WKU vs. South College

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

WKU South College
Location Bowling Green, KY Knoxville, TN
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 16,759 8,234
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #968
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit For-profit
Website wku.edu southcollegetn.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

WKU South College
Tuition (In State) $11,436 $16,450
Tuition (Out of State) $27,000 $16,450
Room & Board $12,043 $17,856
Avg Net Price $12,054 $16,584
Avg Grant Aid $10,906 $13,698
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 83%

Admission

WKU South College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,720 -
Admitted 7,492 -
Acceptance Rate 97% Open
Enrolled % 37.7% Open
Avg High School GPA 3.42 -
Typical High School Grades 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)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2026

Academics

WKU South College
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 23:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Health Professions (76%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Education (5%)
  • Legal Professions (4%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (3%)

Outcomes

WKU South College
Graduation Rate 50% 25%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,100 $29,200
Making Student Loan Payments 47% 31%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,250 $34,777
Median Loan Payment $250 $359

Diversity

WKU South College
% Men 4% 7%
% Women 9% 16%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 76% 83%
% Black 10% 10%
% Hispanic 3% 2%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 6% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

WKU South College
% In-State 70% 50%
% Out-of-State 29% 50%

Campus

WKU South College
Campus Housing Yes No
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Western Kentucky University is larger than than South College based on total student enrollment (16,759 students vs. 8,234 students)

WKU vs. South College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WKU or South College?

  • South College is 43.8% more expensive to attend than WKU for in-state tuition ($16,450.00 vs. $11,436.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 64.1% higher at WKU than South College ($27,000.00 vs. $16,450.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than South College ($12,054 vs. $16,584)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Kentucky University are 48.3% lower than costs at South College ($12,043 vs. $17,856)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Western Kentucky University than South College (99% vs. 83%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by South College students is 25.6% larger than aid received Western Kentucky University ($13,698 vs. $10,906)

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

WKU vs. South College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, WKU or South College? 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 South College and WKU.

  • The graduation rate at WKU is higher than South College (50% vs. 25%)
  • Graduates from Western Kentucky University earn on average $7,900 more per year than South College graduates after ten years. ($37,100 vs. $29,200)
  • Western Kentucky University students graduate with a $10,527 lower median federal student loan debt than South College graduates. ($24,250 vs. $34,777)
  • WKU graduates are paying $109 less per month on federal student loans than South College graduates. ($250 vs. $359)
  • More WKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former South College students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 31%)

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