- Acceptance rate: 94% for fall 2024
- SAT, middle 50%: 420–530 reading and writing, 420–520 math
- ACT, middle 50%: 16–21 composite
- Average net price: $12,054 a year (2022–23)
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How does your GPA compare?
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Where you standEnter your GPA
Add a test score to compare it with what Western Kentucky University reported: an acceptance rate of 94% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 16–21.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. Western Kentucky University reviews each application.
Western Kentucky University GPA requirements
Western Kentucky University requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Federal data doesn't include GPA averages, and Western Kentucky University hasn't published one we could verify, so this page doesn't list an average GPA.
Western Kentucky University acceptance rate
Western Kentucky University admitted 9,237 of 9,840 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 94%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Western Kentucky University is a public 4-year university in Bowling Green, Kentucky, with 14,151 undergraduates.
SAT and ACT scores
Scores of the first-year students who entered Western Kentucky University in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:
| Test | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading and Writing | 420 | 490 | 530 |
| SAT Math | 420 | 440 | 520 |
| ACT Composite | 16 | 18 | 21 |
| ACT English | 15 | 19 | 21 |
| ACT Math | 15 | 16 | 18 |
The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 971 for admitted students.
Admission requirements
What Western Kentucky University looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Required |
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Required |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Required |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Considered if submitted |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Not considered |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Not considered |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Not considered |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Not considered |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Not considered |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Not considered |
AP credit
Western Kentucky University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It doesn't award credit for life experience.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $12,054 a year at Western Kentucky University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
Is it easy to get into Western Kentucky University?
For most prepared students, yes: at least 3 in 4 applicants got in. Western Kentucky University admitted 94% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
How much does GPA matter at Western Kentucky University?
A lot: Western Kentucky University requires high school GPA, high school record and college preparatory program. It considers test scores if you send them. It doesn't consider high school class rank, recommendations, essay or personal statement, other tests, demonstration of competencies, work experience and legacy status. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Do you need SAT or ACT scores to apply to Western Kentucky University?
Check Western Kentucky University's admissions website for the current rule: testing policies change from year to year. Western Kentucky University was test optional: it considered SAT or ACT scores if you sent them, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education (fall 2024). Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 3% sent SAT scores and 3% sent ACT scores.
What GPA does Western Kentucky University look for?
Western Kentucky University requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. It hasn't published an average GPA we could verify, so we don't list one.
What is the acceptance rate at Western Kentucky University?
Western Kentucky University's acceptance rate was 94% for fall 2024: it admitted 9,237 of 9,840 first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
What are Western Kentucky University's SAT and ACT score ranges?
The middle 50% of Western Kentucky University's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 420–530 in reading and writing and 420–520 in math; ACT composite 16–21, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.
Can I get into Western Kentucky University with a 3.0 GPA?
GPA alone can't tell you here. Western Kentucky University admitted 94% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It requires a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.0 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.
What is the average net price at Western Kentucky University?
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $12,054 a year at Western Kentucky University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Does Western Kentucky University accept AP credit?
Yes. Western Kentucky University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
Does Western Kentucky University look at legacy status?
No. Western Kentucky University doesn't consider whether a parent or other relative attended, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Before you apply, check Western Kentucky University's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: Western Kentucky UniversityU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
- College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).
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