Best Bachelor's Degree Programs at Western Kentucky University by ROI
Every Bachelor's Degree major at Western Kentucky University ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
47
Majors with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$129,835
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$23,520
Cost of attendance
| # | Major | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
+$609,860 | $77,197 | $23,520 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
+$433,080 | $68,358 | $23,520 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Mechanical Engineering.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
+$366,470 | $66,850 | $23,520 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Construction Engineering Technologies.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
+$343,070 | $65,815 | $23,520 | $29,000 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Architectural Sciences and Technology.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
+$222,948 | $59,662 | $23,520 | $26,823 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Civil Engineering.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
+$184,945 | $57,443 | $23,520 | $22,100 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
+$142,554 | $55,609 | $23,520 | $26,330 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Economics.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
+$133,335 | $54,687 | $23,520 | $19,500 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Accounting and Related Services.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
+$119,010 | $54,342 | $23,520 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Computer and Information Sciences, General.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
+$29,410 | $49,997 | $23,520 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Chemistry.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
+$12,080 | $47,308 | $23,520 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
+$11,235 | $48,582 | $23,520 | $19,500 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Marketing.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
-$1,007 | $48,223 | $23,520 | $23,250 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
Finance and Financial Management Services.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
-$22,345 | $46,903 | $23,520 | $19,500 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Management Information Systems and Services.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
-$22,760 | $45,566 | $23,520 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
-$27,060 | $45,351 | $23,520 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
-$112,738 | $42,633 | $23,520 | $23,199 | Full ROI → |
| 18 |
Business Administration, Management and Operations.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
-$127,642 | $42,031 | $23,520 | $25,320 | Full ROI → |
| 19 |
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
-$160,790 | $40,352 | $23,520 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 20 |
Health and Medical Administrative Services.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
-$199,610 | $38,546 | $23,520 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 21 |
Public Health.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
-$205,743 | $38,006 | $23,520 | $23,543 | Full ROI → |
| 22 |
Health and Physical Education/Fitness.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
-$207,460 | $37,991 | $23,520 | $24,593 | Full ROI → |
| 23 |
Music.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
-$227,327 | $36,979 | $23,520 | $24,317 | Full ROI → |
| 24 |
Journalism.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
-$240,185 | $36,416 | $23,520 | $25,500 | Full ROI → |
| 25 |
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
-$241,720 | $36,373 | $23,520 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 26 |
Geography and Cartography.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
-$246,960 | $34,356 | $23,520 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 27 |
Mathematics.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
-$247,500 | $34,329 | $23,520 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 28 |
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
-$254,120 | $33,998 | $23,520 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 29 |
Communication and Media Studies.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
-$255,505 | $35,515 | $23,520 | $23,500 | Full ROI → |
| 30 |
Political Science and Government.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
-$260,935 | $35,041 | $23,520 | $20,500 | Full ROI → |
| 31 |
Agriculture, General.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
-$277,955 | $34,403 | $23,520 | $23,656 | Full ROI → |
| 32 |
Sociology.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
-$297,574 | $33,616 | $23,520 | $26,529 | Full ROI → |
| 33 |
Social Sciences, General.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
-$298,660 | $31,771 | $23,520 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 34 |
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
-$299,246 | $33,792 | $23,520 | $30,375 | Full ROI → |
| 35 |
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
-$302,770 | $33,253 | $23,520 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 36 |
Hospitality Administration/Management.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
-$303,372 | $33,215 | $23,520 | $24,883 | Full ROI → |
| 37 |
History.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
-$304,662 | $33,021 | $23,520 | $22,965 | Full ROI → |
| 38 |
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
-$307,690 | $33,007 | $23,520 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 39 |
Criminology.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
-$312,220 | $32,848 | $23,520 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 40 |
Social Work.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
-$316,100 | $32,654 | $23,520 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 41 |
Anthropology.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
-$328,640 | $30,272 | $23,520 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 42 |
Biology, General.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
-$347,915 | $30,827 | $23,520 | $22,500 | Full ROI → |
| 43 |
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
-$372,551 | $30,020 | $23,520 | $28,794 | Full ROI → |
| 44 |
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
-$381,024 | $29,603 | $23,520 | $28,892 | Full ROI → |
| 45 |
Fine and Studio Arts.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
-$395,310 | $28,761 | $23,520 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 46 |
Psychology, General.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
-$399,802 | $28,391 | $23,520 | $24,846 | Full ROI → |
| 47 |
English Language and Literature, General.
Grad rate: 52.5% |
-$403,363 | $28,104 | $23,520 | $23,232 | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.