Admin v2 Preview — Sections marked with a yellow border use mock data until v2 scraping is complete.
v2 Admin
PublicUrban

Western Kentucky University

WKU

Bowling Green, Kentucky 42101-1000

Visit website

Campus Vibe

Large UniversityUrbanPublic

Known for business — excellent value

Western Kentucky University is a public institution in Bowling Green with particular strength in business and health sciences. With an average SAT of 977, the school attracts a broad applicant pool.

A large campus of 12.3K undergraduates with a 18:1 student-faculty ratio. The urban location puts students at the center of city life.

54% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $43,889 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $10,916.

Established
1906
Motto
The Spirit makes the MasterLife more life
Mascot
Big Red
Type
Public university
Conference
NCAA Division I ranks
Division
Division I

Campus Visits

114 upcoming visits · Next: Mon, Apr 13 · Campus Tour
97%Acceptance
977SAT Avg
12,267Students
18:1Student:Faculty
54%Grad Rate
$43,889Earnings 10yr
$10,916Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

Western Kentucky University Launches New Data Science Minor

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

Admissions

Acceptance Rate97.0%

SAT Score Ranges

Average: 977

Reading & Writing
450520
Math
370490

ACT Score Range

Composite
1620

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

97.0%

Trend

SAT Avg

977

Yield Rate

35.0%

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition (in-state)$11,436
Tuition (out-of-state)$27,000
Room & Board$12,043
Books & Supplies$1,000
Total Cost of Attendance$23,520
Average Net Price$10,916
Median Debt at Graduation$22,095
Monthly Payment (10yr)$234

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$10,075
$30–48K$16,624
$48–75K$17,417
$75–110K$18,219
$110K+$18,601

Financial Intel

Avg Net Price

$10,916

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

63.7%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$14,702

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

94

Peer Average

92

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

24/7 campus police department, blue-light phone network, emergency mass notification system

Programs (215)

Student Life

Student Body

Undergrads
12,267
Gender Split
61% / 39%
Women / Men
First Generation
36%
Pell Grant Recipients
29%

Race & Ethnicity

White 75%
Black 9%
Hispanic 6%
Asian 3%
Two+ 4%
Int'l 1%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate53.7%
Freshman Retention78.0%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$38,156
8 Years$40,920
10 Years$43,889

10-Year Earnings by Gender

Women
$34,400
Men
$44,400

Rankings

U.S. News
#363
Washington Monthly
#338

More About This School

Varsity Sports — Hilltoppers

Rankings

History & Fun Facts

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
30°
Dec
25°
Jan
28°
Feb
38°
Mar
50°
Apr
62°
May
Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647
90 miles(95 min)
Hartfordpop. 121,054
60 miles(70 min)

Getting There

Visit Planning

Deadline Calendar

Western Kentucky University Application Checklist

Decision Notifications

Western Kentucky University — v2 Preview — TourStack