Why This Matters

  • 34 COLLEGES IN KENTUCKY

    According to College Navigator, Kentucky has eight public institutions, 22 non-profit private organizations, and four private non-profit colleges.

  • $11,170 AVERAGE IN-STATE TUITION & FEES

    According to College Board, the average cost of in-state tuition for the 2021-22 school year was $11,170.

  • $14,800 AVERAGE FINANCIAL AID PACKAGE FOR U.S. COLLEGE STUDENTS

    During the 2019-20 school year, the average financial aid package per person was $14,800 for full-time U.S. students.

Our Research

This list features some of the best brick-and-mortar schools in Kentucky. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary institutions. We included liberal arts colleges and research universities as well as small, midsize, and large institutions. Next, we compared this comprehensive list to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications like the U.S. News & World Report among others to simplify a student’s college search. We pored through these rankings so students don’t have to.

The colleges on our list are accredited by either the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) or Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE). These reputable organizations examine the objectives, quality, and overall effectiveness of post-secondary education programs.

We evaluated each school on tuition costs, admission, retention and graduation rates, faculty, and reputation as well as the student resources provided for on-campus students. Then we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.

The Top 50 Colleges in Kentucky

Best Colleges In Kentucky
01
Intelligent Pick
University of Louisville
01
Most Affordable
Berea College
01
Best Public Research School
University of Kentucky
01
Best Catholic Institution
Bellarmine University
01
Best for Study Abroad
Centre College
01
Best for International Students
Asbury University
01
Best for Liberal Arts
Transylvania University
01
Best Student Support Services
Alice Lloyd College
01
Best Christian Institution
Kentucky Wesleyan College
01
Best for Active-Duty Military
Murray State University
01

Simmons College of Kentucky
01

Brescia University
01

Kentucky State University
01

Eastern Kentucky University
01

Northern Kentucky University
01

Morehead State University
01

Spalding University
01

Midway University
01

Georgetown College
01

Union College

 

What You Should Know About Graduating From College in Kentucky

When deciding on a major, it’s best to consider the fastest growing industries in Kentucky. As of October 2021, the top five growing industries are transportation and warehousing; trade, transportation, and utilities; education and health services; retail trade; and manufacturing.

Job seekers should consider the fastest growing occupations for those with a bachelor’s degree. In Kentucky, these jobs include music directors and composers, fashion designers, logisticians, medical and health services managers, and information security analysts.

Some of the largest employers in Kentucky include UK Healthcare Clg Dentistry, which has more than 14,000 employees, Humana Inc., GE Appliances A Haier Co., the Corrections Department, and Ferrellgas.

What’s Next?

Before applying for college in Kentucky, it’s important to explore the number of financial aid opportunities that are available to you. This list contains both state and federal resources that detail scholarships, grants, and other sources of aid that are offered to undergraduates.