Kentucky vs. Wright State

Deciding between University of Kentucky and Wright State University Main Campus? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of Kentucky
Wright State University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Kentucky Lexington, KY
  • Wright State Dayton, OH
  • Setting
  • Kentucky Large City
  • Wright State Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Kentucky 34,709
  • Wright State 10,603
  • Type
  • Kentucky Public 4 Year
  • Wright State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Kentucky #437
  • Wright State #832
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Kentucky -
  • Wright State -
  • Status
  • Kentucky Non-profit
  • Wright State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Kentucky
  • Wright State
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Kentucky $13,502
  • Wright State $11,522
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Kentucky $34,140
  • Wright State $21,222
  • Room & Board
  • Kentucky $16,016
  • Wright State $11,250
  • Average Net Price
  • Kentucky $21,958
  • Wright State $15,254
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Kentucky $12,898
  • Wright State $8,942
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Kentucky 95%
  • Wright State 92%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Kentucky 31,517
  • Wright State 8,855
  • Admitted
  • Kentucky 29,293
  • Wright State 8,530
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Kentucky 92.9%
  • Wright State 96.3% Open
  • Enrolled
  • Kentucky 22.2%
  • Wright State 20.4% Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Kentucky 1180
  • Wright State 1070
  • Typical ACT score
  • Kentucky 24
  • Wright State 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • Kentucky 3.59
  • Wright State 3.41
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Kentucky A-
  • Wright State B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Kentucky Challenging
  • Wright State Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • Kentucky
  • Wright State
  • ACT Range
  • Kentucky 21/28
  • Wright State 17/25
  • SAT Range
  • Kentucky 1070/1290
  • Wright State 913/1230
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Kentucky Test optional
  • Wright State Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • Kentucky Feb 15, 2027
  • Wright State Aug 23, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Kentucky 18:1
  • Wright State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Kentucky
    • Business (19%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Wright State
    • Business (29%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Education (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Kentucky 59%
  • Wright State 40%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Kentucky $51,000
  • Wright State $43,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Kentucky 62%
  • Wright State 51%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Kentucky $22,750
  • Wright State $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Kentucky $235
  • Wright State $258
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Kentucky 40%
  • Wright State 46%
  • % Women
  • Kentucky 60%
  • Wright State 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Kentucky Low
  • Wright State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Kentucky No
  • Wright State No
  • % White
  • Kentucky 76%
  • Wright State 72%
  • % Asian
  • Kentucky 2%
  • Wright State 2%
  • % Black
  • Kentucky 8%
  • Wright State 12%
  • % Hispanic
  • Kentucky 4%
  • Wright State 3%
  • % Native American
  • Kentucky 0%
  • Wright State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Kentucky 0%
  • Wright State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Kentucky 3%
  • Wright State 4%
  • % International
  • Kentucky 3%
  • Wright State 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Kentucky 3%
  • Wright State 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Kentucky 58%
  • Wright State 82%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Kentucky 41%
  • Wright State 4%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Kentucky Yes
  • Wright State Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Kentucky No
  • Wright State No
  • Meal Plan
  • Kentucky Yes
  • Wright State Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Kentucky No
  • Wright State No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Kentucky No
  • Wright State Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY with Wright State University Main Campus in Dayton, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Kentucky is larger than Wright State based on total student enrollment (34,709 students vs. 10,603 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Kentucky is located in Lexington, KY (Large City setting); Wright State University Main Campus is in Dayton, OH (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of Kentucky is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Wright State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Kentucky 18:1; Wright State University Main Campus 16:1.

Kentucky vs. Wright State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Kentucky or Wright State? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wright State University Main Campus than Kentucky ($15,254 vs. $21,958).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wright State University Main Campus are 29.8% lower than at University of Kentucky ($11,250 vs. $16,016).
  • University of Kentucky is 17.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wright State (about $1,980 more per year; $13,502.00 vs. $11,522.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 60.9% higher at Kentucky than at Wright State University Main Campus (about $12,918 more per year; $34,140.00 vs. $21,222.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Kentucky than at Wright State University Main Campus (95% vs. 92%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Kentucky students is 44.2% larger than aid received by Wright State University Main Campus students ($12,898 vs. $8,942).

Kentucky vs. Wright State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Kentucky or Wright State? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Wright State and Kentucky.

  • Wright State University Main Campus reports an open admissions policy.
  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Kentucky (1180) is 110 points higher than at Wright State (1070).
  • Incoming Kentucky students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 21 at Wright State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Kentucky 1070/1290; Wright State University Main Campus 913/1230.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Kentucky 21/28; Wright State University Main Campus 17/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Kentucky - Test optional; Wright State - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Kentucky Feb 15, 2027; Wright State Aug 23, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Kentucky students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at Wright State (3.41).
  • Wright State has a higher acceptance rate (96.3%) than Kentucky (92.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.2% at Kentucky vs. 20.4% at Wright State.

Kentucky vs. Wright State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Kentucky and Wright State? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of Kentucky's six-year graduation rate (59%) is higher than Wright State University Main Campus's (40%).
  • Graduates from University of Kentucky earn a median of about $7,600 more per year than Wright State graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,000 vs. $43,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Kentucky graduates have a $2,250 lower median loan debt than Wright State graduates ($22,750 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, Kentucky graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wright State graduates ($235 vs. $258).
  • More Kentucky graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wright State students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 51%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.