Western Kentucky University

Bowling Green, KY · SoutheastQuad's selectivityOpen

Known forTest-optional heavy

Website Admissions Apply Visit Financial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

9 in 10 applicants admitted

Western Kentucky admits about 9 in 10 applicants (94%). That puts it in the "Open" tier, more selective than 14% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

94%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityOpen

Applied

9,840

Admitted

9,237

Yield

30%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

840–1050

4001600

ACT middle 50%

16–21

1236

Applications +16% since fall 2014 · admit rate 93% → 94%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A medium campus of 12,155 undergrads, where 30% receive Pell Grants, a typical share compared to other colleges.

12.2K

undergrads · larger than 91% of colleges

Diversity index

0.43

Pell Grant

30%

below the median

First generation

36%

above the median

Small cityNCAA D-I FBS · Conference USAROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research

More diverse · index 0.40 → 0.43 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Business Administration and Management, General (7% of graduates). 19 students for every faculty member, more than at 87% of colleges. 67% of faculty are full-time. Spends $9,271 a year on instruction per student.

19 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 87% of colleges

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $20,555 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $3.7K less than the national median. The 99% who received grants paid $12,548 on average; the other 1% paid the full sticker price of $26,888 in-state / $42,452 out-of-state.

35%

$20.6K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $3.7K below the national median

Full price, in-state: $26,888 a year; tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid: Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes

Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 35% of full price

Federal loans

35%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits

Cost falling · −6% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $43,889 ten years after enrolling, more than at 21% of colleges; 54% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.9 years of that salary.

54%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$43.9K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$22.1K

≈ $234/month for 10 years

Retention

78%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 44% → 56% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 6% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 6%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 16% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 93% to 94%.

Cost
Falling
−6% after inflation
Applications
Growing
+16%
Selectivity
Steady
admit rate 93% → 94%
Diversity
More diverse
index 0.40 → 0.43

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

The University of Montana

96% admit · 7.5K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso public

Compare side-by-side

Ferris State University

91% admit · SAT 1005 · 8.1K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size

Compare side-by-side

Idaho State University

7.6K undergrads

Similar sizeAlso public

Compare side-by-side

University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

92% admit · 7.3K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso public

Compare side-by-side

Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

1
IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
2
College Scorecard
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12
3
IPEDS Admissions survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
4
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
5
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
6
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
7
IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12
8
College Scorecard Field of Study data
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
9
IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
10
IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
11
Common Data Set
Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
12
IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12
13
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
14
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
15
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
16
IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
17
IPEDS Outcome Measures survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12
18
Western Kentucky University (2026)
Western Kentucky University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 157951 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything