What is the acceptance rate at Western Kentucky University?

Western Kentucky University's acceptance rate is approximately 94% (Bowling Green, KY), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.

What SAT score do you need for Western Kentucky University?

Admitted students at Western Kentucky University typically score 840–1050 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.

How much does Western Kentucky University cost?

At Western Kentucky University, the average net price (after aid) is about $10,990 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.

How many undergraduates attend Western Kentucky University?

Western Kentucky University enrolls approximately 12,155 undergraduate students.

Where is Western Kentucky University located?

Western Kentucky University is located in Bowling Green, KY.

Western Kentucky University: Acceptance Rate, SAT & Cost — QuantAdmit

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Western Kentucky University

Bowling Green, KYpublicwku.edu

Acceptance

94%

SAT 25–75

840–1050

Avg net price

$10,990

Earnings (10 yr)

$43,889

Graduation rate

56%

Admit rate has ranged 97%–98% over the last 5 years. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.

Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.

Western Kentucky University (WKU) is a public research university in Bowling Green that combines accessibility with rising academic momentum. With a 94% acceptance rate and test-optional admissions, WKU welcomes a broad range of students while achieving record graduation rates (59.1% six-year) and strong outcomes in nursing, business, and applied fields. Its student life thrives on Southern hospitality, required on-campus housing for underclassmen, and deep community engagement.

Admission requirements

Test-optional — scores considered if submitted

Required

High school transcript
Grade point average
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)

Considered (not required)

Test scores (SAT/ACT)

Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.

More details

Undergrad enrollment: 12,155
In-state tuition: $11,652
Out-of-state tuition: $27,000
Top Majors: Nursing, Business, Liberal Arts
Acceptance Rate: 94%
Six-Year Grad Rate: 59.1%
Median Earnings (5 Years): $53,602
On-Campus Housing Requirement: 2 years (full-time undergrads)

Outcomes & value

Median earnings (10 yr): $43,889
Value (earnings ÷ net price): 4.0×
Median debt at graduation: $22,095
Graduation rate: 56%
First-year retention: 78%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr): 47%
Pell (lower-income) share: 63%
First-generation share: 36%
Endowment / student: $1,575

Top-earning majors

Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.

Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering$70,009
Mechanical Engineering$63,005
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician$63,005
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians$57,318
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$56,281
Civil Engineering

Campus & location

Campus safety

On-campus violent crimes (2024): 3
Per 1,000 students: 0.25

On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.

Climate

Pleasant days / yr: 84
Summer high: 87°F
Winter low: 33°F
Annual rain: 57.4"
Annual snow: 5.3"
Natural-hazard risk: Relatively Moderate

Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.

Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility

Research output

Institutional h-index: 212
Scholarly works: 12,666

Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.

Economic mobility

Mobility rate: 1.4%
Bottom → top quintile: 14%
From bottom quintile: 10%

Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.

Quick answers

What is the acceptance rate at Western Kentucky University?: Western Kentucky University's acceptance rate is approximately 94% (Bowling Green, KY), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Western Kentucky University?: Admitted students at Western Kentucky University typically score 840–1050 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Western Kentucky University cost?: At Western Kentucky University, the average net price (after aid) is about $10,990 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Western Kentucky University?: Western Kentucky University enrolls approximately 12,155 undergraduate students.
Where is Western Kentucky University located?: Western Kentucky University is located in Bowling Green, KY.

Admissions

WKU's admissions process is notably accessible, with a 94% and a policy for students with a 2.50+ unweighted high school GPA. Middle 50% SAT scores range from 940–1130, while ACT scores fall between 18–25. About 10% of admitted students boast a 4.00+ GPA. The university operates on rolling admissions with an August 1 regular decision deadline, emphasizing flexibility for applicants.

wku.edu usnews.com bigfuture.collegeboard.org collegedata.com

Academics

WKU offers 60+ undergraduate degrees, with nursing, business administration, and liberal arts as the most popular majors. The university emphasizes applied learning and online education, with over 60 online undergraduate programs. Its Christian heritage is reflected in optional Bible classes, though the curriculum spans health sciences, social sciences, and professional fields. Faculty are noted for their accessibility, contributing to rising retention rates.

wku.edu usnews.com