← Back to collegesLocated in Bowling Green, KY, Western Kentucky University is a public large school with roughly 12,155 undergraduates. Admissions are not highly selective, admitting a majority of applicants here -- roughly 94% of applicants get in. Among reported majors, Mechanical Engineering shows the strongest outcomes -- $86,624/year in median earnings four years after graduation. On-campus housing isn't required, so many students live off campus.
Admissions
Admit rate94%
SAT range840–1050
ACT range16–21
Undergrads12,155
Yield (admits who enroll)38%
Next deadlineNot reported
Cost & outcomes
Cost of attendance$24,188
4-year grad rate55%
Median earnings, 10yr out$43,889
From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field.
See full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what Western Kentucky University weighs in your application
Paying it back
Undergrads taking federal loans35%
Loan balance still growing, 3yrs out47%
"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.
Majors & earnings
Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related SciencesAgriculture, General$51,065/yr
Architecture and Related ServicesArchitectural Sciences and Technology$71,240/yr
Biological and Biomedical SciencesBiology, General$52,487/yr
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support ServicesManagement Sciences and Quantitative Methods$74,452/yr
Accounting and Related Services$71,274/yr
Finance and Financial Management Services$70,313/yr
Management Information Systems and Services$68,333/yr
Marketing$60,222/yr
Business Administration, Management and Operations$59,362/yr
Hospitality Administration/Management$50,712/yr
Communication, Journalism, and Related ProgramsPublic Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication$53,839/yr
Communication and Media Studies$50,392/yr
Journalism$47,661/yr
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication$41,791/yr
Computer and Information Sciences and Support ServicesComputer and Information Sciences, General$73,300/yr
EducationTeacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$40,838/yr
Special Education and Teaching$40,705/yr
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$38,656/yr
EngineeringMechanical Engineering$86,624/yr
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering$85,772/yr
Civil Engineering$75,732/yr
Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related FieldsIndustrial Production Technologies/Technicians$86,033/yr
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician$84,057/yr
English Language and Literature/LettersEnglish Language and Literature, General$40,616/yr
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human SciencesApparel and Textiles$45,420/yr
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsRomance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$53,921/yr
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$43,210/yr
Health Professions and Related ProgramsRegistered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$73,496/yr
Health and Medical Administrative Services$60,103/yr
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions$57,958/yr
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services$57,844/yr
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General$57,271/yr
Public Health$43,605/yr
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesLiberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$46,583/yr
Mathematics and Statistics Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness StudiesSports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$54,396/yr
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management$42,600/yr
PsychologyPsychology, General$44,848/yr
Public Administration and Social Service Professions Social SciencesEconomics$68,051/yr
International Relations and National Security Studies$64,710/yr
Political Science and Government$54,333/yr
Criminology$45,124/yr
Sociology$43,520/yr
Anthropology$40,415/yr
Visual and Performing ArtsFine and Studio Arts$45,957/yr
Music$38,377/yr
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft$34,987/yr
Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.
Campus life
On-campus housingYes
Required to live on campusNo
Dormitory capacity4,942
Typical room charge$6,984
Typical board charge$4,088
Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.
What matters in your application
GPARequired
Class rankNot considered
RecommendationsNot considered
From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.
Frequently asked questions
What is Western Kentucky University's acceptance rate?
Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, KY admits approximately 94% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.
What SAT score do I need for Western Kentucky University?
Admitted students at Western Kentucky University typically score between 840–1050 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile).
What ACT score do I need for Western Kentucky University?
Admitted students at Western Kentucky University typically score between 16–21 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile).
How much does Western Kentucky University cost?
Western Kentucky University's total cost of attendance is reported at $24,188 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.
Does Western Kentucky University require students to live on campus?
No -- Western Kentucky University doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.