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Eastern Murray State University Kentucky Louisville UTC NKU University of Southern Indiana Middle Tennessee State University Austin Peay State University IUPUI KSU University of Missouri-St Louis| Marian University | Western Kentucky University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Marian | WKU | ||
| Location | Indianapolis, IN | Bowling Green, KY | ||
| Setting | Large City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 3,586 | 16,759 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #968 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | Roman Catholic | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | marian.edu | wku.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Marian | WKU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $39,100 | $11,436 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $39,100 | $27,000 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,200 | $12,043 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $23,225 | $12,054 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $29,269 | $10,906 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 99% |
Admission |
Marian | WKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 3,883 | 7,720 | ||
| Admitted | 3,702 | 7,492 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 95.3% | 97% | ||
| Enrolled % | 16.7% | 37.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.56 | 3.42 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 16/20 | |||
| SAT Range | 820/1010 | |||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 1, 2025 | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Marian | WKU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Marian | WKU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 58% | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $44,800 | $37,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 57% | 47% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $24,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $250 |
Diversity |
Marian | WKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 12% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 19% | 9% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 72% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 12% | 10% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 1% | 6% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 1% |
Students |
Marian | WKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 87% | 70% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 10% | 29% | ||
Campus |
Marian | 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 Marian based on total student enrollment (16,759 students vs. 3,586 students)
Marian vs. WKU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Marian or WKU?
- Marian University is 241.9% more expensive to attend than WKU for in-state tuition ($39,100.00 vs. $11,436.00)
- Out of state tuition is 44.8% higher at Marian than Western Kentucky University ($39,100.00 vs. $27,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than Marian ($12,054 vs. $23,225)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Kentucky University are 9.6% lower than costs at Marian University ($12,043 vs. $13,200)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Kentucky University than Marian University (99% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Marian University students is 168.4% larger than aid received Western Kentucky University ($29,269 vs. $10,906)
Marian vs. WKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Marian or WKU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WKU or Marian .
- The average SAT score at Western Kentucky University (1047) is 21 points higher than at Marian (1026)
- Incoming Marian students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at WKU (23)
- Accepted freshman Marian students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at WKU (3.42)
- WKU has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than Marian (95.3%)
Marian vs. WKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Marian 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 Marian.
- The graduation rate at Marian is higher than Western Kentucky University (58% vs. 50%)
- Graduates from Marian University earn on average $7,700 more per year than WKU graduates after ten years. ($44,800 vs. $37,100)
- Western Kentucky University students graduate with a $2,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Marian graduates. ($24,250 vs. $27,000)
- WKU graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than Marian graduates. ($250 vs. $279)
- More Marian graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WKU students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 47%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/