WKU vs. Harris-Stowe State University

Should I go to Western Kentucky University or Harris Stowe State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if WKU or Harris-Stowe State University 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. Harris Stowe State University comparison
Western Kentucky University Harris Stowe State University College 3 College 4
Western Kentucky University Harris Stowe State University
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Overview

WKU Harris-Stowe State University
Location Bowling Green, KY Saint Louis, MO
Setting Small City Large City
Enrollment 16,759 1,098
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #968
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wku.edu hssu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

WKU Harris-Stowe State University
Tuition (In State) $11,436 $5,808
Tuition (Out of State) $27,000 $10,440
Room & Board $12,043 $10,084
Avg Net Price $12,054 $9,302
Avg Grant Aid $10,906 $11,326
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

WKU Harris-Stowe State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,720 -
Admitted 7,492 -
Acceptance Rate 97% Open
Enrolled % 37.7% Open
Avg High School GPA 3.42 3.04
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 16/20
SAT Range 820/1010
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2026

Academics

WKU Harris-Stowe State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Business (44%)
  • Education (24%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (21%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (6%)
  • Health Professions (3%)

Outcomes

WKU Harris-Stowe State University
Graduation Rate 50% 8%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,100 $30,100
Making Student Loan Payments 47% 27%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,250 $27,025
Median Loan Payment $250 $279

Diversity

WKU Harris-Stowe State University
% Men 4% 1%
% Women 9% 0%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 76% 7%
% Black 10% 82%
% Hispanic 3% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 6% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 6%

Students

WKU Harris-Stowe State University
% In-State 70% 62%
% Out-of-State 29% 33%

Campus

WKU Harris-Stowe State University
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 Harris-Stowe State University based on total student enrollment (16,759 students vs. 1,098 students)

WKU vs. Harris-Stowe State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WKU or Harris-Stowe State University?

  • Western Kentucky University is 96.9% more expensive to attend than Harris-Stowe State University for in-state tuition ($11,436.00 vs. $5,808.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 158.6% higher at WKU than Harris Stowe State University ($27,000.00 vs. $10,440.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Harris Stowe State University than WKU ($9,302 vs. $12,054)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Harris Stowe State University are 19.4% lower than costs at Western Kentucky University ($10,084 vs. $12,043)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Harris Stowe State University than Western Kentucky University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harris Stowe State University students is 3.9% larger than aid received Western Kentucky University ($11,326 vs. $10,906)

Which college is harder to get into, WKU or Harris-Stowe State University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Harris-Stowe State University or WKU .

  • Accepted freshman WKU students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Harris-Stowe State University (3.04)

WKU vs. Harris-Stowe State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, WKU or Harris-Stowe 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 Harris-Stowe State University and WKU.

  • The graduation rate at WKU is higher than Harris Stowe State University (50% vs. 8%)
  • Graduates from Western Kentucky University earn on average $7,000 more per year than Harris-Stowe State University graduates after ten years. ($37,100 vs. $30,100)
  • Western Kentucky University students graduate with a $2,775 lower median federal student loan debt than Harris-Stowe State University graduates. ($24,250 vs. $27,025)
  • WKU graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than Harris-Stowe State University graduates. ($250 vs. $279)
  • More WKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harris-Stowe State University students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 27%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/