VCM vs. KWC

Deciding between VanderCook College of Music and Kentucky Wesleyan College? 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.

Kentucky Wesleyan College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • VCM Chicago, IL
  • KWC Owensboro, KY
  • Setting
  • VCM Large City
  • KWC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • VCM 323
  • KWC 887
  • Type
  • VCM Private 4 Year
  • KWC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • VCM
  • KWC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • VCM -
  • KWC United Methodist
  • Status
  • VCM Non-profit
  • KWC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • VCM
  • KWC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • VCM $30,910
  • KWC $34,673
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • VCM $30,910
  • KWC $34,673
  • Room & Board
  • VCM $14,008
  • KWC $11,855
  • Average Net Price
  • VCM $21,306
  • KWC $20,999
  • Average Grant Aid
  • VCM $23,317
  • KWC $25,538
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • VCM 100%
  • KWC 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • VCM 38
  • KWC 2,113
  • Admitted
  • VCM 34
  • KWC 1,513
  • Acceptance Rate
  • VCM 89.5%
  • KWC 71.6%
  • Enrolled
  • VCM 44.1%
  • KWC 17.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • VCM 1030
  • KWC 1010
  • Typical ACT score
  • VCM 17
  • KWC 19
  • Average High School GPA
  • VCM 3.1
  • KWC 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • VCM B
  • KWC B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • VCM Extremely Easy
  • KWC Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • VCM
  • KWC Low
  • ACT Range
  • VCM 15/20
  • KWC 16/23
  • SAT Range
  • VCM 890/1160
  • KWC 890/1130
  • Submit Test Scores
  • VCM Test optional
  • KWC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • VCM Apr 1, 2027
  • KWC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • VCM 5:1
  • KWC 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • VCM
    • Education (100%)
  • KWC
    • Education (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • VCM 45%
  • KWC 44%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • VCM N/A
  • KWC $38,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • VCM 66%
  • KWC 54%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • VCM $27,000
  • KWC $22,907
  • Median Loan Payment
  • VCM $279
  • KWC $236

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • VCM 47%
  • KWC 50%
  • % Women
  • VCM 53%
  • KWC 50%
  • Racial Diversity
  • VCM High
  • KWC Low
  • HBCU
  • VCM No
  • KWC No
  • % White
  • VCM 62%
  • KWC 73%
  • % Asian
  • VCM 2%
  • KWC 0%
  • % Black
  • VCM 8%
  • KWC 15%
  • % Hispanic
  • VCM 21%
  • KWC 1%
  • % Native American
  • VCM 0%
  • KWC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • VCM 0%
  • KWC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • VCM 4%
  • KWC 0%
  • % International
  • VCM 2%
  • KWC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • VCM 2%
  • KWC 9%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • VCM 73%
  • KWC 56%
  • % Out-of-State
  • VCM 27%
  • KWC 38%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • VCM Yes
  • KWC Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • VCM No
  • KWC No
  • Meal Plan
  • VCM Yes
  • KWC Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • VCM No
  • KWC No
  • Daycare Facility
  • VCM No
  • KWC No

Comparable Facts

Compare VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, IL with Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, KY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Kentucky Wesleyan College is larger than VCM based on total student enrollment (887 students vs. 323 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • VanderCook College of Music is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Kentucky Wesleyan College is in Owensboro, KY (Small City setting).
  • VanderCook College of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Kentucky Wesleyan College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: VanderCook College of Music 5:1; Kentucky Wesleyan College 15:1.

VCM vs. KWC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, VCM or KWC? 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 Kentucky Wesleyan College than VCM ($20,999 vs. $21,306).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kentucky Wesleyan College are 15.4% lower than at VanderCook College of Music ($11,855 vs. $14,008).
  • Kentucky Wesleyan College is 12.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than VCM (about $3,763 more per year; $34,673.00 vs. $30,910.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 12.2% higher at KWC than at VanderCook College of Music (about $3,763 more per year; $34,673.00 vs. $30,910.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at VanderCook College of Music as at Kentucky Wesleyan College (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Kentucky Wesleyan College students is 9.5% larger than aid received by VanderCook College of Music students ($25,538 vs. $23,317).

VCM vs. KWC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, VCM or KWC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between KWC and VCM.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at VanderCook College of Music (1030) is 20 points higher than at KWC (1010).
  • Incoming KWC students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (19 vs. 17 at VCM).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: VanderCook College of Music 890/1160; Kentucky Wesleyan College 890/1130.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: VanderCook College of Music 15/20; Kentucky Wesleyan College 16/23.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: VCM - Test optional; KWC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: VCM Apr 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman KWC students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at VCM (3.1).
  • VCM has a higher acceptance rate (89.5%) than KWC (71.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 44.1% at VCM vs. 17.7% at KWC.

VCM vs. KWC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for VCM and KWC? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • VanderCook College of Music's six-year graduation rate (45%) is higher than Kentucky Wesleyan College's (44%).
  • Graduates from Kentucky Wesleyan College have median earnings of about $38,500 about ten years after starting college (College Scorecard). Comparable earnings data is not available for VCM.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Kentucky Wesleyan College graduates have a $4,093 lower median loan debt than VCM graduates ($22,907 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, KWC graduates have an estimated $43 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VCM graduates ($236 vs. $279).
  • More VCM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former KWC students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 54%)

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.