% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 1% | 29% | ||
Campus |
Gordon | WKU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Western Kentucky University is larger than than Gordon based on total student enrollment (16,759 students vs. 3,129 students)
Gordon vs. WKU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Gordon or WKU?
- Western Kentucky University is 346.2% more expensive to attend than Gordon for in-state tuition ($11,436.00 vs. $2,563.00)
- Out of state tuition is 185.1% higher at WKU than Gordon College ($27,000.00 vs. $9,469.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Gordon College than WKU ($8,255 vs. $12,054)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gordon College are 31.7% lower than costs at Western Kentucky University ($9,142 vs. $12,043)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Kentucky University than Gordon College (99% vs. 89%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Western Kentucky University students is 73% larger than aid received Gordon College ($10,906 vs. $6,304)
Gordon vs. WKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Gordon or WKU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WKU or Gordon .
- The average SAT score at Western Kentucky University (1047) is 196 points higher than at Gordon (851)
- Incoming WKU students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Gordon (18)
- WKU has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than Gordon (86.8%)
Gordon vs. WKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Gordon 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 Gordon.
- Graduates from Western Kentucky University earn on average $3,000 more per year than Gordon graduates after ten years. ($37,100 vs. $34,100)
- Gordon College students graduate with a $6,750 lower median federal student loan debt than WKU graduates. ($17,500 vs. $24,250)
- Gordon graduates are paying $70 less per month on federal student loans than WKU graduates. ($180 vs. $250)
- More WKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Gordon students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 26%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/