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#6 Best Public Universities in Kentucky

Western Kentucky University

Bowling Green, Kentucky

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Overview

Enrollment

16,493
Western Kentucky University overview
Location Bowling Green, Kentucky
Online wku.edu
School Type Public 4 Year
Setting Small City
Western Kentucky University overview
Size Mid-size
Status Non-profit
On Campus Housing Yes
Level of Study Undergrad/Graduate
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Western Kentucky University sits atop a hill overlooking Bowling Green, Kentucky, located approximately 60 miles north of Nashville, Tennessee. The campus, known for its distinctive red sandstone buildings and colonial revival architecture, occupies 200 acres on what was originally known as "The Hill," featuring the iconic Cherry Hall as its centerpiece. Founded in 1906 as a state normal school, WKU has evolved into a comprehensive public university offering undergraduate and graduate programs, with particular strengths in journalism, broadcasting, engineering, education, and business. The university maintains a moderately selective admission process and provides housing for students across multiple residence halls throughout the main campus. WKU's athletic programs compete in NCAA Division I as the Hilltoppers within Conference USA, with the university's men's basketball program holding a notable presence in the conference.

Ratings

4/10

Overall

4/10

Academics

4/10

Resources

4/10

Outcomes

4/10

Value

WKU is rated within the lower 35% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 4 out of 10. Learn how ratings are calculated

Rankings

Rankings for Western Kentucky University within the 2024 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.

View the CollegeSimply ranking methodology.

Getting In

Admission Standards

Easy
Western Kentucky University overview
SAT 980/1170
ACT 18/25
GPA 3.42

Applications Accepted

96.9% 
Western Kentucky University overview
Applications Due Aug 1, 2025
Applicant Competition Very Low
Application Fee $50

Explore admissions requirements

Annual Cost to Attend

Kentucky Resident Tuition

$11,112
In State Costs for Western Kentucky University
Fee Cost
Books and Supplies$1,000
Other Fees$0
Room and Board $11,072
Budget for Other Expenses$2,264
Total One Year Cost$25,448

Out of State Resident Tuition

$27,000
Out of State Costs for Western Kentucky University
Fee Cost
Books and Supplies$1,000
Other Fees$0
Room and Board $11,072
Budget for Other Expenses$2,264
Total One Year Cost$41,336

Tuition and financial aid details

Outcomes

Average Salary After 10 Years

$37,100 per year

Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate

50% within 6 years

Explore Post Graduation Outcomes

Popular Areas of Study

Popular subjects studied by Western Kentucky University students
Subject Percent of Class
Business 16%
Education 12%
Health Professions 11%
Liberal Arts and Humanities 10%
Social Sciences 8%

View All 98 Majors

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Questions and Answers

CollegeSimply Advisor posts about Western Kentucky University.

Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=157951 IPEDS survey data for Western Kentucky University.

Current students may use the Western Kentucky University GPA calculator to determine their current college GPA.

Last updated February 24, 2024