Apparel and Textiles at University of Kentucky

University of Kentucky's apparel and textiles program produces outcomes that lag both national and state expectations, with graduates earning $34,315 their first year—below the national median of $36,945 and trailing Western Kentucky's program by over $2,000. Among Kentucky's two programs in this field, UK ranks in just the 40th percentile for earnings, meaning the state's only alternative delivers noticeably better results.

The debt picture compounds this concern. At $23,000, UK graduates carry slightly less than the national median, but it's still the second-highest debt load for this major in Kentucky. More troubling is that this debt sits at the 71st percentile nationally—meaning graduates owe more than about three-quarters of their peers at other apparel programs across the country. The modest 21% earnings growth from year one to year four helps, pushing mid-career earnings to $41,502, but doesn't fundamentally change the value equation.

For Kentucky families weighing in-state options, Western Kentucky appears to offer better earnings with comparable debt. The 0.67 debt-to-earnings ratio at UK is manageable but unremarkable, and with the program performing below both state and national averages, parents should seriously consider whether their student has explored alternative fashion-related programs or whether Western Kentucky might deliver better returns on a similar investment.