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Western Kentucky University
Admission at Western Kentucky University is close to open (93.9%), which shifts the homework to outcomes: check the $43,889 median earnings below before the application.
Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →
Western Kentucky University sits in Bowling Green proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it.
Its highest-earning path is Mechanical Engineering, where graduates median $86,624 four years out. 30.5% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 12,155 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 78.3% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 820 and 1010 — below the KY middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Western Kentucky University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Western Kentucky University received 7,720 applications and admitted 7,492 (97%), with 2,822 enrolling.
You can apply to Western Kentucky University without scores. Among admitted students who did submit, the middle half landed between 820 and 1010; applicants below that range often simply apply without them.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 450 | 500 | 520 |
| SAT Math | 370 | 445 | 490 |
| ACT Composite | 16 | 18 | 20 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How Western Kentucky University compares
| Western Kentucky University | Kentucky median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 93.9% | 79.6% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $11,652 | $26,625 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $43,889 | $45,036 | $53,781 |
At $43,889, ten-year earnings trail the state median ($45,036). Look at Western Kentucky University's major-level rows below before reading too much into the campus-wide number.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $11,652 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $27,000. For non-residents, Western Kentucky University's $27,000 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
At 12,155 undergrads, Western Kentucky University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.
55.6% graduate within six years. Roughly 44% don't — ask a Western Kentucky University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Western Kentucky University
| Bachelor's program | 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 |
Median earnings for these 49 Western Kentucky University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $43,889 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 31 additional Western Kentucky University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Western Kentucky University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 820–1010 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 93.9% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Western Kentucky University's acceptance rate?
97% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 7,492 admitted from 7,720 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 do Western Kentucky University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $43,889 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Kentucky
- Transylvania University — 86.6% admitted
- Thomas More University — 90.3% admitted
- Spalding University — 99.5% admitted
- Murray State University — 85.7% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.