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Eastern Murray State University Kentucky Louisville UTC NKU University of Southern Indiana Middle Tennessee State University Austin Peay State University KSU University of Missouri-St Louis ETSU| Western Kentucky University | Mars Hill University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
WKU | Mars Hill University | ||
| Location | Bowling Green, KY | Mars Hill, NC | ||
| Setting | Small City | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 16,759 | 1,049 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #968 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wku.edu | mhc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WKU | Mars Hill University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,436 | $37,270 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $27,000 | $37,270 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,043 | $10,228 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $12,054 | $19,842 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,906 | $28,914 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 98% |
Admission |
WKU | Mars Hill University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,720 | 1,393 | ||
| Admitted | 7,492 | 1,085 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 97% | 77.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 37.7% | 29.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.5 | ||
| 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) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
WKU | Mars Hill University | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 10:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
WKU | Mars Hill University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 50% | 38% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,100 | $32,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 47% | 53% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | $279 |
Diversity |
WKU | Mars Hill University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 3% | ||
| % Women | 9% | 2% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 76% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 10% | 22% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 1% | ||
| % International | 6% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 3% |
Students |
WKU | Mars Hill University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 70% | 55% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 29% | 38% | ||
Campus |
WKU | Mars Hill University | ||
| 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 Mars Hill University based on total student enrollment (16,759 students vs. 1,049 students)
WKU vs. Mars Hill University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WKU or Mars Hill University?
- Mars Hill University is 225.9% more expensive to attend than WKU for in-state tuition ($37,270.00 vs. $11,436.00)
- Out of state tuition is 38% higher at Mars Hill University than Western Kentucky University ($37,270.00 vs. $27,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than Mars Hill University ($12,054 vs. $19,842)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mars Hill University are 17.7% lower than costs at Western Kentucky University ($10,228 vs. $12,043)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Kentucky University than Mars Hill University (99% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Mars Hill University students is 165.1% larger than aid received Western Kentucky University ($28,914 vs. $10,906)
WKU vs. Mars Hill University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, WKU or Mars Hill University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Mars Hill University or WKU .
- The average SAT score at Western Kentucky University (1047) is 135 points higher than at Mars Hill University (912)
- Incoming WKU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Mars Hill University (20)
- Accepted freshman Mars Hill University students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at WKU (3.42)
- WKU has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than Mars Hill University (77.9%)
WKU vs. Mars Hill University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, WKU or Mars Hill 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 Mars Hill University and WKU.
- The graduation rate at WKU is higher than Mars Hill University (50% vs. 38%)
- Graduates from Western Kentucky University earn on average $4,800 more per year than Mars Hill University graduates after ten years. ($37,100 vs. $32,300)
- Western Kentucky University students graduate with a $2,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Mars Hill University graduates. ($24,250 vs. $27,000)
- WKU graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than Mars Hill University graduates. ($250 vs. $279)
- More Mars Hill University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WKU students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 47%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/