Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, Kentucky · Public · 93.9% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 34/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Western Kentucky University scores 34 (Below Benchmark). The 20.7-year payback period and 65.2% three-year repayment rate are the central drags. The 0.717 debt-to-earnings ratio reflects $22,095 median debt against modest earnings. The 55.6% completion rate is reasonable but not strong. In-state tuition is $11,652, out-of-state $27,000, and net price drops to $10,990 - the affordability is real. The 4-year total cost of $43,960 is moderate, but the earnings outcomes don't keep pace. WKU is a 12,155-student public regional in Bowling Green, Kentucky, with 30.5% Pell. Program-level data shows real bifurcation: engineering, nursing, and accounting post B/B+ grades; the school's broad mix of education, communication, and humanities programs cluster in the C-and-D range. The institutional 34 reflects the heavy weight of those weaker tracks. Students who target engineering, nursing, finance, or computer science see substantially better outcomes than the institutional headline suggests.
How Western Kentucky University scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score34/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- Payback period20.7 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Western Kentucky University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $11,652/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $27,000/yr |
| Average net price | $10,990/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $43,960 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $43,889 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $30,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,095 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $234 |
| Estimated payback period | 20.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 55.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 12,155 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $11,652/year ($27,000/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $10,990/year, or roughly $43,960 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $7,087/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $17,653/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $22,095, which works out to about $234 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($30,800) and comes to 0.72, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $7,087 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $6,871 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $9,765 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $14,049 |
| $110,001+ | $17,653 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $7,087 net annually - genuinely affordable. The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays even less ($6,871), continuing a mild inverted pattern likely reflecting how Pell and KEES (Kentucky state grant) stack most favorably across the lowest two tiers. Over four years that's $27K-$28K, which against $43K median 10-year earnings produces a workable but tight ROI for low-income students.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) pay $9,765 - still well below sticker. Over four years that's $39K out of pocket.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Top-bracket families ($110,001+) pay $17,653 net annually - meaningfully more than lower brackets but still below $20K. Out-of-state high-income families paying full out-of-state pricing ($27K) face a steeper math problem.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Western Kentucky University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $59,362 | C |
| Registered Nursing | $73,496 | B |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $46,583 | D |
| Teacher Education | $38,656 | C |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $54,396 | D |
| Psychology | $44,848 | D |
| Marketing | $60,222 | C+ |
| Political Science and Government | $45,124 | D |
| Social Work | $48,771 | D |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $53,839 | D |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing (169 graduates - among the largest cohorts) earns a B grade with $68,294 first-year and $73,496 four-year earnings against $26,330 median debt (0.386 ratio). Strong placement into Kentucky and southern-Indiana healthcare systems. This is one of the strongest mainstream financial bets at WKU and a primary reason students should read the institutional 34 score against their specific major plan.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is the largest reported program at 182 graduates per year. Median earnings of $44,498 first-year and $59,362 four-year against $25,320 median debt produce a 0.569 ratio (C grade). Earnings climb is moderate; the program is a defensible mainstream choice but not exceptional. Accounting (a separate code) posts notably stronger numbers within the business school.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering (33 graduates) earns a B grade with $70,722 first-year and $86,624 four-year earnings against $27,000 median debt (0.382 ratio). WKU's engineering programs are a clear ROI bright spot, supported by Kentucky's growing manufacturing and automotive sector. Strong choice for students confident in the technical curriculum.
Psychology
Psychology (122 graduates - one of the largest cohorts) has $25,936 first-year earnings against $24,846 median debt, which yields a 0.958 ratio (D grade). Four-year earnings of $44,848 partially redeem the picture. The program is a feeder for graduate study; terminal-bachelor's outcomes are structurally tight.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology (123 graduates - tied with Psychology as a top cohort) earns a D grade with $25,858 first-year earnings against $24,593 median debt (0.951 ratio). Four-year earnings of $54,396 climb meaningfully but the early-career squeeze is severe. As elsewhere, this is a feeder for graduate study (PT, OT, athletic training) - terminal-bachelor's pathways do not redeem the borrowing.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 60.2% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 65.2% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 52.8% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 60.1% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Western Kentucky University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 93.9% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 420-520 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 420-530 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 16-21 |
| Enrollment | 12,155 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 30.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,169 |
WKU admits 93.9% of applicants - effectively open admission. The 93.9% admit rate paired with a 55.6% completion rate is a typical regional-public pattern. Selectivity is a soft signal here; students should focus on academic preparation and major selection more than admit-rate considerations.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Kentucky University (this school) | 34 | $10,990 | $43,889 |
| Eastern Kentucky University | 39 | $11,040 | $45,795 |
| University of New Mexico-Main Campus | 38 | $15,489 | $44,792 |
| Georgia Gwinnett College | 34 | $15,844 | $47,730 |
| New Mexico State University-Main Campus | 31 | $8,889 | $39,067 |
| Kentucky State University | 9 | $8,040 | $36,382 |
Who Thrives Here
WKU's 12,155 enrollment, 30.5% Pell rate, and Bowling Green location define a mostly traditional, residential, regionally-rooted Kentucky public. Best fit: students entering engineering, nursing, accounting, finance, or computer science - the school's strong-ROI tracks. Mismatch: students entering broad humanities, communication, or general business programs face structurally weak outcomes that the school's affordability doesn't fully redeem. With 12,155 students supporting a wide major mix, prospective students should pay close attention to which program they're entering rather than assuming WKU's headline numbers apply to their path.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Western Kentucky University scores 34/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $10,990 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $43,889 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 20.7 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.72 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 65.2% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $22,095 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $30,800 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.72. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Western Kentucky University: Common Questions
Is Western Kentucky University worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Western Kentucky University scores 34/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $10,990 a year after aid against $43,889 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 20.7 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Western Kentucky University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $10,990 a year, or roughly $43,960 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Western Kentucky University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $43,889 ten years after enrolling, roughly $2,089 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Western Kentucky University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 20.7 years for Western Kentucky University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Western Kentucky University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $22,095, against average earnings of $30,800 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.72. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Western Kentucky University?
The six-year graduation rate is 55.6%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.