Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, KY · Public · offers Graduate degrees
94%Acceptance rate
$10,990Average net price / year
56%Graduation rate
$43,889Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$22,095Median debt at graduation
12,155Undergraduates
Cost
- In-state tuition & fees
- $11,652
- Out-of-state tuition
- $27,000
- Total cost of attendance
- $24,188
- Room & board
- $12,582
- Books & supplies
- $1,000
- Average net price
- $10,990
Net price by family income
- $0–30k
- $7,087
- $30–48k
- $6,871
- $48–75k
- $9,765
- $75–110k
- $14,049
- $110k+
- $17,653
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 93.9%
- Average SAT
- 971
- SAT reading (25–75%)
- 420–530
- SAT math (25–75%)
- 420–520
- ACT composite (25–75%)
- 16–21
Outcomes
- Graduation rate
- 56%
- First-year retention
- 78%
- Median earnings (6 yrs)
- $38,156
- Median earnings (10 yrs)
- $43,889
- Median debt (graduates)
- $22,095
- 3-year loan default rate
- 0.0%
- Students with Pell grants
- 30%
- Students with federal loans
- 35%
Programs: what graduates earn
80 of 202 programs have published earnings or debt data. Earnings are median salaries of graduates one year after completing the program (or the latest available year).
Undergraduate certificate
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 5 | $76,463 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 56 | $49,760 | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 9 | $85,634 | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 28 | $68,269 | — |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | 25 | $38,962 | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | — | $66,066 | — |
Associate's degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 96 | $64,845 | $11,395 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 6 | $44,285 | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 1 | $29,553 | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 49 | $21,703 | $15,303 |
Bachelor's degree
Master's degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 24 | $103,023 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 160 | $64,836 | $25,269 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 17 | $59,931 | — |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 84 | $54,058 | $42,706 |
| Library Science and Administration | 28 | $51,244 | $17,684 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 62 | $45,211 | $30,207 |
| Special Education and Teaching | 40 | $44,743 | $21,593 |
| Social Work | 52 | $44,263 | $24,648 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 28 | $43,802 | $41,000 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management | 33 | $43,655 | $41,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 17 | $42,624 | $25,360 |
| Biology, General | 14 | $35,371 | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 12 | $71,024 | — |
| Psychology, General | 16 | $46,299 | — |
Doctoral degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | — | $100,103 | $55,511 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | — | $71,378 | $97,736 |
Graduate certificate
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management | 10 | $45,980 | — |
Students
- Undergraduates
- 12,155
- Graduate students
- 2,834
- Part-time
- 9%
- Women / men
- 61% / 39%
- White
- 74%
- Hispanic
- 7%
- Black
- 9%
- Asian
- 3%
- International
- 1%
Faculty & school
- Student–faculty ratio
- 19:1
- Avg faculty salary
- $73,521 / year
- Full-time faculty
- 67%
- Accreditor
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Website
- www.wku.edu
- Also known as
- WKU, HILLTOPPERS
Most popular fields
- Communication & Journalism – 6% of degrees
- Computer & Information Sciences – 3% of degrees
- Education – 6% of degrees
- Liberal Arts & General Studies – 9% of degrees
- Biological Sciences – 3% of degrees
- Interdisciplinary Studies – 4% of degrees
Frequently asked questions
What is the acceptance rate at Western Kentucky University?
93.9% of applicants were admitted, and admitted students averaged 971 on the SAT.
How much does Western Kentucky University cost?
The average net price after grants is $10,990 per year; in-state tuition and fees are $11,652 and the full cost of attendance is $24,188.
How much do Western Kentucky University graduates earn?
Students who enrolled earn a median of $43,889 ten years later. See the program table above for salaries by major.
What is the graduation rate?
56% of first-time, full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.
Other colleges in Bowling Green
| College | Net price | Acceptance | Graduation | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College Bowling Green, KY · Public · 3,308 students |
$3,537 | — | 58% | $34,242 |
| PJ's College of Cosmetology-Bowling Green Bowling Green, KY · Private for-profit · 219 students |
$26,577 | — | 64% | $20,392 |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Bowling Green Bowling Green, KY · Private for-profit · 57 students |
$20,062 | — | 74% | $30,060 |
| Lindsey Institute of Cosmetology Bowling Green, KY · Private for-profit · 56 students |
$16,140 | — | 83% | $14,602 |
| Regina Webb Academy Bowling Green, KY · Private for-profit · 23 students |
$13,205 | — | 100% | — |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.