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Eastern Murray State University Middle Tennessee State University Kentucky UT Martin Arkansas State University Louisville Ole Miss UTC Tennessee Mississippi State Austin Peay State University| Western Kentucky University | University of Memphis | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
WKU | Memphis | ||
| Location | Bowling Green, KY | Memphis, TN | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 16,493 | 21,917 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #875 | #883 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wku.edu | memphis.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WKU | Memphis | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,112 | $8,352 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $27,000 | $12,576 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,072 | $10,126 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $12,625 | $13,873 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,260 | $9,625 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 98% |
Admission |
WKU | Memphis | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,505 | 15,767 | ||
| Admitted | 7,276 | 14,916 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 96.9% | 94.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 37.9% | 16.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.48 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/25 | 17/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 980/1170 | 930/1230 | ||
| 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 | Jul 1, 2025 |
Academics |
WKU | Memphis | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
WKU | Memphis | ||
| Graduation Rate | 50% | 38% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,100 | $42,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 47% | 37% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | $25,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | $261 |
Diversity |
WKU | Memphis | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 37% | 40% | ||
| % Women | 63% | 60% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 76% | 50% | ||
| % Black | 10% | 37% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 6% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 0% |
Students |
WKU | Memphis | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 70% | 81% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 29% | 17% | ||
Campus |
WKU | Memphis | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Memphis is larger than than WKU based on total student enrollment (21,917 students vs. 16,493 students)
WKU vs. Memphis Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WKU or Memphis?
- Western Kentucky University is 33% more expensive to attend than Memphis for in-state tuition ($11,112.00 vs. $8,352.00)
- Out of state tuition is 114.7% higher at WKU than University of Memphis ($27,000.00 vs. $12,576.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than Memphis ($12,625 vs. $13,873)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Memphis are 9.3% lower than costs at Western Kentucky University ($10,126 vs. $11,072)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Kentucky University than University of Memphis (99% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Western Kentucky University students is 6.6% larger than aid received University of Memphis ($10,260 vs. $9,625)
WKU vs. Memphis Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, WKU or Memphis? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Memphis or WKU .
- The average SAT score at Western Kentucky University (1047) is 18 points higher than at Memphis (1029)
- Incoming WKU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Memphis (22)
- Accepted freshman Memphis students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at WKU (3.42)
- WKU has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) than Memphis (94.6%)
WKU vs. Memphis Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, WKU or Memphis? 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 Memphis and WKU.
- The graduation rate at WKU is higher than University of Memphis (50% vs. 38%)
- Graduates from University of Memphis earn on average $5,100 more per year than WKU graduates after ten years. ($42,200 vs. $37,100)
- Western Kentucky University students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Memphis graduates. ($24,250 vs. $25,250)
- WKU graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than Memphis graduates. ($250 vs. $261)
- More WKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Memphis students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 37%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/