Liberal Arts & Humanities at Western Kentucky University

Bowling Green, KY · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
28 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
29
Optimistic
28
Base Case
34
Pessimistic
Earnings $35,746/yr (-4% vs median)
AI Risk Low (0% exposed)
Job Market Medium (13,500 openings/yr)
ROI 10.0x earnings multiple (4.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #296 of 424 Liberal Arts and Sciences programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Liberal Arts & Humanities graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $456K $456K $431K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.0x 10.0x 9.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.2x 4.2x 4.0x
Probability of Field Employment 45% 45% 45%
DegreeOutlook Score 29 28 34

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$45,744
Out-of-state: $108,000 (4.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$43,664
5% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,000
8.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$40,352
13% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $35,746/yr, Liberal Arts & Humanities graduates from Western Kentucky University land near the $37,172 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 10.0x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

AI disruption models show minimal impact on this program's career paths. The gap between optimistic and pessimistic ten-year scenarios is just 5% — this field's hands-on core resists automation.

Median debt of $26,000 represents roughly 9 months of the $35,746 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #296 of 424 Liberal Arts & Humanities programs, Western Kentucky University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $40,352 are relatively flat compared to the $35,746 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Western Kentucky University

With 97% of applicants admitted, Western Kentucky University prioritizes broad access, serving 12,267 students in Bowling Green, KY.

See all programs and financial aid at Western Kentucky University →

Top Career Paths

Postsecondary teachers, all other $78,490/yr
View all 1 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Liberal Arts & Humanities at Western Kentucky University?
A score of 28/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Liberal Arts & Humanities. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →