Why This Matters

  • 24 ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAMS IN KENTUCKY

    According to College Navigator, there are 24 institutions that grant two-year associate degrees in Kentucky.

  • $5,610 AVERAGE IN-DISTRICT TUITION & FEES

    Data from College Board shows that, during the 2020-21 school year, the average Kentucky resident paid $5,610 in tuition at public in-district community colleges.

  • 76.9% OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS RECEIVE FINANCIAL AID

    Many students rely on financial aid to fund their degree programs. In the 2018-19 school year, 437,899 students enrolled in two-year institutions received some form of financial aid.

Our Research

We’ve compiled a list of the best community colleges in Kentucky by examining factors such as tuition costs, credit requirements, and delivery formats (i.e. online or in-person formats). When making our selections, we considered both private and public institutions.

To confirm that every program on our list offers a high-quality education, we only included accredited schools. Most of these colleges are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), which confirms that a school has clear educational objectives and provides the proper resources and support. SACSCOC is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

  • 24hours to write this article
  • 28universities and colleges we assessed
  • 99education programs we compared

The Top 50 Community Colleges in Kentucky

Best Community Colleges in Kentucky Badge
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What You Should Know About Graduating From Community College in Kentucky

It’s important to consider your earning potential when choosing a degree program. In 2020, the highest-paying careers that require an associate degree in Kentucky were radiation therapists, avionics technicians, nuclear medicine technologists, magnetic resonance imaging technologists, and electrical and electronics drafters.

Finding a job as a new graduate is no easy feat. To facilitate this search, you may want to consider which careers have the most job openings. The careers projected to have the most openings for associate degree holders in Kentucky are preschool teachers (excluding special education), paralegal and legal assistants, physical therapy assistants, radiologic technicians, and civil engineering technicians.

Also, occupations projected to have a decline in employment for associate degree holders in Kentucky include respiratory therapy technicians, desktop publishers, broadcast technicians, mechanical drafters, and human resources assistants (excluding payroll and timekeeping).

What’s Next?

When pursuing community college, you should consider the costs involved and whether or not you may need financial aid. To facilitate access to scholarships, grants, and other forms of financial aid, we’ve created a list of federal and state resources for associate degree students in Kentucky.

  • Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA). KHEAA helps students manage their degree financing by providing information about grants and scholarships, as well as federal, state, and private loans.
  • Federal Student Aid. Every year, over $120 billion is awarded by the U.S. Department of Education’s office of Federal Student Aid in the form of grants, scholarships, and loans. Students can check their eligibility at the FAFSA4caster and apply through the online FAFSA form.
  • CareerOneStop. CareerOneStop, sponsored by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, helps students find scholarships for their desired state and degree level. It also provides helpful details about award amounts, minimum qualifications, application deadlines, and contact information.