Insurance at Eastern Kentucky University

This program lands solidly in the middle for Kentucky insurance graduates, though first-year earnings of $44,792 trail the national median by roughly $11,000. Based on comparable programs at similar institutions, graduates typically carry about $22,400 in debt—yielding a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.5 that most borrowers should be able to handle on entry-level insurance salaries.

The real concern is where Eastern Kentucky's program sits nationally. At the 5th percentile, it's earning substantially less than peer programs across the country, which typically post median earnings above $55,000. That said, insurance is a profession where advancement often depends more on licensing, sales performance, and relationship-building than where you earned your degree. The 15% earnings growth from year one to year four suggests reasonable progression, though that still leaves four-year graduates at $51,648—below what many insurance programs produce right out of the gate.

For families watching their dollars, the moderate debt estimate and Kentucky's lower cost of living partially offset the earnings gap. But if your student has offers from higher-earning insurance programs elsewhere, particularly those posting national medians around $56,000, those extra first-year dollars compound quickly. This program works best for students committed to staying in Kentucky who understand they'll need to hustle for certifications and sales opportunities to close the national earnings gap.