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Western Kentucky University is a public, comprehensive university. Founded as a state Normal School in 1906, it gained university status in 1966. It offers highly-ranked academic programs, along with extracurriculars like forensics and athletics, for students who are serious about their education and who desire leadership development. Programs are offered through the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences; Ford College of Business; Ogden College of Science, Technology and Health; and Potter College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. Its 200-acre main campus and 785-acre university farm are located in Bowling Green, 65 miles north of Nashville.

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collegeType
Public
studentType
Coed
13,732
Undergraduates
5,329
Men - 38.8%
8,404
Women - 61.2%
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Entrance Difficulty
Minimally difficult
Overall Admission Rate
91% of 9,692 applicants were admitted
Early Action Offered
No
Early Decision Offered
No
Regular Admission Deadline
August 1
Qualifications of Enrolled Freshmen
Average GPA
3.47
SAT Math
510 average
450-560 range of middle 50%
SAT EBRW
528 average
480-580 range of middle 50%
ACT Composite
22 average
18-25 range of middle 50%
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Cost of Attendance
In-state: $33,876
Out-of-state: $48,600
Tuition and Fees
In-state: $12,276
Out-of-state: $27,000
Room and Board
$20,600
Average Percent of Need Met
16%
Average Freshman Award
$18,619
Average Indebtedness of 2024 Graduates
$25,054
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Academic Calendar System
Semester
General Education/Core Curriculum
Required for most or all students
Full-Time Faculty Teaching Undergraduates
588
Regular Class Size (Students)
2-9
17%
10-19
28%
Over 100
1%
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Bowling Green Population
61,488
Nearest Metropolitan Area
Nashville, TN
Freshman Housing Guarantee
College offers housing to students
Students in College Housing
35% of all students
Athletic Conferences
NCAA Division I
Mascot
Big Red
Sororities
17.2% of women participate
Fraternities
19% of men participate
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Ethnicity of Students from U.S.
American Indian/Alaskan Native
0.2%
Asian
3.4%
Black/African-American
8.5%
Hispanic/Latino
6.8%
Multi-race (not Hispanic/Latino)
4.6%
Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander
0.1%
White
75.4%
Unknown
1%
International Students
0.4% from 44 countries
First-Year Students Returning
79.4%
Students Graduating Within 4 Years
45.1%
Graduates Offered Full-Time Employment Within 6 Months
Not reported
Graduates Pursuing Advanced Study Directly
Not reported
Undergraduate and Undergraduate Financial Aid data displayed on CollegeData’s college profiles is from the 2024-25 academic year.
A portion of the College Profile data is provided under license by:
Peterson's Undergraduate and Undergraduate Financial Aid Databases, copyright © 2026 Peterson's LLC. All rights reserved.