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Eastern Murray State University Kentucky Louisville Middle Tennessee State University UTC WCU Tennessee Austin Peay State University ECU NKU University of Southern Indiana| Western Kentucky University | East Tennessee State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
WKU | ETSU | ||
| Location | Bowling Green, KY | Johnson City, TN | ||
| Setting | Small City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 16,759 | 13,586 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #968 | #702 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wku.edu | etsu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WKU | ETSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,436 | $7,950 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $27,000 | $11,790 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,043 | $10,270 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $12,054 | $16,033 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,906 | $9,228 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 85% |
Admission |
WKU | ETSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,720 | 9,903 | ||
| Admitted | 7,492 | 8,622 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 97% | 87.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 37.7% | 24.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.33 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 16/20 | 19/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 820/1010 | 950/1170 | ||
| 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, 2025 |
Academics |
WKU | ETSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
WKU | ETSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 50% | 44% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,100 | $40,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 47% | 50% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | $20,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | $211 |
Diversity |
WKU | ETSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 7% | ||
| % Women | 9% | 14% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 76% | 82% | ||
| % Black | 10% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 6% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
WKU | ETSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 70% | 78% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 29% | 20% | ||
Campus |
WKU | ETSU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Western Kentucky University is larger than than ETSU based on total student enrollment (16,759 students vs. 13,586 students)
WKU vs. ETSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WKU or ETSU?
- Western Kentucky University is 43.8% more expensive to attend than ETSU for in-state tuition ($11,436.00 vs. $7,950.00)
- Out of state tuition is 129% higher at WKU than East Tennessee State University ($27,000.00 vs. $11,790.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than ETSU ($12,054 vs. $16,033)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Tennessee State University are 17.3% lower than costs at Western Kentucky University ($10,270 vs. $12,043)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Kentucky University than East Tennessee State University (99% vs. 85%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Western Kentucky University students is 18.2% larger than aid received East Tennessee State University ($10,906 vs. $9,228)
WKU vs. ETSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, WKU or ETSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ETSU or WKU .
- The average SAT score at East Tennessee State University (1068) is 21 points higher than at WKU (1047)
- Incoming WKU students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at ETSU (23)
- Accepted freshman WKU students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at ETSU (3.33)
- WKU has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than ETSU (87.1%)
WKU vs. ETSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, WKU or ETSU? 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 ETSU and WKU.
- The graduation rate at WKU is higher than East Tennessee State University (50% vs. 44%)
- Graduates from East Tennessee State University earn on average $2,900 more per year than WKU graduates after ten years. ($40,000 vs. $37,100)
- East Tennessee State University students graduate with a $3,750 lower median federal student loan debt than WKU graduates. ($20,500 vs. $24,250)
- ETSU graduates are paying $39 less per month on federal student loans than WKU graduates. ($211 vs. $250)
- More ETSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WKU students, three years after graduation. (50% vs. 47%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/