Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Eastern Kentucky University #384 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Eastern Kentucky University sits in the 6.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting graduates who earn about $19,370 less than similar students at comparable institutions. Azimuth ranks Eastern Kentucky University #156 for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. Eastern Kentucky University's composite standing reflects a broad-access mission that delivers earnings outcomes above what similar students achieve at comparable institutions. The university's access ranking and earnings-beyond-expectations position together capture how Eastern Kentucky University serves a wide range of students while producing financial results that hold up against peer institutions in the Azimuth coverage set.
Azimuth ranks Eastern Kentucky University #384 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Richmond, KY, Eastern Kentucky University enrolls roughly 12,318 undergraduates. Freshman retention runs at 76.9% and the six-year graduation rate is 50.0%, reflecting the institution's commitment to moving students through to degree completion. The composite is anchored by what Eastern Kentucky University delivers for its students. 41.1% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 40.0% are first-generation college students, signaling a broad-access mission that the institution backs with meaningful outcomes. Graduates earn about $19,370 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Eastern Kentucky University in the 6.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The dominant program concentration in Health shapes much of this earnings profile, channeling graduates into stable, in-demand careers that hold up well relative to what comparable institutions produce. Access and return sit in closer balance here than at many institutions with similar selectivity. Eastern Kentucky University admits about 77.6% of applicants, reflecting a broad-access admissions posture consistent with its regional public mission. Azimuth ranks Eastern Kentucky University #1281 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 13.5 percentile — while mobility sits in the 81.9 percentile and affordability in the 84.7 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. Together, these pillars describe an institution that opens its doors widely and delivers outcomes that hold up against the broader nonprofit four-year landscape.
Eastern Kentucky University's published cost of attendance is $23,735. Net price by income band reflects the institution's public-tuition structure and need-based aid reach: low-income families pay approximately $8,591, middle-income families pay around $10,382, and higher-income families pay approximately $17,009. Azimuth ranks Eastern Kentucky University #219 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $14,685; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $54,691, median federal debt of $22,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $254 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Eastern Kentucky University is a strong fit for students drawn to health professions, education, and applied fields who want an accessible public university in KY with a clear path to stable employment in the regional labor market. Graduates earn in the 24.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Eastern Kentucky University sits in the 6.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn about $19,370 less than similar students at comparable institutions, a meaningful signal for students weighing long-term return on investment at a regional public institution. The access profile is broad. 41.1% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 40.0% are first-generation college students, and Eastern Kentucky University delivers completion outcomes for Pell-eligible students at a 38.9% rate — making it a realistic and financially grounded option for cost-sensitive families. Median student debt at graduation is $22,500, and the institution admits roughly 77.6% of applicants, making it broadly accessible to most qualified students. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program portfolio is concentrated in Health and related applied fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes, while those seeking a research-intensive or highly selective environment will want to weigh other options.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Eastern Kentucky University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Louisiana Tech University Similar quality tier (#15275 ranked) | LA | 86% | $52,279 | #15275 | Compare |
Ramapo College Of New Jersey Similar quality tier (#15280 ranked) | NJ | 71% | $67,541 | #15280 | Compare |
Southeastern Louisiana University Similar quality tier (#15265 ranked) | LA | 99% | $46,482 | #15265 | Compare |
University Of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Similar quality tier (#15284 ranked) | PA | 58% | $66,125 | #15284 | Compare |
Minnesota State University-Mankato Similar quality tier (#15295 ranked) | MN | 88% | $56,922 | #15295 | Compare |
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians
120 graduates
Construction Management
29 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
141 graduates
Fire Protection
64 graduates
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
25 graduates
Eastern Kentucky University's program mix is anchored in health, public safety, and applied professional fields — a signature that reflects the university's regional mission serving Kentucky's workforce needs. Health programs form the largest share of degree output at 14%, followed by Education at 5% and Social Sciences at 3%.
The highest aggregate-return program — Nursing — combines meaningful cohort scale with strong four-year earnings, making it a central driver of the institution's overall financial outcomes across 56 programs serving roughly 2,478 students annually. Among the most popular programs at Eastern Kentucky University, Psychology, General program graduates 203 students with median earnings of $41,384 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #308 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Criminal Justice and General Studies also enroll large cohorts of 180 and 164 graduates respectively, with four-year median earnings of $47,882 and $43,352. The strongest national rankings in this group belong to Criminal Justice, which Azimuth ranks #177 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting the consistent labor-market demand for graduates in that field.
The highest-earning programs at Eastern Kentucky University are concentrated in health and applied technical fields, where direct-to-workforce pathways translate quickly into competitive salaries. Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians leads with median earnings of $92,289 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #1 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Nursing and Homeland Security follow closely, with graduates earning $83,920 and $67,096 respectively — fields where graduates enter stable, in-demand roles with predictable wage trajectories. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these health and public-safety program families align with regional and national labor-market demand.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Eastern Kentucky University's published cost of attendance is $23,735. Net price by income band reflects the institution's public-tuition structure and need-based aid reach: low-income families pay approximately $8,591, middle-income families pay around $10,382, and higher-income families pay approximately $17,009.
Azimuth ranks Eastern Kentucky University #219 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $14,685; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $54,691, median federal debt of $22,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $254 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $54,691, placing Eastern Kentucky University in the 24.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $19,370 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Eastern Kentucky University in the 6.2 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Eastern Kentucky University #1281 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent meaningful returns relative to KY's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $31,626, the state median earnings of working adults with only a high school credential.
The earnings pattern at Eastern Kentucky University is anchored in Health and related applied fields. Nursing stands out as the program combining the broadest enrollment scale with strong graduate earnings, making it a key driver of the institution's overall return profile.
The Psychology, General program graduates 203 students with median earnings of $41,384 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #308 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). Criminal Justice and General Studies also contribute meaningfully to the institution's earnings profile, with 180 and 164 graduates earning median four-year earnings of $47,882 and $43,352, respectively.
The program mix reflects Eastern Kentucky University's regional labor-market orientation, with Business representing 14% of graduates, Education accounting for 5%, and Social Sciences contributing 3% — a concentration that shapes both the earnings floor and the ceiling for most graduates.
