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Western Kentucky University

Western Kentucky University

Bowling Green, KY · 12.2k students

OpenPublicCityGraduateCampus-basedwku.edu
40.7/100

Trajecta score

+1.2 since '20

Ranked #1300 of 2,375

5-year trend

'20'24

41.7 · #1296

2020

39.7 · #1467

2021

42.5 · #1170

2022

42.3 · #1182

2023

42.9 · #1143

2024

AcademicCareersSuccessAfford.Invest.Access

Academic Profile

16/ 100

Career Outcomes

43/ 100

Student Success

35/ 100

Affordability

74/ 100

Academic Investment

46/ 100

Access & Equity

43/ 100

Academic Profile

16

Career Outcomes

43

Student Success

35

Affordability

74

Academic Investment

46

Access & Equity

43

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Cost / Net Price

$24k / $11k

SAT Avg

971

Retention

78%

Grad Rate

55%

Admissions

94%admission rate
EliteH.SelSelectiveModerateOpen

Test Scores

SAT Range971
4001000120014001600
25th: 840Average: 97175th: 1,050

Scores represent the midpoint of enrolled students, not a cutoff.

Finances

Tuition

In-State Tuition

$11,652

per year

Out-of-State Tuition

$27,000

per year

Out-of-state premium: +$15,348/yr

Aid & Debt

Pell Grant Share

30%

undergraduates receiving Pell

Federal Loan Share

35%

students borrowing

Median Debt

among completers

$22,095

Methodology

How these rankings work

The Trajecta Score (0–100) blends six dimensions of public college data into one comparable number, then nudges it by how much data each school reports. Selectivity tiers are separate — they’re based purely on a school’s admission rate.

Read the full methodology

Selectivity tiers

EliteUnder 10% admit rate
Highly Selective10–20% admit rate
Selective20–40% admit rate
Moderate40–65% admit rate
Open65%+ admit rate

Score dimensions & weights

Career Outcomes25%

Median earnings 10 years out, earnings vs. a high-school grad, and loan repayment.

Academic Profile22%

Admission selectivity and the incoming class’s SAT / ACT scores.

Affordability15%

Average net price after aid and the typical debt of graduates.

Student Success13%

Graduation rate and first-year retention.

Academic Investment12%

Instructional spending and faculty salaries per student.

Access10%

Share of Pell-grant students and reliance on federal loans.

Data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and IPEDS. Figures are the most recent reported and may lag a year or two. This tool is read-only and not personalized — inside the Trajecta app, scores are tailored to your profile as a fit score.

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