Finance and Financial Management Services at Eastern Kentucky University

The small sample size here demands caution, but the pattern is troubling: Eastern Kentucky's finance graduates earn $41,328 in their first year—about $12,000 less than the state median and $12,000 less than what you'd see at Kentucky. That places them in just the 5th percentile nationally among finance programs. While the debt load of $16,400 is relatively modest compared to national averages, it doesn't compensate for starting salaries that lag significantly behind what other Kentucky schools deliver. Even Murray State, another regional option, produces graduates earning $2,000 more right out of the gate.

The 40th percentile ranking within Kentucky tells a more nuanced story than the national comparison—there are clearly weaker programs in the state. But when University of Kentucky finance grads earn 41% more in year one, that's not a small gap to dismiss. Finance is particularly credential-sensitive, and the lower earnings suggest this program may not open the same doors to banking, corporate finance, or analyst roles that stronger regional programs do.

Given the small sample, these numbers could shift year to year. But if you're borrowing even modest amounts for a finance degree, starting at $41,000 creates a tighter margin for building wealth early in your career. Unless there are compelling personal reasons to attend EKU specifically, Kentucky students have multiple in-state options with demonstrably better salary outcomes in this field.