WKU vs. Ferris State University

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

WKU Ferris State University
Location Bowling Green, KY Big Rapids, MI
Setting Small City Remote Town
Enrollment 16,493 10,072
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #875 #791
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wku.edu ferris.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

WKU Ferris State University
Tuition (In State) $11,112 $13,076
Tuition (Out of State) $27,000 $13,076
Room & Board $11,072 $10,268
Avg Net Price $12,625 $13,978
Avg Grant Aid $10,260 $11,128
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 94%

Admission

WKU Ferris State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,505 12,228
Admitted 7,276 10,746
Acceptance Rate 96.9% 87.9%
Enrolled % 37.9% 16.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 3.3
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/25 18/23
SAT Range 980/1170 910/1150
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

Academics

WKU Ferris State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Health Professions (19%)
  • Engineering Technology (15%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)

Outcomes

WKU Ferris State University
Graduation Rate 50% 45%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,100 $47,000
Making Student Loan Payments 47% 58%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,250 $24,179
Median Loan Payment $250 $250

Diversity

WKU Ferris State University
% Men 37% 45%
% Women 63% 55%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 76% 79%
% Black 10% 8%
% Hispanic 3% 4%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 6% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

WKU Ferris State University
% In-State 70% 92%
% Out-of-State 29% 6%

Campus

WKU Ferris State University
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 Ferris State University based on total student enrollment (16,493 students vs. 10,072 students)

WKU vs. Ferris State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WKU or Ferris State University?

  • Ferris State University is 17.7% more expensive to attend than WKU for in-state tuition ($13,076.00 vs. $11,112.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 106.5% higher at WKU than Ferris State University ($27,000.00 vs. $13,076.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than Ferris State University ($12,625 vs. $13,978)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ferris State University are 7.8% lower than costs at Western Kentucky University ($10,268 vs. $11,072)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Western Kentucky University than Ferris State University (99% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ferris State University students is 8.5% larger than aid received Western Kentucky University ($11,128 vs. $10,260)

WKU vs. Ferris State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Western Kentucky University (1047) is 38 points higher than at Ferris State University (1009)
  • Incoming WKU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Ferris State University (22)
  • Accepted freshman WKU students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Ferris State University (3.3)
  • WKU has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) than Ferris State University (87.9%)

WKU vs. Ferris State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, WKU or Ferris State University? 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 Ferris State University and WKU.

  • The graduation rate at WKU is higher than Ferris State University (50% vs. 45%)
  • Graduates from Ferris State University earn on average $9,900 more per year than WKU graduates after ten years. ($47,000 vs. $37,100)
  • Ferris State University students graduate with a $71 lower median federal student loan debt than WKU graduates. ($24,179 vs. $24,250)
  • Ferris State University and WKU graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($250 vs. $250)
  • More Ferris State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WKU students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 47%)

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