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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 | Watkins College of Art Design & Film | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
WKU | Watkins Institute | ||
| Location | Bowling Green, KY | Nashville, TN | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 16,759 | 193 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #968 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wku.edu | watkins.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WKU | Watkins Institute | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,436 | $22,800 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $27,000 | $22,800 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,043 | $11,000 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $12,054 | - | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,906 | $0 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 0% |
Admission |
WKU | Watkins Institute | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,720 | - | ||
| Admitted | 7,492 | - | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 97% | |||
| Enrolled % | 37.7% | |||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.33 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | 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 | Watkins Institute | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 7:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
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Outcomes |
WKU | Watkins Institute | ||
| Graduation Rate | 50% | 37% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,100 | $38,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 47% | 47% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | $279 |
Diversity |
WKU | Watkins Institute | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 37% | ||
| % Women | 9% | 63% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 76% | 69% | ||
| % Black | 10% | 15% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 6% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 0% |
Students |
WKU | Watkins Institute | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 70% | 72% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 29% | 24% | ||
Campus |
WKU | Watkins Institute | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| 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 Watkins Institute based on total student enrollment (16,759 students vs. 193 students)
WKU vs. Watkins Institute Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WKU or Watkins Institute?
- Watkins College of Art Design & Film is 99.4% more expensive to attend than WKU for in-state tuition ($22,800.00 vs. $11,436.00)
- Out of state tuition is 18.4% higher at WKU than Watkins College of Art Design & Film ($27,000.00 vs. $22,800.00)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Watkins College of Art Design & Film are 9.5% lower than costs at Western Kentucky University ($11,000 vs. $12,043)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Kentucky University than Watkins College of Art Design & Film (99% vs. 0%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Western Kentucky University students is ?% larger than aid received Watkins College of Art Design & Film ($10,906 vs. $0)
Which college is harder to get into, WKU or Watkins Institute? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Watkins Institute or WKU .
- The average SAT score at Western Kentucky University (1047) is 44 points higher than at Watkins Institute (1003)
- Incoming WKU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Watkins Institute (21)
- Accepted freshman WKU students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Watkins Institute (3.33)
WKU vs. Watkins Institute Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, WKU or Watkins Institute? 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 Watkins Institute and WKU.
- The graduation rate at WKU is higher than Watkins College of Art Design & Film (50% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Watkins College of Art Design & Film earn on average $1,600 more per year than WKU graduates after ten years. ($38,700 vs. $37,100)
- Western Kentucky University students graduate with a $2,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Watkins Institute graduates. ($24,250 vs. $27,000)
- WKU graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than Watkins Institute graduates. ($250 vs. $279)
- More WKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Watkins Institute students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 47%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/