U.S. median for this major: $54,283.
College Scorecard field of study; 50 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 47% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $25,000.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $24,188. College Scorecard.
Western Kentucky University Communications: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Communications nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses Western Kentucky University's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $7,087 | $30,332 | 1.8 years |
| $30–48k | $6,871 | $29,408 | 1.7 years |
| $48–75k | $9,765 | $41,794 | 2.5 years |
| $75–110k | $14,049 | $60,130 | 3.6 years |
| $110k+ | $17,653 | $75,555 | 4.5 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (42% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Communications graduates 4 years after graduating ($50,392) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in KY (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $16,876 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Communications at Kentucky colleges
Every Kentucky college we cover that reports Communications graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thomas More University | $58,479 | — | $21,835 | 41% |
| 2 | University of Kentucky | $55,653 | $23,875 | $18,851 | 71% |
| 3 | University of Louisville | $55,636 | $23,375 | $17,988 | 61% |
| 4 | Northern Kentucky University | $53,082 | $25,000 | $8,191 | 52% |
| 5 | Georgetown College | $51,395 | $26,750 | $14,095 | 49% |
| 6 | Bellarmine University | $50,665 | $25,853 | $21,499 | 64% |
| 7 | Western Kentucky University | $50,392 | $23,500 | $10,990 | 56% |
| 8 | Morehead State University | $44,149 | $24,857 | $9,793 | 52% |
| 9 | Berea College | $41,723 | $5,801 | $6,106 | 58% |
| 10 | University of the Cumberlands | $40,699 | $19,331 | $14,107 | 50% |
| 11 | University of Pikeville | $39,943 | — | $20,311 | 42% |
| 12 | Lindsey Wilson College | $39,686 | $26,769 | $15,070 | 44% |
9 more Kentucky colleges offer Communications but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Communications graduates
Public relations specialist
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +1.8% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Fundraisers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +5.5% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Editors
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs -1.1% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at Western Kentucky University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Western Kentucky University
- Acceptance rate: 94% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 56% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $43,889
- Full cost breakdown · all 80 majors · overview
Related majors at Western Kentucky University
- Public Relations and Advertising$53,839
- Journalism$47,661
- Broadcasting / Digital Media$41,791
Western Kentucky University Communications questions
How much do Western Kentucky University Communications graduates earn?
Communications graduates of Western Kentucky University earn a median $50,392 four years after graduating and $33,955 one year after. The U.S. median for Communications graduates across 639 colleges is $54,283.
How much debt do Western Kentucky University Communications graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Communications graduates of Western Kentucky University is $23,500, about 47% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,000.
Is Western Kentucky University a good school for Communications in Kentucky?
On pay, Communications graduates of Western Kentucky University earn $50,392 four years out, $136 below the median for the same major across 12 Kentucky colleges ($50,528) and $3,891 below the U.S. median ($54,283). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Western Kentucky University rank for Communications in Kentucky?
Of 12 Kentucky colleges reporting Communications graduate earnings, Western Kentucky University ranks 7th. The highest is Thomas More University at $58,479.
What jobs do Communications graduates get?
A common career is public relations specialist, with a median wage of $52,580 in the Bowling Green, KY area and $74,750 nationally. Others include fundraisers and editors.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Western Kentucky University Communications: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/western-kentucky-university/majors/communications (College Scorecard and BLS data).