WKU vs. University of North Carolina at Asheville

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

WKU University of North Carolina at Asheville
Location Bowling Green, KY Asheville, NC
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 16,493 2,914
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #875 #444
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wku.edu unca.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

WKU University of North Carolina at Asheville
Tuition (In State) $11,112 $4,122
Tuition (Out of State) $27,000 $21,470
Room & Board $11,072 $10,556
Avg Net Price $12,625 $14,730
Avg Grant Aid $10,260 $6,491
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 90%

Admission

WKU University of North Carolina at Asheville
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,505 4,278
Admitted 7,276 3,179
Acceptance Rate 96.9% 74.3%
Enrolled % 37.9% 15.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 3.49
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/25 21/28
SAT Range 980/1170 1145/1340
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 University of North Carolina at Asheville
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Business (8%)
  • English and Literature (8%)

Outcomes

WKU University of North Carolina at Asheville
Graduation Rate 50% 61%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,100 $37,900
Making Student Loan Payments 47% 61%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,250 $20,641
Median Loan Payment $250 $213

Diversity

WKU University of North Carolina at Asheville
% Men 37% 42%
% Women 63% 58%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 76% 80%
% Black 10% 4%
% Hispanic 3% 5%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 6% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 4%

Students

WKU University of North Carolina at Asheville
% In-State 70% 82%
% Out-of-State 29% 16%

Campus

WKU University of North Carolina at Asheville
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

  • Western Kentucky University is larger than than University of North Carolina at Asheville based on total student enrollment (16,493 students vs. 2,914 students)

WKU vs. University of North Carolina at Asheville Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WKU or University of North Carolina at Asheville?

  • Western Kentucky University is 169.6% more expensive to attend than University of North Carolina at Asheville for in-state tuition ($11,112.00 vs. $4,122.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 25.8% higher at WKU than University of North Carolina at Asheville ($27,000.00 vs. $21,470.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than University of North Carolina at Asheville ($12,625 vs. $14,730)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Asheville are 4.9% lower than costs at Western Kentucky University ($10,556 vs. $11,072)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Western Kentucky University than University of North Carolina at Asheville (99% vs. 90%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Western Kentucky University students is 58.1% larger than aid received University of North Carolina at Asheville ($10,260 vs. $6,491)

WKU vs. University of North Carolina at Asheville Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of North Carolina at Asheville (1159) is 112 points higher than at WKU (1047)
  • Incoming University of North Carolina at Asheville students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at WKU (23)
  • Accepted freshman University of North Carolina at Asheville students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.49) than students at WKU (3.42)
  • WKU has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) than University of North Carolina at Asheville (74.3%)

WKU vs. University of North Carolina at Asheville Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, WKU or University of North Carolina at Asheville? 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 University of North Carolina at Asheville and WKU.

  • The graduation rate at University of North Carolina at Asheville is higher than Western Kentucky University (61% vs. 50%)
  • Graduates from University of North Carolina at Asheville earn on average $800 more per year than WKU graduates after ten years. ($37,900 vs. $37,100)
  • University of North Carolina at Asheville students graduate with a $3,609 lower median federal student loan debt than WKU graduates. ($20,641 vs. $24,250)
  • University of North Carolina at Asheville graduates are paying $37 less per month on federal student loans than WKU graduates. ($213 vs. $250)
  • More University of North Carolina at Asheville graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WKU students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 47%)

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