Western Kentucky University, or WKU, is a public university in Bowling Green, Kentucky, United States. It was founded in 1906 by the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The campus is spread across an area of 200 acres. The university offers a wide variety of degrees and programs in diverse areas of study. WKU is organized into the following academic divisions:
The men's sports teams of WKU are nicknamed the Hilltoppers and the women's sports teams are known as the Lady Toppers. Their official mascot is the Big Red.

The most common majors at the school are in media.
Western Kentucky University does not have an open admissions system. Not everyone who applies is accepted. Only 25% of students scored 440 or lower in 2007 on the verbal SAT test. Math SAT scores at the school centered around 410 to 520, but ranged both higher and lower.
A tenure system is one way Western Kentucky University works to keep a high-quality staff.
In 2007, 19,258 students were enrolled in the school.
Student dorms or apartments are common at Western Kentucky University. The school offers students meal plans. Western Kentucky University student athletes compete in Sun Belt Conference competitions.
The school reports its educational mission is:
"Western Kentucky University prepares students to be productive, engaged leaders in a global society.
It provides service and lifelong learning opportunities for its constituents. WKU is responsible
for stewarding a high quality of life throughout its region."
More complete details are provided below.
Western Kentucky University
1906 College Heights Blvd
Bowling Green, KY 42101-1000
General Phone: (270) 745-0111
http://www.wku.edu
| General Category | Degrees | Most Common Majors [see all] |
|---|---|---|
| Education And Teaching | 743 | elementary school teaching, special ed, physical education teaching, middle school teaching, educational admin and supervision, school counseling, family/home economics teaching, education of speech impaired, ... |
| Liberal Arts | 733 | general studies, sociology, library science, English, geography, social services, political science, English language and literature, ... |
| Business And Management | 455 | business management, marketing, business, accounting, finance, financial planning, MIS, managerial economics |
| Media | 311 | radio and television, organizational communications, communication studies, advertising, public relations, journalism, photojournalism |
| Nursing And Emergency Medicine | 198 | registered nursing, EMT paramedic, nurse practitioner |
| Therapy And Counseling | 158 | psychology, counseling psychology, community health services, school psychology |
| Science | 123 | biology, chemistry, physics, meteorology, biochemistry, geology, molecular genetics |
| Medical Support And Technology | 99 | audiology and speech pathology, dental hygienist, clinical lab tech |
| Agricultural Science And Management | 91 | agriculture, agricultural production |
| Family And Social Work | 81 | social work, public administration |
| Computer Science And Engineering | 61 | computer and info science, information technology, data processing tech |
| Engineering Technician | 60 | industrial tech, civil engineering tech, environmental engineering tech, electromechanical tech |
| Engineering | 55 | civil engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering |
| Medicine | 51 | public health |
| Hospitality | 49 | hospitality management |
| Medical Administration | 48 | health care administration, medical records tech, community health |
| Fine Arts | 43 | fine arts |
| Construction Trades | 42 | apparel and textiles |
| Nutrition And Exercise Therapy | 37 | parks and recreation management |
| Mathematics | 24 | mathematics |
| Music | 20 | music, various music studies |
| Religion And Philosophy | 18 | religion, philosophy |
| Law | 17 | legal assistant |
| Office And Administration | 17 | executive secretary |
| Art Studies | 16 | visual and performing arts |
| Drama And Performing Arts | 6 | drama |
| Real Estate And Construction Management | 1 | real estate |
Number of programs and degrees for Western Kentucky University in 2007:
| Degree Level | Total Awarded | Number of Programs |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 2,383 | 73 |
| Master's degree | 811 | 36 |
| Associate's degree | 258 | 14 |
| Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 64 | 6 |
| Postbaccalaureate certificate | 30 | 8 |
| Post-master's certificate | 11 | 2 |
In 2007, Western Kentucky University had a total enrollment of 19,258 students (16,044 full-time equivalent).
Students in the Freshman Class:
| Group | Percent |
|---|---|
| Men | 43% |
| Women | 57% |
| Full-Time | 97% |
| Part-Time | 3% |
Students By Class:
| Group | Percent |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 81% |
| Graduate | 19% |
| Race | Percent |
|---|---|
| White | 84% |
| Black | 9% |
| Hispanic | 1% |
| Asian | 1% |
| American Indian | 0% |
| Unknown | 2% |
| (Foreign Students) | 3% |
Students by Age:
| Age | Percent |
|---|---|
| Under 18 | 4% |
| 18-19 | 26% |
| 20-21 | 24% |
| 22-24 | 19% |
| 25-29 | 11% |
| 30-34 | 6% |
| 35-39 | 4% |
| 40-49 | 5% |
| 50-64 | 2% |
| 65+ | 0% |
Incoming (Freshman) Students by Place of Residence:
(From available data sampling)
| Residence | Percent |
|---|---|
| Kentucky | 83% |
| Tennessee | 7% |
| Indiana | 4% |
| Georgia | 1% |
| Ohio | 1% |
| Illinois | 1% |
| (International Students) | 1% |
Retention Rates (2007):
| Group | Returning From Previous Year |
|---|---|
| Full-Time | 73 % |
| Part-Time | 47 % |
Western Kentucky University offers campus housing for 4,957 of its 16,044 (full-time) students. Freshmen are required to live on campus.
(Please refer to our profile of Bowling Green, Kentucky for details about the area surrounding the campus. Also see our list of other Kentucky Colleges).
The school offers students a meal plan with 19 meals per week.
Acceptances:
| Group | Applicants | Accepted | Percent Accepted | Enrolled | Percent of Accepted Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 6,857 | 6,564 | 96% | 3,121 | 48% |
| Men | 2,945 | 2,822 | 96% | 1,335 | 47% |
| Women | 3,912 | 3,742 | 96% | 1,786 | 48% |
Standardized Test Scores:
| Test | 25th Percentile | 75th Percetile |
|---|---|---|
| SAT Verbal | 440 | 540 |
| SAT Math | 410 | 520 |
| ACT Verbal | 18 | 25 |
| ACT Math | 17 | 24 |
| ACT Composite | 18 | 24 |
Application Requirements:
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| GPA | recommended |
| Class Rank | not required |
| High School Record | required |
| College Prep Program | recommended |
| Recommendations | not required |
| Formal Demonstration of Competence | not required |
| Standardized Tests (SAT and/or ACT) | required |
| Percent of Applicants Submitting SAT | 4% |
| Percent of Applicants Submitting ACT | 91% |
| TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) | required |
| Other Standardized Tests | not required |
Expenses and Financial Aid:
| Expense | Amount |
|---|---|
| In-state tuition and fees | $ 6,416 |
| Out-of-state tuition and fees | $ 15,470 |
| Room and board | $ 5,694 |
| Room charge | $ 3,350 |
| Board (meal plan) charge | $ 2,344 |
| Books and supplies | $ 800 |
| Other expenses | $ 1,600 |
Financial Aid:
Western Kentucky University participates in Federal Title IV financial aid programs. (The school's OPE ID is 200200)
Western Kentucky University has a tenure system for faculty.
Tenure Status of Faculty (2007):
| Full-Time Faculty Level | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Tenured | 201 | 106 |
| Non-tenured, but on tenure track | 127 | 110 |
| Non-tenured and not on tenure track | 70 | 115 |
Salaries for full-time faculty:
Full-Time Faculty (2007):
| Full-Time Faculty Level | Contract Length | Number Men | Avg Salary Men | Number Women | Avg Salary Women |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professor | calendar year | 14 | $105,551 | 8 | $100,419 |
| Associate professor | calendar year | 9 | $98,235 | 8 | $84,204 |
| Assistant professor | calendar year | 1 | * | 0 | * |
| Instructor | calendar year | 2 | * | 3 | $60,780 |
| All faculty total | calendar year | 26 | $97,924 | 19 | $87,333 |
*: salaries are not displayed where there are fewer than 3 professors in the category.
Full-Time Faculty (2007):
| Full-Time Faculty Level | Contract Length | Number Men | Avg Salary Men | Number Women | Avg Salary Women |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professor | academic year | 89 | $82,944 | 33 | $77,092 |
| Associate professor | academic year | 94 | $66,614 | 60 | $60,609 |
| Assistant professor | academic year | 132 | $54,842 | 118 | $51,731 |
| Instructor | academic year | 41 | $39,870 | 91 | $39,037 |
| No academic rank | academic year | 8 | $50,949 | 8 | $45,621 |
| All faculty total | academic year | 364 | $62,981 | 310 | $52,265 |
*: salaries are not displayed where there are fewer than 3 professors in the category.
Athletic Conferences:
| Sport | Conference |
|---|---|
| Football | Sun Belt Conference |
| Basketball | Sun Belt Conference |
| Baseball | Sun Belt Conference |
| Track | Sun Belt Conference |
Students on Athletic Scholarships (2007):
| Sport | Men | Women | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 44 | 39 | 83 |
| Baseball | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| Football | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| Track | 5 | 4 | 9 |
| Basketball | 5 | 3 | 8 |
| All Other Sports | 16 | 32 | 48 |
AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT
Agricultural Production Operations, General
Agriculture, General
ART STUDIES
Visual and Performing Arts, General
BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT
Accounting
Business Administration and Management, General
Business/Commerce, General
Business/Managerial Economics
Finance, General
Financial Planning and Services
Management Information Systems, General
Marketing/Marketing Management, General
COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
Computer and Information Sciences, General
Data Processing and Data Processing Technology/Technician
Information Technology
CONSTRUCTION TRADES
Apparel and Textiles, General
DRAMA AND PERFORMING ARTS
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General
EDUCATION AND TEACHING
Art Teacher Education
Business Teacher Education
College Student Counseling and Personnel Services
Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
Early Childhood Education and Teaching
Education, General
Education/Teaching Individuals - Speech or Language Impairments
Educational Administration and Supervision, Other
Educational/Instructional Media Design
Elementary Education and Teaching
Family and Consumer Sciences/Home Economics Teacher Education
Health Teacher Education
Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching
Music Teacher Education
Physical Education Teaching and Coaching
Reading Teacher Education
Secondary Education and Teaching
Special Education and Teaching, General
Technical Teacher Education
Trade and Industrial Teacher Education
ENGINEERING
Civil Engineering, General
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN
Civil Engineering Technology/Technician
Electromechanical Technology/Electromechanical Engineering Tech
Environmental Engineering Technology/Environmental Technology
Industrial Technology/Technician
FAMILY AND SOCIAL WORK
Public Administration
Social Work
FINE ARTS
Fine/Studio Arts, General
HOSPITALITY
Hospitality Administration/Management, General
LIBERAL ARTS
Anthropology
Area, Ethnic, Cultural, and Gender Studies, Other
Cartography
Economics, General
English Language and Literature, General
English Language and Literature/Letters, Other
French Language and Literature
General Studies
Geography
German Language and Literature
History, General
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
Library Science/Librarianship
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
Near and Middle Eastern Studies
Political Science and Government, General
Social Sciences, General
Sociology
Spanish Language and Literature
Women's Studies
MATHEMATICS
Mathematics, General
MEDIA
Advertising
Communication Studies/Speech Communication and Rhetoric
Journalism
Organizational Communication, General
Photojournalism
Public Relations/Image Management
Radio and Television
MEDICAL ADMINISTRATION
Community Health and Preventive Medicine
Health Information/Medical Records Technology/Technician
Health/Health Care Administration/Management
MEDICAL SUPPORT AND TECHNOLOGY
Audiology/Audiologist and Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist
Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology/Technologist
Dental Hygiene/Hygienist
MEDICINE
Public Health, General (MPH, DPH)
MUSIC
Music, General
Music, Other
NURSING AND EMERGENCY MEDICINE
Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic)
Family Practice Nurse/Nurse Practitioner
Nursing/Registered Nurse (RN, ASN, BSN, MSN)
NUTRITION AND EXERCISE THERAPY
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management
OFFICE AND ADMINISTRATION
Executive Assistant/Executive Secretary
REAL ESTATE AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
Real Estate
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
Philosophy
Religion/Religious Studies
SCIENCE
Biochemistry
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
Chemistry, General
Geology/Earth Science, General
Meteorology
Molecular Genetics
Physics, General
THERAPY AND COUNSELING
Community Health Services/Liaison/Counseling
Counseling Psychology
Psychology, General
School Psychology
(Details are provided further down on this page.)
What Sets Western Kentucky University Apart:
| Category | Trophy | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of degree programs (vs. all colleges) | Top 3% | ![]() ![]() |
| Number of students (vs. all colleges) | Top 3% | ![]() ![]() |
| % of degrees in media (vs. all colleges) | Top 11% | ![]() |
| % of degrees in education and teaching (vs. colleges of similar size) | Top 13% | ![]() |
| % of full-time faculty on tenure track (vs. all colleges) | Top 16% | ![]() |
| Degrees concentrated in limited number of degree programs (vs. all colleges) | Top 17% | ![]() |
| Dorm rooms per full-time student (vs. all colleges) | Top 19% | ![]() |
Notable:
Accepts some high school credits
Grants credits for AP courses
Offers distance learning
Career counseling
Career services
Student employment services
On-campus day care
Remedial classes for students
Offers remedial adult education
Option to study abroad
Offers part-time study
On-campus library
Offers campus housing
Offers a board (meal) plan
Tenure system for quality teaching
Has ROTC (army, air force)
Offers athletic scholarships
NCAA athletic conference member
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(Based on an automated mapping of degrees popular at Western Kentucky University with government-defined occupation categories)
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