Indiana State vs Western Kentucky University (WKU)

Indiana State University and Western Kentucky University, both esteemed public universities in the Midwest, offer distinct educational experiences. Indiana State, located in Terre Haute, Indiana, boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option for students. Western Kentucky, situated in Bowling Green, Kentucky, has a slightly lower acceptance rate, indicating a more selective admissions process. While both universities offer a diverse range of academic programs, Indiana State is known for its strong programs in nursing, education, and business, while Western Kentucky excels in engineering, agriculture, and health professions. Explore the detailed comparison table to delve into further differences, including student body demographics, graduation rates, and additional program offerings, to determine which university best aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Indiana State University logo

Indiana State University

Western Kentucky University logo

Western Kentucky University

Overview

Location Terre Haute, Indiana 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 61.0% 73.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 93.7% 98.5%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $25

Graduate: $45
Undergraduate: $45

Graduate: $65
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants 12,581 7,255
Total number of admissions given out 11,786 7,145
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,434 2,832
Yield rate 12.2% 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

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $24,804

Out of state: $36,068
In state: $27,895

Out of state: $43,903
Average net price $13,653 $12,395
Tuition
In state: $9,318

Out of state: $20,582
In state: $10,992

Out of state: $27,000
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $7,346

Meal plan: $4,284
Room/dormitory: $6,744

Meal plan: $3,964
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

94.0%
Average amount $8,657
98.0%
Average amount $9,576
Students receiving federal student loan 59.0%
Average amount $5,979
47.0%
Average amount $5,128
Students taking out private loans 7.0%
Average amount $11,296
5.0%
Average amount $9,983

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 7,704
Men 43.7% Women 56.3%
14,729
Men 37.8% Women 62.2%
Graduate students 1,755
Men 36.2% Women 63.8%
2,021
Men 34.1% Women 65.9%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students 17.1% N/A
International students 2.4% 1.1%
Campus local/setting City: Small City: Small
Dormitory capacity 3,929 4,942
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Indiana Illinois Ohio Missouri Tennessee Indiana Illinois Ohio

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Business
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Engineering Technologies
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Education
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Public Administration and Social Service
Students to faculty ratio 16:1 18:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 41.2% 53.6%
Dropout rate 57.4% 22.1%
Transferred out N/A 22.9%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $108,149
  • Year 2: $98,915
  • Year 3: $104,293
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $94,087
  • Year 2: $97,959
  • Year 3: $102,110
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $89,625
  • Year 2: $94,408
  • Year 3: $101,146
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,741
  • Year 2: $67,420
  • Year 3: $68,209
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,199
  • Year 2: $61,350
  • Year 3: $66,936
Construction Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,441
  • Year 2: $55,286
  • Year 3: $64,649
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $59,124
  • Year 3: $64,169
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,688
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $63,602
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,294
  • Year 2: $58,739
  • Year 3: $61,243
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,232
  • Year 2: $53,775
  • Year 3: $61,153
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $76,015
  • Year 2: $86,696
  • Year 3: $95,431
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,960
  • Year 2: $76,998
  • Year 3: $77,293
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,199
  • Year 2: $70,009
  • Year 3: $77,197
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,704
  • Year 2: $57,318
  • Year 3: $68,358
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,193
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $66,850
Construction Engineering Technologies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,992
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $65,815
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,607
  • Year 2: $61,144
  • Year 3: $65,553
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,759
  • Year 2: $51,551
  • Year 3: $57,443
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,729
  • Year 2: $52,897
  • Year 3: $56,104
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,172
  • Year 2: $56,281
  • Year 3: $55,609

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