Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, Kentucky
- Public
- City
- 12,155 undergrads
- Admit rate
- 94%Source: College Scorecard
- Average net price
- $11,789per year, after grantsSource: College Scorecard
- Graduation rate
- 56%within 6 yearsSource: College Scorecard
- Median earnings
- $48,40810 years after startingSource: College Scorecard
What's special
The Hilltopper Guarantee provides 100% tuition coverage for eligible Kentucky freshmen who receive Pell and CAP grants with at least a 3.0 high school GPA.
Source: The Hilltopper Guarantee | Western Kentucky University
The Hilltopper Guarantee ensures 100% tuition coverage for first-time Kentucky freshmen who receive Pell and College Access grants and hold at least a 3.0 high school GPA.
Source: The Hilltopper Guarantee | Western Kentucky University
Getting in
- Admit rate
- 94%About 9 in 10 applicants get in.Source: College Scorecard
- Test policy
- Test-optionalScores are considered if you send them, but not required.Source: College Scorecard
- SAT (middle 50%)
- 840–1050Reading + math, enrolled first-years who sent scoresSource: College Scorecard
- ACT (middle 50%)
- 16–21Composite, enrolled first-years who sent scoresSource: College Scorecard
From Western Kentucky University's own report
These numbers come from the school's Common Data Set for 2025–26, a standard report colleges publish about their applicants and first-year students. Open the report.
37% had a 3.75 or higher. Schools count GPA differently (weighted or not), so compare ranges loosely.
- Admit rate in this report
- 91%8,863 admitted of 9,692 first-year applicants
- SAT, middle 50%
- 930–1130First-years who sent scores
- Top 10% of their class
- 19%42% were in the top quarter.
Where you'd stand
Enter your numbers to see where they'd fall among Western Kentucky University's first-year students. This isn't a prediction: it shows how you compare with students who enrolled, using the sources linked below.
Leave out anything you don't have. Your numbers stay in this browser and fill in on other school pages. See my list
Sources: Western Kentucky University Common Data Set 2025–26; College Scorecard. Test ranges describe enrolled students who sent scores.
What it really costs
Most families pay less than the sticker price. Net price is what's left after grants and scholarships.
- Average net price
- $11,789full-time first-years who got grant aidSource: College Scorecard
- Total cost of attendance
- $24,535sticker price incl. housing, per yearSource: College Scorecard
- Tuition, in-state
- $12,072Source: College Scorecard
- Tuition, out-of-state
- $27,000Source: College Scorecard
After you enroll
- Graduation rate
- 56%first-time, full-time students finishing within 6 yearsSource: College Scorecard
- Came back for year two
- 78%full-time first-year studentsSource: College Scorecard
- Median earnings
- $48,40810 years after starting, for students who got federal aidSource: College Scorecard
- Median debt at graduation
- $19,500federal loans, students who finishedSource: College Scorecard
Students
- Undergraduates
- 12,155Source: College Scorecard
- Receive Pell grants
- 36%a sign of economic diversitySource: College Scorecard
- First-generation students
- 36%parents didn't go beyond high schoolSource: College Scorecard
Similar schools
Also worth a look
- Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, KY — admits 78%
- Oakland University Rochester Hills, MI — admits 88%
- Wichita State University Wichita, KS — admits 94%
- Georgia Gwinnett College Lawrenceville, GA — admits 96%
- California State University-San Marcos San Marcos, CA — admits 95%
- University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, NC — admits 89%
Where these numbers come from
Every number on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard page for Western Kentucky University, which draws on what the school reports to the federal government and on federal student aid and tax records. We last pulled the data on November 4, 2026. Different measures cover different years; here's how each one works.
Spot something wrong? Report a data error.