U of K vs West Virginia University (WVU)

Nestled in the heart of the Bluegrass State, the University of Kentucky (UK) and West Virginia University (WVU) stand as prominent beacons of higher education, each offering a unique tapestry of academic opportunities and vibrant campus life. While both universities share a commitment to excellence, they diverge in several key aspects, including acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. This side-by-side comparison delves into these distinctions, providing prospective students with a comprehensive overview to help them make informed decisions about their academic journey. Whether you're drawn to UK's strong acceptance rate and diverse student body or WVU's focus on STEM fields and higher graduation rate, this comparison equips you with the knowledge to find the institution that best aligns with your aspirations and goals.

	University of Kentucky	West Virginia University
Overview
Location	Lexington, Kentucky	Morgantown, West Virginia
Campus setting	City: Large	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	86.0%	81.0%
Common app member	Yes	Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	94.0%	89.8%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $50 Graduate: $65	Undergraduate: $50 Graduate: $60
SAT range	1083 - 1330	1030 - 1230
ACT range	22 - 29	21 - 27
Students submitting SAT score	10.0%	57.0%
Students submitting ACT score	70.0%	38.0%
Total number of applicants	21,695	17,074
Total number of admissions given out	20,396	15,336
Admitted students who chose to enroll	4,721	4,313
Yield rate	23.1%	28.1%
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	Not required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	In state: $31,690 Out of state: $50,688	In state: $21,756 Out of state: $38,100
Average net price	$20,043	$13,422
Tuition	In state: $11,247 Out of state: $30,245	In state: $8,976 Out of state: $25,320
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $9,650 Meal plan: $4,536	Room/dormitory: $6,184 Meal plan: $5,504
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	92.0% Average amount $11,623	89.0% Average amount $10,867
Students receiving federal student loan	41.0% Average amount $5,177	52.0% Average amount $5,294
Students taking out private loans	9.0% Average amount $19,204	15.0% Average amount $16,332

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	21,900 Men 43.1% Women 56.9%	19,599 Men 47.9% Women 52.1%
Graduate students	8,490 Men 37.7% Women 62.3%	5,875 Men 44.4% Women 55.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Low	Very Low
Out-of-state students	N/A	55.3%
International students	4.0%	5.3%
Campus local/setting	City: Large	City: Small
Dormitory capacity	7,294	6,956
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	Ohio Illinois Georgia Tennessee	West Virginia Pennsylvania Virginia Maryland Ohio

Academics
Popular study areas	Health Professions Education Engineering Business Public Administration and Social Service	Health Professions Business Engineering Education Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Students to faculty ratio	16:1	18:1
Institutional accreditation	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges	Higher Learning Commission

Outcome
Graduation rate	68.2%	63.9%
Dropout rate	30.6%	11.3%
Transferred out	N/A	22.5%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Dentistry (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $106,223 Year 2: $114,892 Year 3: $134,605 Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $81,971 Year 2: $114,730 Year 3: $122,422 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Graduate/Professional Certificates) Year 1: $101,348 Year 2: $116,083 Year 3: $111,861 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $99,330 Year 2: $92,277 Year 3: $102,019 Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $92,048 Year 2: $93,555 Year 3: $98,399 Mining and Mineral Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $71,015 Year 3: $83,128 Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $65,062 Year 2: $62,260 Year 3: $78,282 Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $64,632 Year 2: $69,338 Year 3: $76,500 Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $71,089 Year 2: $70,512 Year 3: $74,487 Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $67,465 Year 2: $68,666 Year 3: $72,801	Dentistry (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $112,323 Year 2: $125,015 Year 3: $143,709 Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $103,140 Year 2: $118,155 Year 3: $119,358 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $93,573 Year 2: $94,763 Year 3: $96,536 Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $77,732 Year 2: $81,997 Year 3: $91,425 Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $71,711 Year 2: $81,333 Year 3: $82,001 Petroleum Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $74,468 Year 2: $61,303 Year 3: $79,782 Industrial Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $66,292 Year 2: $68,047 Year 3: $77,798 Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $63,506 Year 2: $62,012 Year 3: $77,273 Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $66,040 Year 2: $65,238 Year 3: $76,205 Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $54,477 Year 2: $66,069 Year 3: $76,022

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main differences between the University of Kentucky (UK) and West Virginia University (WVU)?

The University of Kentucky (UK) and West Virginia University (WVU) differ in several key aspects. UK is located in Lexington, Kentucky, a larger city offering a blend of urban and rural experiences, while WVU is situated in Morgantown, West Virginia, a smaller college town. UK generally has a slightly higher overall academic ranking and is known for its strong medical, pharmacy, and business programs. WVU is recognized for its engineering, natural resources, and forensic science programs. The campus cultures also differ; UK has a more traditional SEC school feel, while WVU has a strong sense of community and pride rooted in its state heritage.
How do the academic reputations of UK and WVU compare?

Generally, the University of Kentucky holds a slightly higher overall academic ranking compared to West Virginia University. UK is particularly strong in areas like medicine, pharmacy, and business, often placing highly in national rankings for these programs. WVU, while not as highly ranked overall, boasts excellent programs in engineering, particularly petroleum and aerospace, as well as natural resources and forensic science. Both universities offer a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, but their areas of recognized excellence differ.
What is the campus environment like at each university?

The University of Kentucky offers a vibrant campus environment in the heart of Lexington. As a large SEC school, UK has a strong emphasis on athletics and a lively social scene. Lexington provides a mix of urban amenities and access to Kentucky's beautiful horse country. West Virginia University, located in Morgantown, offers a more traditional college town experience. WVU fosters a strong sense of community and state pride. The campus is known for its Mountaineer spirit and outdoor recreational opportunities, given West Virginia's mountainous terrain.
How do the costs of attending UK and WVU compare?

The cost of attendance varies depending on residency. Generally, for in-state students, WVU tends to be slightly more affordable than UK. However, out-of-state tuition at UK can sometimes be lower than WVU, depending on specific programs and available scholarships. It's crucial to check the most up-to-date tuition and fees on each university's website and explore scholarship opportunities to determine the actual cost for your individual circumstances.
What are the popular majors at each university?

At the University of Kentucky, popular majors include Business, Nursing, Biology, Engineering, and Communications. West Virginia University is known for its strong programs in Engineering (especially Petroleum and Aerospace), Business, Nursing, Forensic Science, and programs related to Natural Resources. Both universities offer a wide array of majors, but these are some of their more well-regarded and frequently chosen programs.
What are the athletic programs like at UK and WVU?

Both UK and WVU have strong athletic programs. The University of Kentucky is renowned for its basketball program, which is consistently ranked among the nation's best. UK also has competitive programs in football, baseball, and other sports. West Virginia University is known for its football program, which enjoys a large and passionate fan base. WVU also has strong programs in basketball, baseball, and wrestling. Both universities compete in NCAA Division I athletics, with UK in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and WVU in the Big 12 Conference.
What are the career opportunities like after graduating from UK or WVU?

Career opportunities after graduation depend heavily on your chosen major and career goals. The University of Kentucky, being located in a larger city, offers access to a wider range of industries and employers, particularly in healthcare, business, and technology. West Virginia University, while in a smaller city, has strong connections to industries related to energy, natural resources, and government. Both universities have career services departments that provide resources and support to help students find internships and jobs after graduation. Networking and internship experiences are crucial for success after graduation from either institution.
What are the admission requirements for UK and WVU?

Admission requirements for both universities typically include a high school diploma, standardized test scores (ACT or SAT), and a strong academic record. The specific requirements and average accepted scores can vary from year to year, so it's best to check the admissions websites of both UK and WVU for the most up-to-date information. Generally, UK may have slightly higher average GPA and test score requirements compared to WVU, but both universities consider a holistic review of each applicant's qualifications.
What kind of financial aid and scholarship opportunities are available at each university?

Both the University of Kentucky and West Virginia University offer a variety of financial aid and scholarship opportunities to help students finance their education. These include need-based aid, merit-based scholarships, and external scholarships. It's essential to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine eligibility for federal and state aid. Both universities also offer institutional scholarships based on academic achievement, leadership, and other criteria. Researching and applying for scholarships is a crucial step in making college affordable.
How do the surrounding cities of Lexington (UK) and Morgantown (WVU) compare?

Lexington, Kentucky, is a larger city with a more diverse economy and a wider range of cultural and entertainment options. It offers a blend of urban amenities and access to Kentucky's horse country. Morgantown, West Virginia, is a smaller college town with a strong sense of community and a more affordable cost of living. It's known for its outdoor recreational opportunities and proximity to the Appalachian Mountains. The choice between the two depends on your preference for city size, lifestyle, and access to different types of activities.

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