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Bowling Green , KY
Western Kentucky University (WKU) is a public university located in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Established in 1906, WKU is known for its strong academic programs, vibrant campus community, and commitment to student success. With a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs, WKU offers students numerous opportunities to pursue their passions and achieve their academic goals.
WKU's academic programs are organized into several colleges, including the Potter College of Arts & Letters, the Gordon Ford College of Business, the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, and the Ogden College of Science and Engineering. These colleges offer a wide array of majors and minors across various disciplines, catering to a diverse student body. The university is also home to several renowned research centers and institutes, providing students with valuable opportunities for hands-on learning and engagement in cutting-edge research.
Apart from its academic programs, WKU offers a vibrant campus life with numerous extracurricular activities and student organizations. From Greek life to intramural sports, students have ample opportunities to get involved and make lasting connections with their peers. The university's state-of-the-art facilities, including modern residence halls, a student recreation center, and a variety of dining options, contribute to a fulfilling and comfortable college experience. With its strong academic programs, diverse campus community, and commitment to student success, Western Kentucky University continues to foster an environment that prepares students for successful careers and meaningful lives.
Western Kentucky University is a public university located in Bowling Green, KY. This school uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 93%. The freshman retention rate at Western Kentucky University is 78.3% and the six-year graduation rate is 58%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is August 1. For transfer students, the application deadline is July 1.
Learn more about what Western Kentucky University has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
14,151
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
19:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
58%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you learn as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission, your chances of getting accepted will greatly improve. Here are the most vital facts you have to know about admission policy and requirements at Western Kentucky University.
According to the most recent data, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 9,237 in 2025. Western Kentucky University has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the student.
Test Scores
Out of the number of those who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 9.43% and ACT scores 78.26%. 1.14% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 16.35% between 1,200 and 1,399, 41.83% between 1,000 and 1,199, 36.12% of the students between 800 and 999, and 4.56% between 600 and 799. The percent of incoming freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 8.25, 25.89 between 24-29, 47.02 in the range between 18-23, 18.74 between 12-17, and 0.09 between 6-11.
The average ACT score for all the admitted students in 2025 was 22 while the average GPA was 3.46. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Western Kentucky University; the same goes for your ACT score.
The SAT Critical Reading average score was 528 for the newly enrolled students, while the average SAT Math score was 514.
Deadlines
The cutoff date for submitting applications to Western Kentucky University is August 1. If you plan on applying as a transfer student, the application deadline is July 1.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. That information can tell you if the majority of freshmen liked their first year enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for Western Kentucky University was 78.3% in 2025, a testament to the outstanding educational experience provided by this institution.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. At this academic institution, the proportion of students graduating in six years is 58%.
Student Body
Figuring out which school is the right fit for you is not a task you should take lightly. Having a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the school enrolled 16,291 students.
That year, the school had 29.7% of students coming from another state. There was a total of 14,151 students pursuing undergraduate degrees, including 72 international students. The school admitted a total of 715 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 4,611 male and 7,348 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
Higher Education is dedicated to increasing student diversity and enhancing students' feelings of inclusion and belonging. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
This school had 423 Asian students and 1,091 Afro-American students in 2025. 795 undergraduates at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 539 identified with more than one race. The school also had 10 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 30 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 168 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before sending an application to any college or university, the financial component should be taken into account. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about Western Kentucky University estimated tuition fees.
Tuition fees for area resident were $12,072, as reported by public county or municipal institutions. For students who don't live in the state in which the university is located, the tuition was $27,000 in 2025. If you are an international student at Western Kentucky University, you should know that the 2025 tuition amounted to $27,648.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $27,000 | Not Available | $ 27,000 |
| In-State | $12,072 | Not Available | $12,072 |
Books and Supplies
Another important expense to take into consideration is the estimated price of books and supplies for a college or university. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,000.
Boarding
When choosing a college, you should factor in the price of a dorm room and meals at the school cafeteria. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for lodging and meals?
In 2025, the price of room and board at Western Kentucky University was $13,094 per academic year. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2025 was $8,836 for one academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 12,072 |
| Room and Board | $ 13,094 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,000 |
| Total Expense | $ 26,166 |
Financial Aid
There are different types of financial aid: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. Check out some recent data to get the information about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid students could get at Western Kentucky University.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 1,909 freshmen. Students of this school received an average of $18,201 in financial help.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
There were 4,326 students who secured need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Western Kentucky University is available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need amounted to 6,966. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution totaled $24,309,737, and state $16,008,918.
$6,336
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 5,979 students overall (including freshmen) at Western Kentucky University in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 1,890 full-time freshman. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $24,309,737 while the state aid is $2,140,447. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $53,069,162. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $2,853,927 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
19:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
In 2025, this ratio at Western Kentucky University was 19:1. That means that there were 19 times more students than teachers at this school. According to the most recent information, there are 937 faculty members at this school. This number included 409 men and 528 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Western Kentucky University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Check out some details about social life at Western Kentucky University.
Its campus spans 200 acres.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
Based on the most up-to-date information available, there are 328 open-membership organizations at Western Kentucky University. That includes sororities and fraternities. At this school, 18.4% of male students are members of social organizations, while that percentage is 16.8 for female students. Those interested in music can join the Western Kentucky University band or chorus. For those interested in acting, there is a drama club you can become part of. You have a talent for media and communication? Western Kentucky University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Western Kentucky University offers a number of services crucial for a pleasant and secure life on campus.
There are phone and alarm devices that can be accessed 24/7 for emergency situations. There is a security patrol that operates 24 hours a day. The transport/escort service operates during late hours.
There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Legal Services and Veteran's Affairs are available to the students of Western Kentucky University.
All in all, campus life at Western Kentucky University is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Western Kentucky University.
Career Counselling
At Western Kentucky University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are job fairs. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Western Kentucky University is located in Bowling Green, KY.
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Western Kentucky University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Western Kentucky University is 93%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for Western Kentucky University is 78.3%.
Contact Information
Western Kentucky University
1906 College Heights Blvd.
Bowling Green , KY
42101
270 745-0111
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.