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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 | William Woods University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
WKU | WWU | ||
| Location | Bowling Green, KY | Fulton, MO | ||
| Setting | Small City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 16,759 | 1,729 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #968 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wku.edu | williamwoods.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WKU | WWU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,436 | $27,800 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $27,000 | $27,800 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,043 | $12,402 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $12,054 | $22,925 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,906 | $22,166 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 99% |
Admission |
WKU | WWU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,720 | 1,133 | ||
| Admitted | 7,492 | 844 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 97% | 74.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 37.7% | 27.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.4 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 16/20 | |||
| SAT Range | 820/1010 | |||
| 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 | Dec 1, 2025 |
Academics |
WKU | WWU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
WKU | WWU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 50% | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,100 | $38,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 47% | 68% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | $21,437 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | $221 |
Diversity |
WKU | WWU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 14% | ||
| % Women | 9% | 23% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 76% | 71% | ||
| % Black | 10% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 6% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 20% |
Students |
WKU | WWU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 70% | 69% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 29% | 24% | ||
Campus |
WKU | WWU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Western Kentucky University is larger than than WWU based on total student enrollment (16,759 students vs. 1,729 students)
WKU vs. WWU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WKU or WWU?
- William Woods University is 143.1% more expensive to attend than WKU for in-state tuition ($27,800.00 vs. $11,436.00)
- Out of state tuition is 3% higher at WWU than Western Kentucky University ($27,800.00 vs. $27,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than WWU ($12,054 vs. $22,925)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Kentucky University are 3% lower than costs at William Woods University ($12,043 vs. $12,402)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Western Kentucky University as William Woods University (99% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by William Woods University students is 103.2% larger than aid received Western Kentucky University ($22,166 vs. $10,906)
WKU vs. WWU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, WKU or WWU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WWU or WKU .
- The average SAT score at Western Kentucky University (1047) is 12 points higher than at WWU (1035)
- Incoming WKU students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at WWU (23)
- Accepted freshman WKU students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at WWU (3.4)
- WKU has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than WWU (74.5%)
WKU vs. WWU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, WKU or WWU? 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 WWU and WKU.
- The graduation rate at WKU is the same as at William Woods University (50% vs. 50%)
- Graduates from William Woods University earn on average $1,500 more per year than WKU graduates after ten years. ($38,600 vs. $37,100)
- William Woods University students graduate with a $2,813 lower median federal student loan debt than WKU graduates. ($21,437 vs. $24,250)
- WWU graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than WKU graduates. ($221 vs. $250)
- More WWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WKU students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 47%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/