National Louis University vs. WKU

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

National Louis University WKU
Location Chicago, IL Bowling Green, KY
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 8,270 16,759
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #968
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nl.edu wku.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

National Louis University WKU
Tuition (In State) $11,520 $11,436
Tuition (Out of State) $11,520 $27,000
Room & Board $13,950 $12,043
Avg Net Price $15,724 $12,054
Avg Grant Aid $9,722 $10,906
% Receiving Grant Aid 87% 99%

Admission

National Louis University WKU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,145 7,720
Admitted 3,860 7,492
Acceptance Rate 93.1% 97%
Enrolled % 20.3% 37.7%
Avg High School GPA 2.8 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, 2026

Academics

National Louis University WKU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (34%)
  • General Studies (32%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Human Services (4%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)

Outcomes

National Louis University WKU
Graduation Rate 26% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,300 $37,100
Making Student Loan Payments 44% 47%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,837 $24,250
Median Loan Payment $205 $250

Diversity

National Louis University WKU
% Men 9% 4%
% Women 40% 9%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 25% 76%
% Black 35% 10%
% Hispanic 31% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 1% 6%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

National Louis University WKU
% In-State 73% 70%
% Out-of-State 19% 29%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Western Kentucky University is larger than than National Louis University based on total student enrollment (16,759 students vs. 8,270 students)

National Louis University vs. WKU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, National Louis University or WKU?

  • National Louis University is 0.7% more expensive to attend than WKU for in-state tuition ($11,520.00 vs. $11,436.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 134.4% higher at WKU than National Louis University ($27,000.00 vs. $11,520.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than National Louis University ($12,054 vs. $15,724)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Kentucky University are 15.8% lower than costs at National Louis University ($12,043 vs. $13,950)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Western Kentucky University than National Louis University (99% vs. 87%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Western Kentucky University students is 12.2% larger than aid received National Louis University ($10,906 vs. $9,722)

National Louis University vs. WKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman WKU students have a 0.62 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at National Louis University (2.8)
  • WKU has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than National Louis University (93.1%)

National Louis University vs. WKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, National Louis 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 National Louis University.

  • The graduation rate at WKU is higher than National Louis University (50% vs. 26%)
  • Graduates from National Louis University earn on average $12,200 more per year than WKU graduates after ten years. ($49,300 vs. $37,100)
  • National Louis University students graduate with a $4,413 lower median federal student loan debt than WKU graduates. ($19,837 vs. $24,250)
  • National Louis University graduates are paying $45 less per month on federal student loans than WKU graduates. ($205 vs. $250)
  • More WKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former National Louis University students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 44%)

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