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Eastern Murray State University Kentucky Louisville UTC NKU University of Southern Indiana Middle Tennessee State University Austin Peay State University KSU University of Missouri-St Louis ETSU| University of West Alabama | Western Kentucky University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
University of West Alabama | WKU | ||
| Location | Livingston, AL | Bowling Green, KY | ||
| Setting | Remote Rural | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 6,194 | 16,759 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #1007 | #968 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | uwa.edu | wku.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
University of West Alabama | WKU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,100 | $11,436 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $18,200 | $27,000 | ||
| Room & Board | $8,166 | $12,043 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $14,781 | $12,054 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $7,790 | $10,906 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 93% | 99% |
Admission |
University of West Alabama | WKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,041 | 7,720 | ||
| Admitted | 1,778 | 7,492 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 87.1% | 97% | ||
| Enrolled % | 17.7% | 37.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.16 | 3.42 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 17/22 | 16/20 | ||
| SAT Range | 820/978 | 820/1010 | ||
| 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 | Aug 10, 2026 | Aug 1, 2026 |
Academics |
University of West Alabama | WKU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
University of West Alabama | WKU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 28% | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $38,500 | $37,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 36% | 47% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,489 | $24,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $273 | $250 |
Diversity |
University of West Alabama | WKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 13% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 44% | 9% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 45% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 40% | 10% | ||
| % Hispanic | 2% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 6% | 6% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 1% |
Students |
University of West Alabama | WKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 77% | 70% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 21% | 29% | ||
Campus |
University of West Alabama | WKU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Western Kentucky University is larger than than University of West Alabama based on total student enrollment (16,759 students vs. 6,194 students)
University of West Alabama vs. WKU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, University of West Alabama or WKU?
- Western Kentucky University is 25.7% more expensive to attend than University of West Alabama for in-state tuition ($11,436.00 vs. $9,100.00)
- Out of state tuition is 48.4% higher at WKU than University of West Alabama ($27,000.00 vs. $18,200.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than University of West Alabama ($12,054 vs. $14,781)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of West Alabama are 47.5% lower than costs at Western Kentucky University ($8,166 vs. $12,043)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Kentucky University than University of West Alabama (99% vs. 93%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Western Kentucky University students is 40% larger than aid received University of West Alabama ($10,906 vs. $7,790)
University of West Alabama vs. WKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, University of West Alabama or WKU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WKU or University of West Alabama .
- The average SAT score at Western Kentucky University (1047) is 117 points higher than at University of West Alabama (930)
- Incoming WKU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at University of West Alabama (20)
- Accepted freshman WKU students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at University of West Alabama (3.16)
- WKU has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than University of West Alabama (87.1%)
University of West Alabama vs. WKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, University of West Alabama 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 University of West Alabama.
- The graduation rate at WKU is higher than University of West Alabama (50% vs. 28%)
- Graduates from University of West Alabama earn on average $1,400 more per year than WKU graduates after ten years. ($38,500 vs. $37,100)
- Western Kentucky University students graduate with a $2,239 lower median federal student loan debt than University of West Alabama graduates. ($24,250 vs. $26,489)
- WKU graduates are paying $23 less per month on federal student loans than University of West Alabama graduates. ($250 vs. $273)
- More WKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of West Alabama students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 36%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/