WKU vs. University of Wisconsin-River Falls

Deciding between Western Kentucky University and University of Wisconsin River Falls? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Western Kentucky University
University of Wisconsin River Falls

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • WKU Bowling Green, KY
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls River Falls, WI
  • Setting
  • WKU Small City
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • WKU 16,291
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 5,243
  • Type
  • WKU Public 4 Year
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • WKU #970
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls #768
  • Religious Affiliation
  • WKU -
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls -
  • Status
  • WKU Non-profit
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • WKU
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • WKU $11,652
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $9,008
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • WKU $27,000
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $17,470
  • Room & Board
  • WKU $12,582
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $7,982
  • Average Net Price
  • WKU $12,548
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $14,769
  • Average Grant Aid
  • WKU $10,921
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $4,176
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • WKU 99%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 81%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • WKU 9,840
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 5,519
  • Admitted
  • WKU 9,237
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 4,510
  • Acceptance Rate
  • WKU 93.9%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 81.7%
  • Enrolled
  • WKU 30.2%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 25.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • WKU 950
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls
  • Typical ACT score
  • WKU 18
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • WKU 3.42
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 3.44
  • Typical High School Grades
  • WKU B+
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • WKU Extremely Easy
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • WKU
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls
  • ACT Range
  • WKU 16/21
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 19/25
  • SAT Range
  • WKU 840/1050
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls
  • Submit Test Scores
  • WKU Test optional
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • WKU Aug 1, 2027
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • WKU 19:1
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • WKU
    • Business (16%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls
    • Agriculture (17%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Education (13%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • WKU 50%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 51%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • WKU $37,100
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $44,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • WKU 47%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • WKU $24,250
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $22,725
  • Median Loan Payment
  • WKU $250
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $234

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • WKU 38%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 37%
  • % Women
  • WKU 62%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • WKU Low
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Very Low
  • HBCU
  • WKU No
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls No
  • % White
  • WKU 76%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 89%
  • % Asian
  • WKU 1%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 3%
  • % Black
  • WKU 10%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • WKU 3%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 3%
  • % Native American
  • WKU 0%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • WKU 0%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • WKU 3%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 2%
  • % International
  • WKU 6%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • WKU 1%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • WKU 66%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 47%
  • % Out-of-State
  • WKU 33%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 52%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • WKU Yes
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • WKU No
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls No
  • Meal Plan
  • WKU Yes
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • WKU No
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls No
  • Daycare Facility
  • WKU Yes
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, KY with University of Wisconsin River Falls in River Falls, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Western Kentucky University is larger than University of Wisconsin-River Falls based on total student enrollment (16,291 students vs. 5,243 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Western Kentucky University is located in Bowling Green, KY (Small City setting); University of Wisconsin River Falls is in River Falls, WI (Distant Town setting).
  • Western Kentucky University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin River Falls is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Western Kentucky University 19:1; University of Wisconsin River Falls 19:1.

WKU vs. University of Wisconsin-River Falls Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WKU or University of Wisconsin-River Falls? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than University of Wisconsin-River Falls ($12,548 vs. $14,769).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin River Falls are 36.6% lower than at Western Kentucky University ($7,982 vs. $12,582).
  • Western Kentucky University is 29.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than University of Wisconsin-River Falls (about $2,644 more per year; $11,652.00 vs. $9,008.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 54.6% higher at WKU than at University of Wisconsin River Falls (about $9,530 more per year; $27,000.00 vs. $17,470.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Western Kentucky University than at University of Wisconsin River Falls (99% vs. 81%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Western Kentucky University students is 161.5% larger than aid received by University of Wisconsin River Falls students ($10,921 vs. $4,176).

WKU vs. University of Wisconsin-River Falls Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WKU or University of Wisconsin-River Falls? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between University of Wisconsin-River Falls and WKU.

  • Incoming University of Wisconsin-River Falls students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 18 at WKU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Western Kentucky University 840/1050.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Western Kentucky University 16/21; University of Wisconsin River Falls 19/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WKU - Test optional; University of Wisconsin-River Falls - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: WKU Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman University of Wisconsin-River Falls students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.44) than students at WKU (3.42).
  • WKU has a higher acceptance rate (93.9%) than University of Wisconsin-River Falls (81.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 30.2% at WKU vs. 25.1% at University of Wisconsin-River Falls.

WKU vs. University of Wisconsin-River Falls Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WKU and University of Wisconsin-River Falls? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of Wisconsin River Falls's six-year graduation rate (51%) is higher than Western Kentucky University's (50%).
  • Graduates from University of Wisconsin River Falls earn a median of about $7,000 more per year than WKU graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,100 vs. $37,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Wisconsin River Falls graduates have a $1,525 lower median loan debt than WKU graduates ($22,725 vs. $24,250).
  • Among borrowers, University of Wisconsin-River Falls graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WKU graduates ($234 vs. $250).
  • More University of Wisconsin-River Falls graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WKU students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 47%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.