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Eastern Murray State University Kentucky Louisville Fisk University UTC KY State Jackson State University Middle Tennessee State University TSU NKU Southern University and A & M College| Western Kentucky University | Tennessee State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
WKU | Tennessee State University | ||
| Location | Bowling Green, KY | Nashville, TN | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 16,759 | 8,198 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #968 | #998 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wku.edu | tnstate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WKU | Tennessee State University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,436 | $7,320 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $27,000 | $21,036 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,043 | $10,120 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $12,054 | $9,231 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,906 | $15,589 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 94% |
Admission |
WKU | Tennessee State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,720 | 12,890 | ||
| Admitted | 7,492 | 11,940 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 97% | 92.6%Open | ||
| Enrolled % | 37.7% | 14.8%Open | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.22 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 16/20 | 16/21 | ||
| SAT Range | 820/1010 | 856/1068 | ||
| 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 |
Academics |
WKU | Tennessee State University | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
WKU | Tennessee State University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 50% | 36% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,100 | $38,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 47% | 29% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | $28,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | $289 |
Diversity |
WKU | Tennessee State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 6% | ||
| % Women | 9% | 11% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | Yes | ||
| % White | 76% | 14% | ||
| % Black | 10% | 70% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 6% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 0% |
Students |
WKU | Tennessee State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 70% | 32% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 29% | 65% | ||
Campus |
WKU | Tennessee State University | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Western Kentucky University is larger than than Tennessee State University based on total student enrollment (16,759 students vs. 8,198 students)
WKU vs. Tennessee State University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WKU or Tennessee State University?
- Western Kentucky University is 56.2% more expensive to attend than Tennessee State University for in-state tuition ($11,436.00 vs. $7,320.00)
- Out of state tuition is 28.4% higher at WKU than Tennessee State University ($27,000.00 vs. $21,036.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Tennessee State University than WKU ($9,231 vs. $12,054)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Tennessee State University are 19% lower than costs at Western Kentucky University ($10,120 vs. $12,043)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Kentucky University than Tennessee State University (99% vs. 94%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Tennessee State University students is 42.9% larger than aid received Western Kentucky University ($15,589 vs. $10,906)
WKU vs. Tennessee State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, WKU or Tennessee State University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Tennessee State University or WKU .
- Accepted freshman WKU students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Tennessee State University (3.22)
- WKU has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than Tennessee State University (92.6%)
WKU vs. Tennessee State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, WKU or 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 Tennessee State University and WKU.
- The graduation rate at WKU is higher than Tennessee State University (50% vs. 36%)
- Graduates from Tennessee State University earn on average $1,300 more per year than WKU graduates after ten years. ($38,400 vs. $37,100)
- Western Kentucky University students graduate with a $3,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Tennessee State University graduates. ($24,250 vs. $28,000)
- WKU graduates are paying $39 less per month on federal student loans than Tennessee State University graduates. ($250 vs. $289)
- More WKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tennessee State University students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 29%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/