Kentucky vs. ASU

Should I go to University of Kentucky or Appalachian State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Kentucky or ASU 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

UNCW ECU Tennessee Louisville WCU University of North Carolina at Asheville NC State UNC Charlotte IU UNC Chapel Hill UC Auburn
University of Kentucky vs. Appalachian State University comparison
University of Kentucky Appalachian State University College 3 College 4
University of Kentucky Appalachian State University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Kentucky ASU
Location Lexington, KY Boone, NC
Setting Large City Distant Town
Enrollment 31,547 20,436
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #408 #594
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uky.edu appstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Kentucky ASU
Tuition (In State) $11,496 $4,242
Tuition (Out of State) $30,913 $20,246
Room & Board $14,676 $11,582
Avg Net Price $18,693 $13,084
Avg Grant Aid $14,114 $7,443
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 47%

Admission

Kentucky ASU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 22,109 22,255
Admitted 20,979 18,489
Acceptance Rate 94.9% 83.1%
Enrolled % 28.9% 21.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.59 3.96
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Challenging Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/28 21/27
SAT Range 1070/1290 1100/1270
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 15, 2025 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

Kentucky ASU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (19%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

Outcomes

Kentucky ASU
Graduation Rate 59% 65%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,000 $41,600
Making Student Loan Payments 62% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,750 $20,500
Median Loan Payment $235 $211

Diversity

Kentucky ASU
% Men 40% 42%
% Women 60% 58%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 76% 85%
% Black 8% 3%
% Hispanic 4% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

Kentucky ASU
% In-State 61% 87%
% Out-of-State 37% 13%

Campus

Kentucky ASU
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

  • University of Kentucky is larger than than ASU based on total student enrollment (31,547 students vs. 20,436 students)

Kentucky vs. ASU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Kentucky or ASU?

  • University of Kentucky is 171% more expensive to attend than ASU for in-state tuition ($11,496.00 vs. $4,242.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 52.7% higher at Kentucky than Appalachian State University ($30,913.00 vs. $20,246.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Appalachian State University than Kentucky ($13,084 vs. $18,693)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Appalachian State University are 26.7% lower than costs at University of Kentucky ($11,582 vs. $14,676)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Kentucky than Appalachian State University (94% vs. 47%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Kentucky students is 89.6% larger than aid received Appalachian State University ($14,114 vs. $7,443)

Kentucky vs. ASU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Appalachian State University (1157) is 14 points higher than at Kentucky (1143)
  • Incoming ASU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Kentucky (25)
  • Accepted freshman ASU students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Kentucky (3.59)
  • Kentucky has a higher acceptance rate (94.9%) than ASU (83.1%)

Kentucky vs. ASU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Kentucky or ASU? 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 ASU and Kentucky.

  • The graduation rate at ASU is higher than University of Kentucky (65% vs. 59%)
  • Graduates from University of Kentucky earn on average $9,400 more per year than ASU graduates after ten years. ($51,000 vs. $41,600)
  • Appalachian State University students graduate with a $2,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Kentucky graduates. ($20,500 vs. $22,750)
  • ASU graduates are paying $24 less per month on federal student loans than Kentucky graduates. ($211 vs. $235)
  • More ASU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kentucky students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 62%)

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