Economics bachelor's degree outcomes at Western Kentucky University

Bowling Green, KY · Public · Federal field 4506

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings trail the same-degree benchmark.

$14,635 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: 28.7% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling: $12,628 / year
10-year scenario: +3% · Positive payoff
Price evidence: College-wide context only

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+1%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$53,857 → $54,462

—Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

—Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

21Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

19Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

2Recent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$10,990

Institution-wide annual average net price—not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$19,500

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$68,051

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$207/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$10,990Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$24,188Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE93.9%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE55.6%Institution-wide completion rate

WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$53,857Year 1

$68,051Year 4

$54,462Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

3.7% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$5,671

Estimated loan payment$207

19borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$68,051 vs. $82,686

$14,635 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median

WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for—not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.

Managers, All Other$122,930 median wageKY estimate · 2,390 jobs · 11-9199+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 100.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEconomics Teachers, Postsecondary$106,250 median wageKY estimate · 120 jobs · 25-1063+2.4% projected U.S. growth · 1k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeEconomists$71,400 median wageKY estimate · 100 jobs · 19-3011+4.7% projected U.S. growth · 1.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeSocial Science Research Assistants$66,390 median wageKY estimate · 1,190 jobs · 19-4061+5.0% projected U.S. growth · 4.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSurvey Researchers$69,460 median wageU.S. estimate · 8,290 jobs · 19-3022-4.8% projected U.S. growth · 0.6k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeStatisticians$112,520 median wageKY estimate · 80 jobs · 15-2041+11.0% projected U.S. growth · 1.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeData Scientists$91,760 median wageKY estimate · 1,540 jobs · 15-2051+34.6% projected U.S. growth · 24.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$61,560 median wageKY estimate · 12,780 jobs · 25-2031-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMarket Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$61,480 median wageKY estimate · 6,290 jobs · 13-1161+7.0% projected U.S. growth · 82k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree

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