2023 best colleges in Kentucky

The Kentucky higher education scene offers a blend of quality academics, history, and innovation, including the state’s largest school, the University of Kentucky. Home to the first emergency room and first successful hand transplant in the world, the University of Louisville School of Medicine has been a pioneer in the medical field since its inception. Berea College, a private liberal arts institution, was the first college to be fully racially integrated and co-educational in the Southern United States. Today, it’s recognized for its unique operating model which provides four-year scholarships to all students and instead requires students to hold on-campus jobs.

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#1 in Kentucky | #17 in Liberal Arts

Berea College

Berea, Kentucky

Economic score 2.11

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $5,222

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $37,154

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 70%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#2 in Kentucky | #103 in National Universities

Northern Kentucky University

Highland Heights, Kentucky

Economic score 2.12

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $9,183

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $44,814

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 50%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#3 in Kentucky | #36 in Liberal Arts

Centre College

Danville, Kentucky

Economic score 2.56

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $21,426

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $57,976

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 84%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#4 in Kentucky | #178 in National Universities

University of Kentucky

Lexington, Kentucky

Economic score 2.79

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $18,203

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $54,458

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 66%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#5 in Kentucky

Thomas More University

Crestview Hills, Kentucky

Economic score 2.81

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $20,371

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $55,566

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 55%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#6 in Kentucky | #207 in National Universities

University of Louisville

Louisville, Kentucky

Economic score 2.97

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $16,828

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $49,875

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 57%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#7 in Kentucky | #261 in National Universities

University of the Cumberlands

Williamsburg, Kentucky

Economic score 3.41

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $13,476

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $41,506

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 60%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#8 in Kentucky

Murray State University

Murray, Kentucky

Economic score 3.43

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $11,736

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $41,894

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 57%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#9 in Kentucky | #285 in National Universities

Bellarmine University

Louisville, Kentucky

Economic score 3.76

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $23,992

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $52,312

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 67%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#10 in Kentucky | #98 in Liberal Arts

Transylvania University

Lexington, Kentucky

Economic score 3.79

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $24,752

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $49,994

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 69%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#11 in Kentucky | #303 in National Universities

University of Pikeville

Pikeville, Kentucky

Economic score 3.89

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $13,785

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $41,466

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 56%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#12 in Kentucky | #316 in National Universities
Economic score 4.03

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $13,763

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $40,500

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 50%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#13 in Kentucky | #330 in National Universities

Western Kentucky University

Bowling Green, Kentucky

Economic score 4.19

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $12,522

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $39,268

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 51%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#14 in Kentucky

Morehead State University

Morehead, Kentucky

Economic score 4.55

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $12,096

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $37,486

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 49%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#15 in Kentucky

Spalding University

Louisville, Kentucky

Economic score 4.99

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $21,976

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $47,088

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 56%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#16 in Kentucky

Asbury University

Wilmore, Kentucky

Economic score 6.42

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $22,376

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $41,352

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 64%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#17 in Kentucky

Lindsey Wilson College

Columbia, Kentucky

Economic score 7.87

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $14,991

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $32,910

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 50%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#18 in Kentucky

Midway University

Midway, Kentucky

Economic score 7.99

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $24,164

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $38,294

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 57%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

Georgetown College

Georgetown, Kentucky

Economic score 3.73

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $18,384

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $45,697

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 46%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

Kentucky State University

Frankfort, Kentucky

Economic score 4.28

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $7,343

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $34,717

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 31%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

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