East Carolina University vs Western Kentucky University (WKU)
East Carolina University (ECU) and Western Kentucky University (WKU) are two public universities located in the southeastern United States, offering a wide range of academic programs and opportunities. While both universities share some similarities, there are also several key differences between them. ECU has a higher acceptance rate (73%) compared to WKU (68%), and its student body is slightly larger, with over 27,000 undergraduate students enrolled compared to WKU's 20,000. ECU also offers a wider variety of undergraduate majors, with over 100 programs to choose from, while WKU offers around 80. Additionally, ECU has a higher graduation rate (62%) compared to WKU (58%). To help you make an informed decision about which university is the best fit for you, we have compiled a comprehensive comparison table that highlights the key differences between ECU and WKU. Explore the table to learn more about the acceptance rates, popular
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![]() East Carolina University |
![]() Western Kentucky University |
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Overview |
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Location | Greenville, North Carolina | Bowling Green, Kentucky |
Campus setting | City: Small | City: Small |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 81.0% | 73.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 93.9% | 98.5% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$75
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Undergraduate:
$45
Graduate:
$65
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SAT range | N/A | N/A |
ACT range | N/A | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | ||
Students submitting ACT score | ||
Total number of applicants | 21,898 | 7,255 |
Total number of admissions given out | 20,560 | 7,145 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 4,100 | 2,832 |
Yield rate | 19.9% | 39.6% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$23,215
Out of state:
$39,492
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In state:
$27,895
Out of state:
$43,903
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Average net price | $14,762 | $12,395 |
Tuition |
In state:
$4,452
Out of state:
$20,729
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In state:
$10,992
Out of state:
$27,000
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$5,630
Meal plan:
$4,060
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Room/dormitory:
$6,744
Meal plan:
$3,964
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
63.0%
Average amount $7,761 |
98.0%
Average amount $9,576 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
51.0%
Average amount $5,180 |
47.0%
Average amount $5,128 |
Students taking out private loans |
8.0%
Average amount $14,093 |
5.0%
Average amount $9,983 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
22,463
Men 41.2% Women 58.8% |
14,729
Men 37.8% Women 62.2% |
Graduate students |
5,558
Men 32.6% Women 67.4% |
2,021
Men 34.1% Women 65.9% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Low
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Out-of-state students | 13.6% | N/A |
International students | 0.8% | 1.1% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | City: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 5,203 | 4,942 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | North Carolina Virginia Maryland Pennsylvania New York | Tennessee Indiana Illinois Ohio |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 18:1 | 18:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 65.8% | 53.6% |
Dropout rate | 8.3% | 22.1% |
Transferred out | 24.1% | 22.9% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Engineering, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
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Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Construction Engineering Technologies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
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