Graduate earnings are in line with similar institutions.
What graduates earn 10 years after enrollment.
Annual salary at 10 years
Lower quartile earnings
Upper quartile earnings
How graduate earnings grow in the decade after enrollment.
Eastern Kentucky University graduates experience steady earnings growth over their early careers, with median income rising from $38,611 at six years to $43,614 at eight years and $45,795 at ten years after enrollment. This 18.6% increase from the six-year to ten-year mark reflects consistent career progression rather than dramatic salary acceleration.
How outcomes compare to similar institutions.
Graduate earnings fall below the peer average for similar institutions.
Financial justification for the investment.
Healthy debt burden. Most graduates can manage $22,500 in debt with typical earnings.
Eastern Kentucky University graduates carry median debt of $22,500, around the national average and $2,500 below the peer median of $25,000. Debt levels range from $5,500 at the 25th percentile to $26,250 at the 75th percentile, showing moderate variation in borrowing patterns.
Eastern Kentucky University achieves above average return on investment, ranking at the 61.2nd percentile nationally. The institution generates exceptional earnings beyond expectations of $14,581, placing it at the 90.7th percentile with top-tier performance on this critical measure.
Approximately 26% of Eastern Kentucky University graduates continue to graduate or professional study based on program mix analysis with high confiden...
Program mix explains much of the earnings story.
Eastern Kentucky University's strongest earnings outcomes concentrate in specialized technical and health programs, with Hazardous Materials Information Systems Technology leading at $83,606 annually. Fire Prevention and Safety Technology produces $66,925 earnings while Adult Health Nursing generates $64,922.
These programs contrast with moderate-earning fields like Psychology at $33,394 and General Studies at $33,573, reflecting labor market demand patterns. The program diversity supports different career pathways while the technical specializations drive exceptional return performance.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
Eastern Kentucky University's earnings distribution spans from $29,173 at the 25th percentile to $66,400 at the 75th percentile, representing a 2.3:1 ratio between top and bottom quartile outcomes. Low-income graduates earn $34,900, demonstrating the institution's capacity for economic mobility among disadvantaged students.
