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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.
Located in Bowling Green, KY, Western Kentucky University is a public university. This school follows 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%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is August 1. The transfer application deadline is July 1.
Here are some important information on important things to consider about Western Kentucky University.
Quick Facts
14,151
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
19:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
58%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
In order to increase your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission. Read on to find out some important data about admission at Western Kentucky University.
According to the newest information reported, 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 considers standardized test scores for the applicants who choose to submit them.
Test Scores
Out of the number of applicants 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% between 800 and 999, and 4.56% 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 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 accepted 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 enrolled first-year students, while the average SAT Math score was 514.
Deadlines
The last day for submitting applications to Western Kentucky University is August 1. If you are applying for a transfer, the application deadline is July 1.
Retention Rate
The percentage of freshmen at a college or university who stay on for their second year is known as the freshman retention rate. Why is that information important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Western Kentucky University was 78.3%, 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. The six-year graduation rate at this institution stands at 58%.
Student Body
Picking a school that is the best match for you is not a simple task. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by finding out more about its student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the institution enrolled 16,291 students.
That year, the school had an out-of-state student body percentage of 29.7. There was a total of 14,151 undergraduate students, including 72 international students. 715 students were accepted as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 4,611 male and 7,348 female full-time students in 2025, which is indicative of the value gender equality has at this school.
Student Population Diversity
In order to promote 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. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 423, and the number of Afro-American students was 1,091. 795 undergraduates at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 539 identified with more than one race. The school also had 10 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 30 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 168 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Financial planning for school is one of the most important things to think about before you apply. Here are some important data on Western Kentucky University costs that most students encounter at this school.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at Western Kentucky University? Here is what you need to know.
Tuition fees for area resident were $12,072, as reported by public county or municipal institutions. Tuition fees were $27,000 for students coming from out of state. If you are an international student at Western Kentucky University, you should know that the 2025 tuition came 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 approximate cost 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
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?
In 2025, room and board cost at Western Kentucky University amounted to $13,094 a year. If you only wanted a dormitory room, it cost $8,836 for the 2025 academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 12,072 |
| Room and Board | $ 13,094 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,000 |
| Total Expense | $ 26,166 |
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial help can be a great deal for a number of students. Check out some recent data to get the info about need-based and non-need-based aid students could get at Western Kentucky University.
According to the most recent data, 1,909 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $18,201.
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 obtained 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 was found to be 6,966. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution reached $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. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
5,979 students, including freshmen, obtained institutional non-need-based financial aid at this institution in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 1,890 full-time freshmen. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $24,309,737 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $2,140,447. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need 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
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
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. The faculty of this school consists of 937 members, according to the most recent data reported. Out of that number, there were 409 men and 528 women. 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
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Find out some information about students' life at Western Kentucky University.
It has a campus size of 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.
The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 328. That includes sororities and fraternities. The percentage of male students who are members of organizations is 18.4 and female students 16.8. Students who like music can join the Western Kentucky University band or chorus. For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. Interested in media and communication? Western Kentucky University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Western Kentucky University, there are many amenities required for a comfortable and safe life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. There is a 24-hour security patrol. The late-night transport/escort service is available.
There is a medical 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 uses standardized test scores for admission.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Western Kentucky University is 93%.
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The most recent data indicate that 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.
