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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 | Purdue University Northwest | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
WKU | Purdue Northwest | ||
| Location | Bowling Green, KY | Hammond, Indiana | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 16,493 | 8,911 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #875 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wku.edu | pnw.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WKU | Purdue Northwest | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,112 | $7,373 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $27,000 | $14,364 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,072 | $8,215 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $12,625 | $9,162 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,260 | $7,070 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 75% |
Admission |
WKU | Purdue Northwest | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,505 | 5,670 | ||
| Admitted | 7,276 | 4,129 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 96.9% | 72.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 37.9% | 31.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.19 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 18/25 | 18/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 980/1170 | 950/1170 | ||
| 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, 2025 | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
WKU | Purdue Northwest | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
WKU | Purdue Northwest | ||
| Graduation Rate | 50% | - | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,100 | N/A | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 47% | - | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | N/A | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | N/A |
Diversity |
WKU | Purdue Northwest | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 37% | 44% | ||
| % Women | 63% | 56% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | - | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 76% | 0% | ||
| % Black | 10% | 0% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 0% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 0% | ||
| % International | 6% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 0% |
Students |
WKU | Purdue Northwest | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 70% | 87% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 29% | 13% | ||
Campus |
WKU | Purdue Northwest | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | |||
| Meal Plan | Yes | No | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | |||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Western Kentucky University is larger than than Purdue Northwest based on total student enrollment (16,493 students vs. 8,911 students)
WKU vs. Purdue Northwest Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WKU or Purdue Northwest?
- Western Kentucky University is 50.7% more expensive to attend than Purdue Northwest for in-state tuition ($11,112.00 vs. $7,373.00)
- Out of state tuition is 88% higher at WKU than Purdue University Northwest ($27,000.00 vs. $14,364.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Purdue University Northwest than WKU ($9,162 vs. $12,625)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Northwest are 34.8% lower than costs at Western Kentucky University ($8,215 vs. $11,072)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Kentucky University than Purdue University Northwest (99% vs. 75%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Western Kentucky University students is 45.1% larger than aid received Purdue University Northwest ($10,260 vs. $7,070)
WKU vs. Purdue Northwest Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, WKU or Purdue Northwest? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Purdue Northwest or WKU .
- Accepted freshman WKU students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Purdue Northwest (3.19)
- WKU has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) than Purdue Northwest (72.8%)
WKU vs. Purdue Northwest Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, WKU or Purdue Northwest? 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 Purdue Northwest and WKU.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/