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Western Kentucky University

Western Kentucky University is a public campus in Bowling Green proper — federal locale codes class it as urban.

What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

key chart

Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$10,075

family income
under $30k

$16,624

$30–48k

$17,417

$48–75k

$18,219

$75–110k

$18,601

over $110k

Average net price

$10,9902023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at Western Kentucky University rose from $9,521 (2008) to $10,990 (2023).

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$9,521
2009	$10,074
2010	$10,760
2011	$12,152
2012	$10,470
2013	$11,112
2014	$10,948
2015	$11,578
2016	$11,850
2017	$12,776
2018	$11,962
2019	$12,522
2020	$11,691
2021	$12,329
2022	$10,916
2023	$10,990

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$24,1882024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at Western Kentucky University rose from $15,077 (2009) to $24,188 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$15,077
2010	$16,151
2011	$16,790
2012	$18,004
2013	$16,538
2014	$17,493
2015	$17,706
2016	$18,309
2017	$18,993
2018	$20,365
2019	$20,497
2020	$21,084
2021	$22,140
2022	$23,211
2023	$23,520
2024	$24,188

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition (in-state vs out-of-state)

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition — data
Year	In-state	Out-of-state
2000	$2,534	$6,834
2001	$2,844	$7,424
2002	$3,120	$7,992
2003	$3,650	$8,498
2004	$4,698	$11,286
2005	$5,316	$12,732
2006	$5,952	$14,400
2007	$6,416	$15,470
2008	$6,930	$17,088
2013	$8,722	$22,248
2014	$9,140	$23,352
2015	$9,482	$24,132
2016	$9,912	$24,792
2017	$10,202	$25,512
2018	$10,512	$26,280
2019	$10,802	$26,496
2020	$10,802	$26,496
2021	$10,992	$27,000
2022	$11,112	$27,000
2023	$11,436	$27,000

IPEDS Published price 2000–01 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

Western Kentucky University reports tuition of $11,652 for in-state students and $27,000 for out-of-state students. Check Western Kentucky University’s residency rules, attendance budget and aid offer. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

At 12,155 undergrads, Western Kentucky University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.

55.6% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at Western Kentucky University within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

key chart

55.6%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at Western Kentucky University rose from 35.9% (entered 1991) to 55.6% (entered 2018).

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
1991 cohort	35.9%
1992 cohort	36.5%
1993 cohort	33.6%
1994 cohort	39.5%
1995 cohort	37.7%
1996 cohort	39.1%
1997 cohort	41.5%
1998 cohort	40%
1999 cohort	42.7%
2000 cohort	45.1%
2001 cohort	44.7%
2002 cohort	42.4%
2003 cohort	43.8%
2004 cohort	40.8%
2005 cohort	42.7%
2006 cohort	42.9%
2007 cohort	43.7%
2008 cohort	43.5%
2009 cohort	42.5%
2010 cohort	44.5%
2011 cohort	43.1%
2012 cohort	44.6%
2013 cohort	48.3%
2014 cohort	52.3%
2015 cohort	53.6%
2016 cohort	51.4%
2017 cohort	53.7%
2018 cohort	55.6%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1991–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

key chart

Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 1997 and 1998 (FY1997/98)	$6,924	$3,313
Left school in fiscal years 1998 and 1999 (FY1998/99)	$7,666	$3,410
Left school in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 (FY1999/00)	$7,500	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 (FY2000/01)	$7,025	$3,512
Left school in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (FY2001/02)	$7,660	$3,938
Left school in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 (FY2002/03)	$7,422	$3,938
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	$8,125	$3,716
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$10,120	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$11,000	$3,313
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$11,750	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$12,500	$3,750
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$14,250	$5,000
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$16,396	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$18,356	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$20,000	$6,000
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$21,000	$6,846
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$22,000	$8,250
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$23,250	$9,030
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$24,000	$9,405
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$23,197	$9,500
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$23,100	$8,750
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$22,928	$8,695
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$22,500	$9,499
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$22,095	$9,343

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$38,156

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$40,920

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$43,889

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years.

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

Western Kentucky University admitted 9,237 of 9,840 applicants in Fall 2024. The 93.9% rate describes that application pool.

93.9%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $11,436 in-state tuition · 2023–24 12,155 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Test-optional (considered) · Fall 2024

400SAT range (section 25th/75th sums): 840–10501600

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

In the Fall 2024 cycle, Western Kentucky University received 9,840 applications and admitted 9,237 (93.9%), with 2,788 enrolling.

Western Kentucky University reported scores as considered but not required for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. For Western Kentucky University’s enrolled SAT submitters, Reading and Writing was 420–530 and Math was 420–520 (25th–75th percentiles). The section-percentile sums 840–1050 are not composite-score percentiles. These are not admission cutoffs.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Score	25th	50th	75th
SAT Reading & Writing	420	490	530
SAT Math	420	440	520
ACT Composite	16	18	21

25th / 75th: a quarter of enrolled submitters scored below the first number, a quarter above the second. These are not cutoffs.

Only students who submitted scores are counted — at test-optional schools, many enrolled students aren't in this table.

Percentiles are among enrolled students who submitted scores (Fall 2024 admissions cycle).

Acceptance rate

93.9%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2001	87.4%
Fall 2002	84.9%
Fall 2003	93%
Fall 2004	93.3%
Fall 2005	91.8%
Fall 2007	95.7%
Fall 2009	94.2%
Fall 2010	94.5%
Fall 2011	92.5%
Fall 2012	91.7%
Fall 2013	92.3%
Fall 2014	93.3%
Fall 2015	92.7%
Fall 2016	94%
Fall 2017	95.5%
Fall 2018	97.2%
Fall 2019	97.3%
Fall 2020	97.8%
Fall 2021	98.5%
Fall 2022	97%
Fall 2023	97%
Fall 2024	93.9%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2001–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

840–1050Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2002	890	1120
Fall 2003	910	1110
Fall 2004	895	1110
Fall 2005	890	1110
Fall 2007	850	1060
Fall 2009	860	1110
Fall 2010	860	1090
Fall 2011	860	1130
Fall 2012	870	1170
Fall 2013	830	1150
Fall 2014	880	1130
Fall 2015	870	1150
Fall 2016	860	1090
Fall 2017	970	1180
Fall 2018	980	1190
Fall 2019	990	1220
Fall 2020	980	1180
Fall 2022	980	1170
Fall 2023	820	1010
Fall 2024	840	1050

IPEDS Fall 2002–2024, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

16–21Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	18	23
Fall 2002	17	23
Fall 2003	18	23
Fall 2004	18	23
Fall 2005	18	23
Fall 2007	18	24
Fall 2009	18	24
Fall 2010	18	24
Fall 2011	18	24
Fall 2012	18	24
Fall 2013	18	25
Fall 2014	19	26
Fall 2015	19	26
Fall 2016	19	26
Fall 2017	19	27
Fall 2018	20	27
Fall 2019	19	27
Fall 2020	19	26
Fall 2022	18	25
Fall 2023	16	20
Fall 2024	16	21

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

12,155Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at Western Kentucky University fell from 14,512 (Fall 2002) to 12,155 (Fall 2024).

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	14,512
Fall 2003	15,048
Fall 2004	15,211
Fall 2005	15,341
Fall 2006	15,415
Fall 2007	15,502
Fall 2008	15,731
Fall 2009	16,436
Fall 2010	16,545
Fall 2011	16,482
Fall 2012	16,351
Fall 2013	15,780
Fall 2014	15,388
Fall 2015	15,119
Fall 2016	14,956
Fall 2017	14,529
Fall 2018	13,959
Fall 2019	13,139
Fall 2020	13,086
Fall 2021	12,526
Fall 2022	12,149
Fall 2023	12,267
Fall 2024	12,155

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

78%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at Western Kentucky University has held near 78% from Fall 2002 to Fall 2023.

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2002 cohort	71%
Fall 2003 cohort	72%
Fall 2004 cohort	73%
Fall 2005 cohort	72%
Fall 2006 cohort	73%
Fall 2007 cohort	72%
Fall 2008 cohort	74%
Fall 2009 cohort	74%
Fall 2010 cohort	73%
Fall 2011 cohort	71%
Fall 2012 cohort	72%
Fall 2013 cohort	73%
Fall 2014 cohort	72%
Fall 2015 cohort	73%
Fall 2016 cohort	70%
Fall 2017 cohort	71%
Fall 2018 cohort	73%
Fall 2019 cohort	77%
Fall 2020 cohort	73%
Fall 2021 cohort	77%
Fall 2022 cohort	78%
Fall 2023 cohort	78%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2002–2023

More about Western Kentucky University

30.5% of Western Kentucky University's undergraduates carry Pell grants — the standard federal marker of lower-income enrollment. Carnegie classes Western Kentucky University as a primarily residential campus of 12,155 undergraduates — and 78.3% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

Western Kentucky University's SAT section-percentile sums are 840–1050 — their midpoint is below the KY four-year benchmark. These are not total-score percentiles. Put your own practice estimate on Western Kentucky University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How Western Kentucky University compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

Western Kentucky University93.9%

Kentucky median79.6%

National median76.8%

Tuition (in-state)

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

Western Kentucky University$11,652

Kentucky median$26,625

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

Western Kentucky University's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

Western Kentucky University$43,889

Kentucky median$45,036

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

Western Kentucky University, Kentucky and national reference values
Metric & basis	Western Kentucky University	Kentucky median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	93.9%	79.6%	76.8%
Tuition (in-state)Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$11,652	$26,625	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$43,889	$45,036	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

For Western Kentucky University, these are federal subject groups (CIP), not departments. Median is the middle annual income.

Western Kentucky University federal-aid recipients · graduated 2017–18 or 2018–19 · income measured 2022 or 2023 · inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars. Definitions and limits.

View 49 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion
Mechanical Engineering	$86,624
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians	$86,033
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering	$85,772
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician	$84,057
Civil Engineering	$75,732
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods	$74,452
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing	$73,496
Computer and Information Sciences, General	$73,300
Accounting and Related Services	$71,274
Architectural Sciences and Technology	$71,240
Finance and Financial Management Services	$70,313
Management Information Systems and Services	$68,333
Economics	$68,051
International Relations and National Security Studies	$64,710
Marketing	$60,222
Health and Medical Administrative Services	$60,103
Business Administration, Management and Operations	$59,362
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions	$57,958
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services	$57,844
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General	$57,271
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness	$54,396
Political Science and Government	$54,333
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics	$53,921
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication	$53,839
Biology, General	$52,487
Agriculture, General	$51,065
Hospitality Administration/Management	$50,712
Communication and Media Studies	$50,392
Social Work	$48,771
Journalism	$47,661
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities	$46,583
Fine and Studio Arts	$45,957
Apparel and Textiles	$45,420
Criminology	$45,124
Psychology, General	$44,848
Public Health	$43,605
Sociology	$43,520
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics	$43,210
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management	$42,600
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication	$41,791
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas	$40,838
Special Education and Teaching	$40,705
English Language and Literature, General	$40,616
Anthropology	$40,415
History	$38,836
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods	$38,656
Mathematics	$38,434
Music	$38,377
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft	$34,987

These 49 fields listed for Western Kentucky University measure earnings after completion. The $43,889 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 31 additional Western Kentucky University fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does Western Kentucky University report?

Western Kentucky University's enrolled submitters had SAT section-percentile sums of 840–1050 in Fall 2024. These are not total-score percentiles or a GPA requirement.

What is Western Kentucky University's acceptance rate?

93.9% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 9,237 admitted from 9,840 applicants.

How much does Western Kentucky University cost?

In-state tuition is $11,652; out-of-state students pay $27,000. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.

What earnings data does Western Kentucky University report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $43,889. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in Kentucky

Transylvania University — 86.5% admitted
Thomas More University — 90.3% admitted
Spalding University — 99.4% admitted
Murray State University — 85.7% admitted

Run your own numbers

Data: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Field-of-study cohort dates are shown with the table. Read the date and population definitions.