Hospitality Administration/Management bachelor's degree outcomes at Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, KY · Public · Federal field 5209
Data scope
Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.
The short version
Reported earnings trail the same-degree benchmark.
$6,014 below the national median for the same field and credential.
Debt pressure
49.1% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
Not reached
10-year scenario
−74% · Negative payoff
Price evidence
College-wide context only
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price−$122,880
$8,000Annual price−$154,880
$11,000Current college-wide context−$166,880
$16,000Annual price−$186,880
$24,000Annual price−$218,880
$32,000Annual price−$250,880
$40,000Annual price−$282,880
OUTCOME SIGNALS
Graduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
+50%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$29,492 → $44,21125Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort26Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort41Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median38Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt medianNot availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credentialNot availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential
NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT
Size, aid and an earnings floor.
The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.
86Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment20Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers37Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count50Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$34,058Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$50,712$16,654 above the preliminary benchmark
Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student.
01 · PRICE CONTEXT$10,990
Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWING$24,883
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$50,712
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENT$264/mo
Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.
WHAT WILL IT COST?
Published college costs provide the starting point.
Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.
Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.
$29,492Year 1
$50,712Year 4
$44,211Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?
6.2% of gross monthly earnings
Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.
Gross monthly earnings$4,226
Estimated loan payment$264
38borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$50,712 vs. $56,726
$6,014 below the national median for the same field and credential.
Same-field national median
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?
Related occupations, wages and outlook.
Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.
BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.
Food Service Managers$70,410 median wageKY estimate · 1,680 jobs · 11-9051+5.8% projected U.S. growth · 38.8k openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentLodging Managers$59,440 median wageKY estimate · 42,620 jobs · 11-9081+3.8% projected U.S. growth · 5.5k openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentManagers, All Other$122,930 median wageKY estimate · 2,390 jobs · 11-9199+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 100.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEntertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling$80,130 median wageKY estimate · 300 jobs · 11-9072+6.0% projected U.S. growth · 5.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePersonal Service Managers, All Other$69,770 median wageU.S. estimate · 10,450 jobs · 11-9179+6.2% projected U.S. growth · 2k openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentGambling Managers$105,340 median wageKY estimate · 30 jobs · 11-9071+3.6% projected U.S. growth · 0.6k openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentFacilities Managers$100,720 median wageKY estimate · 1,070 jobs · 11-3013+4.6% projected U.S. growth · 14.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBusiness Teachers, Postsecondary$80,140 median wageKY estimate · 760 jobs · 25-1011+5.9% projected U.S. growth · 7.6k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeBusiness Operations Specialists, All Other$74,690 median wageKY estimate · 5,870 jobs · 13-1199+3.9% projected U.S. growth · 98.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFirst-Line Supervisors of Gambling Services Workers$57,830 median wageKY estimate · 50 jobs · 39-1013+3.5% projected U.S. growth · 2.6k openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentMeeting, Convention, and Event Planners$49,280 median wageKY estimate · 1,110 jobs · 13-1121+5.8% projected U.S. growth · 16.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeTravel GuidesNot available median wageU.S. estimate · Unreported jobs · 39-7012
Possible alternatives
Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.
Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.