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 social work.
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The bachelor's program at WKU was ranked #181 on College Factual's Best Schools for social work list. It is also ranked #4 in Kentucky.
| Ranking Type | Rank |
|---|---|
| Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools | 144 |
| Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools | 148 |
| Best Social Work Graduate Degree Schools | 149 |
| Best Social Work Schools | 181 |
During the 2021-2022 academic year, Western Kentucky University handed out 87 bachelor's degrees in social work. This is a decrease of 29% over the previous year when 122 degrees were handed out.
In 2022, 53 students received their master’s degree in social work from WKU. This makes it the #174 most popular school for social work master’s degree candidates in the country.
Social Work majors who earn their bachelor's degree from WKU go on to jobs where they make a median salary of $34,748 a year. Unfortunately, this is lower than the national average of $37,334 for all social work students.
While getting their bachelor's degree at WKU, social work students borrow a median amount of $23,761 in student loans. This is higher than the the typical median of $18,722 for all social work majors across the country.
In 2022-2023, the average part-time undergraduate tuition at WKU was $1,125 per credit hour for out-of-state students. The average for in-state students was $477 per credit hour. The following table shows the average full-time tuition and fees for undergraduates.
| 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 87 students who earned a bachelor's degree in Social Work from WKU in 2021-2022, 10% were men and 90% 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 bachelor's in social work.
| Ethnic Background | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Asian | 0 |
| Black or African American | 17 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1 |
| White | 66 |
| Non-Resident Aliens | 0 |
| Other Races | 3 |
WKU does not offer an online option for its social work 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.
Graduates of the master's social work program at WKU make a median salary of $44,263. This is less than what their typical peers from other schools make. Their median salary is $51,347.
During the 2021-2022 academic year, 49 social work majors earned their master's degree from WKU. Of these graduates, 14% were men and 86% 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, 84% 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 social work.
| Ethnic Background | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Asian | 0 |
| Black or African American | 3 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 3 |
| White | 41 |
| Non-Resident Aliens | 0 |
| Other Races | 2 |
Take a look at the following statistics related to the make-up of the social work majors at Western Kentucky University.
More about our data sources and methodologies.