Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology
Quick Stats
Earnings, Debt & Completion
What happens to students who enroll at Western Kentucky University, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
Typical debt at graduation equals about 50% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.
Earnings rank: 28th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (KY wage index 0.78). This drives the Outcome Rating.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.
Earnings by Major at Western Kentucky University
Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.
| Major | 1 yr after | 4 yrs after | vs. national | Rank (pay) | Rank (wage-adj.) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | $70,722 | $86,624 | -6% | #267 of 318 | #84 | $26,688 |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | $60,675 | $86,033 | +6% | #17 of 51 | #5 | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $74,205 | $85,772 | -15% | #251 of 258 | #167 | — |
| Construction Engineering Technology/Technician | $63,013 | $84,057 | -10% | #37 of 43 | #20 | $26,502 |
| Civil Engineering | $60,086 | $75,732 | -12% | #223 of 233 | #131 | $21,200 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $49,823 | $74,452 | -14% | #81 of 126 | #60 | $21,500 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $68,294 | $73,496 | -17% | #912 of 966 | #703 | $22,647 |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $48,863 | $73,300 | -21% | #363 of 459 | #277 | $18,836 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $50,104 | $71,274 | -6% | #450 of 796 | #269 | $22,772 |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | $46,919 | $71,240 | +2% | #9 of 22 | #4 | $23,750 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $44,355 | $70,313 | -16% | #336 of 452 | #215 | $19,500 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $64,252 | $68,333 | -18% | #140 of 166 | #109 | — |
| Economics | $53,857 | $68,051 | -18% | #292 of 368 | #199 | — |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | — | $64,710 | -3% | #67 of 118 | #28 | — |
| Marketing | $42,478 | $60,222 | -13% | #388 of 516 | #246 | $21,500 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $44,516 | $60,103 | +2% | #130 of 275 | #79 | $27,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $44,498 | $59,362 | -13% | #817 of 1176 | #523 | $20,820 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | $47,974 | $57,958 | -15% | #71 of 76 | #63 | $21,000 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | — | $57,844 | -2% | #123 of 215 | #43 | $19,500 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences | $42,045 | $57,271 | -7% | #86 of 156 | #51 | $19,500 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $25,858 | $54,396 | +-0% | #275 of 610 | #122 | $22,870 |
| Political Science and Government | $23,294 | $54,333 | -14% | #449 of 565 | #263 | $20,500 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $24,967 | $53,921 | -2% | #147 of 225 | #62 | — |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $35,534 | $53,839 | -15% | #149 of 178 | #112 | $25,000 |
| Biology | $29,945 | $52,487 | -8% | #610 of 841 | #370 | $20,822 |
| Agriculture | $38,804 | $51,065 | -5% | #29 of 43 | #14 | $22,500 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $29,492 | $50,712 | -11% | #100 of 137 | #66 | $23,527 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $33,955 | $50,392 | -11% | #434 of 660 | #238 | $23,000 |
| Social Work | $34,748 | $48,771 | -6% | #309 of 420 | #141 | $21,827 |
| Journalism | $35,050 | $47,661 | -15% | #156 of 187 | #103 | $23,250 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $35,746 | $46,583 | -12% | #361 of 476 | #250 | $26,000 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $28,291 | $45,957 | +11% | #102 of 423 | #33 | $27,000 |
| Apparel and Textiles | $36,635 | $45,420 | -21% | #50 of 57 | #45 | $27,000 |
| Criminology | $32,370 | $45,124 | -19% | #111 of 113 | #90 | $25,815 |
| Psychology | $25,936 | $44,848 | -12% | #809 of 1027 | #477 | $22,337 |
| Public Health | — | $43,605 | -26% | #210 of 215 | #176 | $22,086 |
| Sociology | $32,762 | $43,520 | -17% | #416 of 462 | #303 | $26,000 |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | — | $43,210 | -16% | #21 of 24 | #14 | — |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management | $32,267 | $42,600 | -16% | #47 of 55 | #37 | $24,867 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $21,377 | $41,791 | -17% | #139 of 158 | #106 | $27,044 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $36,830 | $40,838 | -21% | #333 of 345 | #314 | $26,887 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $38,807 | $40,705 | -19% | #168 of 177 | #154 | $26,000 |
| English Language and Literature | $27,950 | $40,616 | -16% | #490 of 576 | #385 | $20,500 |
| Anthropology | $19,495 | $40,415 | -13% | #159 of 188 | #103 | — |
| History | $27,177 | $38,836 | -23% | #446 of 459 | #398 | $21,125 |
| Social Sciences | $38,659 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $37,288 | $38,656 | -18% | #656 of 680 | #607 | $22,168 |
| Mathematics | — | $38,434 | -45% | #309 of 309 | #309 | — |
| Music | $34,766 | $38,377 | -11% | #214 of 268 | #144 | $25,000 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $22,884 | $34,987 | -12% | #209 of 255 | #128 | $21,500 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.
The Western Kentucky University Town Property Report
- Avg home value near campus: $240,322
- Avg rent near campus: $1,146/mo — vs ~$817/mo campus room rate
- Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 42275 (4.4% cap, Roundhill)
Get the free 1-page report: rent-vs-dorm math, the 3 best nearby ZIPs by yield, and the “kiddie condo” strategy parents use.
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🏆 Where Western Kentucky University Ranks
Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.
Costs & Financial Aid
Tuition & Fees
| Category | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $11,436 | $27,000 |
| Room | $7,353 | |
| Board | $4,690 | |
| Total Cost (On-Campus) | $26,888 | $42,452 |
Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
| Family Income | Average Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $10,075 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $16,624 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $17,417 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,219 |
| $110,001+ | $18,601 |
Programs & Career Paths
Top Degree Programs
Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.
Related Career Paths
Careers that graduates from Western Kentucky University's top programs commonly pursue.
Student Demographics
👥 Race & Ethnicity
🏠 Living Arrangements
💻 Learning Mode
📊 Age Distribution
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Western Kentucky University?
How much does it cost to attend Western Kentucky University?
What is the graduation rate at Western Kentucky University?
Is Western Kentucky University a good school?
- Outcomes (B): Graduation and retention rates
- Affordability (C+): Net cost and financial aid access
- Resources (C): Class sizes and selectivity
- Experience (B+): Campus life and learning format
- Prestige (C): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Western Kentucky University?
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🎓 Similar Colleges to Western Kentucky University
Compare with other 4-Year public institutions of similar size.
Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology