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CMU Eastern GVSU Murray State University Oakland Kentucky WSU Michigan State ISU Louisville Eastern Michigan University Northern Illinois| Western Kentucky University | Western Michigan University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
WKU | WMU | ||
| Location | Bowling Green, KY | Kalamazoo, MI | ||
| Setting | Small City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 16,759 | 16,693 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #968 | #631 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wku.edu | wmich.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WKU | WMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,436 | $15,198 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $27,000 | $18,998 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,043 | $11,713 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $12,054 | $20,183 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,906 | $8,217 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 91% |
Admission |
WKU | WMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,720 | 20,100 | ||
| Admitted | 7,492 | 17,020 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 97% | 84.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 37.7% | 14.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.5 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 16/20 | 20/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 820/1010 | 990/1220 | ||
| 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 | WMU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
WKU | WMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 50% | 56% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,100 | $48,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 47% | 54% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | $26,633 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | $275 |
Diversity |
WKU | WMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 8% | ||
| % Women | 9% | 14% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 76% | 72% | ||
| % Black | 10% | 12% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 6% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
WKU | WMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 70% | 78% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 29% | 21% | ||
Campus |
WKU | WMU | ||
| 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
- Western Kentucky University is larger than than WMU based on total student enrollment (16,759 students vs. 16,693 students)
WKU vs. WMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WKU or WMU?
- Western Michigan University is 32.9% more expensive to attend than WKU for in-state tuition ($15,198.00 vs. $11,436.00)
- Out of state tuition is 42.1% higher at WKU than Western Michigan University ($27,000.00 vs. $18,998.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than WMU ($12,054 vs. $20,183)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Michigan University are 2.8% lower than costs at Western Kentucky University ($11,713 vs. $12,043)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Kentucky University than Western Michigan University (99% vs. 91%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Western Kentucky University students is 32.7% larger than aid received Western Michigan University ($10,906 vs. $8,217)
WKU vs. WMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, WKU or WMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WMU or WKU .
- The average SAT score at Western Kentucky University (1047) is 17 points higher than at WMU (1030)
- Incoming WKU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at WMU (22)
- Accepted freshman WMU students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at WKU (3.42)
- WKU has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than WMU (84.7%)
WKU vs. WMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, WKU or WMU? 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 WMU and WKU.
- The graduation rate at WMU is higher than Western Kentucky University (56% vs. 50%)
- Graduates from Western Michigan University earn on average $11,800 more per year than WKU graduates after ten years. ($48,900 vs. $37,100)
- Western Kentucky University students graduate with a $2,383 lower median federal student loan debt than WMU graduates. ($24,250 vs. $26,633)
- WKU graduates are paying $25 less per month on federal student loans than WMU graduates. ($250 vs. $275)
- More WMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WKU students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 47%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/