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Eastern Murray State University Kentucky Louisville Campbell University UTC Wingate University Lenoir-Rhyne University NKU University of Southern Indiana Middle Tennessee State University Austin Peay State University| Western Kentucky University | Gardner Webb University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
WKU | GWU | ||
| Location | Bowling Green, KY | Boiling Springs, NC | ||
| Setting | Small City | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 16,493 | 3,144 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #875 | #639 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Southern Baptist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wku.edu | gardner-webb.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WKU | GWU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,112 | $31,220 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $27,000 | $31,220 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,072 | $10,770 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $12,625 | $22,339 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,260 | $24,130 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 100% |
Admission |
WKU | GWU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,505 | 5,728 | ||
| Admitted | 7,276 | 4,293 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 96.9% | 74.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 37.9% | 9.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.74 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/25 | 20/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 980/1170 | 1020/1210 | ||
| 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 |
Academics |
WKU | GWU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
WKU | GWU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 50% | 55% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,100 | $40,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 47% | 52% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | $24,969 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | $258 |
Diversity |
WKU | GWU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 37% | 32% | ||
| % Women | 63% | 68% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 76% | 67% | ||
| % Black | 10% | 17% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 0% | ||
| % International | 6% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 10% |
Students |
WKU | GWU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 70% | 54% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 29% | 41% | ||
Campus |
WKU | GWU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Western Kentucky University is larger than than GWU based on total student enrollment (16,493 students vs. 3,144 students)
WKU vs. GWU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WKU or GWU?
- Gardner Webb University is 181% more expensive to attend than WKU for in-state tuition ($31,220.00 vs. $11,112.00)
- Out of state tuition is 15.6% higher at GWU than Western Kentucky University ($31,220.00 vs. $27,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than GWU ($12,625 vs. $22,339)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gardner Webb University are 2.8% lower than costs at Western Kentucky University ($10,770 vs. $11,072)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Gardner Webb University than Western Kentucky University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Gardner Webb University students is 135.2% larger than aid received Western Kentucky University ($24,130 vs. $10,260)
WKU vs. GWU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, WKU or GWU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between GWU or WKU .
- The average SAT score at Western Kentucky University (1047) is 70 points higher than at GWU (977)
- Incoming WKU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at GWU (21)
- Accepted freshman GWU students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at WKU (3.42)
- WKU has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) than GWU (74.9%)
WKU vs. GWU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, WKU or GWU? 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 GWU and WKU.
- The graduation rate at GWU is higher than Western Kentucky University (55% vs. 50%)
- Graduates from Gardner Webb University earn on average $3,400 more per year than WKU graduates after ten years. ($40,500 vs. $37,100)
- Western Kentucky University students graduate with a $719 lower median federal student loan debt than GWU graduates. ($24,250 vs. $24,969)
- WKU graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than GWU graduates. ($250 vs. $258)
- More GWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WKU students, three years after graduation. (52% vs. 47%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/