Kentucky Wesleyan College is a private nonprofit institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Owensboro, Kentucky. It enrolls 842 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
60/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes17
Value52
Affordability74
Selectivity41
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 71.6%, Kentucky Wesleyan College is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
71.6%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
890 – 1130
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
16 – 23
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Kentucky Wesleyan College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
4.6 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Kentucky Wesleyan College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $17,131 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$17,131
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
50%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
61%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$34,673
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,855
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,913
Books & Supplies
$1,298
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,125
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,125
Total Cost of Attendance
$46,203
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$13,951
$30,001 – $48,000
$13,701
$48,001 – $75,000
$15,062
$75,001 – $110,000
$19,306
Over $110,000
$22,888
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,75010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$23,250Medianpercentile
$23,25075%percentile
$31,99690%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $10,067
↓ $13,183
No Pell $12,000
↓ $11,250
Dependent students $12,000
↓ $11,250
Independent students $8,978
↓ $14,272
Female students $12,000
↓ $11,250
Male students $9,814
↓ $13,436
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($23,250), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
43% of full-time students who enrolled at Kentucky Wesleyan College graduate within six years, and 59% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
43%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
59%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Kentucky Wesleyan College earn a median of $46,747 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$46,747
Earning > $25K
77%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$39,800
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$43,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$37,500
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$43,000
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$42,600
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
16.6 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 82% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Kentucky Wesleyan College is home to 842 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 38% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
842
Part-Time
1%
First-Generation
38%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 57.2%482
Black 15.7%132
International 5.8%49
Hispanic 3.1%26
Asian 2.6%22
Other 1.5%13
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Kentucky Wesleyan College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityOwensboro, Kentucky
Housing
Mostly residential499 beds on campus
Adult Learners
10%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Kentucky Wesleyan College offers
a varied set of programs:
24 distinct programs across
17 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Kentucky Wesleyan College is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$45M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$53,778
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
39 instructional faculty across 3 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
3
8%
$59,884
Associate Professors
14
36%
$58,075
Assistant Professors
22
56%
$50,211
Pros & Cons of Kentucky Wesleyan College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Kentucky Wesleyan College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Best for:
Based on the data, Kentucky Wesleyan College is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Kentucky Wesleyan College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Kentucky Wesleyan College.
Is Kentucky Wesleyan College hard to get into?
Admissions at Kentucky Wesleyan College are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 71.6%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Kentucky Wesleyan College?
Kentucky Wesleyan College has an acceptance rate of 71.6%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Kentucky Wesleyan College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Kentucky Wesleyan College scored between 890 and 1130 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Kentucky Wesleyan College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Kentucky Wesleyan College scored between 16 and 23 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Kentucky Wesleyan College cost?
The average net price after aid at Kentucky Wesleyan College is $17,131 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Kentucky Wesleyan College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $46,747 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $17,131 per year. That's roughly 2.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Kentucky Wesleyan College known for?
Kentucky Wesleyan College is best known for its programs in Psychology, Kinesiology, Business. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Kentucky Wesleyan College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Kentucky Wesleyan College are $46,747, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Kentucky Wesleyan College accredited?
Yes. Kentucky Wesleyan College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Kentucky Wesleyan College?
Kentucky Wesleyan College enrolls 842 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Kentucky Wesleyan College?
Kentucky Wesleyan College graduates 43% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Kentucky Wesleyan College a public or private college?
Kentucky Wesleyan College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Kentucky Wesleyan College located?
Kentucky Wesleyan College is located in Owensboro, Kentucky.
What programs does Kentucky Wesleyan College offer?
Kentucky Wesleyan College offers 24 distinct programs. The most popular include Psychology, Kinesiology, Business.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Kentucky Wesleyan College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Kentucky Wesleyan College is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Kentucky
Other colleges in Kentucky share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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