WKU vs. GWU

Should I go to Western Kentucky University or Gardner Webb University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if WKU or GWU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Western Kentucky University vs. Gardner Webb University comparison
Western Kentucky University Gardner Webb University College 3 College 4
Western Kentucky University Gardner Webb University
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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
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
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Business (30%)
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Education (5%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (4%)

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/