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 #483 on College Factual's Best Schools for nursing list. It is also ranked #5 in Kentucky.
During the 2021-2022 academic year, Western Kentucky University handed out 170 bachelor's degrees in nursing. This is a decrease of 8% over the previous year when 185 degrees were handed out.
In 2022, 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 2022, 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 $68,294. This is less than $74,888, which is the national median of all nursing majors in the nation who earn bachelor's degrees.
While getting their bachelor's degree at WKU, nursing students borrow a median amount of $24,506 in student loans. This is higher than the the typical median of $20,508 for all nursing majors across the country.
The typical student loan payment of a bachelor's degree student from the nursing program at WKU is $285 per month.
Out-of-state part-time undergraduates at WKU paid an average of $1,125 per credit hour in 2022-2023. The average for in-state students was $477 per credit hour. The average full-time tuition and fees for undergraduates are shown in the table below.
| In State | Out of State | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $11,436 | $27,000 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| On Campus Room and Board | $12,043 | $12,043 |
| On Campus Other Expenses | $2,409 | $2,409 |
Learn more about WKU tuition and fees.
Of the 170 students who earned a bachelor's degree in Nursing from WKU in 2021-2022, 11% were men and 89% were women.
The majority of bachelor's degree recipients in this major at WKU are white. In the most recent graduating class for which data is available, 90% 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 bachelor's in nursing.
| Ethnic Background | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Asian | 4 |
| Black or African American | 0 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 4 |
| White | 153 |
| Non-Resident Aliens | 3 |
| Other Races | 6 |
WKU does not offer an online option for its nursing bachelor’s degree program at this time. To see if the school offers distance learning options in other areas, visit the WKU Online Learning page.
Nursing majors graduating with a master's degree from WKU make a median salary of $103,023 a year. This is less than what their typical peers from other schools make. Their median salary is $106,154.
During the 2021-2022 academic year, 16 nursing majors earned their master's degree from WKU. Of these graduates, 25% were men and 75% were women.
The majority of the students with this major are white. About 88% of 2022 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 master's in nursing.
| Ethnic Background | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Asian | 0 |
| Black or African American | 1 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1 |
| White | 14 |
| Non-Resident Aliens | 0 |
| Other Races | 0 |
Of the 111 students who graduated with a Associate’s in nursing from WKU in 2022, 5% were men and 95% were women.
The majority of the students with this major are white. About 76% of 2022 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 | 0 |
| Black or African American | 13 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 6 |
| White | 84 |
| Non-Resident Aliens | 0 |
| Other Races | 8 |
Take a look at the following statistics related to the make-up of the nursing majors at Western Kentucky University.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Communication Sciences | 115 |
| Health & Medical Administrative Services | 111 |
| Public Health | 61 |
| Health Sciences & Services | 53 |
| Dental Support Services | 29 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.