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 University of Southern Indiana Middle Tennessee State University Austin Peay State University KSU University of Missouri-St Louis ETSU| Western Kentucky University | Carolina University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
||||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
WKU | Carolina University | ||
| Location | Bowling Green, KY | Winston-Salem, North Carolina | ||
| Setting | Small City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 16,759 | 893 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #968 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Non-Denominational | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wku.edu | carolinau.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WKU | Carolina University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,436 | $13,400 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $27,000 | $13,400 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,043 | $12,400 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $12,054 | $19,111 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,906 | $11,743 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 99% |
Admission |
WKU | Carolina University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,720 | 547 | ||
| Admitted | 7,492 | 186 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 97% | 34% | ||
| Enrolled % | 37.7% | 64% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.0 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | |||
| ACT Range | 16/20 | |||
| SAT Range | 820/1010 | |||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 1, 2026 |
Academics |
WKU | Carolina University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 15:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
WKU | Carolina University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 50% | - | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,100 | N/A | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 47% | - | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | N/A | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | N/A |
Diversity |
WKU | Carolina University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 35% | ||
| % Women | 9% | 17% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | - | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 76% | 0% | ||
| % Black | 10% | 0% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 0% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 0% | ||
| % International | 6% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 0% |
Students |
WKU | Carolina University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 70% | 27% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 29% | 38% | ||
Campus |
WKU | Carolina University | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | |||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | |||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Western Kentucky University is larger than than Carolina University based on total student enrollment (16,759 students vs. 893 students)
WKU vs. Carolina University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WKU or Carolina University?
- Carolina University is 17.2% more expensive to attend than WKU for in-state tuition ($13,400.00 vs. $11,436.00)
- Out of state tuition is 101.5% higher at WKU than Carolina University ($27,000.00 vs. $13,400.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than Carolina University ($12,054 vs. $19,111)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Kentucky University are 3% lower than costs at Carolina University ($12,043 vs. $12,400)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Western Kentucky University as Carolina University (99% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Carolina University students is 7.7% larger than aid received Western Kentucky University ($11,743 vs. $10,906)
WKU vs. Carolina University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, WKU or Carolina University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Carolina University or WKU .
- Accepted freshman WKU students have a 0.42 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Carolina University (3.0)
- WKU has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than Carolina University (34%)
WKU vs. Carolina University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, WKU or Carolina 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 Carolina University and WKU.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/