by our College Data Analytics TeamWe've pulled together some essential information you should know about the program, including how many students graduate each year, the ethnic diversity of these students, average starting salaries, and more. Also, learn how WKU ranks among other schools offering degrees in nursing.
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The bachelor's program at WKU was ranked #441 on College Factual's Best Schools for nursing list. It is also ranked #7 in Kentucky.
During the 2020-2021 academic year, Western Kentucky University handed out 185 bachelor's degrees in nursing. This is a decrease of 16% over the previous year when 220 degrees were handed out.
In 2021, 11 students received their master’s degree in nursing from WKU. This makes it the #452 most popular school for nursing master’s degree candidates in the country.
In addition, 24 students received their doctoral degrees in nursing in 2021, making the school the #131 most popular school in the United States for this category of students.
The median salary of nursing students who receive their bachelor's degree at WKU is $56,172. This is less than $62,880, which is the national median of all nursing majors in the nation who earn bachelor's degrees.
Nursing majors graduating with a master's degree from WKU make a median salary of $76,015 a year. This is less than what their typical peers from other schools make. Their median salary is $94,353.
While getting their bachelor's degree at WKU, nursing students borrow a median amount of $26,330 in student loans. This is not too bad considering that the median debt load of all nursing bachelor's degree recipients across the country is $27,000.
The typical student loan payment of a bachelor's degree student from the nursing program at WKU is $285 per month.
Take a look at the following statistics related to the make-up of the nursing majors at Western Kentucky University.
For the most recent academic year available, 9% of nursing associate's degrees went to men and 91% went to women.
The majority of the students with this major are white. About 81% of 2021 graduates were in this category.
The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from Western Kentucky University with a associate's in nursing.
| Ethnic Background | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Asian | 1 |
| Black or African American | 11 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1 |
| White | 82 |
| Non-Resident Aliens | 1 |
| Other Races | 5 |
For the most recent academic year available, 16% of nursing bachelor's degrees went to men and 84% went to women.
The majority of the students with this major are white. About 90% of 2021 graduates were in this category.
The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from Western Kentucky University with a bachelor's in nursing.
| Ethnic Background | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Asian | 0 |
| Black or African American | 6 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 7 |
| White | 166 |
| Non-Resident Aliens | 0 |
| Other Races | 6 |
During the 2020-2021 academic year, 11 students graduated with a bachelor's degree in nursing from WKU. About 9% were men and 91% were women.
The majority of master's degree recipients in this major at WKU are white. In the most recent graduating class for which data is available, 91% of students fell into this category.
The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from Western Kentucky University with a master's in nursing.
| Ethnic Background | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Asian | 0 |
| Black or African American | 0 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1 |
| White | 10 |
| Non-Resident Aliens | 0 |
| Other Races | 0 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Health & Medical Administrative Services | 104 |
| Communication Sciences | 94 |
| Health Sciences & Services | 68 |
| Public Health | 57 |
| Dental Support Services | 32 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
