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Eastern Murray State University Kentucky Franklin University Louisville UTC Wilberforce University KY State NKU University of Southern Indiana Middle Tennessee State University Austin Peay State University| Western Kentucky University | Central State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
WKU | Central State University | ||
| Location | Bowling Green, KY | Wilberforce, OH | ||
| Setting | Small City | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 16,759 | 3,454 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #968 | #1017 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wku.edu | centralstate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WKU | Central State University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,436 | $5,404 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $27,000 | $7,404 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,043 | $11,390 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $12,054 | $14,821 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,906 | $6,318 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 86% |
Admission |
WKU | Central State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,720 | 3,291 | ||
| Admitted | 7,492 | 1,514 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 97% | 46% | ||
| Enrolled % | 37.7% | 37.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 2.8 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 16/20 | 14/18 | ||
| SAT Range | 820/1010 | 770/950 | ||
| 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 | Central State University | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
WKU | Central State University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 50% | 24% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,100 | $27,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 47% | 16% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | $39,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | $403 |
Diversity |
WKU | Central State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 0% | ||
| % Women | 9% | 0% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Extremely Low | ||
| HBCU | No | Yes | ||
| % White | 76% | 1% | ||
| % Black | 10% | 95% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 1% | ||
| % International | 6% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
WKU | Central State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 70% | 47% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 29% | 44% | ||
Campus |
WKU | Central State University | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Western Kentucky University is larger than than Central State University based on total student enrollment (16,759 students vs. 3,454 students)
WKU vs. Central State University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WKU or Central State University?
- Western Kentucky University is 111.6% more expensive to attend than Central State University for in-state tuition ($11,436.00 vs. $5,404.00)
- Out of state tuition is 264.7% higher at WKU than Central State University ($27,000.00 vs. $7,404.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than Central State University ($12,054 vs. $14,821)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central State University are 5.7% lower than costs at Western Kentucky University ($11,390 vs. $12,043)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Kentucky University than Central State University (99% vs. 86%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Western Kentucky University students is 72.6% larger than aid received Central State University ($10,906 vs. $6,318)
WKU vs. Central State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, WKU or Central State University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Central State University or WKU .
- The average SAT score at Western Kentucky University (1047) is 270 points higher than at Central State University (777)
- Incoming WKU students have a 7 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Central State University (16)
- Accepted freshman WKU students have a 0.62 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Central State University (2.8)
- WKU has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than Central State University (46%)
WKU vs. Central State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, WKU or Central State 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 Central State University and WKU.
- The graduation rate at WKU is higher than Central State University (50% vs. 24%)
- Graduates from Western Kentucky University earn on average $9,900 more per year than Central State University graduates after ten years. ($37,100 vs. $27,200)
- Western Kentucky University students graduate with a $14,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Central State University graduates. ($24,250 vs. $39,000)
- WKU graduates are paying $153 less per month on federal student loans than Central State University graduates. ($250 vs. $403)
- More WKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Central State University students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 16%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/