WKU vs. PVAMU

Deciding between Western Kentucky University and Prairie View A & M University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Western Kentucky University
Prairie View A & M University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • WKU Bowling Green, KY
  • PVAMU Prairie View, TX
  • Setting
  • WKU Small City
  • PVAMU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • WKU 16,291
  • PVAMU 9,922
  • Type
  • WKU Public 4 Year
  • PVAMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • WKU #970
  • PVAMU #1003
  • Religious Affiliation
  • WKU -
  • PVAMU -
  • Status
  • WKU Non-profit
  • PVAMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • WKU
  • PVAMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • WKU $11,652
  • PVAMU $11,299
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • WKU $27,000
  • PVAMU $26,874
  • Room & Board
  • WKU $12,582
  • PVAMU $10,317
  • Average Net Price
  • WKU $12,548
  • PVAMU $14,448
  • Average Grant Aid
  • WKU $10,921
  • PVAMU $15,769
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • WKU 99%
  • PVAMU 82%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • WKU 9,840
  • PVAMU 12,936
  • Admitted
  • WKU 9,237
  • PVAMU 10,259
  • Acceptance Rate
  • WKU 93.9%
  • PVAMU 79.3%
  • Enrolled
  • WKU 30.2%
  • PVAMU 18.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • WKU 950
  • PVAMU 970
  • Typical ACT score
  • WKU 18
  • PVAMU 18
  • Average High School GPA
  • WKU 3.42
  • PVAMU 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • WKU B+
  • PVAMU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • WKU Extremely Easy
  • PVAMU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • WKU
  • PVAMU
  • ACT Range
  • WKU 16/21
  • PVAMU 16/21
  • SAT Range
  • WKU 840/1050
  • PVAMU 860/1080
  • Submit Test Scores
  • WKU Test optional
  • PVAMU Required
  • Application Deadline
  • WKU Aug 1, 2027
  • PVAMU Mar 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • WKU 19:1
  • PVAMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • WKU
    • Business (16%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
  • PVAMU
    • Health Professions (20%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • General Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • WKU 50%
  • PVAMU 34%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • WKU $37,100
  • PVAMU $39,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • WKU 47%
  • PVAMU 28%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • WKU $24,250
  • PVAMU $28,955
  • Median Loan Payment
  • WKU $250
  • PVAMU $299

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • WKU 38%
  • PVAMU 34%
  • % Women
  • WKU 62%
  • PVAMU 66%
  • Racial Diversity
  • WKU Low
  • PVAMU Very Low
  • HBCU
  • WKU No
  • PVAMU Yes
  • % White
  • WKU 76%
  • PVAMU 3%
  • % Asian
  • WKU 1%
  • PVAMU 3%
  • % Black
  • WKU 10%
  • PVAMU 86%
  • % Hispanic
  • WKU 3%
  • PVAMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • WKU 0%
  • PVAMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • WKU 0%
  • PVAMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • WKU 3%
  • PVAMU 1%
  • % International
  • WKU 6%
  • PVAMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • WKU 1%
  • PVAMU 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • WKU 66%
  • PVAMU 86%
  • % Out-of-State
  • WKU 33%
  • PVAMU 14%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • WKU Yes
  • PVAMU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • WKU No
  • PVAMU No
  • Meal Plan
  • WKU Yes
  • PVAMU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • WKU No
  • PVAMU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • WKU Yes
  • PVAMU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, KY with Prairie View A & M University in Prairie View, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Western Kentucky University is larger than PVAMU based on total student enrollment (16,291 students vs. 9,922 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Western Kentucky University is located in Bowling Green, KY (Small City setting); Prairie View A & M University is in Prairie View, TX (Distant Town setting).
  • Western Kentucky University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Prairie View A & M University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Western Kentucky University 19:1; Prairie View A & M University 17:1.

WKU vs. PVAMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WKU or PVAMU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than PVAMU ($12,548 vs. $14,448).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Prairie View A & M University are 18% lower than at Western Kentucky University ($10,317 vs. $12,582).
  • Western Kentucky University is 3.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than PVAMU (about $353 more per year; $11,652.00 vs. $11,299.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.5% higher at WKU than at Prairie View A & M University (about $126 more per year; $27,000.00 vs. $26,874.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Western Kentucky University than at Prairie View A & M University (99% vs. 82%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Prairie View A & M University students is 44.4% larger than aid received by Western Kentucky University students ($15,769 vs. $10,921).

WKU vs. PVAMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WKU or PVAMU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between PVAMU and WKU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Prairie View A & M University (970) is 20 points higher than at WKU (950).
  • Incoming WKU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 18) as students at PVAMU (18).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Western Kentucky University 840/1050; Prairie View A & M University 860/1080.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Western Kentucky University 16/21; Prairie View A & M University 16/21.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WKU - Test optional; PVAMU - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: WKU Aug 1, 2027; PVAMU Mar 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman WKU students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at PVAMU (3.3).
  • WKU has a higher acceptance rate (93.9%) than PVAMU (79.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 30.2% at WKU vs. 18.4% at PVAMU.

WKU vs. PVAMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WKU and PVAMU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Western Kentucky University's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than Prairie View A & M University's (34%).
  • Graduates from Prairie View A & M University earn a median of about $1,900 more per year than WKU graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $37,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Kentucky University graduates have a $4,705 lower median loan debt than PVAMU graduates ($24,250 vs. $28,955).
  • Among borrowers, WKU graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than PVAMU graduates ($250 vs. $299).
  • More WKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PVAMU students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 28%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.