College ROI

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Western Kentucky University

Bowling Green, KY 12,155 Undergrads 53.6% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$24,188
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$10,990
After Aid
Median Earnings
$53,602
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$10,990
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$53,602
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$43,889
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate53.6%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age22.2
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients35.2%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time91.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS65.0%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
93.9%
SAT Avg
971
SAT Reading
25th: 420-75th: 530
SAT Math
25th: 420-75th: 520
ACT Composite
25th: 16-75th: 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)
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$484k
+$17k
-$822
Median Cost$11k/yr
+$444k
-$23k
-$40k
Full Cost$24k/yr
+$397k
-$70k
-$88k

ROI Efficiency Metrics
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$11k/yr
Never
-102%
Full Cost$24k/yr
Never
-101%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
  • 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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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-81%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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-70%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,760
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
+$79k
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
+$438k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$76,463
Natl Median: $63,448
Lifetime Value Added
+$348k
Gerontology
CertCIP: 3011
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,636
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$68,269
Natl Median: $35,447
Lifetime Value Added
+$256k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,980
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$38,962
Natl Median: $31,135
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,907
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,294
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,066
Natl Median: $84,309
Lifetime Value Added
+$247k
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
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,763
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $33,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Statistics
CertCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,722
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,438
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$44,285
Natl Median: $48,733
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,982
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$40,695
Natl Median: $37,073
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,669
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$15,303
Earnings (4yr)
$45,877
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
Median Debt
$11,395
Earnings (4yr)
$75,959
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$269k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,656
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $35,702
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$22,772
Earnings (4yr)
$71,274
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$100k
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$51,065
Natl Median: $53,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$40,415
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$152k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$45,420
Natl Median: $57,640
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Median Debt
$23,750
Earnings (4yr)
$71,240
Natl Median: $70,074
Lifetime Value Added
+$99k
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
$20,822
Earnings (4yr)
$52,487
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$50k
Median Debt
$20,820
Earnings (4yr)
$59,362
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$7k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,565
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,012
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$21,200
Earnings (4yr)
$75,732
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$134k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,392
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$57,844
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
Median Debt
$18,836
Earnings (4yr)
$73,300
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$115k
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
BachCIP: 1510
Median Debt
$26,502
Earnings (4yr)
$84,057
Natl Median: $93,843
Lifetime Value Added
+$197k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$25,815
Earnings (4yr)
$45,124
Natl Median: $55,556
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
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
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$57,958
Natl Median: $68,061
Lifetime Value Added
-$5k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$34,987
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$199k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$43,210
Natl Median: $51,642
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,051
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$85,772
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$210k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$40,616
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Natl Median: $46,634
Lifetime Value Added
-$195k
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
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$70,313
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$92k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$45,957
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,888
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,567
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$60,103
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$57,271
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$21,125
Earnings (4yr)
$38,836
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$165k
Median Debt
$23,527
Earnings (4yr)
$50,712
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$86,033
Natl Median: $80,890
Lifetime Value Added
+$212k
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
+$49k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$47,661
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,266
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$46,583
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,333
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$77k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$74,452
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
+$124k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$60,222
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$38,434
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$169k
Median Debt
$26,688
Earnings (4yr)
$86,624
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$217k
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
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$38,377
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$169k
Median Debt
$24,867
Earnings (4yr)
$42,600
Natl Median: $50,468
Lifetime Value Added
-$133k
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
-$34k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$22,337
Earnings (4yr)
$44,848
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$22,086
Earnings (4yr)
$43,605
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$53,839
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Median Debt
$27,044
Earnings (4yr)
$41,791
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$140k
Median Debt
$22,647
Earnings (4yr)
$73,496
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$117k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,921
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,608
Natl Median: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$21,827
Earnings (4yr)
$48,771
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$43,520
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$125k
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$40,705
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$22,870
Earnings (4yr)
$54,396
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
Median Debt
$22,168
Earnings (4yr)
$38,656
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$167k
Median Debt
$26,887
Earnings (4yr)
$40,838
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$78,094
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$28k
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
$25,269
Earnings (4yr)
$69,436
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
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
-$251k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$42,706
Earnings (4yr)
$55,249
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$177k
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
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,824
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
-$34k
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
$17,684
Earnings (4yr)
$52,390
Natl Median: $56,301
Lifetime Value Added
-$204k
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
-$281k
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$57,109
Natl Median: $57,803
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,008
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$190k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$112,455
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$329k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,737
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$24,648
Earnings (4yr)
$56,628
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,593
Earnings (4yr)
$51,391
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$214k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$30,207
Earnings (4yr)
$49,133
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$235k
Median Debt
$25,360
Earnings (4yr)
$51,451
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$213k

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: $58,661
Lifetime Value Added
-$232k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,168
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,583
Natl Median: $51,583
Lifetime Value Added
-$167k
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 (2yr)
$57,318
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
-$248k
Median Debt
$55,511
Earnings (4yr)
$112,179
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$145k
Median Debt
$97,736
Earnings (4yr)
$84,680
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k

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.