Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Ole Miss Eastern Murray State University Kentucky Auburn Louisville UTC Texas Tech Alabama Memphis LSU ASU| Western Kentucky University | Mississippi State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
WKU | Mississippi State | ||
| Location | Bowling Green, KY | Mississippi State, MS | ||
| Setting | Small City | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 16,493 | 22,649 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #875 | #523 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wku.edu | msstate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WKU | Mississippi State | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,112 | $9,248 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $27,000 | $25,294 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,072 | $10,964 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $12,625 | $15,364 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,260 | $14,252 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 98% |
Admission |
WKU | Mississippi State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,505 | 18,830 | ||
| Admitted | 7,276 | 14,158 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 96.9% | 75.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 37.9% | 23.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.58 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/25 | 21/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 980/1170 | 1070/1280 | ||
| 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 | Aug 1, 2024 |
Academics |
WKU | Mississippi State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 16:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
WKU | Mississippi State | ||
| Graduation Rate | 50% | 60% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,100 | $47,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 47% | 63% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | $23,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | $240 |
Diversity |
WKU | Mississippi State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 37% | 49% | ||
| % Women | 63% | 51% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 76% | 72% | ||
| % Black | 10% | 20% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 6% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
WKU | Mississippi State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 70% | 59% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 29% | 40% | ||
Campus |
WKU | Mississippi State | ||
| 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
- Mississippi State University is larger than than WKU based on total student enrollment (22,649 students vs. 16,493 students)
WKU vs. Mississippi State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WKU or Mississippi State?
- Western Kentucky University is 20.2% more expensive to attend than Mississippi State for in-state tuition ($11,112.00 vs. $9,248.00)
- Out of state tuition is 6.7% higher at WKU than Mississippi State University ($27,000.00 vs. $25,294.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than Mississippi State ($12,625 vs. $15,364)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mississippi State University are 1% lower than costs at Western Kentucky University ($10,964 vs. $11,072)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Kentucky University than Mississippi State University (99% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Mississippi State University students is 38.9% larger than aid received Western Kentucky University ($14,252 vs. $10,260)
WKU vs. Mississippi State Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, WKU or Mississippi State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Mississippi State or WKU .
- The average SAT score at Mississippi State University (1140) is 93 points higher than at WKU (1047)
- Incoming Mississippi State students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at WKU (23)
- Accepted freshman Mississippi State students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.58) than students at WKU (3.42)
- WKU has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) than Mississippi State (75.2%)
WKU vs. Mississippi State Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, WKU or Mississippi State? 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 Mississippi State and WKU.
- The graduation rate at Mississippi State is higher than Western Kentucky University (60% vs. 50%)
- Graduates from Mississippi State University earn on average $10,400 more per year than WKU graduates after ten years. ($47,500 vs. $37,100)
- Mississippi State University students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than WKU graduates. ($23,250 vs. $24,250)
- Mississippi State graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than WKU graduates. ($240 vs. $250)
- More Mississippi State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WKU students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 47%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/