Dominican vs. WKU

Dominican University and Western Kentucky University side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Dominican University
Western Kentucky University

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Dominican (90.3% admitted vs 93.9%). Typical SAT 990 vs 950.
  • Cheaper after aid: WKU. Average net price is $12,548 vs $13,402 at Dominican.
  • Graduation: Dominican 63% vs WKU 50%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Dominican $48,000 vs WKU $37,100 (median).
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Key differences

Dominican University Western Kentucky University
Acceptance rate
Dominican more selective
Dominican90.3%
WKU93.9%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Dominican higher
Dominican880-1100
WKU840-1050
Average net price
WKU $854 less
Dominican$13,402
WKU$12,548
In-state tuition
WKU $27,326 less
Dominican$38,978
WKU$11,652
Out-of-state tuition
WKU $11,978 less
Dominican$38,978
WKU$27,000
Graduation rate
Dominican +13 pts
Dominican63%
WKU50%
Median earnings (10 years)
Dominican +$10,900
Dominican$48,000
WKU$37,100

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Dominican 6,873
  • WKU 9,840
  • Admitted
  • Dominican 6,208
  • WKU 9,237
  • Acceptance rate
  • Dominican 90.3%
  • WKU 93.9%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Dominican 12.1%
  • WKU 30.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Dominican 990
  • WKU 950
  • Typical ACT score
  • Dominican 21
  • WKU 18
  • Average high school GPA
  • Dominican 3.74
  • WKU 3.42
  • Typical high school grades
  • Dominican A-
  • WKU B+
  • Admissions standards
  • Dominican Very Easy
  • WKU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant competition
  • Dominican
  • WKU
  • SAT range
  • Dominican 880-1100
  • WKU 840-1050
  • ACT range
  • Dominican 16-26
  • WKU 16-21
  • Submit test scores
  • Dominican Test optional
  • WKU Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Dominican Aug 31, 2027
  • WKU Aug 1, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Dominican $38,978
  • WKU $11,652
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Dominican $38,978
  • WKU $27,000
  • Room & board
  • Dominican $12,716
  • WKU $12,582
  • Average net price
  • Dominican $13,402
  • WKU $12,548
  • Average grant aid
  • Dominican $30,756
  • WKU $10,921
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Dominican 100%
  • WKU 99%
  • Graduation rate
  • Dominican 63%
  • WKU 50%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Dominican $48,000
  • WKU $37,100
  • Making student loan payments
  • Dominican 64%
  • WKU 47%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Dominican $25,000
  • WKU $24,250
  • Median loan payment
  • Dominican $258
  • WKU $250
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Dominican 12:1
  • WKU 19:1
  • Popular majors
  • Dominican
    • Business (29%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • WKU
    • Business (16%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Location
  • Dominican River Forest, IL
  • WKU Bowling Green, KY
  • Setting
  • Dominican Large Suburban
  • WKU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Dominican 3,803
  • WKU 16,291
  • Type
  • Dominican Private 4 Year
  • WKU Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Dominican #501
  • WKU #970

Comparable Facts

Compare Dominican University in River Forest, IL with Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, KY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Western Kentucky University is larger than Dominican based on total student enrollment (16,291 students vs. 3,803 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Dominican University is located in River Forest, IL (Large Suburban setting); Western Kentucky University is in Bowling Green, KY (Small City setting).
  • Dominican University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Western Kentucky University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Dominican University 12:1; Western Kentucky University 19:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Kentucky University are 1.1% lower than at Dominican University ($12,582 vs. $12,716).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 44.4% higher at Dominican than at Western Kentucky University (about $11,978 more per year; $38,978 vs. $27,000).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dominican University than at Western Kentucky University (100% vs. 99%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Dominican University students is 181.6% larger than aid received by Western Kentucky University students ($30,756 vs. $10,921).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 3 points higher at Dominican than at WKU (21 vs. 18, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Dominican and WKU.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Dominican Aug 31, 2027; WKU Aug 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Dominican average a 3.74 high school GPA, 0.32 higher than at WKU (3.42).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.1% at Dominican vs. 30.2% at WKU.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Kentucky University graduates have a $750 lower median loan debt than Dominican graduates ($24,250 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, WKU graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Dominican graduates ($250 vs. $258).
  • More Dominican graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WKU students, three years after graduation (64% vs. 47%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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