WKU vs. Union

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

 WKU Union
Location Bowling Green, KY Cincinnati, OH
Setting Small City Large City
Enrollment 16,759 787
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #968
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wku.edu myunion.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 WKU Union
Tuition (In State) $11,436 $13,880
Tuition (Out of State) $27,000 $13,880
Room & Board $12,043 $11,508
Avg Net Price $12,054 -
Avg Grant Aid $10,906 $0
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 0%

Admission

 WKU Union
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 Union
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 6:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (59%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
  • Work and Family Studies (11%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Human Services (3%)

Outcomes

 WKU Union
Graduation Rate 50% 9%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,100 $51,400
Making Student Loan Payments 47% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,250 $18,495
Median Loan Payment $250 $191

Diversity

 WKU Union
% Men 4% 40%
% Women 9% 60%
Racial Diversity Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 76% 36%
% Black 10% 18%
% Hispanic 3% 32%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 6% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 9%

Students

 WKU Union
% In-State 70% 23%
% Out-of-State 29% 73%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Western Kentucky University is larger than than Union based on total student enrollment (16,759 students vs. 787 students)

WKU vs. Union Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WKU or Union?

  • Union Institute & University is 21.4% more expensive to attend than WKU for in-state tuition ($13,880.00 vs. $11,436.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 94.5% higher at WKU than Union Institute & University ($27,000.00 vs. $13,880.00)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Union Institute & University are 4.6% lower than costs at Western Kentucky University ($11,508 vs. $12,043)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Western Kentucky University than Union Institute & University (99% vs. 0%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Western Kentucky University students is ?% larger than aid received Union Institute & University ($10,906 vs. $0)

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

WKU vs. Union Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, WKU or Union? 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 Union and WKU.

  • The graduation rate at WKU is higher than Union Institute & University (50% vs. 9%)
  • Graduates from Union Institute & University earn on average $14,300 more per year than WKU graduates after ten years. ($51,400 vs. $37,100)
  • Union Institute & University students graduate with a $5,755 lower median federal student loan debt than WKU graduates. ($18,495 vs. $24,250)
  • Union graduates are paying $59 less per month on federal student loans than WKU graduates. ($191 vs. $250)
  • More Union graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WKU students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 47%)

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