Western Kentucky University
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 and set in a suburban environment. It has a campus size of 235 acres. This institution follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 96%. The freshman retention rate at Western Kentucky University is 76.6% and the six-year graduation rate is 54%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is August 1. For transfer students, the application deadline is July 1.
Explore this school's profile to find out all the important things about Western Kentucky University.
Quick Facts
14,440
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
96%
Acceptance Rate
18:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
54%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission, you can make a better judgment about your eligibility and boost your chances of getting accepted. Check out some relevant data about admission policy and requirements at Western Kentucky University.
According to the newest data, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 7,276 in 2023. Western Kentucky University has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores if the applicant decides to submit them. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is relatively easy to get into.
Test Scores
7.7% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 84.1% submitted ACT scores, out of the overall number of those who submitted test scores. 2.4% of the enrolled students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 18% between 1,200 and 1,399, 53.6% between 1,000 and 1,199, 23.2% between 800 and 999, and 2.88% of the students between 600 and 799. The percent of first-year students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 7.4, 25.3 between 24-29, 45.9 in the range between 18-23, 21.2 between 12-17, and 0.2 between 6-11.
The average ACT score for all the enrolled students in 2023 was 22 while the average GPA was 3.49. 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 new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 543 and an average SAT Math score of 533.
Deadlines
The final day for applications to Western Kentucky University is August 1. If you are applying for a transfer, the application deadline is July 1.
96%
Acceptance Rate
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. Why is that metric important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for Western Kentucky University was 76.6% in 2023, reflecting the superb quality of the educational programs at 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 school, the rate of students graduating within six years is 54%.
Student Body
It is never easy to figure out which school is the best place for you. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by finding out more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2023, the school enrolled 16,493 students.
That year, the school had an out-of-state student body percentage of 26.8. There was a total of 14,440 undergrad students, including 103 international students. 757 students enrolled as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 4,527 male and 7,377 female full-time students in 2023, which is indicative of the value gender equality has at this school. This school had 222 full-time graduate male and 519 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
In order to enhance a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. A heterogeneous student body brings together individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
This school had 340 Asian students and 1,088 Afro-American students in 2023. 651 undergrads at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 473 identified with more than one race. The school also had 13 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 29 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 131 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before sending an application to any college or university, the financial component should be taken into consideration. Here are some details you should know about the cost of attendance for Western Kentucky University.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition price for this university.
For local residents, public county and municipal institutions reported that tuition costs were $11,112. Tuition fees were $27,000 for students coming from a different state. If you are an international student at Western Kentucky University, you should know that the 2023 tuition amounted to $27,648.
| Tuition | Fees | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $27,000 | Not Available | $ 27,000 |
| In-State | $11,112 | Not Available | $11,112 |
Books and Supplies
Another important financial factor to take into consideration is the approximate price of books and supplies for a college or university. Most students have to give about $1,000 for books and supplies during their time at Western Kentucky University.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. How much do room and board fees average around at colleges and universities?
At Western Kentucky University, the 2023 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $12,418. If you only needed a room on the campus, you had to pay $8,330 for the 2023 academic year.
| Tuition | $ 11,112 |
| Room and Board | $ 12,418 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,000 |
| Total Expense | $ 24,530 |
Financial Aid
Grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs: these are all types of financial support available to students. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Western Kentucky University, here are some recent data you should consider.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 1,879 freshmen. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $16,034.
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 4,050 students who received 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 overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need came to be 6,950. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution summed up to $19,897,489, and state $8,241,616.
$5,841
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-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 5,874 students overall (including freshmen) at Western Kentucky University in 2023. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 1,872 full-time freshmen. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $19,897,489 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $2,511,761. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $46,507,904. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $2,776,440 USD.
Majors
Faculty
18:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio is the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
In 2023, this ratio at Western Kentucky University was 18:1. That means that there were 18 times more students than teachers at this school. The faculty of this school consists of 939 members, according to the most recent data reported. Out of that number, there were 447 male and 524 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at Western Kentucky University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at Western Kentucky University: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Find out some info about social life at Western Kentucky University.
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.
There are 256 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. Sororities and fraternities are included in that number. 18 percent of male and 16.7 of female students are participants in different organizations at Western Kentucky University. The student organization that is most favored by students is Residence Hall Association, followed by Campus Ministries and National Pan-Hellenic Council. Other popular organizations among the students at Western Kentucky University are Campus Activities Board and Student Government Association.
If you are interested in music, you can join the Western Kentucky University band or chorus. For students who have a passion 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 vital for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
24/7 emergency phone and alarm devices are available. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a security patrol available 24/7. The late-night transport/escort service is available.
This school has a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Legal Services, Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of Western Kentucky University.
All in all, campus life at Western Kentucky University is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
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 a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. 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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The most recent reported acceptance rate for Western Kentucky University is 96%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Western Kentucky University is 76.6%.
Contact Information
Western Kentucky University,
1906 College Heights Boulevard
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.