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Temple Eastern Murray State University Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Kentucky Millersville University of Pennsylvania Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Penn State TU Drexel Louisville WVU| Western Kentucky University | West Chester University of Pennsylvania | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
WKU | WCU | ||
| Location | Bowling Green, KY | West Chester, PA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 16,493 | 17,275 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #875 | #496 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wku.edu | wcupa.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WKU | WCU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,112 | $7,716 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $27,000 | $19,290 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,072 | $14,228 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $12,625 | $22,973 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,260 | $5,443 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 64% |
Admission |
WKU | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,505 | 14,778 | ||
| Admitted | 7,276 | 12,982 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 96.9% | 87.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 37.9% | 23.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.43 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/25 | 23/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 980/1170 | 1080/1260 | ||
| 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 | WCU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 20:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
WKU | WCU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 50% | 68% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,100 | $49,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 47% | 75% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | $23,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | $242 |
Diversity |
WKU | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 37% | 39% | ||
| % Women | 63% | 61% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 76% | 78% | ||
| % Black | 10% | 11% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 6% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 0% |
Students |
WKU | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 70% | 87% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 29% | 12% | ||
Campus |
WKU | WCU | ||
| 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
- West Chester University of Pennsylvania is larger than than WKU based on total student enrollment (17,275 students vs. 16,493 students)
WKU vs. WCU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WKU or WCU?
- Western Kentucky University is 44% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($11,112.00 vs. $7,716.00)
- Out of state tuition is 40% higher at WKU than West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($27,000.00 vs. $19,290.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than WCU ($12,625 vs. $22,973)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Kentucky University are 28.5% lower than costs at West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($11,072 vs. $14,228)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Kentucky University than West Chester University of Pennsylvania (99% vs. 64%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Western Kentucky University students is 88.5% larger than aid received West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($10,260 vs. $5,443)
WKU vs. WCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, WKU or WCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WCU or WKU .
- The average SAT score at West Chester University of Pennsylvania (1072) is 25 points higher than at WKU (1047)
- Incoming WCU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at WKU (23)
- Accepted freshman WCU students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.43) than students at WKU (3.42)
- WKU has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) than WCU (87.8%)
WKU vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, WKU or WCU? 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 WCU and WKU.
- The graduation rate at WCU is higher than Western Kentucky University (68% vs. 50%)
- Graduates from West Chester University of Pennsylvania earn on average $11,900 more per year than WKU graduates after ten years. ($49,000 vs. $37,100)
- West Chester University of Pennsylvania students graduate with a $750 lower median federal student loan debt than WKU graduates. ($23,500 vs. $24,250)
- WCU graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than WKU graduates. ($242 vs. $250)
- More WCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WKU students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 47%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/