Oakland City University vs. WKU

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

Oakland City University WKU
Location Oakland City, IN Bowling Green, KY
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 880 16,493
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #875
Religious Affiliation Baptist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website oak.edu wku.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Oakland City University WKU
Tuition (In State) $26,400 $11,112
Tuition (Out of State) $26,400 $27,000
Room & Board $10,400 $11,072
Avg Net Price $17,103 $12,625
Avg Grant Aid $23,197 $10,260
% Receiving Grant Aid 92% 99%

Admission

Oakland City University WKU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 883 7,505
Admitted 492 7,276
Acceptance Rate 55.7% 96.9%
Enrolled % 26% 37.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.29 3.42
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/23 18/25
SAT Range 850/1150 980/1170
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Oakland City University WKU
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (30%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (23%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Human Services (6%)
  • Agriculture (4%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)

Outcomes

Oakland City University WKU
Graduation Rate 64% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $36,400 $37,100
Making Student Loan Payments 58% 47%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,200 $24,250
Median Loan Payment $208 $250

Diversity

Oakland City University WKU
% Men 51% 37%
% Women 49% 63%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 70% 76%
% Black 8% 10%
% Hispanic 2% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 3%
% International 4% 6%
% Unknown Race 14% 1%

Students

Oakland City University WKU
% In-State 64% 70%
% Out-of-State 20% 29%

Campus

Oakland City University 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 Oakland City University based on total student enrollment (16,493 students vs. 880 students)

Oakland City University vs. WKU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Oakland City University or WKU?

  • Oakland City University is 137.6% more expensive to attend than WKU for in-state tuition ($26,400.00 vs. $11,112.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.3% higher at WKU than Oakland City University ($27,000.00 vs. $26,400.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than Oakland City University ($12,625 vs. $17,103)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Oakland City University are 6.5% lower than costs at Western Kentucky University ($10,400 vs. $11,072)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Western Kentucky University than Oakland City University (99% vs. 92%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Oakland City University students is 126.1% larger than aid received Western Kentucky University ($23,197 vs. $10,260)

Oakland City University vs. WKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Western Kentucky University (1047) is 122 points higher than at Oakland City University (925)
  • Incoming WKU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Oakland City University (20)
  • Accepted freshman WKU students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Oakland City University (3.29)
  • WKU has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) than Oakland City University (55.7%)

Oakland City University vs. WKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Oakland City 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 Oakland City University.

  • The graduation rate at Oakland City University is higher than Western Kentucky University (64% vs. 50%)
  • Graduates from Western Kentucky University earn on average $700 more per year than Oakland City University graduates after ten years. ($37,100 vs. $36,400)
  • Oakland City University students graduate with a $4,050 lower median federal student loan debt than WKU graduates. ($20,200 vs. $24,250)
  • Oakland City University graduates are paying $42 less per month on federal student loans than WKU graduates. ($208 vs. $250)
  • More Oakland City University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WKU students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 47%)

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