Outcomes-based program rankings.
Program outcomes at Western Kentucky University vary significantly by field of study, with engineering and healthcare programs typically delivering stronger earnings than liberal arts and education fields. The rankings below evaluate programs based on graduate earnings, debt levels, and return on investment rather than prestige or reputation.
Use this data to compare how different majors perform in the labor market after graduation.
Analyzing 52 programs with available earnings data.
These highlights identify programs that demonstrate strong performance across earnings, national rankings, and enrollment size at Western Kentucky University.
recent graduates
This bar shows the range of median earnings across all majors at this school.
The tables below compare programs in each category by median earnings, national and state rankings, debt levels, and cohort sizes.
These sections represent the complete set of ranked undergraduate programs at Western Kentucky University.
Engineering and technology programs at Western Kentucky University deliver the institution's strongest earnings outcomes, with Mechanical Engineering graduates earning $70,968 and Artificial Intelligence graduates earning $54,925. These programs rank competitively at state and national levels despite the university's accessible admission standards.
Students pursuing technical fields can expect solid career preparation, though program sizes remain moderate with cohorts ranging from 50-75 graduates annually.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering. | — | $86,624★ |
Program rankings reflect post-graduation labor market outcomes based on federal College Scorecard data, not institutional prestige or academic reputation. Different programs at the same university produce varied earnings because career fields have different earning potential, graduates choose different geographic markets, and some programs prepare students for graduate school rather than immediate workforce entry. Rankings compare outcomes among all institutions offering similar programs nationally, explaining why programs at accessible institutions can still achieve strong rankings through effective career preparation. Cohort sizes indicate the number of graduates included in federal earnings reporting, with larger cohorts providing higher confidence in reported outcomes. All earnings data reflects outcomes ten years after initial enrollment.
Median earnings 10 years post-enrollment
Debt burden relative to earnings
Institutional contribution to outcomes
| — |
| 46 |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians. | — | $86,033 | — | 37 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering.Small sample | — | $85,772 | — | 12 |
| Civil Engineering. | — | $75,732 | — | 33 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | — | $73,300 | $16,520 | 60 |
Business programs represent Western Kentucky University's largest academic area by enrollment, with Business Administration graduating 234 students annually. Earnings vary considerably within this group, from Digital Marketing at $53,494 to Accounting Technology at $58,675.
Banking and Financial Support Services shows particularly strong outcomes at $56,321 with solid national rankings. These programs combine accessible entry with reasonable career prospects across diverse business functions.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services. | — | $71,274★ | — | 74 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services. | — | $70,313 | — | 78 |
| Marketing. | — | $60,222 | $32,206 | 136 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | — | $59,362 | $23,530 | 209 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management. | — | $50,712 | — | 29 |
| Business/Managerial Economics.Small sample | — | $41,565 | — | 16 |
Health professions at WKU demonstrate strong earning potential and favorable debt capacity, with Adult Health Nursing graduates earning $61,606 and Clinical Research Coordinator graduates earning $42,712. These programs rank competitively within Kentucky and nationally, with nursing representing one of the university's largest programs at 220 graduates annually.
Students can expect excellent loan affordability and stable career prospects in healthcare fields.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | — | $73,496★ | $23,964 | 170 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. | — | $60,103 | $18,500 | 72 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions. | — | $57,958 | — | 21 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services. | — | $57,844 | — | 33 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General. | — | $57,271 | — | 53 |
| Public Health.Small sample | — | $43,605 | — | 15 |
Biological Sciences programs graduate 102 students annually with median earnings of $40,022, ranking competitively within Kentucky. Science programs typically prepare students for both immediate workforce entry and graduate school continuation, with approximately 27% of WKU graduates pursuing advanced degrees.
These programs offer solid academic preparation though earnings vary significantly based on post-graduation pathways chosen by individual students.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology, General. | — | $52,487★ | — | 102 |
| Mathematics. | — | $38,434 | — | 22 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences.Small sample | — | $35,416 | — | 9 |
| Chemistry. | — | $23,761 | — | 30 |
Social sciences programs include Psychology graduates earning $32,783 and Forensic Social Work graduates earning $35,206. These programs typically serve students interested in human services, counseling, or graduate school preparation.
Earnings remain below university averages, reflecting career paths that often require additional education or prioritize public service over immediate financial returns. Students should plan for extended education timelines or service-oriented career goals.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economics. | — | $68,051★ | — | 38 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies.Small sample | — | $64,710 | — | 15 |
| Political Science and Government. | — | $54,333 | — | 41 |
| Social Work. | — | $48,771 | — | 87 |
| Criminology. | — | $45,124 | $26,785 | 83 |
| Psychology, General. | — | $44,848 | $16,500 | 118 |
| Sociology. | — | $43,520 | — | 38 |
| Anthropology.Small sample | — | $40,415 | — | 13 |
| Geography and Cartography.Small sample | — | $33,993 | — | 18 |
| Social Sciences, General.Small sample | — | $33,565 | — | 11 |
Communications programs at Western Kentucky University show notable variation in outcomes, with Advertising graduates earning $46,295 and ranking #40 nationally, while Broadcast Journalism graduates earn $40,336. Both programs demonstrate solid value scores and competitive state rankings.
These fields offer creative career paths with moderate earnings potential, though debt management varies significantly between specializations within the communications cluster.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication. | — | $53,839★ | $20,284 | 87 |
| Communication and Media Studies. | — | $50,392 | — | 40 |
| Journalism. | — | $47,661 | $29,000 | 59 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication.Small sample | — | $41,791 | — | 9 |
General Studies serves as WKU's second-largest program by enrollment with 221 graduates earning $33,939 annually. This interdisciplinary program provides flexible academic preparation for diverse career paths, ranking #153 nationally and #2 in Kentucky.
Students can expect broad-based education suitable for various industries, though specific career outcomes depend heavily on individual specialization and post-graduation choices rather than program-specific preparation.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.Small sample | — | $53,921★ | — | 14 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | — | $46,583 | $18,500 | 138 |
| Fine and Studio Arts. | — | $45,957 | $38,343 | 63 |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.Small sample | — | $43,210 | — | 15 |
| English Language and Literature, General. | — | $40,616 | — | 33 |
| History. | — | $38,836 | — | 27 |
| Music. | — | $38,377 | — | 38 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft. | — | $34,987 | — | 22 |
| English Language and Literature/Letters, Other.Small sample | — | $33,993 | — | 10 |
Education programs serve 174 graduates annually in Adult and Continuing Education, producing graduates who earn $35,506 with manageable debt levels. While earnings remain modest compared to technical fields, education programs provide stable career paths in public service.
Students should expect challenging loan affordability due to the combination of moderate debt levels and education sector salaries, requiring careful financial planning for sustainable career entry.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | — | $40,838★ | — | 45 |
| Special Education and Teaching. | — | $40,705 | — | 27 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | — | $38,656 | $20,000 | 131 |
Agriculture programs achieve exceptional recognition with Agriculture, General ranking #16 nationally and #1 in Kentucky while graduating 74 students with median earnings of $39,224. This program demonstrates outstanding value with a score of 42.3, indicating strong return on investment.
Students interested in agricultural careers will find nationally competitive preparation with solid earning potential, particularly valuable given Kentucky's agricultural economy and regional career opportunities.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, General. | — | $51,065 | $24,591 | 73 |
Architectural Sciences and Technology. leads other & interdisciplinary with 71K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural Sciences and Technology. | — | $71,240★ | — | 22 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness. | — | $54,396 | $23,378 | 116 |
| Apparel and Textiles. | — | $45,420 | $21,581 | 40 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management.Small sample | — | $42,600 | — | 14 |
Resources, cohort size, and graduation rates
Trajectory from early to mid-career
Why rankings may differ by program: A university's nursing program and business program can have entirely different outcome profiles. Our methodology surfaces these differences so you can evaluate programs — not just institutions.
