KSU vs. WKU

Should I go to Kennesaw State University or Western Kentucky University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if KSU 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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Kennesaw State University vs. Western Kentucky University comparison
Kennesaw State University Western Kentucky University College 3 College 4
Kennesaw State University Western Kentucky University
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Overview

KSU WKU
Location Kennesaw, Georgia Bowling Green, KY
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 16,493
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #875
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website kennesaw.edu wku.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

KSU WKU
Tuition (In State) $4,078 $11,112
Tuition (Out of State) $13,796 $27,000
Room & Board $11,467 $11,072
Avg Net Price $15,451 $12,625
Avg Grant Aid $5,161 $10,260
% Receiving Grant Aid 81% 99%

Admission

KSU WKU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,773 7,505
Admitted 5,483 7,276
Acceptance Rate 62.5% 96.9%
Enrolled % 54.5% 37.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.33 3.42
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/24 18/25
SAT Range 1070/1250 980/1170
Submit Test Scores Required Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

KSU WKU
Student to Faculty Ratio 0:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)

Outcomes

KSU WKU
Graduation Rate 41% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) N/A $37,100
Making Student Loan Payments - 47%
Median Student Loan Debt N/A $24,250
Median Loan Payment N/A $250

Diversity

KSU WKU
% Men NaN 37%
% Women NaN 63%
Racial Diversity - Low
HBCU No No
% White 0% 76%
% Black 0% 10%
% Hispanic 0% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 3%
% International 0% 6%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

KSU WKU
% In-State - 70%
% Out-of-State - 29%

Campus

KSU 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 KSU based on total student enrollment (16,493 students vs. 0 students)

KSU vs. WKU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, KSU or WKU?

  • Western Kentucky University is 172.5% more expensive to attend than KSU for in-state tuition ($11,112.00 vs. $4,078.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 95.7% higher at WKU than Kennesaw State University ($27,000.00 vs. $13,796.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than KSU ($12,625 vs. $15,451)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Kentucky University are 3.6% lower than costs at Kennesaw State University ($11,072 vs. $11,467)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Western Kentucky University than Kennesaw State University (99% vs. 81%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Western Kentucky University students is 98.8% larger than aid received Kennesaw State University ($10,260 vs. $5,161)

KSU vs. WKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman WKU students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at KSU (3.33)
  • WKU has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) than KSU (62.5%)

KSU vs. WKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, KSU 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 KSU.

  • The graduation rate at WKU is higher than Kennesaw State University (50% vs. 41%)

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