U.S. median for this major: $50,540.
College Scorecard field of study; 35 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 59% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $24,000.
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 History: 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.
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 | 5.7 years |
| $30–48k | $6,871 | $29,408 | 5.5 years |
| $48–75k | $9,765 | $41,794 | 7.9 years |
| $75–110k | $14,049 | $60,130 | 11.3 years |
| $110k+ | $17,653 | $75,555 | 14.2 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 History graduates 4 years after graduating ($38,836) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in KY (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $5,320 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.
History at Kentucky colleges
Every Kentucky college we cover that reports History 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 | Centre College | $51,094 | $27,000 | $20,781 | 81% |
| 2 | Northern Kentucky University | $48,109 | $30,375 | $8,191 | 52% |
| 3 | Murray State University | $46,739 | $25,500 | $9,096 | 61% |
| 4 | University of Kentucky | $46,111 | $20,500 | $18,851 | 71% |
| 5 | University of Louisville | $45,825 | $23,312 | $17,988 | 61% |
| 6 | Western Kentucky University | $38,836 | $22,965 | $10,990 | 56% |
17 more Kentucky colleges offer History but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for History graduates
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs -0.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Natural Sciences Managers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +8.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Museum Technicians and Conservators
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +3.6% 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
- English$40,616
- Spanish / French / Romance Languages$53,921
- Liberal Arts / General Studies$46,583
- Area Studies—
- Studio Art$45,957
Western Kentucky University History questions
How much do Western Kentucky University History graduates earn?
History graduates of Western Kentucky University earn a median $38,836 four years after graduating and $27,177 one year after. The U.S. median for History graduates across 454 colleges is $50,540.
How much debt do Western Kentucky University History graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for History graduates of Western Kentucky University is $22,965, about 59% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,000.
Is Western Kentucky University a good school for History in Kentucky?
On pay, History graduates of Western Kentucky University earn $38,836 four years out, $7,589 below the median for the same major across 6 Kentucky colleges ($46,425) and $11,704 below the U.S. median ($50,540). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Western Kentucky University rank for History in Kentucky?
Of 6 Kentucky colleges reporting History graduate earnings, Western Kentucky University ranks 6th. The highest is Centre College at $51,094.
What jobs do History graduates get?
A common career is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, with a median wage of $61,520 in the Bowling Green, KY area and $72,040 nationally. Others include natural sciences managers and museum technicians and conservators.
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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 History: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/western-kentucky-university/majors/history (College Scorecard and BLS data).