Western Kentucky University

https://www.wku.edu

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    2024 Undergraduate Tuition
    $11,652
    1.89% growth from 2023
    2024 Average Net Price
    $12,548
    After Financial Aid
    2024 Acceptance Rate
    93.9%
    9,840 Applicants
    2024 Enrolled Students
    16,291
    74.1% Full-Time
    2024 Graduation Rate
    57.9%
    1,557 Graduates

    About

    Western Kentucky University is a higher education institution located in Warren County, KY. In 2024, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at Western Kentucky University were General Business Administration & Management (185 degrees awarded), Registered Nursing (146 degrees), and General Psychology (145 degrees).

    In 2024, 4,456 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Western Kentucky University. 63.6% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 36.4% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (3,506 degrees), 9.82 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (357 degrees).

    The median undergraduate tuition at Western Kentucky University is $11,652, which is $−20,268 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

    Doctoral Universities: Moderate Research ActivityDoctoral Universities

    Costs

    In 2024, the median undergraduate tuition at Western Kentucky University is $11,652, which is $20,268 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

    After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $12,548.

    In 2024, 87% of undergraduate students attending Western Kentucky University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 35% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

    Tuition Costs

    $11,652
    2024 Undergraduate Tuition

    In 2024, the cost of tuition at Western Kentucky University was $11,652. The cost of tuition at Western Kentucky University is $−20,268 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

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

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    Average Net Price

    $12,548
    2024 Value
    4.1%
    1 Year Growth

    In 2024 Western Kentucky University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $12,548. Between 2023 and 2024, the average net price of Western Kentucky University grew by 4.1%.

    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.

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    Other Student Expenses

    $12,043
    Room and Board
    $1,000
    Books and Supplies

    The average yearly cost of room and board at Western Kentucky University was of $12,043 in 2024. The cost of room and board increased by 8.77% between 2023 and 2024.

    During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,000. 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.

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    Financial Aid by Income Level

    87%
    Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
    35%
    Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

    87% of undergraduate students at Western Kentucky University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2024. This represents a growth of 1.16% with respect to 2023, when 86% 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.

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    Admissions

    Western Kentucky University received 9,840 undergraduate applications in 2024, which represents a 27.5% annual growth. Out of those 9,840 applicants, 9,237 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 93.9% acceptance rate.

    There were 16,291 students enrolled at Western Kentucky University in 2024. 3% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

    Western Kentucky University has an overall enrollment yield of 30.2%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

    Acceptance Rate

    93.9%
    Acceptance Rate in 2024
    9,237
    Accepted Out of 9,840

    In 2024, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Western Kentucky University was 93.9% (9,237 admissions from 9,840 applications). This is lower than the acceptance rate of 2023, which was 97%. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of applicants grew by 27.5%, while admissions grew by 23.3%.

    This chart compares the acceptance rate of Western Kentucky University (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

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    SAT Scores

    3%
    Submission Percentage (2024)
    15
    Scores Submitted (2024)

    3% of enrolled first-time students at Western Kentucky University in 2024 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

    The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

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    Enrollment

    Western Kentucky University had a total enrollment of 16,291 students in 2024. The full-time enrollment at Western Kentucky University is 12,070 students and the part-time enrollment is 4,221. This means that 74.1% of students enrolled at Western Kentucky University are enrolled full-time.

    The enrolled student population at Western Kentucky University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 75.1% White, 8.56% Black or African American, 6.23% Hispanic or Latino, 4.23% Two or More Races, 3.37% Asian, 0.252% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.104% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

    Students enrolled at Western Kentucky University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (46%), followed by White Male (28.9%) and Black or African American Female (4.96%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (54.4%), followed by White Male (20.3%) and Black or African American Female (5.68%).

    Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

    74.1%
    Full-Time Enrollment

    The total enrollment at Western Kentucky University in 2024, both undergraduate and graduate, is 16,291 students. The full-time enrollment at Western Kentucky University is 12,070 and the part-time enrollment is 4,221. This means that 74.1% of students enrolled at Western Kentucky University are enrolled full-time compared with 77.3% at similar Doctoral Universities.

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

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    Retention Rate over Time

    78%
    2024 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 78%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (82%), 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.

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    Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

    Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2024)
    1. White
      12,231 enrolled students
    2. Black or African American
      1,395 enrolled students
    3. Hispanic or Latino
      1,015 enrolled students

    The enrolled student population at Western Kentucky University is 75.1% White, 8.56% Black or African American, 6.23% Hispanic or Latino, 4.23% Two or More Races, 3.37% Asian, 0.252% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.104% 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 Doctoral Universities is 46.2% White, 16.3% Hispanic or Latino, and 10.4% 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, 204 students (1.25%) did not report their race.

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    Graduates

    In 2024, 1,210 more women than men received degrees from Western Kentucky University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Western Kentucky University is white (3,506 degrees awarded). There were 9.82 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (357 degrees).

    The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Western Kentucky University is General Business Administration & Management (185 degrees awarded), followed by Registered Nursing (146 degrees) and General Psychology (145 degrees).

    In 2024,  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 (30 degrees awarded), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (177 degrees), and Communications (236 degrees).

    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 (400,545 people), Lawyers, & judges, magistrates, & other judicial workers (371,178 people), Elementary & middle school teachers (212,376 people), Social workers, all other (207,967 people), and Chief executives & legislators (172,090 people).

    The most specialized majors at Western Kentucky University in 2024 are Library Science (30 degrees awarded), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (177 degrees), Communications (236 degrees), Social Sciences (303 degrees), and Public Administration and Social Service (152 degrees) (as of 2024).

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    Highest Paying Jobs by Major

    Surgeons
    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 Surgeons, Chief executives & legislators, Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents, Magnetic resonance imaging technologists, and Physicians

    The most specialized majors at Western Kentucky University are Library Science (30 degrees awarded), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (177 degrees), Communications (236 degrees), Social Sciences (303 degrees), and Public Administration and Social Service (152 degrees) (as of 2024).

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    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 (587,491 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (405,251 people), Legal services (308,469 people), Computer Systems Design (304,776 people), and General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (292,934 people).

    The most specialized majors at Western Kentucky University are Library Science (30 degrees awarded), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (177 degrees), Communications (236 degrees), Social Sciences (303 degrees), and Public Administration and Social Service (152 degrees) (as of 2024).

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    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.
    Financial Planning & Services
    Most Common (2024)
    7 degrees awarded

    In 2024, the most common 1 to 2 year postsecondary certificate concentration at Western Kentucky University was Financial Planning & Services with 7 degrees awarded.

    This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from 1 to 2 year postsecondary certificate programs at Western Kentucky University according to their major.

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    Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

    1,623
    Degrees Awarded to Men
    in 2024
    2,833
    Degrees Awarded to Women
    in 2024

    In 2024, 1,623 degrees were awarded to men at Western Kentucky University, which is 0.573 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (2,833).

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

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    Most Common Male Majors

    In 2024, 148 degrees were awarded to men at Western Kentucky University in General Business Administration & Management, which is 1.44 times more than the 103 female recipients with that same degree.

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    Most Common Female Majors

    In 2024, 248 degrees were awarded to men at Western Kentucky University in Registered Nursing, which is 9.92 times more than the 25 male recipients with that same degree.

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    Time to Complete

    40%
    100% Completion Time
    54%
    150% Completion Time

    In 2024, 40% of students graduating from Western Kentucky University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 54% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 55% within 200%.

    The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Doctoral 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.

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    Race & Ethnicity by Share

    Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2024)
    1. White
      3,506 degrees awarded
    2. Black or African American
      357 degrees awarded
    3. Hispanic or Latino
      202 degrees awarded

    The most common race/ethnicity at Western Kentucky University is white (3,506 degrees awarded). There were 9.82 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (357 degrees).

    0.741% of degree recipients (33 students) did not report their race.

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    Race & Ethnicity by Sex

    Most Common Sex Demographic (2024)
    1. White Female
      2,424 degrees awarded
    2. White Female
      2,361 degrees awarded
    3. White Female
      2,344 degrees awarded

    The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Western Kentucky University is white female (2,424 degrees awarded). There were 1.03 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white female (2,361 degrees).

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    Operations

    Western Kentucky University has an endowment valued at nearly $19.1M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 7.75M (40.5%) compared to the 9.4% average return (23.7M on 252M) across all Doctoral Universities.

    In 2024, Western Kentucky University had a total salary expenditure of 309M. Western Kentucky University employs 193 Professors, 173 Associate professors and 132 Instructors. Most academics at Western Kentucky University are Male Professor (115), Female Associate professor (94), and Female Instructor (88).

    The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Western Kentucky University are: Office and Administrative Support, with 286 employees, Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media, with 284 employees, and Computer, Engineering, and Science with 136 employees.

    Endowment

    $19.1M
    2024 Endowment
    14.3%
    growth from 2023

    Western Kentucky University has an endowment valued at about $19.1M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The endowment of Western Kentucky University grew 14.3% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $233M lower than than the median endowment of Doctoral 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 Doctoral Universities: Moderate Research Activity Carnegie Classification grouping.

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    Salary Expenditure

    $134M
    2024 Salaries
    3.05%
    growth from 2023

    In 2024, Western Kentucky University paid a median of $134M in salaries, which represents 43.6% of their overall expenditure ($309M) and a 3.05% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 5.98% growth between 2022 and 2023, and a 6.74% decline between 2021 and 2022.

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    Instructional Salaries

    $47M
    Instructional Salaries
    622
    Number of Employees

    In 2024, Western Kentucky University paid a total of $47M to 622 employees working as instructors, which represents 34.9% of all salaries paid.

    This is compared to a median of $4.1M (2.29%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

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    Occupations by Share

    In 2024, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Western Kentucky University were Office and Administrative Support with 286 employees, Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 284 employees, and Computer, Engineering, and Science with 136 employees.

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