WKU Admission Requirements
Bowling Green, KentuckyChances of getting into Western Kentucky University
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance Rate
97.2%| Measure | Difficulty | |
|---|---|---|
| Admission Standards | Average | |
| Applicant Competition | Very Low |
How hard is it to get into WKU and can I get accepted? The school has a 97% acceptance rate ranking it #27 in Kentucky for lowest rate of acceptance. Last year, 8,992 out of 9,250 applicants were admitted making Western Kentucky University an easy school to get into with a very good chance of acceptance assuming you meet the requirements. Academically, it has average requirements for admission test scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 56 percent. Western Kentucky University typically accepts and attracts "B" average high school students. Only 33% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school. Most incoming freshmen graduated in the top half of their high school class.
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Calculate My ChancesWKU SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
SAT Range
980-1190Applicants Submitting SAT
9%| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 500 |
| SAT Math 25th | 480 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 980 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 600 |
| SAT Math 75th | 590 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1190 |
| Average SAT Score | 1090 |
SAT Scores you need to get in
What are the SAT requirements for students to be admitted to Western Kentucky University?
Western Kentucky University typically requires applicants to be in the top 64 percent of SAT test takers. The school consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 980 on a 1600 scale, below which admission should be considered a reach. We estimate some students could be accepted with SAT's as low as 870. The estimated average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1090 out of 1600. The school ranks #11 in Kentucky for highest average SAT composite score. 9 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school. Note: SAT scores presented on this page have been adjusted upwards per the College Board's concordance tables for test takers after March 2016.
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Estimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
| SAT Score (1600 scale) | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 1190 and Above | Good | >98% |
| 1085 to 1190 | Avg + | 97%-98% |
| 980 to 1085 | Avg - | 95%-97% |
| 875 to 980 | Reach | 92%-95% |
| Less than 875 | Low | <92% |
WKU ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
ACT Range
20-27Applicants Submitting ACT
95%| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 20 |
| ACT Math 25th | 18 |
| ACT Composite 25th | 20 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 75th | 28 |
| ACT Math 75th | 26 |
| ACT Composite 75th | 27 |
| Average ACT Score | 23 |
ACT Scores needed to get accepted
What are the ACT requirements for prospective students to get into WKU?
Admission data indicates that WKU regularly accepts students with ACT's of 20 and above. Successful applicants typically send ACT scores in the top 49 percent nationally. We estimate the school accepting minimum ACT composite scores around 16 in some instances. Prospective students submitting an ACT composite of 24 or higher should be in the upper half of applicants - and students with a 27 and above have very competitive chances. The school ranks #12 in Kentucky for highest average ACT composite score. Scoring well on the ACT is very important as 95 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to Western Kentucky University.
Estimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
| ACT Score | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 27 and Above | Good | >98% |
| 23 to 27 | Avg + | 97%-98% |
| 20 to 23 | Avg - | 95%-97% |
| 17 to 20 | Reach | 93%-95% |
| Less than 17 | Low | <93% |
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
Avg. High School GPA
3.2Typical High School Grades
BYou will need about average high school grades to get into Western Kentucky University. The average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class at Western Kentucky University was 3.2 on the 4.0 scale indicating that primarily B students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #21 in Kentucky for highest average GPA. If your high school grades are above the average 3.2 GPA, you have a very good chance of being admitted as WKU accepts 97% of all applicants.
| High School GPA | Freshmen Within Range | Competitiveness |
|---|---|---|
| 3.75+ | 22% | Good |
| 3.50 to 3.75 | 14% | Good |
| 3.25 to 3.50 | 15% | Avg + |
| 3.00 to 3.25 | 13% | Avg - |
| 2.75 to 3.00 | 22% | Avg - |
| 2.50 to 2.75 | 12% | Reach |
| 2.25 to 2.50 | 2% | Reach |
| 2.00 to 2.25 | N/A% | Low |
High School Class Rank
76% of Western Kentucky University freshman were in the top half of their high school graduating class.
| High School Class Rank | Freshmen Within Range |
|---|---|
| Top 10% of class | 25% |
| Top 25% of class | 50% |
| Top 50% of class | 76% |
| Bottom 50% of class | 24% |
| Bottom 25% of class | 7% |
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 5,739 | 3,511 | 9,250 |
| Accepted | 5,609 | 3,383 | 8,992 |
| Acceptance Rate | 98% | 96% | 97% |
| Enrolled | 1,752 | 1,182 | 2,934 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 31% | 35% | 33% |
Fall 2020 Application Deadline
Applications are Due
Aug 1, 2020Days left to Apply
58Applicants have 58 days left until the Fall 2020 term applications are due on Aug 1, 2020.
Seniors, these are the SAT and ACT test dates you can still sit for a test and send your results to WKU before the Aug 1 application deadline.
| SAT Test Date | Scores Available |
|---|---|
| Jun 6 | Jul 15 |
| ACT Test Date | Scores Available |
|---|---|
| Jun 13 | Jun 23 |
| Jul 18 | Jul 28 |
Admission Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to Western Kentucky University and what considerations affect admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Required |
| High School GPA | Required |
| High School Class Rank | Neither required nor recommended |
| Completion of College Preparatory Program | Required |
| Recommendations | Neither required nor recommended |
| Demonstration of Competencies | Neither required nor recommended |
Credits Accepted
| AP Credit | Yes |
| Dual Credit | Yes |
| Credit for Life Experiences | No |
Other Colleges to Consider
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=157951 IPEDS survey data for Western Kentucky University.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Western Kentucky University prefer SAT or ACT?
9% of students submit their SAT scores to WKU. 95% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.
What is my chance of getting into Western Kentucky University?
97% of those who apply are granted admission to WKU. Admission competition is and the college has average admission standards. See if your grades and scores are good enough for admission.
What SAT score is required for Western Kentucky University?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have SAT scores between 980 and 1190. 9% of students submit SAT scores when applying. See if your SAT score is good enough for admission.
What ACT score is required for Western Kentucky University?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have ACT scores between 20 and 27. 95% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.
