WKU vs. Mississippi Valley State University

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

WKU Mississippi Valley State University
Location Bowling Green, KY Itta Bena, MS
Setting Small City Remote Town
Enrollment 16,759 2,196
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #968 #985
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wku.edu mvsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

WKU Mississippi Valley State University
Tuition (In State) $11,436 $7,892
Tuition (Out of State) $27,000 $7,892
Room & Board $12,043 $8,112
Avg Net Price $12,054 $12,304
Avg Grant Aid $10,906 $9,302
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 97%

Admission

WKU Mississippi Valley State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,720 3,411
Admitted 7,492 1,745
Acceptance Rate 97% 51.2%
Enrolled % 37.7% 19%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 2.9
Typical High School Grades B+ B-
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/20 13/22
SAT Range 820/1010
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, 2026

Academics

WKU Mississippi Valley State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Education (29%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Human Services (19%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)

Outcomes

WKU Mississippi Valley State University
Graduation Rate 50% 24%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,100 $26,600
Making Student Loan Payments 47% 35%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,250 $29,336
Median Loan Payment $250 $303

Diversity

WKU Mississippi Valley State University
% Men 4% 3%
% Women 9% 5%
Racial Diversity Low Extremely Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 76% 3%
% Black 10% 92%
% Hispanic 3% 1%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 0%
% International 6% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 4%

Students

WKU Mississippi Valley State University
% In-State 70% 54%
% Out-of-State 29% 45%

Campus

WKU Mississippi Valley 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

  • Western Kentucky University is larger than than Mississippi Valley State University based on total student enrollment (16,759 students vs. 2,196 students)

WKU vs. Mississippi Valley State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WKU or Mississippi Valley State University?

  • Western Kentucky University is 44.9% more expensive to attend than Mississippi Valley State University for in-state tuition ($11,436.00 vs. $7,892.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 242.1% higher at WKU than Mississippi Valley State University ($27,000.00 vs. $7,892.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than Mississippi Valley State University ($12,054 vs. $12,304)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mississippi Valley State University are 48.5% lower than costs at Western Kentucky University ($8,112 vs. $12,043)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Western Kentucky University than Mississippi Valley State University (99% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Western Kentucky University students is 17.2% larger than aid received Mississippi Valley State University ($10,906 vs. $9,302)

WKU vs. Mississippi Valley State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Western Kentucky University (1047) is 197 points higher than at Mississippi Valley State University (850)
  • Incoming WKU students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Mississippi Valley State University (18)
  • Accepted freshman WKU students have a 0.52 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Mississippi Valley State University (2.9)
  • WKU has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than Mississippi Valley State University (51.2%)

WKU vs. Mississippi Valley State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, WKU or Mississippi Valley 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 Mississippi Valley State University and WKU.

  • The graduation rate at WKU is higher than Mississippi Valley State University (50% vs. 24%)
  • Graduates from Western Kentucky University earn on average $10,500 more per year than Mississippi Valley State University graduates after ten years. ($37,100 vs. $26,600)
  • Western Kentucky University students graduate with a $5,086 lower median federal student loan debt than Mississippi Valley State University graduates. ($24,250 vs. $29,336)
  • WKU graduates are paying $53 less per month on federal student loans than Mississippi Valley State University graduates. ($250 vs. $303)
  • More WKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mississippi Valley State University students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 35%)

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