Western Kentucky University Rankings by Salary Score

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Salary and Debt by Major at Western Kentucky University

We calculated a Salary Score for each of Western Kentucky University's programs by comparing program-specific median alumni earnings to median alumni earnings for the same program across all schools that provide this data. This way, students can compare the relative salary strength of a specific major at Western Kentucky University to the same major at other schools. A school's overall score by level is based on the school's by-program performance weighted by student enrollment in each program. Data is sourced from the December 2020 release of the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and reflects median alumni debt upon graduation and median alumni earnings in the year after graduation for students who received federal financial aid. Debt and salary numbers are shown rounded to the nearest $10.

Salary Score ™ for WKU Associate Degrees

Field of Study Salary Score Employment Rate Median Debt Median Salary Salary Score
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities 55 75% 75% $17,780 $26,350 55
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing 26 100% 100% $18,500 $52,840 26

Salary Score ™ for WKU Bachelor's Degrees

Field of Study Salary Score Employment Rate Median Debt Median Salary Salary Score
Accounting and Related Services 19 98% 98% $25,000 $41,570 19
Agriculture, General 29 94% 94% $21,980 $31,830 29
Anthropology 15 100% 100% $21,750 $21,510 15
Apparel and Textiles 16 96% 96% $27,000 $31,130 16
Architectural Sciences and Technology 33 91% 91% $23,250 $41,570 33
Biology, General 13 89% 89% $22,200 $22,900 13
Business Administration, Management and Operations 24 97% 97% $23,000 $36,670 24
Business/Managerial Economics 36 100% 100% Not Reported $44,380 36
Civil Engineering 1 95% 95% $31,000 $47,650 1
Communication and Media Studies 53 94% 94% $24,750 $33,990 53
Computer and Information Sciences, General 32 97% 97% $19,500 $50,230 32
Construction Engineering Technologies 28 100% 100% Not Reported $59,580 28
Criminology 8 91% 91% $20,500 $28,130 8
Dance 23 100% 100% Not Reported $18,770 23
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions 6 100% 100% $25,000 $42,360 6
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft 27 100% 100% $23,250 $20,480 27
Economics 32 95% 95% $14,000 $43,430 32
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering 60 100% 100% Not Reported $72,650 60
English Language and Literature, General 23 91% 91% $25,000 $25,190 23
English Language and Literature/Letters, Other 64 100% 100% Not Reported $33,380 64
Finance and Financial Management Services 17 98% 98% $23,000 $41,340 17
Fine and Studio Arts 49 91% 91% $26,050 $26,060 49
Geography and Cartography 30 100% 100% Not Reported $32,930 30
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences 49 100% 100% Not Reported $36,990 49
Health and Medical Administrative Services 21 95% 95% $28,500 $33,690 21
Health and Physical Education/Fitness 29 99% 99% $25,650 $27,540 29
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General 27 100% 100% $21,500 $28,240 27
History 29 93% 93% $26,080 $27,180 29
Hospitality Administration/Management 3 96% 96% $23,250 $26,120 3
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians 39 96% 96% $24,690 $53,360 39
Journalism 28 98% 98% $26,000 $29,370 28
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities 39 94% 94% $28,750 $30,800 39
Management Information Systems and Services 13 99% 99% $18,290 $42,310 13
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods 19 100% 100% $23,100 $43,800 19
Marketing 27 97% 97% $21,500 $38,290 27
Mathematics 16 100% 100% $21,500 $34,700 16
Mechanical Engineering 49 100% 100% $18,720 $65,440 49
Music 47 93% 93% $30,600 $27,150 47
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management 3 96% 96% $30,000 $24,040 3
Political Science and Government 18 100% 100% $24,250 $28,960 18
Psychology, General 22 92% 92% $22,390 $26,220 22
Public Health 48 96% 96% $29,750 $34,530 48
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication 22 97% 97% $23,050 $33,820 22
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication 18 100% 100% $27,000 $25,190 18
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing 18 99% 99% $23,500 $55,700 18
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics 17 92% 92% $18,940 $25,970 17
Social Sciences, General 22 96% 96% $27,000 $29,140 22
Social Work 63 95% 95% $24,500 $33,570 63
Sociology 24 93% 93% $26,000 $28,720 24
Special Education and Teaching 22 94% 94% $21,000 $34,700 22
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods 28 99% 99% $23,110 $33,170 28
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas 14 97% 97% $27,370 $30,990 14

Salary Score ™ for WKU Master's Degrees

Field of Study Salary Score Employment Rate Median Debt Median Salary Salary Score
Business Administration, Management and Operations 20 97% 97% $30,750 $52,420 20
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology 19 98% 98% $37,980 $38,560 19
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services 17 99% 99% $41,000 $49,570 17
Health and Medical Administrative Services 33 100% 100% Not Reported $58,670 33
Library Science and Administration 50 100% 100% $20,500 $43,640 50
Mathematics 19 100% 100% Not Reported $44,360 19
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management 70 100% 100% $30,750 $45,620 70
Psychology, General 51 100% 100% $34,000 $44,840 51
Public Health 11 100% 100% Not Reported $38,290 11
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing 22 100% 100% $32,570 $82,880 22
Social Work 9 98% 98% $27,640 $38,080 9
Special Education and Teaching 12 100% 100% $27,480 $40,900 12
Student Counseling and Personnel Services 14 100% 100% $38,500 $37,210 14
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods 19 100% 100% $30,750 $40,540 19
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas 12 96% 96% Not Reported $39,640 12

Salary Score ™ for WKU Doctoral Degrees

Field of Study Salary Score Employment Rate Median Debt Median Salary Salary Score
Educational Administration and Supervision 14 92% 92% Not Reported $63,010 14
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions 64 100% 100% $92,240 $72,650 64

Western Kentucky University Reviews

3.88
(38 Reviews)

Reviews by Program

Biology
Master's

4.08

Most Recent Reviews

Preston White 11/2/2023

Would highly recommend not giving this school your money. Not sure how other departments are, but the MFGE instructors have a 'holier than thou' mentality paired with poor online instruction. Majority provided 0 lesson plans/help, relied on sites like Mcgraw Hill instead of actually teaching themselves. It's not hard to video a lecture and post it for online students to review. Advisor has 0 respect for students, even though I can gaurentee I triple his yearly salary at half his age. Will not return to this... Read More

Spencer Steele 12/18/2019

At WKU I feel like the education program was great. However, the requirements that were established for an English/Literature emphasis I believe were entirely too rigorous. I was taking 18-19 hours per semester, and felt overwhelmed with all of the work I had to do just so I could graduate in the 4 years. WKU's tuition rates I believe were also super inflated compared to it's competitors in size and geographical area. However, I enjoyed my time at the school. I just felt overall, that the school focused more... Read More