Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
ECU ASU Eastern Murray State University Kentucky UNC Charlotte UNCW Louisville University of North Carolina at Asheville UTC ETSU UNCG| Western Kentucky University | Western Carolina University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
WKU | WCU | ||
| Location | Bowling Green, KY | Cullowhee, NC | ||
| Setting | Small City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 16,493 | 11,635 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #875 | #763 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wku.edu | wcu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WKU | WCU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,112 | $1,000 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $27,000 | $5,000 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,072 | $11,173 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $12,625 | $13,022 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,260 | $4,526 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 99% |
Admission |
WKU | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,505 | 17,917 | ||
| Admitted | 7,276 | 15,201 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 96.9% | 84.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 37.9% | 12.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.44 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/25 | 19/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 980/1170 | 1020/1240 | ||
| 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 | Mar 1, 2024 |
Academics |
WKU | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 16:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
WKU | WCU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 50% | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,100 | $39,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 47% | 58% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | $22,010 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | $227 |
Diversity |
WKU | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 37% | 41% | ||
| % Women | 63% | 59% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 76% | 79% | ||
| % Black | 10% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 6% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
WKU | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 70% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 29% | 18% | ||
Campus |
WKU | WCU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Western Kentucky University is larger than than WCU based on total student enrollment (16,493 students vs. 11,635 students)
WKU vs. WCU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WKU or WCU?
- Western Kentucky University is 1,011.2% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($11,112.00 vs. $1,000.00)
- Out of state tuition is 440% higher at WKU than Western Carolina University ($27,000.00 vs. $5,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than WCU ($12,625 vs. $13,022)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Kentucky University are 0.9% lower than costs at Western Carolina University ($11,072 vs. $11,173)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Western Kentucky University as Western Carolina University (99% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Western Kentucky University students is 126.7% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($10,260 vs. $4,526)
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 Western Kentucky University (1047) is 15 points higher than at WCU (1032)
- Incoming WKU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at WCU (22)
- Accepted freshman WCU students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.44) than students at WKU (3.42)
- WKU has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) than WCU (84.8%)
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 WKU is the same as at Western Carolina University (50% vs. 50%)
- Graduates from Western Carolina University earn on average $2,000 more per year than WKU graduates after ten years. ($39,100 vs. $37,100)
- Western Carolina University students graduate with a $2,240 lower median federal student loan debt than WKU graduates. ($22,010 vs. $24,250)
- WCU graduates are paying $23 less per month on federal student loans than WKU graduates. ($227 vs. $250)
- More WCU 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/