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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| Governors State University | Western Kentucky University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
GSU | WKU | ||
| Location | University Park, IL | Bowling Green, KY | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 4,337 | 16,759 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #968 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | govst.edu | wku.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
GSU | WKU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,872 | $11,436 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $7,872 | $27,000 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,360 | $12,043 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $10,833 | $12,054 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,315 | $10,906 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 90% | 99% |
Admission |
GSU | WKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | - | 7,720 | ||
| Admitted | - | 7,492 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 97% | |||
| Enrolled % | 37.7% | |||
| Avg High School GPA | 4.0 | 3.42 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A/A+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 16/20 | |||
| SAT Range | 830/1060 | 820/1010 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | |||
| Application Deadline | Apr 1, 2025 | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
GSU | WKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
GSU | WKU | ||
| Graduation Rate | - | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $42,600 | $37,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 48% | 47% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $17,250 | $24,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $178 | $250 |
Diversity |
GSU | WKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 15% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 27% | 9% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 36% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 38% | 10% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 1% | 6% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 9% | 1% |
Students |
GSU | WKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 95% | 70% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 3% | 29% | ||
Campus |
GSU | WKU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | |||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | |||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Western Kentucky University is larger than than GSU based on total student enrollment (16,759 students vs. 4,337 students)
GSU vs. WKU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, GSU or WKU?
- Western Kentucky University is 45.3% more expensive to attend than GSU for in-state tuition ($11,436.00 vs. $7,872.00)
- Out of state tuition is 243% higher at WKU than Governors State University ($27,000.00 vs. $7,872.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Governors State University than WKU ($10,833 vs. $12,054)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Governors State University are 6% lower than costs at Western Kentucky University ($11,360 vs. $12,043)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Kentucky University than Governors State University (99% vs. 90%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Governors State University students is 3.8% larger than aid received Western Kentucky University ($11,315 vs. $10,906)
Which college is harder to get into, GSU or WKU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WKU or GSU .
- The average SAT score at Western Kentucky University (1047) is 136 points higher than at GSU (911)
- Incoming WKU students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at GSU (19)
- Accepted freshman GSU students have a 0.58 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at WKU (3.42)
GSU vs. WKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, GSU 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 GSU.
- Graduates from Governors State University earn on average $5,500 more per year than WKU graduates after ten years. ($42,600 vs. $37,100)
- Governors State University students graduate with a $7,000 lower median federal student loan debt than WKU graduates. ($17,250 vs. $24,250)
- GSU graduates are paying $72 less per month on federal student loans than WKU graduates. ($178 vs. $250)
- More GSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WKU students, three years after graduation. (48% vs. 47%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/