KWC vs. ETSU

Deciding between Kentucky Wesleyan College and East Tennessee State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Kentucky Wesleyan College
East Tennessee State University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • KWC Owensboro, KY
  • ETSU Johnson City, TN
  • Setting
  • KWC Small City
  • ETSU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • KWC 887
  • ETSU 13,728
  • Type
  • KWC Private 4 Year
  • ETSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • KWC
  • ETSU #650
  • Religious Affiliation
  • KWC United Methodist
  • ETSU -
  • Status
  • KWC Non-profit
  • ETSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • KWC
  • ETSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • KWC $34,673
  • ETSU $10,472
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • KWC $34,673
  • ETSU $14,522
  • Room & Board
  • KWC $11,855
  • ETSU $10,554
  • Average Net Price
  • KWC $20,999
  • ETSU $16,286
  • Average Grant Aid
  • KWC $25,538
  • ETSU $10,101
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • KWC 100%
  • ETSU 87%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • KWC 2,113
  • ETSU 10,050
  • Admitted
  • KWC 1,513
  • ETSU 8,662
  • Acceptance Rate
  • KWC 71.6%
  • ETSU 86.2%
  • Enrolled
  • KWC 17.7%
  • ETSU 24.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • KWC 1010
  • ETSU 1090
  • Typical ACT score
  • KWC 19
  • ETSU 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • KWC 3.3
  • ETSU 3.33
  • Typical High School Grades
  • KWC B+
  • ETSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • KWC Extremely Easy
  • ETSU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • KWC Low
  • ETSU
  • ACT Range
  • KWC 16/23
  • ETSU 19/26
  • SAT Range
  • KWC 890/1130
  • ETSU 980/1200
  • Submit Test Scores
  • KWC Test optional
  • ETSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • KWC
  • ETSU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • KWC 15:1
  • ETSU 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • KWC
    • Education (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • ETSU
    • Health Professions (20%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • KWC 44%
  • ETSU 44%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • KWC $38,500
  • ETSU $40,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • KWC 54%
  • ETSU 50%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • KWC $22,907
  • ETSU $20,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • KWC $236
  • ETSU $211

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • KWC 50%
  • ETSU 39%
  • % Women
  • KWC 50%
  • ETSU 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • KWC Low
  • ETSU Very Low
  • HBCU
  • KWC No
  • ETSU No
  • % White
  • KWC 73%
  • ETSU 82%
  • % Asian
  • KWC 0%
  • ETSU 1%
  • % Black
  • KWC 15%
  • ETSU 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • KWC 1%
  • ETSU 2%
  • % Native American
  • KWC 0%
  • ETSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • KWC 0%
  • ETSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • KWC 0%
  • ETSU 3%
  • % International
  • KWC 0%
  • ETSU 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • KWC 9%
  • ETSU 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • KWC 56%
  • ETSU 74%
  • % Out-of-State
  • KWC 38%
  • ETSU 24%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • KWC Yes
  • ETSU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • KWC No
  • ETSU No
  • Meal Plan
  • KWC Yes
  • ETSU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • KWC No
  • ETSU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • KWC No
  • ETSU Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, KY with East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

East Tennessee State University is larger than KWC based on total student enrollment (13,728 students vs. 887 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Kentucky Wesleyan College is located in Owensboro, KY (Small City setting); East Tennessee State University is in Johnson City, TN (Small City setting).
  • Kentucky Wesleyan College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. East Tennessee State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Kentucky Wesleyan College 15:1; East Tennessee State University 15:1.

KWC vs. ETSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, KWC or ETSU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at East Tennessee State University than KWC ($16,286 vs. $20,999).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Tennessee State University are 11% lower than at Kentucky Wesleyan College ($10,554 vs. $11,855).
  • Kentucky Wesleyan College is 231.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than ETSU (about $24,201 more per year; $34,673.00 vs. $10,472.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 138.8% higher at KWC than at East Tennessee State University (about $20,151 more per year; $34,673.00 vs. $14,522.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kentucky Wesleyan College than at East Tennessee State University (100% vs. 87%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Kentucky Wesleyan College students is 152.8% larger than aid received by East Tennessee State University students ($25,538 vs. $10,101).

KWC vs. ETSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, KWC or ETSU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between ETSU and KWC.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at East Tennessee State University (1090) is 80 points higher than at KWC (1010).
  • Incoming ETSU students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (22 vs. 19 at KWC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Kentucky Wesleyan College 890/1130; East Tennessee State University 980/1200.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Kentucky Wesleyan College 16/23; East Tennessee State University 19/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: KWC - Test optional; ETSU - Test optional.
  • Enrolled freshman ETSU students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.33) than students at KWC (3.3).
  • ETSU has a higher acceptance rate (86.2%) than KWC (71.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.7% at KWC vs. 24.7% at ETSU.

KWC vs. ETSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for KWC and ETSU? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • The graduation rate at KWC is the same as at East Tennessee State University (44% vs. 44%).
  • Graduates from East Tennessee State University earn a median of about $1,500 more per year than KWC graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,000 vs. $38,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, East Tennessee State University graduates have a $2,407 lower median loan debt than KWC graduates ($20,500 vs. $22,907).
  • Among borrowers, ETSU graduates have an estimated $25 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than KWC graduates ($211 vs. $236).
  • More KWC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ETSU students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 50%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.