Western Kentucky University Rankings & Recognition

Western Kentucky University appears in 16 of CollegesRef's value rankings by major. Its best placement is #123 of 459 for kinesiology and exercise science, and #2 of 8 ranked colleges in Kentucky.

Western Kentucky University rankings by major

Source: CollegesRef value rankings from U.S. College Scorecard data, 2025

Each ranking compares bachelor's programs in one field. A college's value score is the weighted average of four percentiles among the ranked colleges: graduate earnings, average net price, debt compared with earnings, and graduation rate. Percentiles here are 100 for the best figure in the field. How the rankings work

Kinesiology and exercise science

Ranked #123 of 459 for value

Sports, 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

Value score 63.4 of 100 · #2 of 8 in Kentucky

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 54th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 83th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 73th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 45th percentile

Average net price $12,395 (median $18,314) · graduation rate 54% · debt is 33% of earnings

Ranked just above: John Carroll University (#122)
Ranked just below: Bemidji State University (#124)

Best colleges for kinesiology and exercise science

Civil engineering

Ranked #157 of 181 for value

Civil Engineering · 28 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $75,732; Ranked-college median: $85,627
Median debt: $22,672; Ranked-college median: $20,500

Value score 27.3 of 100 · #3 of 3 in Kentucky

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 3th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 81th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 19th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 13th percentile

Average net price $12,395 (median $17,058) · graduation rate 54% · debt is 30% of earnings

Ranked just above: Virginia Military Institute (#156)
Ranked just below: North Carolina A & T State University (#158)

Best colleges for civil engineering

Electrical engineering

Ranked #168 of 184 for value

Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · 23 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $85,772; Ranked-college median: $99,787

Value score 27.2 of 100 · #3 of 3 in Kentucky

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 1th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 75th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 18th percentile

Average net price $12,395 (median $16,125) · graduation rate 54%

Ranked just above: The University of Texas at San Antonio (#167)
Ranked just below: University of Connecticut (#169)

Best colleges for electrical engineering

Accounting

Ranked #195 of 408 for value

Accounting 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

Value score 50.4 of 100 · #3 of 6 in Kentucky

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 35th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 80th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 55th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 34th percentile

Average net price $12,395 (median $17,285) · graduation rate 54% · debt is 25% of earnings

Ranked just above: Duquesne University (#194)
Ranked just below: Central Michigan University (#196)

Best colleges for accounting

Mechanical engineering

Ranked #195 of 276 for value

Mechanical Engineering · 44 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $86,624; Ranked-college median: $91,366
Median debt: $20,100; Ranked-college median: $20,713

Value score 38.9 of 100 · #3 of 3 in Kentucky

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 15th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 82th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 48th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 18th percentile

Average net price $12,395 (median $17,379) · graduation rate 54% · debt is 23% of earnings

Ranked just above: Rochester Institute of Technology (#194)
Ranked just below: Syracuse University (#196)

Best colleges for mechanical engineering

Finance

Ranked #203 of 330 for value

Finance 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

Value score 43.7 of 100 · #3 of 5 in Kentucky

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 25th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 82th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 45th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 31th percentile

Average net price $12,395 (median $17,502) · graduation rate 54% · debt is 25% of earnings

Ranked just above: Campbell University (#202)
Ranked just below: The University of West Florida (#204)

Best colleges for finance

Engineering

Ranked #221 of 327 for value

Mechanical Engineering · 44 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $86,624; Ranked-college median: $91,742
Median debt: $20,100; Ranked-college median: $21,000

Value score 40.3 of 100 · #4 of 4 in Kentucky

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 18th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 81th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 49th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 20th percentile

Average net price $12,395 (median $17,499) · graduation rate 54% · debt is 23% of earnings

Ranked just above: North Dakota State University (#220)
Ranked just below: Rowan University (#222)

Best colleges for engineering

Marketing

Ranked #227 of 354 for value

Marketing · 108 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $60,222; Ranked-college median: $67,486
Median debt: $18,742; Ranked-college median: $19,523

Value score 41.9 of 100 · #3 of 6 in Kentucky

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 22th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 82th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 40th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 32th percentile

Average net price $12,395 (median $17,699) · graduation rate 54% · debt is 31% of earnings

Ranked just above: University of West Georgia (#226)
Ranked just below: The University of Texas at El Paso (#228)

Best colleges for marketing

Communications

Ranked #238 of 388 for value

Communication 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

Value score 44.5 of 100 · #4 of 7 in Kentucky

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 27th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 79th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 44th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 34th percentile

Average net price $12,395 (median $17,285) · graduation rate 54% · debt is 37% of earnings

Ranked just above: DePaul University-Illinois (#237)
Ranked just below: The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (#239)

Best colleges for communications

Political science

Ranked #314 of 388 for value

Political 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

Value score 34.1 of 100 · #3 of 4 in Kentucky

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 18th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 82th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 18th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 19th percentile

Average net price $12,395 (median $18,238) · graduation rate 54% · debt is 38% of earnings

Ranked just above: Appalachian State University (#313)
Ranked just below: University of Massachusetts-Boston (#315)

Best colleges for political science

Computer science

Ranked #339 of 466 for value

Computer 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

Value score 36 of 100 · #4 of 6 in Kentucky

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 9th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 77th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 42th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 32th percentile

Average net price $12,395 (median $16,804) · graduation rate 54% · debt is 22% of earnings

Ranked just above: Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi (#338)
Ranked just below: Ohio University (#340)

Best colleges for computer science

Education

Ranked #417 of 521 for value

Teacher 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

Value score 33 of 100 · #4 of 10 in Kentucky

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 3th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 79th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 28th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 44th percentile

Average net price $12,395 (median $17,201) · graduation rate 54% · debt is 51% of earnings

Ranked just above: University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown (#416)
Ranked just below: Olivet Nazarene University (#418)

Best colleges for education

Biology

Ranked #440 of 680 for value

Biology, General · 94 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $52,487; Ranked-college median: $58,001
Median debt: $21,500; Ranked-college median: $20,717

Value score 42.1 of 100 · #5 of 9 in Kentucky

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 27th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 81th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 29th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 35th percentile

Average net price $12,395 (median $18,049) · graduation rate 54% · debt is 41% of earnings

Ranked just above: Baylor University (#439)
Ranked just below: Central Washington University (#441)

Best colleges for biology

Business

Ranked #462 of 986 for value

Business 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

Value score 51.2 of 100 · #5 of 17 in Kentucky

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 28th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 81th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 62th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 49th percentile

Average net price $12,395 (median $19,132) · graduation rate 54% · debt is 30% of earnings

Ranked just above: Monmouth College (#461)
Ranked just below: Tiffin University (#463)

Best colleges for business

Nursing

Ranked #555 of 686 for value

Registered 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

Value score 33.9 of 100 · #9 of 11 in Kentucky

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 5th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 78th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 26th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 47th percentile

Average net price $12,395 (median $18,014) · graduation rate 54% · debt is 29% of earnings

Ranked just above: Xavier University-Ohio (#554)
Ranked just below: Wisconsin Lutheran College (#556)

Best colleges for nursing

Psychology

Ranked #586 of 814 for value

Psychology, General · 145 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $44,848; Ranked-college median: $51,007
Median debt: $22,375; Ranked-college median: $21,000

Value score 38.2 of 100 · #8 of 12 in Kentucky

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 18th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 83th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 22th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 39th percentile

Average net price $12,395 (median $18,874) · graduation rate 54% · debt is 50% of earnings