by our College Data Analytics TeamWe've pulled together some essential information you should know about the program, including how many students graduate each year, the ethnic diversity of these students, average starting salaries, and more. Also, learn how WKU ranks among other schools offering degrees in social work.
Go directly to any of the following sections:
The bachelor's program at WKU was ranked #191 on College Factual's Best Schools for social work list. It is also ranked #4 in Kentucky.
During the 2020-2021 academic year, Western Kentucky University handed out 122 bachelor's degrees in social work. This is an increase of 65% over the previous year when 74 degrees were handed out.
In 2021, 53 students received their master’s degree in social work from WKU. This makes it the #174 most popular school for social work master’s degree candidates in the country.
Social Work majors who earn their bachelor's degree from WKU go on to jobs where they make a median salary of $31,481 a year. This is less than $31,866, which is the national median of all social work majors in the nation who earn bachelor's degrees.
Graduates of the master's social work program at WKU make a median salary of $37,187. This is less than what their typical peers from other schools make. Their median salary is $44,064.
While getting their bachelor's degree at WKU, social work students borrow a median amount of $26,000 in student loans. This is not too bad considering that the median debt load of all social work bachelor's degree recipients across the country is $27,000.
Take a look at the following statistics related to the make-up of the social work majors at Western Kentucky University.
For the most recent academic year available, 11% of social work bachelor's degrees went to men and 89% went to women.
The majority of bachelor's degree recipients in this major at WKU are white. In the most recent graduating class for which data is available, 73% of students fell into this category.
The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from Western Kentucky University with a bachelor's in social work.
| Ethnic Background | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Asian | 0 |
| Black or African American | 22 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 8 |
| White | 89 |
| Non-Resident Aliens | 0 |
| Other Races | 3 |
In the 2020-2021 academic year, 53 students earned a master's degree in social work from WKU. About 91% of these graduates were women and the other 9% were men.
The majority of master's degree recipients in this major at WKU are white. In the most recent graduating class for which data is available, 83% of students fell into this category.
The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from Western Kentucky University with a master's in social work.
| Ethnic Background | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Asian | 1 |
| Black or African American | 4 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1 |
| White | 44 |
| Non-Resident Aliens | 1 |
| Other Races | 2 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
