Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Western Kentucky University is a public national university located in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Western Kentucky University is very inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Western Kentucky University is in the bottom 50% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $39,268 10 years after enrolling, 16th in Kentucky, and in the bottom 25% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Western Kentucky University bachelor students earn 5% less than the national average. Western Kentucky University is ranked 13th in Kentucky.
Western Kentucky University’s median net annual cost of $12,522 and average years to graduate of 4.8 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Western Kentucky University sorted by number of graduates - Business Administration, Registered Nursing, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Health & Fitness, Social Work, Biology - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$12,522
Average years to graduate
4.8
Mechanical Engineering
Rank: #111
Economic score: 1.53
Accounting
Rank: #122
Economic score: 1.92
Marketing
Rank: #81
Economic score: 2.51
Finance
Rank: #208
Economic score: 3.01
Advertising & PR
Rank: #37
Economic score: 3.8
Health Administrative Services
Rank: #82
Economic score: 4.1
Journalism
Rank: #51
Economic score: 4.84
Education
Rank: #278
Economic score: 7
Criminology
Rank: #61
Economic score: 7.18
Psychology
Rank: #644
Economic score: 15.71
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at Western Kentucky University - Business Administration, Parks & Recreation Mgmt., Communication disorder sciences, Social Work, Clinical / Counseling Psych, Education - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Library Science
Rank: #2
Economic score: 0.3
Registered Nursing
Rank: #167
Economic score: 0.41
Mathematics
Rank: #7
Economic score: 0.49
Health Administrative Services
Rank: #87
Economic score: 0.57
Special Education
Rank: #144
Economic score: 0.62
Education (subject specific)
Rank: #179
Economic score: 0.65
Psychology
Rank: #105
Economic score: 0.66
Student Counseling
Rank: #232
Economic score: 1.22
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.8 years. 51% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Western Kentucky University is 0% higher than the state average, and 16% below the average for all national universities in the country.
At Western Kentucky University, Pell Grant recipients represent 30% of the measured graduating class, 5% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Western Kentucky University graduates within 5 years.
Western Kentucky University is in the bottom 25% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Western Kentucky University’s economic mobility score of 6.92 is calculated by adjusting the 6.69 economic score of lower-income students by the 30% pell grant recipients within the student body. Western Kentucky University’s EMS of 6.92 ranks in the bottom 25% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Bottom 25%
The average Title IV recipient at Western Kentucky University pays $12,522 a year, $11,410 less than the $23,932 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $12,522
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Western Kentucky University, 98% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $12,522 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 48% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $6,083. This is 6% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$5,128
Pell grants
$4,576
State grants
$2,912
Institutional grants
$5,928
Western Kentucky University offers 17 online bachelor programs, 15 of which are held exclusively online. At the master’s level Western Kentucky University offers 25 programs, 22 of which are held exclusively online. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
42
Hybrid programs
5
Percentage of programs online
27%
Western Kentucky University's very inclusive admissions are indicated by their 98% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 7,255 applicants, of which 7,145 were admitted and 2,832 enrolled. Western Kentucky University has a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed as they arrive until all spaces are filled.
Full time
87%
83%
Female
60%
59%
First time
69%
59%
In-state
74%
68%
1st generation
36%
35%
White
78%
52%
Black
10%
14%
Hispanic
4%
15%
Asian
2%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
6%
12%