by our College Data Analytics TeamThis overview covers the essential stats on Western Kentucky University, including its rankings, majors, diversity, and more.
At Western Kentucky University, students can earn anything from certificates through the doctor’s degree - research/scholarship and professional practice.
| Degree Level | Offered |
|---|---|
| Certificate | ✓ |
| Associate | ✓ |
| Bachelor’s | ✓ |
| Master’s | ✓ |
| Doctorate | ✓ |
Completions: 7,114 undergraduate · 1,798 graduate (8,912 total)
The most popular majors at Western Kentucky University, measured by the number of graduates, are listed below.
The following majors at Western Kentucky University have the strongest reported average salaries.
| Highest-Paying Majors | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering. | $65,193 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering. | $62,199 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | $56,097 |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians. | $53,704 |
| Civil Engineering. | $50,759 |
Explore the full list of majors at Western Kentucky University, sorted by study area.
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-Disciplinary Studies | 4,456 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. ↳ Business Administration and Management, General. · Organizational Leadership. · Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management. · Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management. |
445 | $44,304 |
| Marketing. ↳ Marketing/Marketing Management, General. |
108 | $39,467 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services. ↳ Finance, General. · Financial Planning and Services. |
76 | $39,676 |
| Accounting and Related Services. ↳ Accounting. |
64 | $39,657 |
| Construction Management. ↳ Construction Management, General. |
36 | NA |
| Hospitality Administration/Management. ↳ Hospitality Administration/Management, General. |
27 | $25,076 |
| Business/Managerial Economics. | 20 | NA |
| International Business. ↳ International Business/Trade/Commerce. |
10 | NA |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations. ↳ Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies. |
5 | NA |
| Real Estate. | 5 | NA |
| General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations. ↳ General Merchandising, Sales, and Related Marketing Operations, Other. |
5 | NA |
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other. | 5 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. ↳ Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse. · Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing. · Nursing Practice. · Family Practice Nurse/Nursing. |
299 | $56,097 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services. ↳ Audiology/Audiologist and Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist. · Communication Sciences and Disorders, General. |
99 | $45,606 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. ↳ Health/Health Care Administration/Management. · Health and Medical Administrative Services, Other. · Health Information/Medical Records Administration/Administrator. |
88 | $35,676 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General. | 61 | $29,337 |
| Public Health. ↳ Environmental Health. · Public Health, General. · Public Health Education and Promotion. · Community Health and Preventive Medicine. · Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene. |
58 | $34,104 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions. ↳ Dental Hygiene/Hygienist. |
31 | $45,701 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. ↳ Physical Therapy/Therapist. |
27 | NA |
| Medical Illustration and Informatics. ↳ Medical Informatics. |
10 | NA |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions. ↳ Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology/Technologist. |
6 | NA |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions. ↳ Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling. |
5 | NA |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services. ↳ Dietetics/Dietitian. |
2 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. ↳ Elementary Education and Teaching. · Teacher Education, Multiple Levels. · Early Childhood Education and Teaching. · Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching. · Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching. · Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other. |
242 | $35,354 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. ↳ Physical Education Teaching and Coaching. · Family and Consumer Sciences/Home Economics Teacher Education. · Mathematics Teacher Education. · Reading Teacher Education. · Music Teacher Education. |
67 | $33,445 |
| Special Education and Teaching. ↳ Special Education and Teaching, General. · Education/Teaching of the Gifted and Talented. |
62 | $38,525 |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design. ↳ Educational/Instructional Technology. |
56 | NA |
| Educational Administration and Supervision. ↳ Educational Leadership and Administration, General. · Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision. |
41 | NA |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services. ↳ College Student Counseling and Personnel Services. · Student Counseling and Personnel Services, Other. · Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services. |
17 | $38,123 |
| Curriculum and Instruction. | 4 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Criminology. | 118 | $27,074 |
| Political Science and Government. ↳ Political Science and Government, General. |
47 | $29,110 |
| Sociology. ↳ Sociology, General. |
45 | $26,618 |
| Economics. ↳ Econometrics and Quantitative Economics. · Economics, General. |
25 | $40,663 |
| Geography and Cartography. ↳ Geographic Information Science and Cartography. |
23 | NA |
| Anthropology. ↳ Anthropology, General. |
20 | $20,144 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies. ↳ International Relations and Affairs. |
15 | NA |
| Social Sciences, General. | 10 | $28,785 |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication. ↳ Advertising. · Public Relations/Image Management. · Organizational Communication, General. · Communication Management and Strategic Communications. · Health Communication. · Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication. |
126 | $31,267 |
| Journalism. ↳ Broadcast Journalism. · Journalism. · Photojournalism. |
50 | $27,337 |
| Communication, General. ↳ Speech Communication and Rhetoric. |
30 | $30,770 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication. ↳ Radio and Television. · Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia. |
30 | $18,221 |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology, General. | 164 | $27,317 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology. ↳ Research and Experimental Psychology, Other. |
37 | NA |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology. ↳ Counseling Psychology. · School Psychology. |
26 | $40,761 |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Data Analytics. ↳ Business Analytics. · Data Analytics, General. |
167 | NA |
| Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis. | 8 | NA |
| Earth Systems Science. | 8 | NA |
| Biological and Physical Sciences. | 4 | NA |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other. ↳ Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other. |
1 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. ↳ General Studies. |
187 | $29,551 |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness. ↳ Exercise Science and Kinesiology. · Sports Studies. · Sport and Fitness Administration/Management. |
124 | $26,359 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management. ↳ Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management, General. |
53 | $42,006 |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Fine and Studio Arts. ↳ Fine/Studio Arts, General. · Art History, Criticism and Conservation. |
52 | $24,392 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft. ↳ Dramatic/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft, Other. · Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General. |
33 | $19,816 |
| Music. ↳ Music Performance, General. · Music, Other. |
31 | $19,447 |
| Design and Applied Arts. ↳ Graphic Design. · Game and Interactive Media Design. |
21 | NA |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts. ↳ Cinematography and Film/Video Production. |
17 | NA |
| Dance. ↳ Dance, General. |
10 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Social Work. | 144 | $33,636 |
| Public Administration. | 8 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Biology, General. ↳ Biology/Biological Sciences, General. |
111 | $22,896 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology. ↳ Biochemistry. |
15 | NA |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology. ↳ Epidemiology. |
6 | NA |
| Genetics. ↳ Molecular Genetics. |
4 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering. | 44 | $65,193 |
| Civil Engineering. ↳ Civil Engineering, General. |
28 | $50,759 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering. ↳ Electrical and Electronics Engineering. |
23 | $62,199 |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. ↳ Information Technology. · Computer and Information Sciences, General. |
56 | $50,723 |
| Computer Science. | 29 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, General. | 56 | $32,377 |
| Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services. ↳ Floriculture/Floristry Operations and Management. |
6 | NA |
| Food Science and Technology. ↳ Food Technology and Processing. |
6 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Apparel and Textiles. ↳ Apparel and Textiles, General. |
47 | $26,816 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services. ↳ Child Care Provider/Assistant. · Family and Community Services. |
17 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| English Language and Literature, General. | 43 | $20,734 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies. ↳ Creative Writing. · Professional, Technical, Business, and Scientific Writing. |
8 | NA |
| English Language and Literature/Letters, Other. | 3 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Chemistry. ↳ Chemistry, General. |
20 | $24,565 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences. ↳ Geology/Earth Science, General. · Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences, Other. |
19 | NA |
| Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology. ↳ Meteorology. |
5 | NA |
| Physics. ↳ Physics, General. |
4 | NA |
| Physical Sciences, General. | 1 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. ↳ Spanish Language and Literature. |
31 | $25,281 |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. ↳ Chinese Language and Literature. |
10 | NA |
| Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. ↳ Arabic Language and Literature. |
4 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| History. ↳ History, General. |
45 | $25,462 |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians. ↳ Industrial Technology/Technician. · Manufacturing Engineering Technology/Technician. |
38 | $53,704 |
| Engineering-Related Fields. ↳ Engineering/Industrial Management. |
4 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Library Science and Administration. ↳ Library and Information Science. |
30 | $43,683 |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Homeland Security. ↳ Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management. |
18 | NA |
| Security Science and Technology. ↳ Cybersecurity Defense Strategy/Policy. |
7 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Architectural Sciences and Technology. ↳ Architectural Technology/Technician. |
24 | $40,150 |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research. ↳ Environmental Studies. |
21 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Support Services. ↳ Legal Assistant/Paralegal. |
18 | NA |
| Non-Professional Legal Studies. | 3 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics. ↳ Mathematics, General. |
20 | $34,675 |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Area Studies. ↳ Asian Studies/Civilization. · Chinese Studies. · German Studies. |
8 | NA |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies. ↳ Folklore Studies. · Deaf Studies. |
4 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Religion/Religious Studies. | 5 | NA |
Footnotes
*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.