Bowling Green, Kentucky Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
Executive Summary (TL;DR)
Colleges in Bowling Green, Kentucky: median public in-state tuition $8,190 (+48.6% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $43,889 (-19.3% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 90.2% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $9,838 (-25.9% vs U.S.) 15,818 students enrolled statewide.
Overview
Colleges and universities in Bowling Green serve students across Kentucky with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 6 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 15,818 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $8,190. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Bowling Green, Kentucky and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Bowling Green vs Kentucky & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green, Kentucky | $8,190 | $14,672 | $9,838 | 55.6% | 15,818 |
| Kentucky (state median) | $4,728 | $5,762 | $13,521 | 50.0% | 174,937 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Bowling Green, Kentucky vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green, Kentucky | $43,889 | 90.2% | 78.3% | 10.1% | — | 65.2% | 0.50 |
| Kentucky (state median) | $45,500 | 90.2% | 74.7% | 7.6% | — | 68.9% | 0.48 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Kentucky (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green, Kentucky | $8,190 | $14,672 | $9,838 | 55.6% | 15,818 | $43,889 | 90.2% |
| Louisville | $14,200 | $20,020 | $17,072 | 56.5% | 35,141 | $57,690 | 91.6% |
| Lexington | $13,502 | $20,382 | $10,500 | 71.4% | 34,636 | $56,865 | 92.1% |
| Lexington | $13,502 | $20,382 | $10,500 | 71.4% | 34,636 | $56,865 | 92.1% |
| Richmond | $10,320 | $28,005 | $14,416 | 50.0% | 12,584 | $45,795 | 89.5% |
| Richmond | $10,320 | $28,005 | $14,416 | 50.0% | 12,584 | $45,795 | 89.5% |
| Richmond | $10,320 | $28,005 | $14,416 | 50.0% | 12,584 | $45,795 | 89.5% |
| Elizabethtown | $4,728 | $10,880 | $9,861 | N/A | 4,259 | N/A | N/A |
| Owensboro | $31,550 | $12,920 | $16,375 | 50.3% | 4,073 | $46,124 | 89.7% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top college in Bowling Green, Kentucky by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 55.6%, Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University
Top college in Bowling Green, Kentucky by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 90.2%, Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University
Most selective college in Bowling Green, Kentucky (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 93.9%, Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University
Top college in Bowling Green, Kentucky by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $74,205, Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University
Top college in Bowling Green, Kentucky by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $86,624, Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University
Top college in Bowling Green, Kentucky by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $38,156, Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University
Top college in Bowling Green, Kentucky by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $40,920, Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University
Top college in Bowling Green, Kentucky by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $43,889, Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University
Top college in Bowling Green, Kentucky by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $149,958, Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University
Most affordable college in Bowling Green, Kentucky (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $10,990, Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University
Top college in Bowling Green, Kentucky by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 78.3%, Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University
In-state tuition: Bowling Green, Kentucky vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Bowling Green, Kentucky median in-state tuition is $8,190, +48.6% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Bowling Green, Kentucky vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Bowling Green, Kentucky is $9,838 (-25.9% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $14,456.
Median earnings (10 years out): Bowling Green, Kentucky vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Bowling Green, Kentucky center around $43,889 (-19.3% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Bowling Green, Kentucky vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 90.2% at the median Bowling Green, Kentucky campus (+2.2 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Bowling Green, Kentucky median public in-state tuition is $8,190, about +48.6% vs the national median. Versus the Southeast region, tuition is +64.1%.
Median graduate debt is $9,838 (-25.9% below the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Bowling Green, Kentucky are $43,889, about -19.3% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 90.2% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (+2.2 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 78.3% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 10.1% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 65.2% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Western Kentucky University (90.2%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Bowling Green, Kentucky is 55.6% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Bowling Green?
This city profile covers 6 campuses in Bowling Green, Kentucky with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Bowling Green?
Median in-state tuition in Bowling Green is $8,190 and median net price is $14,672. For Kentucky overall, medians are $4,728 and $5,762; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Bowling Green?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Bowling Green is $43,889 vs $45,500 for Kentucky and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Bowling Green colleges?
Median completer debt in Bowling Green is $9,838 vs $13,521 for Kentucky and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Bowling Green?
Top campuses on this page include Western Kentucky University (graduation) and Western Kentucky University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Bowling Green?
Among 6 College Scorecard campuses in Bowling Green, Kentucky, none are flagged as HBCUs or tribal colleges in IPEDS, and none meet our 25% Hispanic-enrollment HSI proxy or report a religious affiliation in IPEDS.
Sources & related
- Kentucky college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON