Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Eastern GCU Murray State University ASU Kentucky U of A Louisville UTC Colorado State NKU University of Southern Indiana Middle Tennessee State University| Northern Arizona University | Western Kentucky University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
NAU | WKU | ||
| Location | Flagstaff, AZ | Bowling Green, KY | ||
| Setting | Small City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 28,186 | 16,759 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #968 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nau.edu | wku.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NAU | WKU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,352 | $11,436 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $27,600 | $27,000 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,728 | $12,043 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $16,544 | $12,054 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $12,377 | $10,906 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 95% | 99% |
Admission |
NAU | WKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 37,805 | 7,720 | ||
| Admitted | 34,383 | 7,492 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 90.9% | 97% | ||
| Enrolled % | 15.9% | 37.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.7 | 3.42 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | 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 | Aug 1, 2026 |
Academics |
NAU | WKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 18:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
NAU | WKU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 52% | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $43,900 | $37,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 55% | 47% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,000 | $24,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $206 | $250 |
Diversity |
NAU | WKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 6% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 11% | 9% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 59% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 10% | ||
| % Hispanic | 22% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 3% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 3% | ||
| % International | 4% | 6% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
NAU | WKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 79% | 70% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 20% | 29% | ||
Campus |
NAU | WKU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Northern Arizona University is larger than than WKU based on total student enrollment (28,186 students vs. 16,759 students)
NAU vs. WKU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NAU or WKU?
- Western Kentucky University is 0.7% more expensive to attend than NAU for in-state tuition ($11,436.00 vs. $11,352.00)
- Out of state tuition is 2.2% higher at NAU than Western Kentucky University ($27,600.00 vs. $27,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than NAU ($12,054 vs. $16,544)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Arizona University are 2.7% lower than costs at Western Kentucky University ($11,728 vs. $12,043)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Kentucky University than Northern Arizona University (99% vs. 95%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Arizona University students is 13.5% larger than aid received Western Kentucky University ($12,377 vs. $10,906)
NAU vs. WKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NAU or WKU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WKU or NAU .
- Accepted freshman NAU students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at WKU (3.42)
- WKU has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than NAU (90.9%)
NAU vs. WKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NAU 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 NAU.
- The graduation rate at NAU is higher than Western Kentucky University (52% vs. 50%)
- Graduates from Northern Arizona University earn on average $6,800 more per year than WKU graduates after ten years. ($43,900 vs. $37,100)
- Northern Arizona University students graduate with a $4,250 lower median federal student loan debt than WKU graduates. ($20,000 vs. $24,250)
- NAU graduates are paying $44 less per month on federal student loans than WKU graduates. ($206 vs. $250)
- More NAU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WKU students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 47%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/