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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 | University of South Carolina Upstate | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
WKU | University of South Carolina-Upstate | ||
| Location | Bowling Green, KY | Spartanburg, SC | ||
| Setting | Small City | Midsize Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 16,493 | 4,913 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #875 | #823 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wku.edu | uscupstate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WKU | University of South Carolina-Upstate | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,112 | $11,208 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $27,000 | $22,170 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,072 | $9,520 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $12,625 | $13,835 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,260 | $12,038 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 99% |
Admission |
WKU | University of South Carolina-Upstate | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,505 | 3,090 | ||
| Admitted | 7,276 | 2,428 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 96.9% | 78.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 37.9% | 28.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 2.53 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | C+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/25 | 20/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 980/1170 | 950/1150 | ||
| 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 | University of South Carolina-Upstate | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
WKU | University of South Carolina-Upstate | ||
| Graduation Rate | 50% | 39% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,100 | $39,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 47% | 55% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | $22,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | $232 |
Diversity |
WKU | University of South Carolina-Upstate | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 37% | 32% | ||
| % Women | 63% | 68% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 76% | 56% | ||
| % Black | 10% | 29% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 6% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 2% |
Students |
WKU | University of South Carolina-Upstate | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 70% | 92% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 29% | 6% | ||
Campus |
WKU | University of South Carolina-Upstate | ||
| 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 University of South Carolina-Upstate based on total student enrollment (16,493 students vs. 4,913 students)
WKU vs. University of South Carolina-Upstate Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WKU or University of South Carolina-Upstate?
- University of South Carolina Upstate is 0.9% more expensive to attend than WKU for in-state tuition ($11,208.00 vs. $11,112.00)
- Out of state tuition is 21.8% higher at WKU than University of South Carolina Upstate ($27,000.00 vs. $22,170.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than University of South Carolina-Upstate ($12,625 vs. $13,835)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Upstate are 16.3% lower than costs at Western Kentucky University ($9,520 vs. $11,072)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Western Kentucky University as University of South Carolina Upstate (99% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of South Carolina Upstate students is 17.3% larger than aid received Western Kentucky University ($12,038 vs. $10,260)
WKU vs. University of South Carolina-Upstate Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, WKU or University of South Carolina-Upstate? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between University of South Carolina-Upstate or WKU .
- The average SAT score at Western Kentucky University (1047) is 97 points higher than at University of South Carolina-Upstate (950)
- Incoming WKU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at University of South Carolina-Upstate (20)
- Accepted freshman WKU students have a 0.89 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at University of South Carolina-Upstate (2.53)
- WKU has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) than University of South Carolina-Upstate (78.6%)
WKU vs. University of South Carolina-Upstate Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, WKU or University of South Carolina-Upstate? 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 University of South Carolina-Upstate and WKU.
- The graduation rate at WKU is higher than University of South Carolina Upstate (50% vs. 39%)
- Graduates from University of South Carolina Upstate earn on average $2,200 more per year than WKU graduates after ten years. ($39,300 vs. $37,100)
- University of South Carolina Upstate students graduate with a $1,750 lower median federal student loan debt than WKU graduates. ($22,500 vs. $24,250)
- University of South Carolina-Upstate graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than WKU graduates. ($232 vs. $250)
- More University of South Carolina-Upstate graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WKU students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 47%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/