College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

Western Kentucky University

Bowling Green, KY 12,155 Undergrads 53.9% Grad Rate
School Website
Share
Total Cost
$24,535
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$11,789
After Aid
Median Earnings
$54,495
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$11,789
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$54,495
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$48,408
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate53.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)22.2
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients39.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time91.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS68.1%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
93.9%
SAT Avg
971
SAT Reading
25th: 42049075th: 530
SAT Math
25th: 42044075th: 520
ACT Composite
25th: 161875th: 21

ROI Sensitivity Analysis
Assuming 4 Years to Graduation

This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.

Lifetime Value Added (NPV)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$484k
+$14k
-$2k
Median Cost$12k/yr
+$442k
-$28k
-$45k
Full Cost$25k/yr
+$396k
-$74k
-$90k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$12k/yr
Never
-105%
Full Cost$25k/yr
Never
-102%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.
  • Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
  • Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
  • NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.

Social Impact ROINew

Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.

Donor Return-84%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew

Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.

Taxpayer Return-72%

Program ROI Analysis

These figures are medians for past graduates who received federal aid. Your cost and pay will differ. Run your own numbers in the Guided ROI Interview →

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,760
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
+$79k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,067
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $36,116
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,094
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,869
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$85,634
Natl Median: $53,418
Lifetime Value Added
Not scored

Not scored. Graduates of this program earn more than graduates of the school's bachelor's degree in the same field, and about 1.6× the national median for this credential. That usually means students arrived already holding a degree or years of work experience. Our model assumes a student starting right after high school, so it can't measure what this program added. Earnings are as reported by the College Scorecard. Run it with your own cost and expected pay →

Median Debt
$18,901
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$76,463
Natl Median: $63,448
Lifetime Value Added
+$351k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$25,750
Earnings (5yr)
$75,124
Natl Median: $35,447
Lifetime Value Added
Not scored

Not scored. Graduates of this program earn more than graduates of the school's associate degree in the same field, and about 2.1× the national median for this credential. That usually means students arrived already holding a degree or years of work experience. Our model assumes a student starting right after high school, so it can't measure what this program added. Earnings are as reported by the College Scorecard. Run it with your own cost and expected pay →

Median Debt
$18,457
Earnings (4yr)
$38,962
Natl Median: $31,135
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,066
Natl Median: $84,309
Lifetime Value Added
+$249k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,283
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,365
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
CertCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,933
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,763
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $33,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,438
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,353
Natl Median: $48,733
Lifetime Value Added
-$203k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,982
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$47,684
Natl Median: $37,073
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,669
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,000
Earnings (4yr)
$45,877
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$13,561
Earnings (4yr)
$75,959
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$271k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $35,702
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$71,274
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$99k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$51,065
Natl Median: $53,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$40,415
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$155k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$22,127
Earnings (4yr)
$45,420
Natl Median: $57,640
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$19,389
Earnings (4yr)
$71,240
Natl Median: $70,074
Lifetime Value Added
+$99k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,997
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$52,487
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$17,750
Earnings (4yr)
$59,362
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (5yr)
$88,627
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$218k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$60,051
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$498
Try this program with your own numbers →
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$22,672
Earnings (4yr)
$75,732
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$133k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,371
Earnings (4yr)
$50,392
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$57,844
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$15,855
Earnings (4yr)
$73,300
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$114k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$45,124
Natl Median: $55,556
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$14,736
Earnings (4yr)
$57,958
Natl Median: $68,061
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$24,195
Earnings (4yr)
$34,987
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$202k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$43,210
Natl Median: $51,642
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,051
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$74k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$85,772
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$210k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$40,616
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$153k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Natl Median: $46,634
Lifetime Value Added
-$199k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,781
Earnings (4yr)
$70,313
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$91k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$45,957
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$108k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,998
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$35,416
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$186k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$20,750
Earnings (4yr)
$60,103
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$17,750
Earnings (4yr)
$57,271
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
Try this program with your own numbers →
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$19,692
Earnings (4yr)
$38,836
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$169k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$18,250
Earnings (4yr)
$50,712
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$17,499
Earnings (4yr)
$86,033
Natl Median: $80,890
Lifetime Value Added
+$212k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,710
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
+$48k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$21,393
Earnings (4yr)
$47,661
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,266
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (4yr)
$46,583
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,333
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$76k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$74,452
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
+$123k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$18,742
Earnings (4yr)
$60,222
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$38,434
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$172k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$20,100
Earnings (4yr)
$86,624
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$216k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,612
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$38,377
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$173k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$42,600
Natl Median: $50,468
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Physical Sciences, General
BachCIP: 4001
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,944
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$54,333
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$22,375
Earnings (4yr)
$44,848
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$43,605
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$53,839
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$41,791
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$21,130
Earnings (4yr)
$73,496
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$116k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$14,037
Earnings (4yr)
$53,921
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$44,743
Natl Median: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
-$125k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$23,251
Earnings (4yr)
$48,771
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$22,633
Earnings (4yr)
$43,520
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$40,705
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$153k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,396
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$19,645
Earnings (4yr)
$38,656
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$170k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$40,838
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$151k
Try this program with your own numbers →

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$78,094
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$28k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,941
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,371
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,009
Earnings (4yr)
$69,436
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$47,567
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$254k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,249
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$180k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,597
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Criminology
MastCIP: 4504
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,647
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,784
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,024
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Try this program with your own numbers →
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,524
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$12,360
Earnings (4yr)
$52,390
Natl Median: $56,301
Lifetime Value Added
-$207k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
-$285k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,109
Natl Median: $57,803
Lifetime Value Added
-$162k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$37,568
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$337k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,723
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
-$204k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$22,378
Earnings (4yr)
$112,455
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$328k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$56,628
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$166k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,954
Earnings (4yr)
$51,391
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$217k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,511
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$235k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$24,890
Earnings (4yr)
$49,133
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$238k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,451
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$216k
Try this program with your own numbers →

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $94,506
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,033
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Natl Median: $62,867
Lifetime Value Added
-$234k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,168
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,193
Natl Median: $41,193
Lifetime Value Added
-$251k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Public Health
Gr-CertCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,684
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $126,911
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,774
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,709
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$74,172
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
-$151k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$112,179
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$142k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$98,500
Earnings (4yr)
$84,680
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
Try this program with your own numbers →

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.

For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.