Elmhurst College vs. WKU

Should I go to Elmhurst College or Western Kentucky University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Elmhurst College or WKU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Elmhurst College vs. Western Kentucky University comparison
Elmhurst College Western Kentucky University College 3 College 4
Elmhurst College Western Kentucky University
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Overview

Elmhurst College WKU
Location Elmhurst, IL Bowling Green, KY
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 3,731 16,493
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #380 #875
Religious Affiliation United Church of Christ - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website elmhurst.edu wku.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Elmhurst College WKU
Tuition (In State) $39,862 $11,112
Tuition (Out of State) $39,862 $27,000
Room & Board $11,250 $11,072
Avg Net Price $24,108 $12,625
Avg Grant Aid $27,835 $10,260
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 99%

Admission

Elmhurst College WKU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,731 7,505
Admitted 4,356 7,276
Acceptance Rate 76% 96.9%
Enrolled % 14.2% 37.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.59 3.42
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/27 18/25
SAT Range 980/1240 980/1170
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, 2024

Academics

Elmhurst College WKU
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)

Outcomes

Elmhurst College WKU
Graduation Rate 70% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $50,200 $37,100
Making Student Loan Payments 72% 47%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $24,250
Median Loan Payment $222 $250

Diversity

Elmhurst College WKU
% Men 38% 37%
% Women 62% 63%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 76%
% Black 5% 10%
% Hispanic 17% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 0% 6%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

Elmhurst College WKU
% In-State 78% 70%
% Out-of-State 13% 29%

Campus

Elmhurst College WKU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Western Kentucky University is larger than than Elmhurst College based on total student enrollment (16,493 students vs. 3,731 students)

Elmhurst College vs. WKU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Elmhurst College or WKU?

  • Elmhurst College is 258.7% more expensive to attend than WKU for in-state tuition ($39,862.00 vs. $11,112.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 47.6% higher at Elmhurst College than Western Kentucky University ($39,862.00 vs. $27,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than Elmhurst College ($12,625 vs. $24,108)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Kentucky University are 1.6% lower than costs at Elmhurst College ($11,072 vs. $11,250)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Elmhurst College as Western Kentucky University (99% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Elmhurst College students is 171.3% larger than aid received Western Kentucky University ($27,835 vs. $10,260)

Elmhurst College vs. WKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Elmhurst College or WKU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WKU or Elmhurst College .

  • The average SAT score at Elmhurst College (1090) is 43 points higher than at WKU (1047)
  • Incoming Elmhurst College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at WKU (23)
  • Accepted freshman Elmhurst College students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at WKU (3.42)
  • WKU has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) than Elmhurst College (76%)

Elmhurst College vs. WKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Elmhurst College or WKU? 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 WKU and Elmhurst College.

  • The graduation rate at Elmhurst College is higher than Western Kentucky University (70% vs. 50%)
  • Graduates from Elmhurst College earn on average $13,100 more per year than WKU graduates after ten years. ($50,200 vs. $37,100)
  • Elmhurst College students graduate with a $2,750 lower median federal student loan debt than WKU graduates. ($21,500 vs. $24,250)
  • Elmhurst College graduates are paying $28 less per month on federal student loans than WKU graduates. ($222 vs. $250)
  • More Elmhurst College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WKU students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 47%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/