Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods at Western Kentucky University

Western Kentucky's Management Sciences program looks like a reasonable option within Kentucky—it matches the state median—but the small sample size (under 30 graduates) makes it hard to draw firm conclusions. What's more telling is the national comparison: graduates here earn about $12,000 less annually than the typical grad from this type of program, landing in just the 21st percentile nationally. That gap matters when you consider that management sciences degrees at other schools often lead to data analyst, operations, or consulting roles with stronger starting salaries.

The debt load of $21,500 is actually better than the national median for this degree, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43 that's manageable by most standards. Within Kentucky's limited landscape (only three schools offer this program), the outcomes here are middle-of-the-pack. But the broader concern is whether a Kentucky management sciences degree travels well beyond the state's borders, given how far below national benchmarks these earnings fall.

With such a tiny graduating class, these numbers could swing dramatically year to year based on just a few students' outcomes. If your child is considering this path, the real question isn't just about this specific program—it's whether they'd be better served by a more established quantitative program at a school with stronger employer pipelines, even if it means going out of state.