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Western Kentucky University

Median Salary (5 years)

Bachelor's

$51,268

Master's

$63,521

Doctoral

$78,113

Want an online degree that's:

  • Affordable
  • Popular
  • Highly Rated
  • Military-friendly

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Written by OnlineU Writers • Updated 11/3/2023

Western Kentucky University (WKU) is a public university with 15,526 undergraduate students and a 49% graduation rate, according to . WKU has 88 online degrees, including 33 certificates plus 9 bachelor's, 24 master's, and 2 doctoral degrees. The remaining programs are graduate endorsements and professional non-degree programs, most of which are in the field of education. Undergraduate degrees are available in education, health and human services, business, science, engineering, sociology, and criminology. 

Median Salary for Online Degrees at Western Kentucky University

Certificate Degrees

Field of Study Median Salary (1 year) Median Salary (5 years)
Health and Medical Administrative Services Not Reported $68,269
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services Not Reported $35,486

Associate Degrees

Field of Study Median Salary (1 year) Median Salary (5 years)
Business Administration, Management and Operations Not Reported $44,285
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Not Reported $33,187
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing $64,845 $66,983

Bachelor's Degrees

Field of Study Median Salary (1 year) Median Salary (5 years)
Business Administration, Management and Operations $44,498 $55,804
Civil Engineering $60,086 $69,462
Communication and Media Studies $33,955 $45,754
Computer and Information Sciences, General $48,863 $62,798
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions $47,974 $43,019
Economics $53,857 $54,462
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering $74,205 $91,315
Geography and Cartography Not Reported $51,888
Health and Medical Administrative Services $44,516 $51,696
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General $42,045 $55,237
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities $35,746 $40,352
Management Information Systems and Services $64,252 $60,202
Political Science and Government $23,294 $52,865
Public Health Not Reported $51,773
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication $21,377 $40,617
Social Work $34,748 $40,739
Sociology $32,762 $41,047
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods $37,288 $40,660
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas $36,830 $41,362

Master's Degrees

Field of Study Median Salary (1 year) Median Salary (5 years)
Business Administration, Management and Operations $64,836 $81,177
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services $54,058 $62,318
Health and Medical Administrative Services Not Reported $74,456
Library Science and Administration $51,244 $53,352
Social Work $44,263 $49,968
Special Education and Teaching $44,743 $48,878
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods $45,211 $48,264

FAQs About Western Kentucky University

Is Western Kentucky University Online?


WKU is one of the most popular online schools with complete degree programs in various subjects, including general education. According to the , 60% of graduate students study exclusively online, while 42% of undergraduate students only take some online classes.

Is Western Kentucky University a Good School?


Although some consider WKU a good school because it's affordable, its graduates earn less than other four-year universities. Data from College Scorecard shows that the average tuition costs are $11,700, but graduates earn $4,900 less than the midpoint for similar schools.

WKU is an accredited school evaluated by an independent education agency to ensure that its programs and faculty are of good quality. WKU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges () to award associate, baccalaureate, master’s, and doctorate degrees, as well as certificates. 

OnlineU only features accredited online schools and universities on its site. 

What Is Western Kentucky University Known For?


WKU is known for providing online classes with two delivery options: (1) semester-based and (2) on-demand. On-demand courses are taken entirely online, offering more flexibility for remote students who wish to take classes on their schedules. Over 100 courses are available, including some that can be taken at an accelerated pace. Semester-based classes run alongside campus programs with predetermined schedules that students must adhere to. Professors are allowed to require up to two campus visits per class.

Which Degrees at Western Kentucky University Provide the Highest Earnings for Graduates?


The highest-earning degree at WKU is the online Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology Management. Graduates of this program earn a median annual salary of $84,000 four years after completing the program, according to College Scorecard. The online Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Technology is a relatively high earning degree with an average median salary of $54,900 for graduates.

Prospective students can also check OnlineU's Salary Score, a proprietary metric that compares alum salaries from different schools using the same degrees. On a 1 to 100 scale, WKU scores a 23 for bachelor's, 19 for master's, and 48 for doctoral degrees.

Is It Hard To Get Into Western Kentucky University?


WKU is an easy school to get into for students who meet its admissions criteria. Federal data through College Scorecard shows that 98% of applicants are accepted.

What GPA Do You Need To Get Into Western Kentucky University?


Students hoping to attend WKU must have a 2.0 GPA to be accepted. However, this is not considered a good GPA, so students with scores below 2.5 must also submit their SAT or ACT test results. 

Applicants should always understand admissions requirements before picking a college.

What Are the Admission Requirements for Western Kentucky University?


The application process at WKU is very straightforward. First-year students must complete the following steps when applying to college online.

  • Fill out the .
  • Submit high school transcripts.
  • Submit college entrance exam scores (if applicable).