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Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, Kentucky · Public university
Address: 1906 College Heights Blvd, Bowling Green, KY 42101 · Phone: (270) 745-0111 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Western Kentucky University is a public trade/career school in Bowling Green, KY offering dental hygiene and medical billing & coding programs, accredited by SACS and program-specific bodies.
The state average completion rate is 55.5%, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard; median graduate debt is $22,095 and median earnings 10 years after entry are $43,889. This campus's own completion rate is not reported for this campus in federal data.
Annual cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Western Kentucky University; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used here, and about 30.5% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dental hygienists | $61,280 | $78,830 | $91,800 |
| Medical records specialists | $36,290 | $48,410 | $61,720 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Kentucky (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Associate degree | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Associate degree | 1 | not reported | $32,711 | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Western Kentucky University is a public university located in Bowling Green, Kentucky. It participates in federal Title IV financial aid programs, meaning students may use FAFSA, federal loans, and Pell Grants to help cover costs. Among its offerings are two trade-related program families: dental hygiene programs, which account for the bulk of its trade completions, and medical billing & coding programs. The university holds regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, along with several program-specific accreditors including the Commission on Dental Accreditation and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
In federal Scorecard data, seven students completed trade-related programs here, out of an undergraduate enrollment of 12,155. The state average completion rate is reported at 55.5%, though this campus's own completion rate and its comparison to the state average are not reported for this campus in federal data. Median debt among graduates is $22,095, and median earnings ten years after entry are $43,889. About 30.5% of students receive Pell Grants. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data.
This campus may suit students seeking dental hygiene or medical billing and coding credentials within a larger public university setting, though specific program lengths and schedule formats are not reported for this campus in federal data, so fit for adult career-changers cannot be inferred beyond program subject matter. Prospective students should verify current accreditation status directly with the listed accreditors and review the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard for the most current outcome figures before enrolling.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Western Kentucky University offers dental hygiene programs (6 completions) and medical billing & coding programs (1 completion), per federal program data.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, along with program-specific accreditors including the Commission on Dental Accreditation, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, and others listed for its health programs.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so students can use FAFSA, federal loans, and Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
This campus's own completion rate is not reported for this campus in federal data. The state average completion rate is 55.5%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Median debt among graduates is $22,095, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings for graduates 10 years after entry are $43,889, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Western Kentucky University is a public institution, which typically means state subsidies may lower tuition compared to private for-profit schools, though specific cost figures are not reported here.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program lengths are not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly for schedule and duration details.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can confirm accreditation status with the listed accreditors and review detailed outcome data on the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?157951.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
Program length and schedule format are not reported for this campus in federal data, so fit for adult career-changers cannot be determined from the available information; contact the school to ask about flexible or accelerated options.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing requirements are not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school or check with your state's licensing board for dental hygiene or medical billing and coding requirements.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Western Kentucky University at (270) 745-0111 or visit https://www.wku.edu/ for application details.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data against other nearby schools is not reported for this campus in federal data; use the College Scorecard to compare completion, debt, and earnings figures across schools.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.