Kinesiology and exercise science
Ranked #123 of 459 for valueSports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness · 116 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $54,396
- Ranked-college median: $53,707
- Median debt
- $18,000
- Ranked-college median: $21,500
Western Kentucky University acceptance rate
Acceptance rate: 98% (fall admissions, CollegesRef 2026–27 edition). 7,145 of 7,255 applicants were admitted. Admissions details
What we know
- Students
- 14,729
Larger than 94% of colleges
National median 1,603
Western Kentucky UniversityMiddle half of collegesNational median
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Western Kentucky University admitted 98% of 7,255 applicants.
Verified data· CollegesRef archive
- Applicants7,255
98% of applicants were admitted
- Admitted7,145
39.1% of admitted students enrolled (yield)
- Enrolled (first-year)2,794
Cost & financial aid
Verified data· CollegesRef archive
Average net price
$12,395
What students paid per year on average after grants and scholarships. Your price depends on family income.
Published price vs. what students paid
- Out-of-state tuition & fees
- $30,115
- Average net price
- $12,395
Students receiving Pell Grants
- Pell Grant recipients
- 38%
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- Can I afford it?Loan payment against what its graduates earn
- How much can I borrow?Federal loan limits and what is left to cover
- Will I get a Pell Grant?Estimate this year's award from your SAI
- What would I repay?Monthly payments on $27,000 of loans
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Start with the Pell Grant estimator See a sample reportOutcomes
Verified data· CollegesRef archive
54%
Graduation rate
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time
73%
First-year retention
Students who return for a second year
Programs at Western Kentucky University
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard, field of study, 2025
Bachelor's majors where Western Kentucky University is ranked in CollegesRef's value rankings. Earnings are medians 4 years after graduating, for graduates who received federal aid; the tick on each bar marks the median of all ranked colleges in that field.
Civil engineering
Ranked #157 of 181 for valueCivil Engineering · 28 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $75,732
- Ranked-college median: $85,627
- Median debt
- $22,672
- Ranked-college median: $20,500
Electrical engineering
Ranked #168 of 184 for valueElectrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · 23 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $85,772
- Ranked-college median: $99,787
Accounting
Ranked #195 of 408 for valueAccounting and Related Services · 56 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $71,274
- Ranked-college median: $76,108
- Median debt
- $18,000
- Ranked-college median: $20,500
Mechanical engineering
Ranked #195 of 276 for valueMechanical Engineering · 44 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $86,624
- Ranked-college median: $91,366
- Median debt
- $20,100
- Ranked-college median: $20,713
Finance
Ranked #203 of 330 for valueFinance and Financial Management Services · 69 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $70,313
- Ranked-college median: $77,916
- Median debt
- $17,781
- Ranked-college median: $19,500
Engineering
Ranked #221 of 327 for valueMechanical Engineering · 44 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $86,624
- Ranked-college median: $91,742
- Median debt
- $20,100
- Ranked-college median: $21,000
Marketing
Ranked #227 of 354 for valueMarketing · 108 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $60,222
- Ranked-college median: $67,486
- Median debt
- $18,742
- Ranked-college median: $19,523
Communications
Ranked #238 of 388 for valueCommunication and Media Studies · 26 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $50,392
- Ranked-college median: $56,130
- Median debt
- $18,371
- Ranked-college median: $19,593
Political science
Ranked #314 of 388 for valuePolitical Science and Government · 47 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $54,333
- Ranked-college median: $63,181
- Median debt
- $20,500
- Ranked-college median: $19,500
Computer science
Ranked #339 of 466 for valueComputer and Information Sciences, General · 50 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $73,300
- Ranked-college median: $97,375
- Median debt
- $15,855
- Ranked-college median: $19,500
Education
Ranked #417 of 521 for valueTeacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods · 147 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $38,656
- Ranked-college median: $48,822
- Median debt
- $19,645
- Ranked-college median: $21,500
Biology
Ranked #440 of 680 for valueBiology, General · 94 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $52,487
- Ranked-college median: $58,001
- Median debt
- $21,500
- Ranked-college median: $20,717
Business
Ranked #462 of 986 for valueBusiness Administration, Management and Operations · 222 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $59,362
- Ranked-college median: $64,860
- Median debt
- $17,750
- Ranked-college median: $21,375
Nursing
Ranked #555 of 686 for valueRegistered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · 146 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $73,496
- Ranked-college median: $85,171
- Median debt
- $21,130
- Ranked-college median: $20,938
Psychology
Ranked #586 of 814 for valuePsychology, General · 145 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $44,848
- Ranked-college median: $51,007
- Median debt
- $22,375
- Ranked-college median: $21,000
Academics
Verified data· CollegesRef archive
Total students
14,729
Academic calendar
Semester
Carnegie classification
Doctoral/professional university
A Doctoral and Professional Degree University (which undergraduates attend).
Colleges like Western Kentucky University
Eastern Kentucky UniversityRichmond, KY
Murray State University-KentuckyMurray, KY- University of LouisvilleLouisville, KY
Location & details
Where the campus is, how far it sits from a major city, and other colleges within reach.
Western Kentucky UniversityBowling Green, KY, United States
Distances are straight-line miles, not driving distance. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, tiles by OpenFreeMap and OpenMapTiles.
Campus
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, KY, United States
- Public
- Doctoral/professional university
Small city
Inside an urbanized area and a principal city.
- City (this campus)
- Suburb
- Town
- Rural
Nearest major cityNashville, TN · about 60 mi
In the city250 mi
- Calendar
- Semester
- Website
- wku.edu
Colleges nearby
- Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College1.1 miBowling Green
- Hussian College-Daymar College Bowling Green1.5 miBowling Green
- Hopkinsville Community College57.4 miHopkinsville
- Elizabethtown Community and Technical College58.3 miElizabethtown
- Owensboro Community and Technical College61.2 miOwensboro
- Madisonville Community College63.7 miMadisonville
Colleges nearby
- Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College1 mi from Western Kentucky University
- Hussian College-Daymar College Bowling Green2 mi from Western Kentucky University
- Hopkinsville Community College57 mi from Western Kentucky University
- Elizabethtown Community and Technical College58 mi from Western Kentucky University
Still have a question?
Ask about admissions, cost or campus life at Western Kentucky University. Answers come from CollegesRef data.
Ask CollegesRefSpecial features
What sets this college apart, grouped by theme, each with what it means and the data or editorial tag behind it.
CollegesRef editorial
Cost & aid
Affordable
Lower cost than many comparable colleges for a typical family.
Average net price $12,395 a year after aid
Athletics
NCAA Division I · The largest programs and athletic scholarships; big-time game days.
- D-INCAA Division I (this college)
- D-IINCAA Division II
- D-IIINCAA Division III
- NAIANAIA
- NJCAANJCAA
Tagged by CollegesRef editors as a big-time athletics school.
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Admit rate, net price and outcomes for Western Kentucky University and Eastern Kentucky University, side by side.
Compare with Eastern Kentucky UniversityFrequently asked questions
What is the Western Kentucky University acceptance rate for 2026?
Western Kentucky University admitted 98% of 7,255 applicants in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition, the most recent release. That is the figure colleges report to the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
How much is Western Kentucky University tuition?
Tuition at Western Kentucky University is $30,115 a year before financial aid in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition. The average net price after grants is $12,395 a year.
What is the average net price at Western Kentucky University?
The average net price at Western Kentucky University, what first-time, full-time students paid after grants and scholarships, was $12,395 a year in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition. Your own price depends on family income; the college's net price calculator gives a personal estimate.
What is the graduation rate at Western Kentucky University?
54% of first-time, full-time students at Western Kentucky University graduate within six years (150% of normal time), according to the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition.
What colleges are similar to Western Kentucky University?
The closest matches are Eastern Kentucky University, Murray State University, and University of Louisville, based on admissions, cost, graduation rate, size, and campus profile.
Sources
Last checked Nov 3, 2026
- Admissions
- CollegesRef archive
- Cost
- CollegesRef archive
- Outcomes
- CollegesRef archive
- Enrollment
- CollegesRef archive
Figures come from federal reporting. Text marked “CollegesRef editorial” is our own summary, and similar-college lists come from CollegesRef matching. How we source data
