Western Kentucky University

School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More

Bowling Green, KY

$10,802

Avg in-state tuition

$26,496

Avg out-of-state tuition

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About Western Kentucky University

School Type: Public

Status: Non-profit

Accreditation: Regional

Religious Affiliation: N/A While the student experience is largely unaffected at most schools with religious affiliations, some schools place more of an emphasis on religion. Learn how religious affiliations may impact students' experience.

Military Friendly: YesMilitary-friendly schools are Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges, offer the Yellow Ribbon Program, and have a dedicated point of contact to support veterans, military service members, and their families. Explore our college guide for service members and veterans to learn more.

Western Kentucky University is a large public university located on an urban campus in Bowling Green, Kentucky. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 15,286, and admissions are selective, with an acceptance rate of 98%. The university offers 100 bachelor's degrees, has an average graduation rate of 52%, and a student-faculty ratio of 19:1. Tuition and fees for in-state students are $10,802, while tuition and fees for out-of-state students are $26,496.

Admissions Breakdown

Acceptance Rate Insight

This school has a high acceptance rate.

This school accepts students at a higher rate than other schools. High acceptance schools welcome 51-100% of all applicants.

98% of students were accepted during the 2020-2021 school year. Sometimes schools with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but are still accessible to many students who apply.

Retention Rate Insight

77% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2019 and returned in Fall 2020.

Graduation Rate Insight

52% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2014. Keep in mind many students who enroll are not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners. Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.

Application Considerations

Test scores Required

High school transcript Required

High school rank Not required or recommended

Letter of recommendation Not required or recommended

High school GPA Required

Open admission No

Completion of college prep program Required

Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL) Required

Transfer Credit Policy

Dual enrollment Yes

Credit for qualified life experience* Implied no

Advance placement (AP) credits Yes

*This can include previous jobs, trainings, licenses/credentials, or seminars. You may need to complete an exam or provide a portfolio to earn credit.

SAT & ACT

ACT 25th-75th Percentile 19-26

SAT 25th-75th Percentile 980-1180

Learning Environment

Student Body Stats

This school has a student body of more than 15,000 students.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

18k

Students enrolled

85%

Online student enrollment

19:1

Student to faculty ratio

Ways Students Can Learn

Online Check Bold
On-campus Check Bold
Hybrid The program is a combination of on-campus and online learning and varies per program. Check Bold

Demographics

White

78%

Black

9%

Hispanic

4%

Two or more races

4%

Asian

2%

Unknown

1%

Non-U.S. Citizen

1%

American Indian/Alaska Native

0%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%

Female student population

62%

Socio-economic diversity

38% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

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Online Programs

Offers Online Programs

Yes

Online Programs

86

Total Online Enrollment

14,933

Student Location Breakout

Percent of Programs Online

70% On-campus

30% Online

Types of Online Programs Offered

Certificates Check Bold 20% online

Associate Check Bold 36% online

Bachelor's Check Bold 15% online

Graduate Certificate Check Bold 58% online

Master's Check Bold 48% online

Doctorate X Bold Not offered

Student Charges

Tuition and Required Fees

Student Level In-state Out-of-state
Undergraduate $10,802 $26,496
Graduate $12,140 $18,340

Cost of Undergraduate Attendance

Costs based on full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduates for the 2020–2021 academic year.

Costs to Consider Price
Books and supplies $1,000
On-campus room and board $10,044
On-campus other expenses $2,086
Off-campus (not with family) room and board $10,044
Off-campus (not with family) other expenses $4,238
Off-campus (with family) other expenses $2,086

Total Undergraduate Cost

Total cost by category In-state Out-of-state
On-campus $23,932 $39,626
Off-campus without family $26,084 $41,778
Off-campus with family $13,888 $29,582

Financial Breakdown

Students Receiving Aid

Federal Grant Aid

38%

State Grant Aid

71%

Institution Grant Aid

72%

Pell Grant

38%

Average Aid Awarded

Federal Grant Aid $4,665
State Grant Aid $2,842
Institution Grant Aid $5,361
Pell Grant Aid $4,371

Financial Outlook

$23k

Average student debt after graduation

$31k

Average salary 6 years after starting school

Varsity Athletic Teams

NCAA Division I-FBS

of the overall student body is a member of an athletic team.

Participation

Men Women
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Tennis
  • Volleyball
  • All Track Combined

Degrees Awarded by Program

Degrees given for the 2020-2021 academic year.

1

Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, And Related Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

2

Architecture And Related Services

BA

MA

DOC

3

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, And Gender Studies

BA

MA

DOC

4

Biological And Biomedical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

5

Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

6

Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs

BA

MA

DOC

7

Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

8

Education

BA

MA

DOC

9

Engineering Technologies/Technicians

BA

MA

DOC

10

Engineering

BA

MA

DOC

11

English Language And Literature/Letters

BA

MA

DOC

12

Family And Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

13

Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics

BA

MA

DOC

14

Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

15

History

BA

MA

DOC

16

Legal Professions And Studies

BA

MA

DOC

17

Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities

BA

MA

DOC

18

Library Science

BA

MA

DOC

19

Mathematics And Statistics

BA

MA

DOC

20

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

BA

MA

DOC

21

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, And Fitness Studies

BA

MA

DOC

22

Philosophy And Religious Studies

BA

MA

DOC

23

Physical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

24

Psychology

BA

MA

DOC

25

Public Administration And Social Service Professions

BA

MA

DOC

26

Social Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

27

Visual And Performing Arts

BA

MA

DOC

Resource

Financial Aid Overview

Resource

Understanding Grants & Scholarships

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Data collected from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), [2020-2021]. In the absence of IPED data, information was collected directly from the school and is accurate as of the date of collection. Contact the school directly for the most current and complete information.