# Western Kentucky University: Hospitality Management (bachelor's)

Bowling Green, KY. IPEDS 157951, CIP 52.09. Page: https://educationguide.com/colleges/western-kentucky-university/majors/hospitality-management

## Graduate outcomes
- Median earnings 1 year after graduating: $29,492
- Median earnings 4 years after graduating: $50,712 (U.S. median for this major: $56,198 across 130 colleges)
- Median federal loan debt: $24,883 (U.S. median $23,703)
- Rank in KY: 2 of 2 colleges by 4-year earnings
- Versus the U.S. median: -$5,486

## Cost to finish and years to pay back (EducationGuide calculation)
School-wide net price x 4.28 years (average time graduates took). Earnings gain = $50,712 minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in KY (Census ACS 2020-2024).

| 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 | 2.4 years |
| 75-110k | $14,049 | $60,130 | 3.5 years |
| 110k+ | $17,653 | $75,555 | 4.4 years |

Method: https://educationguide.com/how-we-score#value

## Hospitality Management at KY colleges
| College | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Kentucky | $52,477 | $21,610 | $18,851 | 71% |
| Western Kentucky University | $50,712 | $24,883 | $10,990 | 56% |

## Careers
- Lodging manager (SOC 11-9080): median wage not reported Bowling Green, KY, $59,440 KY, $69,250 U.S.; U.S. jobs 3.8% by 2035
- Facilities Managers (SOC 11-3013): median wage $112,770 Bowling Green, KY, $100,720 KY, $106,660 U.S.; U.S. jobs 4.6% by 2035
- Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners (SOC 13-1121): median wage $49,500 Bowling Green, KY, $49,280 KY, $61,160 U.S.; U.S. jobs 5.8% by 2035

## Sources and years
- Earnings (4 yr): Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars; debt: NSLDS pooled AY2018-19, AY2019-20 cohort

Free to reuse with attribution: cite "EducationGuide.com" with a link to the page URL. Most figures are U.S. government data (public domain); loan default rates and athletics come from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By 1.0, attribution required) and founding years from Wikidata (CC0).