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Eastern Murray State University Kentucky Louisville WVU UTC Fairmont State Marshall University NKU Morgan State University of Southern Indiana Middle Tennessee State University| Western Kentucky University | West Virginia State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
WKU | WVSU | ||
| Location | Bowling Green, KY | Institute, WV | ||
| Setting | Small City | Midsize Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 16,759 | 3,458 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #968 | #1003 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wku.edu | wvstateu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WKU | WVSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,436 | $8,524 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $27,000 | $13,948 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,043 | $12,936 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $12,054 | $10,878 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,906 | $8,657 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 83% |
Admission |
WKU | WVSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,720 | 4,465 | ||
| Admitted | 7,492 | 4,303 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 97% | 96.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 37.7% | 7.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.24 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 16/20 | 16/22 | ||
| SAT Range | 820/1010 | 830/1073 | ||
| 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, 2026 |
Academics |
WKU | WVSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
WKU | WVSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 50% | 25% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,100 | $32,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 47% | 35% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | $23,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | $240 |
Diversity |
WKU | WVSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 9% | 2% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | Yes | ||
| % White | 76% | 65% | ||
| % Black | 10% | 14% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 10% | ||
| % International | 6% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 9% |
Students |
WKU | WVSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 70% | 81% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 29% | 17% | ||
Campus |
WKU | WVSU | ||
| 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 WVSU based on total student enrollment (16,759 students vs. 3,458 students)
WKU vs. WVSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WKU or WVSU?
- Western Kentucky University is 34.2% more expensive to attend than WVSU for in-state tuition ($11,436.00 vs. $8,524.00)
- Out of state tuition is 93.6% higher at WKU than West Virginia State University ($27,000.00 vs. $13,948.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at West Virginia State University than WKU ($10,878 vs. $12,054)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Kentucky University are 7.4% lower than costs at West Virginia State University ($12,043 vs. $12,936)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Kentucky University than West Virginia State University (99% vs. 83%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Western Kentucky University students is 26% larger than aid received West Virginia State University ($10,906 vs. $8,657)
WKU vs. WVSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, WKU or WVSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WVSU or WKU .
- The average SAT score at Western Kentucky University (1047) is 120 points higher than at WVSU (927)
- Incoming WKU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at WVSU (20)
- Accepted freshman WKU students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at WVSU (3.24)
- WKU has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than WVSU (96.4%)
WKU vs. WVSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, WKU or WVSU? 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 WVSU and WKU.
- The graduation rate at WKU is higher than West Virginia State University (50% vs. 25%)
- Graduates from Western Kentucky University earn on average $4,400 more per year than WVSU graduates after ten years. ($37,100 vs. $32,700)
- West Virginia State University students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than WKU graduates. ($23,250 vs. $24,250)
- WVSU graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than WKU graduates. ($240 vs. $250)
- More WKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WVSU students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 35%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/