KWC vs. Kentucky

Kentucky Wesleyan College and University of Kentucky side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Kentucky Wesleyan College
University of Kentucky

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: KWC (71.6% admitted vs 92.9%). Typical SAT 1010 vs 1180.
  • Cheaper after aid: about even. Average net price is $20,999 at KWC vs $21,958 at Kentucky. KWC in-state tuition is about $21,171 more per year.
  • Graduation: KWC 44% vs Kentucky 59%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: KWC $38,500 vs Kentucky $51,000 (median).
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Key differences

Kentucky Wesleyan College University of Kentucky
Acceptance rate
KWC more selective
KWC71.6%
Kentucky92.9%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Kentucky higher
KWC890-1130
Kentucky1070-1290
Average net price
About even
KWC$20,999
Kentucky$21,958
In-state tuition
Kentucky $21,171 less
KWC$34,673
Kentucky$13,502
Out-of-state tuition
Kentucky $533 less
KWC$34,673
Kentucky$34,140
Graduation rate
Kentucky +15 pts
KWC44%
Kentucky59%
Median earnings (10 years)
Kentucky +$12,500
KWC$38,500
Kentucky$51,000

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • KWC 2,113
  • Kentucky 31,517
  • Admitted
  • KWC 1,513
  • Kentucky 29,293
  • Acceptance rate
  • KWC 71.6%
  • Kentucky 92.9%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • KWC 17.7%
  • Kentucky 22.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • KWC 1010
  • Kentucky 1180
  • Typical ACT score
  • KWC 19
  • Kentucky 24
  • Average high school GPA
  • KWC 3.3
  • Kentucky 3.59
  • Typical high school grades
  • KWC B+
  • Kentucky A-
  • Admissions standards
  • KWC Extremely Easy
  • Kentucky Challenging
  • Applicant competition
  • KWC Low
  • Kentucky
  • SAT range
  • KWC 890-1130
  • Kentucky 1070-1290
  • ACT range
  • KWC 16-23
  • Kentucky 21-28
  • Submit test scores
  • KWC Test optional
  • Kentucky Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • KWC
  • Kentucky Feb 15, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • KWC $34,673
  • Kentucky $13,502
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • KWC $34,673
  • Kentucky $34,140
  • Room & board
  • KWC $11,855
  • Kentucky $16,016
  • Average net price
  • KWC $20,999
  • Kentucky $21,958
  • Average grant aid
  • KWC $25,538
  • Kentucky $12,898
  • % receiving grant aid
  • KWC 100%
  • Kentucky 95%
  • Graduation rate
  • KWC 44%
  • Kentucky 59%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • KWC $38,500
  • Kentucky $51,000
  • Making student loan payments
  • KWC 54%
  • Kentucky 62%
  • Median student loan debt
  • KWC $22,907
  • Kentucky $22,750
  • Median loan payment
  • KWC $236
  • Kentucky $235
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • KWC 15:1
  • Kentucky 18:1
  • Popular majors
  • KWC
    • Education (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Kentucky
    • Business (19%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Location
  • KWC Owensboro, KY
  • Kentucky Lexington, KY
  • Setting
  • KWC Small City
  • Kentucky Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • KWC 887
  • Kentucky 34,709
  • Type
  • KWC Private 4 Year
  • Kentucky Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • KWC
  • Kentucky #437

Comparable Facts

Compare Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, KY with University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of Kentucky is larger than KWC based on total student enrollment (34,709 students vs. 887 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Kentucky Wesleyan College is located in Owensboro, KY (Small City setting); University of Kentucky is in Lexington, KY (Large City setting).
  • Kentucky Wesleyan College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Kentucky is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Kentucky Wesleyan College 15:1; University of Kentucky 18:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kentucky Wesleyan College are 26% lower than at University of Kentucky ($11,855 vs. $16,016).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.6% higher at KWC than at University of Kentucky (about $533 more per year; $34,673 vs. $34,140).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kentucky Wesleyan College than at University of Kentucky (100% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Kentucky Wesleyan College students is 98% larger than aid received by University of Kentucky students ($25,538 vs. $12,898).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 5 points higher at Kentucky than at KWC (24 vs. 19, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both KWC and Kentucky.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Kentucky Feb 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Kentucky average a 3.59 high school GPA, 0.29 higher than at KWC (3.3).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.7% at KWC vs. 22.2% at Kentucky.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Kentucky graduates have a $157 lower median loan debt than KWC graduates ($22,750 vs. $22,907).
  • Among borrowers, Kentucky graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than KWC graduates ($235 vs. $236).
  • More Kentucky graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former KWC students, three years after graduation (62% vs. 54%).

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

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