56%
Graduation Rate
2%
Transfer-out Rate
78%
Retention Rate
[updated for 2024-2025 graduation data]
At Western Kentucky University, the graduation rate is 56 % within 150% normal time, the retention rate is 78 %, and the transfer-out rate is 2 %, as of August 31, 2025.
Its graduation rate is relatively higher than the average rate when comparing similar colleges' rate of 48.45% (public Doctoral / Research University).
Graduation Rates in Reasonable Completion Time
For the academic year 2024-2025, 1,603 students out of 2,885 candidates have completed their courses within 150% normal time (i.e. in 6 years for 4-year BS degree) at Western Kentucky University.
By gender, 584 male and 1,019 female students graduated the school last year completing their jobs in the period.
| Candidates | Completers | Graduation Rates |
|---|
| Total | 2,885 | 1,603 | 55.56% |
|---|
| Men | 1,160 | 584 | 50.34% |
|---|
| Women | 1,725 | 1,019 | 59.07% |
|---|
Graduation Rate By Race/Ethnicity
The following table shows graduation rate by race and at Western Kentucky University.
- American Indian or Alaska Native: 57.14%
- Asian: 68.18%
- Black (Non-Hispanic): 27.50%
- Hispanic: 40.37%
- White: 60.96%
- Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander: 100.00%
- Two or More Race: 40.00%
- Unknown: 33.33%
Graduation Rate by Gender
| Total | Male | Female |
|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 57.14%(4/7) |
50.00%(1/2) |
60.00%(3/5) |
|---|
| Asian | 68.18%(30/44) |
66.67%(8/12) |
68.75%(22/32) |
|---|
| Black (Non-Hispanic) | 27.50%(88/320) |
22.22%(32/144) |
31.82%(56/176) |
|---|
| Hispanic | 40.37%(44/109) |
43.90%(18/41) |
38.24%(26/68) |
|---|
| White | 60.96%(1,365/2,239) |
55.03%(487/885) |
64.84%(878/1,354) |
|---|
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 100.00%(2/2) |
- |
100.00%(2/2) |
|---|
| Two or More Race | 40.00%(50/125) |
44.23%(23/52) |
36.99%(27/73) |
|---|
| Unknown | 33.33%(4/12) |
50.00%(3/6) |
16.67%(1/6) |
|---|
Transfer-out and Retention Rates
At WKU, the transfer-out rate is 22.98%. Its transfer-out rate is much lower than the average rate when comparing similar colleges' rate of 21.05%.
WKU's retention rate is 78% for full-time students and 41 % for part-time students last year. Its retention rate is around the average rate when comparing similar colleges' rate of 71.81%.
Non-Resident Alien Graduation Rate
A non-resident alien student is not a US citizen/green card holder and studies with a student visa, such as an F visa, in the United States. At Western Kentucky University, 16 of 27 non-resident alien students completed their studies and the graduation rate was 59.26%.