WKU vs. Middle Tennessee State University

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

WKU Middle Tennessee State University
Location Bowling Green, KY Murfreesboro, TN
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 16,493 20,086
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #875 #656
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wku.edu mtsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

WKU Middle Tennessee State University
Tuition (In State) $11,112 $7,344
Tuition (Out of State) $27,000 $26,376
Room & Board $11,072 $9,576
Avg Net Price $12,625 $13,062
Avg Grant Aid $10,260 $9,421
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

WKU Middle Tennessee State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,505 12,868
Admitted 7,276 9,335
Acceptance Rate 96.9% 72.5%
Enrolled % 37.9% 30%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 3.64
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/25 19/26
SAT Range 980/1170 1020/1230
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

WKU Middle Tennessee State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • General Studies (9%)
  • Communication (6%)

Outcomes

WKU Middle Tennessee State University
Graduation Rate 50% 45%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,100 $42,300
Making Student Loan Payments 47% 50%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,250 $21,758
Median Loan Payment $250 $224

Diversity

WKU Middle Tennessee State University
% Men 37% 45%
% Women 63% 55%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 76% 64%
% Black 10% 22%
% Hispanic 3% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 6% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

WKU Middle Tennessee State University
% In-State 70% 89%
% Out-of-State 29% 11%

Campus

WKU Middle Tennessee State University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Middle Tennessee State University is larger than than WKU based on total student enrollment (20,086 students vs. 16,493 students)

WKU vs. Middle Tennessee State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WKU or Middle Tennessee State University?

  • Western Kentucky University is 51.3% more expensive to attend than Middle Tennessee State University for in-state tuition ($11,112.00 vs. $7,344.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.4% higher at WKU than Middle Tennessee State University ($27,000.00 vs. $26,376.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than Middle Tennessee State University ($12,625 vs. $13,062)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Middle Tennessee State University are 15.6% lower than costs at Western Kentucky University ($9,576 vs. $11,072)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Middle Tennessee State University than Western Kentucky University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Western Kentucky University students is 8.9% larger than aid received Middle Tennessee State University ($10,260 vs. $9,421)

WKU vs. Middle Tennessee State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Western Kentucky University (1047) is 16 points higher than at Middle Tennessee State University (1031)
  • Incoming WKU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Middle Tennessee State University (22)
  • Accepted freshman Middle Tennessee State University students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at WKU (3.42)
  • WKU has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) than Middle Tennessee State University (72.5%)

WKU vs. Middle Tennessee State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, WKU or Middle Tennessee 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 Middle Tennessee State University and WKU.

  • The graduation rate at WKU is higher than Middle Tennessee State University (50% vs. 45%)
  • Graduates from Middle Tennessee State University earn on average $5,200 more per year than WKU graduates after ten years. ($42,300 vs. $37,100)
  • Middle Tennessee State University students graduate with a $2,492 lower median federal student loan debt than WKU graduates. ($21,758 vs. $24,250)
  • Middle Tennessee State University graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than WKU graduates. ($224 vs. $250)
  • More Middle Tennessee State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WKU students, three years after graduation. (50% vs. 47%)

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