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UNCG ASU WCU UNC Charlotte Coastal Carolina UNCW NC State Eastern Murray State University Kentucky WVU UNC Chapel Hill| Western Kentucky University | East Carolina University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
WKU | ECU | ||
| Location | Bowling Green, KY | Greenville, NC | ||
| Setting | Small City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 16,493 | 27,151 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #875 | #673 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wku.edu | ecu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WKU | ECU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,112 | $4,452 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $27,000 | $20,729 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,072 | $10,816 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $12,625 | $14,410 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,260 | $9,020 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 59% |
Admission |
WKU | ECU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,505 | 21,383 | ||
| Admitted | 7,276 | 19,744 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 96.9% | 92.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 37.9% | 19.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.33 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/25 | 19/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 980/1170 | 1020/1170 | ||
| 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, 2025 |
Academics |
WKU | ECU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
WKU | ECU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 50% | 59% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,100 | $43,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 47% | 63% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | $24,788 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | $256 |
Diversity |
WKU | ECU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 37% | 40% | ||
| % Women | 63% | 60% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 76% | 69% | ||
| % Black | 10% | 16% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 6% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 2% |
Students |
WKU | ECU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 70% | 83% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 29% | 15% | ||
Campus |
WKU | ECU | ||
| 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
- East Carolina University is larger than than WKU based on total student enrollment (27,151 students vs. 16,493 students)
WKU vs. ECU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WKU or ECU?
- Western Kentucky University is 149.6% more expensive to attend than ECU for in-state tuition ($11,112.00 vs. $4,452.00)
- Out of state tuition is 30.3% higher at WKU than East Carolina University ($27,000.00 vs. $20,729.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than ECU ($12,625 vs. $14,410)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Carolina University are 2.4% lower than costs at Western Kentucky University ($10,816 vs. $11,072)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Kentucky University than East Carolina University (99% vs. 59%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Western Kentucky University students is 13.7% larger than aid received East Carolina University ($10,260 vs. $9,020)
WKU vs. ECU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, WKU or ECU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ECU or WKU .
- The average SAT score at East Carolina University (1053) is 6 points higher than at WKU (1047)
- Incoming WKU students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at ECU (23)
- Accepted freshman WKU students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at ECU (3.33)
- WKU has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) than ECU (92.3%)
WKU vs. ECU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, WKU or ECU? 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 ECU and WKU.
- The graduation rate at ECU is higher than Western Kentucky University (59% vs. 50%)
- Graduates from East Carolina University earn on average $6,800 more per year than WKU graduates after ten years. ($43,900 vs. $37,100)
- Western Kentucky University students graduate with a $538 lower median federal student loan debt than ECU graduates. ($24,250 vs. $24,788)
- WKU graduates are paying $6 less per month on federal student loans than ECU graduates. ($250 vs. $256)
- More ECU 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/