Jacksonville State University vs. WKU

Should I go to Jacksonville State University or Western Kentucky University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Jacksonville State University or WKU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Jacksonville State University vs. Western Kentucky University comparison
Jacksonville State University Western Kentucky University College 3 College 4
Jacksonville State University Western Kentucky University
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Overview

Jacksonville State University WKU
Location Jacksonville, AL Bowling Green, KY
Setting Small Suburban Small City
Enrollment 9,632 16,493
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #946 #875
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website jsu.edu wku.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Jacksonville State University WKU
Tuition (In State) $9,990 $11,112
Tuition (Out of State) $19,950 $27,000
Room & Board $8,640 $11,072
Avg Net Price $11,953 $12,625
Avg Grant Aid $10,123 $10,260
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

Jacksonville State University WKU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 12,570 7,505
Admitted 9,863 7,276
Acceptance Rate 78.5% 96.9%
Enrolled % 19.7% 37.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.43 3.42
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 16/23 18/25
SAT Range 940/1200 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 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Jacksonville State University WKU
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (19%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Human Services (6%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)

Outcomes

Jacksonville State University WKU
Graduation Rate 32% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,000 $37,100
Making Student Loan Payments 39% 47%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,250 $24,250
Median Loan Payment $240 $250

Diversity

Jacksonville State University WKU
% Men 40% 37%
% Women 60% 63%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 70% 76%
% Black 22% 10%
% Hispanic 1% 3%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 3%
% International 3% 6%
% Unknown Race 3% 1%

Students

Jacksonville State University WKU
% In-State 72% 70%
% Out-of-State 25% 29%

Campus

Jacksonville State University WKU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Western Kentucky University is larger than than Jacksonville State University based on total student enrollment (16,493 students vs. 9,632 students)

Jacksonville State University vs. WKU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Jacksonville State University or WKU?

  • Western Kentucky University is 11.2% more expensive to attend than Jacksonville State University for in-state tuition ($11,112.00 vs. $9,990.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 35.3% higher at WKU than Jacksonville State University ($27,000.00 vs. $19,950.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Jacksonville State University than WKU ($11,953 vs. $12,625)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Jacksonville State University are 28.1% lower than costs at Western Kentucky University ($8,640 vs. $11,072)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Jacksonville State University than Western Kentucky University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Western Kentucky University students is 1.4% larger than aid received Jacksonville State University ($10,260 vs. $10,123)

Jacksonville State University vs. WKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Jacksonville State University or WKU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WKU or Jacksonville State University .

  • The average SAT score at Jacksonville State University (1062) is 15 points higher than at WKU (1047)
  • Incoming Jacksonville State University students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at WKU (23)
  • Accepted freshman Jacksonville State University students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.43) than students at WKU (3.42)
  • WKU has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) than Jacksonville State University (78.5%)

Jacksonville State University vs. WKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Jacksonville State University 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 Jacksonville State University.

  • The graduation rate at WKU is higher than Jacksonville State University (50% vs. 32%)
  • Graduates from Western Kentucky University earn on average $100 more per year than Jacksonville State University graduates after ten years. ($37,100 vs. $37,000)
  • Jacksonville State University students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than WKU graduates. ($23,250 vs. $24,250)
  • Jacksonville State University graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than WKU graduates. ($240 vs. $250)
  • More WKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Jacksonville State University students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 39%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/