Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Western Kentucky University at a Glance
Western Kentucky University (WKU) known as The Hill, is a public university in Bowling Green, Kentucky, United States. It was founded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1906, though its roots reach back a few decades earlier. It operates regional campuses in Glasgow, Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, and Owensboro. The main campus sits atop a hill overlooking the Barren River valley.
1906
120 years old
$306M
$305.65 million (2025)
16,762
14,593 undergrad · 2,169 grad
932
200 acres
Identity
How to Apply to Western Kentucky University
Official admissions pageFee waiver
Is Western Kentucky University Worth It?
Western Kentucky University offers moderate value at $10,990/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $43,889, which is 18% below average — meaning the financial payoff takes longer than typical. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1 year — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 55% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 5 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
With a 94% acceptance rate, admission is essentially open — the question isn't whether you'll get in, but whether the investment will pay off.
With median debt of $22,095 representing 50% of first-year earnings, loan repayment will be a significant burden for most graduates.
How Western Kentucky University compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #26 of 97 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Modesto Junior College | 100 | $2,818 | $42,368 |
| #2 | Indian River State College | 100 | $3,815 | $38,315 |
| #3 | St Petersburg College | 100 | $1,471 | $42,557 |
| #4 | Henry Ford College | 100 | $660 | $34,795 |
| #5 | South Texas College | 100 | $1,751 | $36,788 |
| #6 | Pensacola State College | 91 | $3,957 | $36,739 |
| #26 | Western Kentucky University | 55 | $10,990 | $43,889 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Western Kentucky University's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at Western Kentucky University
The highest-earning program at Western Kentucky University is Mechanical Engineering at $60,000/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Radio, Television, and Digital Communication at $22,000/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Mechanical Engineering graduate from Western Kentucky University earns $60,000, while a Radio, Television, and Digital Communication graduate earns $22,000. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $10,990/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | $60,000 | $60,000 | $27,000 |
| Construction Engineering Technologies | $57,600 | $57,600 | N/A |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $56,300 | $56,300 | $23,927 |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | $54,900 | $54,900 | $22,125 |
| Civil Engineering | $50,100 | $50,100 | $25,600 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $45,200 | $45,200 | $19,131 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | $43,900 | $43,900 | $25,000 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $43,300 | $43,300 | $25,000 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $41,200 | $41,200 | $15,715 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $38,000 | $38,000 | $23,500 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $37,500 | $37,500 | $20,500 |
| Marketing | $34,900 | $34,900 | $20,544 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $34,300 | $34,300 | $25,250 |
| Mathematics | $32,500 | $32,500 | $21,500 |
| Social Sciences, General | $32,400 | $32,400 | $27,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $32,200 | $32,200 | $23,492 |
| Public Health | $32,200 | $32,200 | $29,250 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $32,100 | $32,100 | $27,690 |
| Social Work | $32,100 | $32,100 | $25,250 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $31,600 | $31,600 | $24,000 |
| Agriculture, General | $31,500 | $31,500 | $21,500 |
| Political Science and Government | $31,300 | $31,300 | $24,878 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $30,300 | $30,300 | $20,500 |
| Sociology | $30,200 | $30,200 | $25,018 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $30,100 | $30,100 | $21,938 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $29,400 | $29,400 | $27,000 |
| History | $29,200 | $29,200 | $27,000 |
| Journalism | $28,700 | $28,700 | $27,000 |
| Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management | $27,300 | $27,300 | $30,261 |
| Biology, General | $26,600 | $26,600 | $23,000 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $26,500 | $26,500 | $26,000 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $26,300 | $26,300 | $18,750 |
| Criminology | $25,400 | $25,400 | $23,628 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $25,100 | $25,100 | $27,750 |
| Music | $24,400 | $24,400 | $27,700 |
| Psychology, General | $23,900 | $23,900 | $22,871 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $23,700 | $23,700 | $27,000 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $23,300 | $23,300 | $28,500 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $22,000 | $22,000 | N/A |
Similar Colleges in KY
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Bowling Green, KY
- Student Body
- 12,155 students
- Admission Rate
- 94%
- Graduation Rate
- 55%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $10,990
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $43,889
- Median Student Debt
- $22,095