WKU vs. BGSU

Should I go to Western Kentucky University or Bowling Green State University Main Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if WKU or BGSU 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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Western Kentucky University vs. Bowling Green State University Main Campus comparison
Western Kentucky University Bowling Green State University Main Campus College 3 College 4
Western Kentucky University Bowling Green State University Main Campus
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Overview

 WKU BGSU
Location Bowling Green, KY Bowling Green, OH
Setting Small City Distant Town
Enrollment 16,759 17,027
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #968 #687
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wku.edu bgsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 WKU BGSU
Tuition (In State) $11,436 $11,611
Tuition (Out of State) $27,000 $19,600
Room & Board $12,043 $11,784
Avg Net Price $12,054 $20,987
Avg Grant Aid $10,906 $8,795
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 94%

Admission

 WKU BGSU
Applied 7,720 18,629
Admitted 7,492 15,016
Acceptance Rate 97% 80.6%
Enrolled % 37.7% 20.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 3.6
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 16/20 20/26
SAT Range 820/1010 1020/1230
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, 2026 Jul 15, 2026

Academics

 WKU BGSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Education (19%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)

Outcomes

 WKU BGSU
Graduation Rate 50% 58%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,100 $43,600
Making Student Loan Payments 47% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,250 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $250 $268

Diversity

 WKU BGSU
% Men 4% 7%
% Women 9% 11%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 76% 78%
% Black 10% 10%
% Hispanic 3% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 6% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

 WKU BGSU
% In-State 70% 87%
% Out-of-State 29% 12%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus is larger than than WKU based on total student enrollment (17,027 students vs. 16,759 students)

WKU vs. BGSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WKU or BGSU?

  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus is 1.5% more expensive to attend than WKU for in-state tuition ($11,611.00 vs. $11,436.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 37.8% higher at WKU than Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($27,000.00 vs. $19,600.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than BGSU ($12,054 vs. $20,987)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowling Green State University Main Campus are 2.2% lower than costs at Western Kentucky University ($11,784 vs. $12,043)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Western Kentucky University than Bowling Green State University Main Campus (99% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Western Kentucky University students is 24% larger than aid received Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($10,906 vs. $8,795)

WKU vs. BGSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Western Kentucky University (1047) is 35 points higher than at BGSU (1012)
  • Incoming WKU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at BGSU (22)
  • Accepted freshman BGSU students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at WKU (3.42)
  • WKU has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than BGSU (80.6%)

WKU vs. BGSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, WKU or BGSU? 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 BGSU and WKU.

  • The graduation rate at BGSU is higher than Western Kentucky University (58% vs. 50%)
  • Graduates from Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn on average $6,500 more per year than WKU graduates after ten years. ($43,600 vs. $37,100)
  • Western Kentucky University students graduate with a $1,750 lower median federal student loan debt than BGSU graduates. ($24,250 vs. $26,000)
  • WKU graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than BGSU graduates. ($250 vs. $268)
  • More BGSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WKU students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 47%)

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