Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Eastern Murray State University Kentucky Louisville UTC NKU Otterbein University University of Southern Indiana Middle Tennessee State University Austin Peay State University KSU IWU| Western Kentucky University | Capital University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
WKU | Capital University | ||
| Location | Bowling Green, KY | Columbus, OH | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 16,493 | 2,617 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #875 | #543 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Evangelical Lutheran Church | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wku.edu | capital.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WKU | Capital University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,112 | $39,900 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $27,000 | $39,900 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,072 | $12,308 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $12,625 | $24,439 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,260 | $28,469 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 98% |
Admission |
WKU | Capital University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,505 | 4,370 | ||
| Admitted | 7,276 | 3,153 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 96.9% | 72.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 37.9% | 16.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.63 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 18/25 | 18/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 980/1170 | 960/1186 | ||
| 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 1, 2025 | May 1, 2025 |
Academics |
WKU | Capital University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 9:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
WKU | Capital University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 50% | 61% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,100 | $47,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 47% | 64% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | $279 |
Diversity |
WKU | Capital University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 37% | 40% | ||
| % Women | 63% | 60% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 76% | 75% | ||
| % Black | 10% | 10% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 5% | ||
| % International | 6% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 3% |
Students |
WKU | Capital University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 70% | 94% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 29% | 4% | ||
Campus |
WKU | Capital University | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Western Kentucky University is larger than than Capital University based on total student enrollment (16,493 students vs. 2,617 students)
WKU vs. Capital University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WKU or Capital University?
- Capital University is 259.1% more expensive to attend than WKU for in-state tuition ($39,900.00 vs. $11,112.00)
- Out of state tuition is 47.8% higher at Capital University than Western Kentucky University ($39,900.00 vs. $27,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than Capital University ($12,625 vs. $24,439)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Kentucky University are 11.2% lower than costs at Capital University ($11,072 vs. $12,308)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Kentucky University than Capital University (99% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Capital University students is 177.5% larger than aid received Western Kentucky University ($28,469 vs. $10,260)
WKU vs. Capital University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, WKU or Capital University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Capital University or WKU .
- The average SAT score at Capital University (1133) is 86 points higher than at WKU (1047)
- Incoming Capital University students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at WKU (23)
- Accepted freshman Capital University students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.63) than students at WKU (3.42)
- WKU has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) than Capital University (72.2%)
WKU vs. Capital University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, WKU or Capital University? 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 Capital University and WKU.
- The graduation rate at Capital University is higher than Western Kentucky University (61% vs. 50%)
- Graduates from Capital University earn on average $10,200 more per year than WKU graduates after ten years. ($47,300 vs. $37,100)
- Western Kentucky University students graduate with a $2,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Capital University graduates. ($24,250 vs. $27,000)
- WKU graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than Capital University graduates. ($250 vs. $279)
- More Capital University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WKU students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 47%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/