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Eastern Murray State University Kentucky Louisville UTC NKU University of Southern Indiana Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte Middle Tennessee State University Austin Peay State University KSU Livingstone College| Western Kentucky University | Johnson C Smith University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
WKU | JCSU | ||
| Location | Bowling Green, KY | Charlotte, NC | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 16,759 | 1,102 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #968 | #958 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wku.edu | jcsu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WKU | JCSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,436 | $18,450 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $27,000 | $18,450 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,043 | $9,014 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $12,054 | $19,326 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,906 | $14,883 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 98% |
Admission |
WKU | JCSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,720 | 4,273 | ||
| Admitted | 7,492 | 1,832 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 97% | 42.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 37.7% | 15.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 2.48 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | C+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 16/20 | 13/18 | ||
| SAT Range | 820/1010 | 800/980 | ||
| 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 | JCSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
WKU | JCSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 50% | 37% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,100 | $30,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 47% | 26% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | $32,050 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | $331 |
Diversity |
WKU | JCSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 1% | ||
| % Women | 9% | 3% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | Yes | ||
| % White | 76% | 0% | ||
| % Black | 10% | 79% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 6% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 9% |
Students |
WKU | JCSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 70% | 46% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 29% | 52% | ||
Campus |
WKU | JCSU | ||
| 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 JCSU based on total student enrollment (16,759 students vs. 1,102 students)
WKU vs. JCSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WKU or JCSU?
- Johnson C Smith University is 61.3% more expensive to attend than WKU for in-state tuition ($18,450.00 vs. $11,436.00)
- Out of state tuition is 46.3% higher at WKU than Johnson C Smith University ($27,000.00 vs. $18,450.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than JCSU ($12,054 vs. $19,326)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Johnson C Smith University are 33.6% lower than costs at Western Kentucky University ($9,014 vs. $12,043)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Kentucky University than Johnson C Smith University (99% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Johnson C Smith University students is 36.5% larger than aid received Western Kentucky University ($14,883 vs. $10,906)
WKU vs. JCSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, WKU or JCSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between JCSU or WKU .
- The average SAT score at Western Kentucky University (1047) is 251 points higher than at JCSU (796)
- Incoming WKU students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at JCSU (17)
- Accepted freshman WKU students have a 0.94 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at JCSU (2.48)
- WKU has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than JCSU (42.9%)
WKU vs. JCSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, WKU or JCSU? 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 JCSU and WKU.
- The graduation rate at WKU is higher than Johnson C Smith University (50% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Western Kentucky University earn on average $6,800 more per year than JCSU graduates after ten years. ($37,100 vs. $30,300)
- Western Kentucky University students graduate with a $7,800 lower median federal student loan debt than JCSU graduates. ($24,250 vs. $32,050)
- WKU graduates are paying $81 less per month on federal student loans than JCSU graduates. ($250 vs. $331)
- More WKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former JCSU students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 26%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/