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UNCW ECU WCU University of North Carolina at Asheville NC State UNC Charlotte UNC Chapel Hill Eastern Murray State University JMU Tennessee Kentucky| Western Kentucky University | Appalachian State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
WKU | ASU | ||
| Location | Bowling Green, KY | Boone, NC | ||
| Setting | Small City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 16,493 | 20,436 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #875 | #594 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wku.edu | appstate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WKU | ASU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,112 | $4,242 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $27,000 | $20,246 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,072 | $11,582 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $12,625 | $13,084 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,260 | $7,443 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 47% |
Admission |
WKU | ASU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,505 | 22,255 | ||
| Admitted | 7,276 | 18,489 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 96.9% | 83.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 37.9% | 21.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.96 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/25 | 21/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 980/1170 | 1100/1270 | ||
| 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 | Feb 1, 2024 |
Academics |
WKU | ASU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
WKU | ASU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 50% | 65% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,100 | $41,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 47% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | $20,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | $211 |
Diversity |
WKU | ASU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 37% | 42% | ||
| % Women | 63% | 58% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 76% | 85% | ||
| % Black | 10% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 6% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 2% |
Students |
WKU | ASU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 70% | 87% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 29% | 13% | ||
Campus |
WKU | ASU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Appalachian State University is larger than than WKU based on total student enrollment (20,436 students vs. 16,493 students)
WKU vs. ASU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WKU or ASU?
- Western Kentucky University is 162% more expensive to attend than ASU for in-state tuition ($11,112.00 vs. $4,242.00)
- Out of state tuition is 33.4% higher at WKU than Appalachian State University ($27,000.00 vs. $20,246.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than ASU ($12,625 vs. $13,084)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Kentucky University are 4.6% lower than costs at Appalachian State University ($11,072 vs. $11,582)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Kentucky University than Appalachian State University (99% vs. 47%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Western Kentucky University students is 37.8% larger than aid received Appalachian State University ($10,260 vs. $7,443)
WKU vs. ASU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, WKU or ASU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ASU or WKU .
- The average SAT score at Appalachian State University (1157) is 110 points higher than at WKU (1047)
- Incoming ASU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at WKU (23)
- Accepted freshman ASU students have a 0.54 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at WKU (3.42)
- WKU has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) than ASU (83.1%)
WKU vs. ASU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, WKU or ASU? 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 ASU and WKU.
- The graduation rate at ASU is higher than Western Kentucky University (65% vs. 50%)
- Graduates from Appalachian State University earn on average $4,500 more per year than WKU graduates after ten years. ($41,600 vs. $37,100)
- Appalachian State University students graduate with a $3,750 lower median federal student loan debt than WKU graduates. ($20,500 vs. $24,250)
- ASU graduates are paying $39 less per month on federal student loans than WKU graduates. ($211 vs. $250)
- More ASU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WKU students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 47%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/