KWC vs. Warren Wilson

Comparable Facts

Compare Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, KY with Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Kentucky Wesleyan College is larger than Warren Wilson based on total student enrollment (887 students vs. 791 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Kentucky Wesleyan College is located in Owensboro, KY (Small City setting); Warren Wilson College is in Swannanoa, NC (Midsize Suburban setting).
• Kentucky Wesleyan College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Warren Wilson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Kentucky Wesleyan College 15:1; Warren Wilson College 12:1.

KWC vs. Warren Wilson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, KWC or Warren Wilson? 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 Kentucky Wesleyan College than Warren Wilson ($20,999 vs. $26,084).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kentucky Wesleyan College are 9.2% lower than at Warren Wilson College ($11,855 vs. $13,050).
• Warren Wilson College is 19.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than KWC (about $6,827 more per year; $41,500.00 vs. $34,673.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.7% higher at Warren Wilson than at Kentucky Wesleyan College (about $6,827 more per year; $41,500.00 vs. $34,673.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Kentucky Wesleyan College as at Warren Wilson College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Warren Wilson College students is 20.9% larger than aid received by Kentucky Wesleyan College students ($30,887 vs. $25,538).

KWC vs. Warren Wilson Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, KWC or Warren Wilson? 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 Warren Wilson and KWC.

• Incoming Warren Wilson students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (25 vs. 19 at KWC).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Kentucky Wesleyan College 890/1130.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Kentucky Wesleyan College 16/23; Warren Wilson College 21/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: KWC - Test optional; Warren Wilson - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Warren Wilson Jul 3, 2027.
• Enrolled freshman Warren Wilson students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at KWC (3.3).
• KWC has a higher acceptance rate (71.6%) than Warren Wilson (71.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.7% at KWC vs. 17.9% at Warren Wilson.

KWC vs. Warren Wilson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for KWC and Warren Wilson? 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.

• Warren Wilson College's six-year graduation rate (45%) is higher than Kentucky Wesleyan College's (44%).
• Graduates from Kentucky Wesleyan College earn a median of about $7,700 more per year than Warren Wilson graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,500 vs. $30,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Kentucky Wesleyan College graduates have a $93 lower median loan debt than Warren Wilson graduates ($22,907 vs. $23,000).
• Among borrowers, KWC graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Warren Wilson graduates ($236 vs. $237).
• More Warren Wilson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former KWC students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 54%)

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.