KWC vs. Memphis

Deciding between Kentucky Wesleyan College and University of Memphis? 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.

Kentucky Wesleyan College
University of Memphis

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • KWC Owensboro, KY
  • Memphis Memphis, TN
  • Setting
  • KWC Small City
  • Memphis Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • KWC 887
  • Memphis 20,276
  • Type
  • KWC Private 4 Year
  • Memphis Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • KWC
  • Memphis #882
  • Religious Affiliation
  • KWC United Methodist
  • Memphis -
  • Status
  • KWC Non-profit
  • Memphis Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • KWC
  • Memphis

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • KWC $34,673
  • Memphis $10,728
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • KWC $34,673
  • Memphis $15,384
  • Room & Board
  • KWC $11,855
  • Memphis $11,342
  • Average Net Price
  • KWC $20,999
  • Memphis $12,756
  • Average Grant Aid
  • KWC $25,538
  • Memphis $11,793
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • KWC 100%
  • Memphis 92%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • KWC 2,113
  • Memphis 15,084
  • Admitted
  • KWC 1,513
  • Memphis 10,865
  • Acceptance Rate
  • KWC 71.6%
  • Memphis 72%
  • Enrolled
  • KWC 17.7%
  • Memphis 18.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • KWC 1010
  • Memphis 1050
  • Typical ACT score
  • KWC 19
  • Memphis 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • KWC 3.3
  • Memphis 3.48
  • Typical High School Grades
  • KWC B+
  • Memphis B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • KWC Extremely Easy
  • Memphis Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • KWC Low
  • Memphis Low
  • ACT Range
  • KWC 16/23
  • Memphis 18/24
  • SAT Range
  • KWC 890/1130
  • Memphis 915/1180
  • Submit Test Scores
  • KWC Test optional
  • Memphis Required
  • Application Deadline
  • KWC
  • Memphis Jul 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • KWC 15:1
  • Memphis 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • KWC
    • Education (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Memphis
    • Business (21%)
    • General Studies (11%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • KWC 44%
  • Memphis 38%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • KWC $38,500
  • Memphis $42,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • KWC 54%
  • Memphis 37%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • KWC $22,907
  • Memphis $25,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • KWC $236
  • Memphis $261

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • KWC 50%
  • Memphis 41%
  • % Women
  • KWC 50%
  • Memphis 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • KWC Low
  • Memphis High
  • HBCU
  • KWC No
  • Memphis No
  • % White
  • KWC 73%
  • Memphis 50%
  • % Asian
  • KWC 0%
  • Memphis 3%
  • % Black
  • KWC 15%
  • Memphis 37%
  • % Hispanic
  • KWC 1%
  • Memphis 4%
  • % Native American
  • KWC 0%
  • Memphis 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • KWC 0%
  • Memphis 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • KWC 0%
  • Memphis 4%
  • % International
  • KWC 0%
  • Memphis 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • KWC 9%
  • Memphis 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • KWC 56%
  • Memphis 84%
  • % Out-of-State
  • KWC 38%
  • Memphis 13%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, KY with University of Memphis in Memphis, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Memphis is larger than KWC based on total student enrollment (20,276 students vs. 887 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Kentucky Wesleyan College is located in Owensboro, KY (Small City setting); University of Memphis is in Memphis, TN (Large City setting).
  • Kentucky Wesleyan College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Memphis is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Kentucky Wesleyan College 15:1; University of Memphis 16:1.

KWC vs. Memphis Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, KWC or Memphis? 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 University of Memphis than KWC ($12,756 vs. $20,999).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Memphis are 4.3% lower than at Kentucky Wesleyan College ($11,342 vs. $11,855).
  • Kentucky Wesleyan College is 223.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Memphis (about $23,945 more per year; $34,673.00 vs. $10,728.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 125.4% higher at KWC than at University of Memphis (about $19,289 more per year; $34,673.00 vs. $15,384.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kentucky Wesleyan College than at University of Memphis (100% vs. 92%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Kentucky Wesleyan College students is 116.6% larger than aid received by University of Memphis students ($25,538 vs. $11,793).

KWC vs. Memphis Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, KWC or Memphis? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Memphis and KWC.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at University of Memphis (1050) is 40 points higher than at KWC (1010).
  • Incoming Memphis students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (21 vs. 19 at KWC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Kentucky Wesleyan College 890/1130; University of Memphis 915/1180.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Kentucky Wesleyan College 16/23; University of Memphis 18/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: KWC - Test optional; Memphis - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Memphis Jul 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman Memphis students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at KWC (3.3).
  • Memphis has a higher acceptance rate (72%) than KWC (71.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.7% at KWC vs. 18.1% at Memphis.

KWC vs. Memphis Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for KWC and Memphis? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Kentucky Wesleyan College's six-year graduation rate (44%) is higher than University of Memphis's (38%).
  • Graduates from University of Memphis earn a median of about $3,700 more per year than KWC graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $38,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Kentucky Wesleyan College graduates have a $2,343 lower median loan debt than Memphis graduates ($22,907 vs. $25,250).
  • Among borrowers, KWC graduates have an estimated $25 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Memphis graduates ($236 vs. $261).
  • More KWC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Memphis students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 37%)

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.