Start the Climb
Start the Climb at Western Kentucky University
We are here to help you start your climb at Western Kentucky University. Here you will learn more about applying to Western Kentucky University, completing your FAFSA, applying for scholarships, and calculating the cost of attending WKU.
TOGETHER we climb higher.
The application can be completed online in about 15-20 minutes. The creation of a username and password is required to access, complete, and check the application’s status. For first-time freshmen to be admitted, we will need a completed application, the application fee, and an official high school transcript. More information on first-time freshmen admission requirements can be found here.
Once a student completes their senior year of high school, we will then need a final high school transcript which includes final grades and the date of graduation. This will not delay the application process or an admissions decision.
Fee waivers for the application are need-based only. Fee waivers can be accepted a variety of ways depending on the eligible program your student participates in, including ACT or SAT test waivers and free and reduced lunch. A student’s high school counselor can submit a copy of a completed NACAC waiver form, or a statement on the school’s letterhead verifying a student’s participation in the program, to admission@wku.edu.
Learn more about admission requirements for first-time freshmen, transfer students, and adult learners on our WKU Admissions page.
The free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a no-cost application completed by both prospective and current college students in the U.S. The FAFSA utilizes parent/guardian tax information from the previous year in order to determine the type of aid an applicant qualifies for such as federal grants, work-study, and loans. Some students may be selected for additional verification.
WKU Student Financial Assistance
For the most up-to-date information, visit the WKU's Student Financial Assistance page.
A completed application with the Admissions Office prior to the December 31st Priority Deadline will automatically qualify eligible students for Institutional Merit Scholarships. Scholarships must be accepted by May 1 of a student's senior year of high school.
TOPDollar is our main scholarship source. There are over 1,400 scholarships that can be applied for. After acceptance, your student should complete the General Application on TOPDollar for a chance to be matched with additional scholarships that are determined by interests and involvement. For complete details on scholarships, visit visit WKU's Student Financial Aid.
Please confirm all details on this page with WKU's Student Financial Aid.
Follow the instructions on the below Net Price Calculator to determine your cost of attending Western Kentucky University.
BECOME A Hilltopper.
Lauren Howe, a junior from Owensboro, KY wanted to study photojournalism at the "best school in the nation," and she hasn't looked back.
"The photojournalism program and the WKU School of Media and Communication is one of the best in the nation. From winning numerous Hearst Awards to various graduates working at some of the biggest name brand companies in th world, you can't deny this program excels in what they do. I knew I wanted to be a part of that, learn from some of the best professors and work alongside like-minded peers," Howe said.
Howe hopes the skills learned as a photojournalism student will remain with her throughout her career.
"I've gained all this knowledge within the classroom, and now I can confidently go out and put what I've learned to the test. Having hands-on experiences within the classroom, or lab and studio in this case, is invaluable. I'm able to retain the informartion and apply it to a photoshoot. I'm constantly learning new things, and I know that I can rely on my peers for help when needed and in return, I can also help them. We bounce ideas off each other to help get the creative process going because when you're in the photojournalism program, you can't always do things alone," Howe said.
Western Kentucky University offers more than 170 undergraduate majors, minors, certificates, and pre-professional areas of study within majors, as well as more than 125 graduate programs. The University confers a wide range of Master degrees along with a Doctor of Education, Doctor of Nursing Practice, Doctor of Physical Therapy, and Doctor of Psychology. WKU also offers non-degree Rank I and II and certification-only teacher education programs.
Academics at Western Kentucky University Academics at WKU
JOURNEY to the Top.
JOURNEY
to the Top.
Western Kentucky University (WKU), home of the Hilltoppers, is a place of beauty and friendliness. WKU is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, a city with a population of more than 60,000 approximately 110 miles south of Louisville and 65 miles north of Nashville. More than 15,000 students currently attend our campuses in Bowling Green, Elizabethtown, Fort Knox, Glasgow, Owensboro, Somerset, and Online. Visit our virtual tour to view our distinctive landmark on a hill overlooking the city.
Some of the links on this page may require additional software to view.