Western Kentucky University (WKU) : Overview, Courses, Scholarships & Rankings
About Western Kentucky University
Perched on a hill above Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is known for hands-on academics across communication, business, health, and the sciences. Students move between labs, studios, and fieldwork, supported by advising, tutoring, and career services. The campus blends brick quads, green lawns, tech-ready classrooms, and a lively student center.
And life here feels spirited and welcoming. Intramurals, outdoor trips, and campus arts keep things buzzing, and the red-towel tradition makes game days electric. Career prep shows up in internships with employers across the region and an alumni network that stays close. The city adds local eats, live music, nearby caves, and automotive heritage. Notable names tied to the Hill include NBA guard Courtney Lee and coach Willie Taggart.
Key Institutional Details
Contact & Profile
Academic & Institutional
Academic Programs & Fields of Study
Western Kentucky University (WKU) offers 149 degree programs across 29 major academic fields, graduating approximately 4,336 students annually. The most popular fields by graduate volume are Business (16 programs, 806 graduates), Health (20 programs, 625 graduates), Education (20 programs, 489 graduates), Social Sciences (9 programs, 303 graduates) and Communication (12 programs, 236 graduates). Explore program details, award levels, and graduate demographics below.
Business (16 programs, 806 graduates)
Business Administration, Marketing and Entrepreneurship
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management | 251 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
|
52.0201 |
| Organizational Leadership | 185 |
|
Associate's
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Other Award
|
52.0213 |
| Marketing Management | 108 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.1401 |
| Finance, General | 69 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.0801 |
| Accounting | 64 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
52.0301 |
| Construction Management | 36 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.2001 |
| Hospitality Management | 27 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.0901 |
| Business Economics | 20 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.0601 |
| International Business and Trade | 10 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.1101 |
| Financial Planning and Services | 7 |
|
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
52.0804 |
| Nonprofit and Organizational Management | 5 |
|
Postbac Cert.
|
52.0206 |
| Entrepreneurship Studies | 5 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.0701 |
| Real Estate | 5 |
|
Other Award
|
52.1501 |
| General Merchandising and Marketing Operations | 5 |
|
Other Award
|
52.1899 |
| Business and Management Services | 5 |
|
Other Award
|
52.9999 |
| Logistics and Supply Chain Management | 4 |
|
Postbac Cert.
|
52.0203 |
Health (20 programs, 625 graduates)
Healthcare Professions, Medical Sciences and Clinical Practice
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | 273 |
|
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
|
51.3801 |
| Health Administration and Management | 66 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
51.0701 |
| Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology | 65 |
|
Master's
|
51.0204 |
| Communication Sciences and Disorders | 34 |
|
Bachelor's
|
51.0201 |
| Dental Hygiene | 31 |
|
Bachelor's
|
51.0602 |
| Physical Therapy | 27 |
|
Doctorate (P)
|
51.2308 |
| Environmental Health | 21 |
|
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Other Award
|
51.2202 |
| Public Health | 15 |
|
Master's
|
51.2201 |
| Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing | 14 |
|
Post-Master's
|
51.3810 |
| Health and Medical Administration | 13 |
|
Other Award
|
51.0799 |
| Nursing Practice | 11 |
|
Doctorate (P)
|
51.3818 |
| Medical Informatics | 10 |
|
Other Award
|
51.2706 |
| Health Information Administration | 9 |
|
Bachelor's
|
51.0706 |
| Public Health Education and Promotion | 9 |
|
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
51.2207 |
| Community Health and Preventive Medicine | 9 |
|
Bachelor's
|
51.2208 |
| Clinical Laboratory Science and Medical Technology | 6 |
|
Bachelor's
|
51.1005 |
| Substance Abuse Counseling | 5 |
|
Postbac Cert.
|
51.1501 |
| Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene | 4 |
|
Other Award
|
51.2206 |
| Dietetics | 2 |
|
Postbac Cert.
|
51.3101 |
| Family Practice Nursing | 1 |
|
Post-Master's
|
51.3805 |
Education (20 programs, 489 graduates)
Educational Sciences, Teaching Methods and Pedagogy
Social Sciences (9 programs, 303 graduates)
Sociology, Anthropology and Political Science Studies
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criminology | 118 |
|
Bachelor's
|
45.0401 |
| Political Science and Government | 47 |
|
Bachelor's
|
45.1001 |
| Sociology | 45 |
|
Bachelor's
|
45.1101 |
| Geographic Information Science and Cartography | 23 |
|
Other Award
|
45.0702 |
| Anthropology | 20 |
|
Bachelor's
|
45.0201 |
| Econometrics and Quantitative Economics | 15 |
|
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
45.0603 |
| International Relations | 15 |
|
Bachelor's
|
45.0901 |
| Social Sciences | 10 |
|
Bachelor's
|
45.0101 |
| Economics | 10 |
|
Bachelor's
|
45.0601 |
Communication (12 programs, 236 graduates)
Media Communications, Journalism and Public Relations
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advertising | 37 |
|
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
09.0903 |
| Public Relations and Image Management | 35 |
|
Bachelor's
|
09.0902 |
| Speech Communication and Rhetoric | 30 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
09.0101 |
| Broadcast Journalism | 29 |
|
Bachelor's
|
09.0402 |
| Organizational Communication | 26 |
|
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
09.0901 |
| Communication Management and Strategic Communication | 22 |
|
Other Award
|
09.0909 |
| Journalism | 17 |
|
Bachelor's
|
09.0401 |
| Radio and Television Broadcasting | 16 |
|
Bachelor's
|
09.0701 |
| Digital Media and Multimedia | 14 |
|
Other Award
|
09.0702 |
| Health Communication | 5 |
|
Postbac Cert.
|
09.0905 |
| Photojournalism | 4 |
|
Bachelor's
|
09.0404 |
| Public Relations and Advertising | 1 |
|
Postbac Cert.
|
09.0900 |
Psychology (4 programs, 227 graduates)
Psychological Sciences, Mental Health and Behavioral Studies
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Psychology | 164 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
42.0101 |
| Experimental Psychology | 37 |
|
Bachelor's
|
42.2799 |
| Counseling Psychology | 15 |
|
Master's
|
42.2803 |
| School Psychology | 11 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (P)
|
42.2805 |
Interdisciplinary (6 programs, 188 graduates)
Cross-Disciplinary Studies and Integrated Research Programs
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Analytics | 155 |
|
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
30.7102 |
| Data Analytics | 12 |
|
Postbac Cert.
|
30.7101 |
| Cultural Studies and Critical Theory | 8 |
|
Bachelor's
|
30.2601 |
| Earth Systems Science | 8 |
|
Master's
|
30.3801 |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | 4 |
|
Master's
|
30.0101 |
| Multi- and Interdisciplinary Studies | 1 |
|
Bachelor's
|
30.9999 |
Liberal Arts (1 programs, 187 graduates)
Liberal Arts Education, General Studies and Humanities
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Studies | 187 |
|
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
24.0102 |
Kinesiology (4 programs, 177 graduates)
Exercise Science, Sports Medicine and Physical Recreation
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exercise Science and Kinesiology | 65 |
|
Bachelor's
|
31.0505 |
| Parks and Recreation Management | 53 |
|
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
31.0301 |
| Sports Studies | 51 |
|
Bachelor's
|
31.0508 |
| Sport and Fitness Management | 8 |
|
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
31.0504 |
Arts (10 programs, 164 graduates)
Fine Arts, Design Studies and Creative Performance
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Arts, General | 49 |
|
Bachelor's
|
50.0702 |
| Music Performance | 21 |
|
Bachelor's
|
50.0903 |
| Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 17 |
|
Bachelor's
|
50.0599 |
| Cinematography and Film Production | 17 |
|
Bachelor's
|
50.0602 |
| Theatre Arts | 16 |
|
Bachelor's
|
50.0501 |
| Graphic Design | 12 |
|
Other Award
|
50.0409 |
| Dance | 10 |
|
Bachelor's
|
50.0301 |
| Music | 10 |
|
Bachelor's
|
50.0999 |
| Game and Interactive Media Design | 9 |
|
Other Award
|
50.0411 |
| Art History and Conservation | 3 |
|
Bachelor's
|
50.0703 |
Admission Requirements & Test Scores
Comprehensive overview of admission criteria, standardized test score ranges, and application requirements for prospective students at Western Kentucky University (WKU).
Application Requirements
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Test score ranges represent the middle 50% of admitted students (25th-75th percentile). Requirements may vary by program.
Tuition, Fees & Estimated Costs
Overview of tuition rates, housing, and other annual education expenses for undergraduate and graduate students
Financial Aid & Student Support
Summary of scholarships, grants, student loans, and financial aid statistics for undergraduate students
Student Success Metrics
Graduation rates and post-graduation earnings to help assess student outcomes and long-term value of education.
Loan Burden & Repayment Outcomes
Breakdown of loan repayment rates and student debt levels by income and dependency status.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Western Kentucky University (WKU)
How much does it cost to attend Western Kentucky University (WKU)?
The annual tuition at Western Kentucky University (WKU) is $11,436 for in-state students and $27,000 for out-of-state students. When including room and board, books, and other expenses, the total estimated cost is approximately $26,888 for in-state students and $42,452 for out-of-state students. Additional costs include room and board $12,043 and books and supplies $1,000.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2022-2023 academic year. Tuition and cost estimates are approximate and may not include all fees, personal expenses, or transportation costs.
What academic programs and degree levels does Western Kentucky University offer?
Western Kentucky University (WKU) offers 149 academic programs across 29 major fields of study, with available degree levels: Associate's, Bachelor's, Postbac Cert., Master's, Post-Master's, Doctorate (Professional), Doctorate (Other), Other Award.
Most popular program areas include:
- Business Administration, Marketing and Entrepreneurship (16 programs)
- Healthcare Professions, Medical Sciences and Clinical Practice (20 programs)
- Educational Sciences, Teaching Methods and Pedagogy (20 programs)
- Sociology, Anthropology and Political Science Studies (9 programs)
- Media Communications, Journalism and Public Relations (12 programs)
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated, not all offered programs.
What is the acceptance rate for Western Kentucky University?
Western Kentucky University (WKU) has an 97% acceptance rate and a 37.7% yield rate, making it moderately selective.
Admission statistics breakdown:
- Total applicants: 7,720
- Students admitted: 7,492
- Students enrolled: 2,822
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Admission statistics may vary by program and application cycle.
What financial aid and scholarships are available at Western Kentucky University?
Western Kentucky University (WKU) provides financial aid to 19% of first-time, full-time students, with average grants of $10,906 and average loans of $6,402.
Average financial aid amounts by type:
- Pell grants: $5,112
- State/Local grants: $4,089
- Institutional grants: $6,386
- Federal loans: $5,078
The university supports 2,686 students with grants and 1,289 students with loans annually.
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Financial aid amounts and percentages may vary by program, enrollment status, and individual circumstances.
What is the average salary for Western Kentucky University graduates?
Western Kentucky University (WKU) graduates earn a median salary of $38,156 after 6 years and $43,889 after 10 years.
The salary range 10 years after graduation spans from $27,981 (25th percentile) to $62,583 (75th percentile), with top earners reaching $66,800 (90th percentile).
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Salary data reflects graduates who received federal financial aid (approximately 60% of all graduates). Actual earnings may vary significantly based on program, location, and individual circumstances.
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