Western Kentucky University

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2017 Undergraduate Tuition

$10,202

2.93% growth from 2016

2017 Average Net Price

$11,817

After Financial Aid

2016 Student Loan

9.29%

Default Rate

2017 Acceptance Rate

95.5%

9,804 Applicants

2017 Enrolled Students

20,257

68.1% Full-Time

2017 Graduation Rate

50.7%

1,282 Graduates

About

Western Kentucky University is a higher education institution located in Warren County, KY. In 2016, the most popular Bachelor's Degree concentrations at Western Kentucky University were General Studies (252 degrees awarded), Registered Nursing (189 degrees), and General Business Administration & Management (142 degrees).

In 2017, 4,364 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Western Kentucky University. 59.4% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 40.6% awarded men. The majority of degree recipients were white (3,402 degrees), 11.2 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (305 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Western Kentucky University is $10,202, which is $-10,531 less than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($20,733).

Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs Masters Colleges and Universities

Costs

The median undergraduate tuition at Western Kentucky University is $10,202, which is $-10,531 less than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($20,733).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $11,817.

In 2017, 68% of undergraduate students received federal grants, while 44% of undergraduate students received federal loans.

Student Expenses

Tuition Costs

$10,202

2017 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2017, the cost of tuition at Western Kentucky University was $10,202. The cost of tuition at Western Kentucky University is $-10,531 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($20,733).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Western Kentucky University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$11,817

2017 Value

3.58%

1 Year Growth

In 2017 Western Kentucky University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $11,817. Between 2016 and 2017, the average net price of Western Kentucky University grew by 3.58%.

This chart compares the average net price of Western Kentucky University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$7,713

Room and Board

$1,000

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Western Kentucky University was of $7,713 in 2017. During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,000. The cost of room and board increased by 4.68% between 2016 and 2017. The cost of books and supplies did not change during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Western Kentucky University (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid

Financial Aid by Income Level

68%

Of Undergraduates Receive Grants

44%

Of Undergraduates Receive Federal Loans

68% of undergraduate students at Western Kentucky University received grants or loans in 2017. This represents a decline of 2.86% with respect to 2016, when 70% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Western Kentucky University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

9.29%

2016 Default Rate

425

Number of Defaults

In 2016 the default rate for borrower's at Western Kentucky University was 9.29%, which represents 425 out of the 4575 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Admissions

Western Kentucky University received 9,804 undergraduate applications in 2017, which represents a 1.15% annual growth. Out of those 9,804 applicants, 9,358 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 95.5% acceptance rate.

There were 20,257 students enrolled at Western Kentucky University in 2017, and 7% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Western Kentucky University has an overall enrollment yield of 33.3%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

95.5%

Acceptance Rate in 2017

9,358

Accepted Out of 9,804

In 2017, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Western Kentucky University was 95.5% (9,358 admissions from 9,804 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2016, which was 94%. Between 2016 and 2017, the number of applicants grew by 1.15%, while admissions grew by 2.69%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Western Kentucky University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

SAT Scores

Submission Percentage

218

Scores Submitted

7% of enrolled first-time students at Western Kentucky University in 2017 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

This chart shows the SAT scores for the 25th and 75th percentile of applicants broken out into each section of the test that their are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Western Kentucky University has a total enrollment of 20,257 students. The full-time enrollment at Western Kentucky University is 13,798 students and the part-time enrollment is 6,459. This means that 68.1% of students enrolled at Western Kentucky University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Western Kentucky University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 77.8% White, 8.58% Black or African American, 3.23% Hispanic or Latino, 3.07% Two or More Races, 1.59% Asian, 0.262% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.128% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Western Kentucky University in full-time Undergraduate programs are majority White Female (45.6%), followed by White Male (31.1%) and Black or African American Female (5.21%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are majority White Female (47%), followed by White Male (22.6%) and Black or African American Female (4.44%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

68.1%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Western Kentucky University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 20,257 students. The full-time enrollment at Western Kentucky University is 13,798 and the part-time enrollment is 6,459. This means that 68.1% of students enrolled at Western Kentucky University are enrolled full-time compared with 68.6% at similar Masters Colleges and Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Western Kentucky University (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

70%

2017 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Western Kentucky University was 70%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Masters Colleges and Universities (75%), Western Kentucky University had a retention rate lower than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Western Kentucky University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity

White
15,753
Black or African American
1,739
Hispanic or Latino
654

The enrolled student population at Western Kentucky University is 77.8% White, 8.58% Black or African American, 3.23% Hispanic or Latino, 3.07% Two or More Races, 1.59% Asian, 0.262% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.128% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Masters Colleges and Universities is 54.4% White, 15% Hispanic or Latino, and 13.2% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 239 students (1.18%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2017, 820 more women than men received degrees from Western Kentucky University. The majority of degree recipients at Western Kentucky University are white (3,402 degrees awarded). There were 11.2 times more white graduates than the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (305 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Western Kentucky University is General Studies (252 degrees awarded), followed by Registered Nursing (189 degrees) and General Business Administration & Management (142 degrees).

The most specialized majors across all degree types at Western Kentucky University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Library Science (37 degrees awarded), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (260 degrees), and Agriculture (87 degrees).

Workforce

Common Jobs by Major

Other managers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Western Kentucky University are Other managers (147,058 people), Elementary & middle school teachers (137,777 people), Sales representatives, wholesale & manufacturing (73,167 people), Marketing managers (65,743 people), and Customer service representatives (63,641 people).

The most specialized majors at Western Kentucky University are Library Science (37 degrees awarded), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (260 degrees), Agriculture (87 degrees), Cultural & Gender Studies (29 degrees), and Communications (232 degrees).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Sales managers

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Western Kentucky University are Sales managers, Dentists, Surgeons, Magnetic resonance imaging technologists, and Physicians

Common Industries by Major

Elementary & secondary schools

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Western Kentucky University are Elementary & secondary schools (258,937 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (187,354 people), General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (121,183 people), Computer Systems Design (90,404 people), and Advertising, public relations & related services (87,291 people).

Degrees

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Western Kentucky University.

Most Common

General Studies
252 degree-majorss awarded
Registered Nursing
189 degree-majorss awarded
General Business Administration & Management
142 degree-majorss awarded

In 2017, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Western Kentucky University was General Studies with 252 degree-majorss awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at Western Kentucky University according to their major.

Gender Breakdown for Common Majors

Degrees Awarded to Men

1,772
2,592

In 2017, 1,772 degrees were awarded to men at Western Kentucky University, which is 0.684 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (2,592).

This chart displays the gender disparity between the top 5 majors at Western Kentucky University by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2017, 128 degrees were awarded to men at Western Kentucky University in General Studies, which is 0.653 times less than the 196 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2017, 275 degrees were awarded to women at Western Kentucky University in Registered Nursing, which is 8.87 times more than the 31 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

27%

100% Completion Time

50%

150% Completion Time

In 2017, 27% of students graduating from Western Kentucky University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 50% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 53% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Masters Colleges and Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Diversity

Graduation Rate by Race and Gender

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

Asian Female

Highest Graduation Rate (70.6%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate at Western Kentucky University is Female and Asian (70.6% graduation rate). Across all Masters Colleges and Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (68.1%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 1.25% of graduates (16 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

White
3,402 degrees awarded
Black or African American
305 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
97 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Western Kentucky University is white (3,402 degrees awarded). There were 11.2 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (305 degrees).

1.1% of degree recipients (48 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Gender

Most Common Gender Demographic

White Female
2,142 degrees awarded
White Male
1,260 degrees awarded
Black or African American Female
159 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and gender grouping at Western Kentucky University is white female (2,142 degrees awarded). There were 1.7 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (1,260 degrees).

Operations

Western Kentucky University has an endowment valued at nearly $15.4M, as of the end of the 2017 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of $0 (0%), compared to the 6.94% average return ($2.3M on $33.1M) across all Masters Colleges and Universities.

In 2017, Western Kentucky University had a total salary expenditure of $371M. Western Kentucky University employs 236 Associate professors, 174 Professors, and 172 Assistant professors. Most academics at Western Kentucky University are Female Associate professors (121), Male Professors(116), and Male Associate professors (115).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Western Kentucky University are: Office and Administrative Support, with 434 employees, Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media, with 271 employees, and Computer, Engineering, and Science with 147 employees.

Finances

Endowment

$15.4M

2017 Endowment

6.01%

growth from 2016

Western Kentucky University has an endowment valued at about $15.4M, as of the end of the 2017 fiscal year. The endowment of Western Kentucky University grew 6.01% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $17.7M lower than than the median endowment of Masters Colleges and Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Western Kentucky University (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs Carnegie Classification grouping.

Government Grants and Contracts

Grants & Contracts

$315k - Federal
$105k - State
$586k - Local

As of 2017, Western Kentucky University received $315k in grants and contracts from the federal government, $105k from state grants and contracts, and $586k from local grants and contracts.

Expenses

Salary Expenditure

$144M

2017 Salaries

2.02%

decline from 2016

In 2017, Western Kentucky University paid a median of $144M in salaries, which represents 38.8% of their overall expenditure ($371M) and a 2.02% decline from the previous year. This is compared to a 0.42% decline from 2015 and a 0.422% decline from 2014.

The median for similar Masters Colleges and Universities is 31.4M (40.5% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$50.7M

Instructional Salaries

751

Number of Employees

In 2017, Western Kentucky University paid a total of $50.7M to 751 employees working as instructors, which represents 35.2% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $10.4M (33%) for similar Masters Colleges and Universities.

Faculty and Staff

Occupations by Share

Associate professor

Most Common Instructor

236 Employees

Office and Administrative Support

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

434 Employees

In 2017, the most common positions for instructional staff at Western Kentucky University were Associate professor with 236 employees; Professor with 174 employees; and Professor with 172 employees.

In 2017, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Western Kentucky University were Office and Administrative Support with 434 employees; Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 271 employees; and Computer, Engineering, and Science with 147 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Gender

Most Common Demographic

Female Associate professor
Male Professor
Male Associate professor

In 2017, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Western Kentucky University was Female Associate professor with 121 employees, Male Professor with 116 employees, and Male Associate professor with 115 employees.

This chart shows the gender split between each academic rank present at Western Kentucky University.

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