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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| Western Kentucky University | Columbus College of Art and Design | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
WKU | CCAD | ||
| Location | Bowling Green, KY | Columbus, OH | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 16,759 | 918 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #968 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wku.edu | ccad.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WKU | CCAD | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,436 | $39,150 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $27,000 | $39,150 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,043 | $11,450 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $12,054 | $30,900 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,906 | $21,807 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 98% |
Admission |
WKU | CCAD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,720 | 867 | ||
| Admitted | 7,492 | 622 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 97% | 71.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 37.7% | 30.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| 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 | CCAD | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 9:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
WKU | CCAD | ||
| Graduation Rate | 50% | 64% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,100 | $38,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 47% | 63% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | $279 |
Diversity |
WKU | CCAD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 1% | ||
| % Women | 9% | 2% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 76% | 66% | ||
| % Black | 10% | 10% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 5% | ||
| % International | 6% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 3% |
Students |
WKU | CCAD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 70% | 69% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 29% | 22% | ||
Campus |
WKU | CCAD | ||
| 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 CCAD based on total student enrollment (16,759 students vs. 918 students)
WKU vs. CCAD Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WKU or CCAD?
- Columbus College of Art and Design is 242.3% more expensive to attend than WKU for in-state tuition ($39,150.00 vs. $11,436.00)
- Out of state tuition is 45% higher at CCAD than Western Kentucky University ($39,150.00 vs. $27,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than CCAD ($12,054 vs. $30,900)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbus College of Art and Design are 5.2% lower than costs at Western Kentucky University ($11,450 vs. $12,043)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Kentucky University than Columbus College of Art and Design (99% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Columbus College of Art and Design students is 100% larger than aid received Western Kentucky University ($21,807 vs. $10,906)
WKU vs. CCAD Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, WKU or CCAD? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CCAD or WKU .
- WKU has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than CCAD (71.7%)
WKU vs. CCAD Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, WKU or CCAD? 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 CCAD and WKU.
- The graduation rate at CCAD is higher than Western Kentucky University (64% vs. 50%)
- Graduates from Columbus College of Art and Design earn on average $1,000 more per year than WKU graduates after ten years. ($38,100 vs. $37,100)
- Western Kentucky University students graduate with a $2,750 lower median federal student loan debt than CCAD graduates. ($24,250 vs. $27,000)
- WKU graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than CCAD graduates. ($250 vs. $279)
- More CCAD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WKU students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 47%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/