Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University (WKU) 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.
At a glance
- Acceptance rate: 94%
- Average net price: $12,548
- Undergraduate enrollment: 17,207
- Graduation rate (150%): 58%
- Graduation rate (200%): 61%
- 8-year Outcome Measures award rate: 59%
- Student to faculty ratio: 19:1
- Median earnings (10 years): $43,889
- Median earnings (8 years): $40,920
- Median earnings (6 years): $38,156
- Control: Public
- Locale: City, small
- Calendar: Semester
- City: Bowling Green, KY
Majors and programs
The most common programs at Western Kentucky University include Business Administration and Management, Nursing, General Studies.
- Business Administration and Management (184 bachelor's) · median earnings $59,362 4 years after graduation · median debt $20,820
- Nursing (146 bachelor's) · median earnings $73,496 4 years after graduation · median debt $22,647
- General Studies (137 bachelor's) · median earnings $46,583 4 years after graduation · median debt $26,000
- Psychology (129 bachelor's) · median earnings $44,848 4 years after graduation · median debt $22,337
- Elementary Education and Teaching (114 bachelor's) · median earnings $38,656 4 years after graduation · median debt $22,168
- Marketing (107 bachelor's) · median earnings $60,222 4 years after graduation · median debt $21,500
- Criminology (97 bachelor's) · median earnings $45,124 4 years after graduation · median debt $25,815
- Biology (94 bachelor's) · median earnings $52,487 4 years after graduation · median debt $20,822
- Social Work (89 bachelor's) · median earnings $48,771 4 years after graduation · median debt $21,827
- Finance (69 bachelor's) · median earnings $70,313 4 years after graduation · median debt $19,500
Degree mix: Business 36%, Engineering 4%, Computer Science 4%, Health 30%, Biological Sciences 6%, Psychology 9%, Communication 10%, Other 1%.
Award levels offered: Certificates, Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral.
Cost
Western Kentucky University students from families earning $0 to $30,000 pay about $7,087 a year after aid.
- Net price, $0 to $30,000: $7,087
- Net price, $30,001 to $48,000: $6,871
- Net price, $48,001 to $75,000: $9,765
- Net price, $75,001 to $110,000: $14,049
- Net price, $110,001 and above: $17,653
- In-state tuition and fees: $11,652
- Out-of-state tuition and fees: $27,000
- Books and supplies: $1,000
- On-campus room and board: $12,582
- Off-campus room and board: $12,582
- Off-campus with family: $2,484
- Typical cost of attendance: $24,188
- Sticker vs net gap: 48%
- Students receiving any aid: 100%
- Pell Grant recipients: 30%
- Federal loan recipients: 35%
- Average institutional grant: $6,225
- Average federal loan: $6,495
- Median debt at graduation: $22,095
Admissions
Western Kentucky University admits 94% of applicants. Of students admitted, 30% enrolled.
- Applications: 9,840
- Admitted: 9,237
- Enrolled: 2,788
- Yield (first-choice signal): 30%
Who actually goes here
- Undergraduates: 17,207
- Women: 62%
- Commuter share (estimated): 70%
- Part-time undergraduates: 9%
- Age 25 and older: 9%
- Graduate students: 1,437
- Graduation rate: 58%
- Come back after freshman year: 78%
- First-generation: 36%
Faculty and campus
- Full-time faculty: 51%
- Student to faculty: 19:1
- Professor salary: $89,740
- Associate professor salary: $74,743
- Assistant professor salary: $68,205
- On-campus housing capacity: 5,127
- Average SAT: 930
- Average ACT: 18
- Study abroad: Available
- Online programs: Available
Common questions
What is the Western Kentucky University acceptance rate? Western Kentucky University admits 94% of applicants, based on the latest IPEDS admissions file.
How much does Western Kentucky University cost? Students from families earning $0 to $30,000 pay about $7,087 a year after aid. Average net price is $12,548.
What majors does Western Kentucky University offer? Popular programs include Business Administration and Management, Nursing, General Studies, Psychology, Elementary Education and Teaching.
What is the average salary after Western Kentucky University? Median earnings 10 years after entry are $43,889 for Title IV aid recipients in College Scorecard.
What is the Western Kentucky University graduation rate? In the IPEDS Outcome Measures cohort, 59% earned an award within eight years. The first-time, full-time 150% graduation rate is 58%.
Scorecard earnings and debt cover Title IV aid recipients, not cash-pay or private-loan students. Western Kentucky University official site: https://wku.edu.