Marketing at Western Kentucky University

Western Kentucky's marketing program starts graduates below the pack—both nationally and within Kentucky—but shows promising momentum with 26% earnings growth over four years. That $42,478 starting salary trails not just UK and Louisville, but also regional competitors like Murray State. Among Kentucky's marketing programs, this lands right at the median (40th percentile), which means half the state's programs deliver better immediate outcomes.

The debt picture offers a small silver lining: at $23,250, graduates borrow exactly the state median and slightly less than the national average. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55, most students should manage repayment without serious strain. The real question is whether that four-year earnings trajectory—climbing to $53,494—continues upward or plateaus. If it's the former, this becomes a solid mid-tier option. If it's the latter, you're looking at a decade of playing catch-up with peers from higher-ranked programs.

For families watching college costs, this is a reasonable choice if your child needs WKU's accessibility (97% admission rate) and can't secure admission to UK or Louisville. Just understand you're trading initial market positioning for manageable debt and hoping the earnings growth continues beyond year four.