Best Community Colleges in Kentucky 2024
The best community colleges provide an effective springboard into higher education, offering students high-quality two-year degree programs in a wide range of disciplines. The top-rated community colleges in Kentucky offer a broad selection of associate’s degrees, affordable tuition rates, and strong partnerships with public four-year schools so that students can easily transfer their credits into accredited bachelor’s degree programs.
10 Best Community Colleges in Kentucky
- West Kentucky Community and Technical College
- Bluegrass Community and Technical College
- Ashland Community and Technical College
- Jefferson Community and Technical College
- Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
- Somerset Community College
- Big Sandy Community and Technical College
- Hazard Community and Technical College
- Gateway Community and Technical College
- Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College
- Bluegrass Community and Technical College
- Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College
- Ashland Community and Technical College
- West Kentucky Community and Technical College
- Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
- Henderson Community College
- Jefferson Community and Technical College
- Gateway Community and Technical College
- Hazard Community and Technical College
- Somerset Community College
- Jefferson Community and Technical College 23 to 1
- Elizabethtown Community and Technical College 23 to 1
- Owensboro Community and Technical College 22 to 1
- Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College 20 to 1
- Maysville Community and Technical College 19 to 1
- West Kentucky Community and Technical College 18 to 1
- Bluegrass Community and Technical College 18 to 1
- Gateway Community and Technical College 18 to 1
- Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College 18 to 1
- Ashland Community and Technical College 17 to 1
- West Kentucky Community and Technical College $4,368
- Bluegrass Community and Technical College $4,368
- Ashland Community and Technical College $4,368
- Jefferson Community and Technical College $4,368
- Elizabethtown Community and Technical College $4,368
- Somerset Community College $4,368
- Big Sandy Community and Technical College $4,368
- Hazard Community and Technical College $4,368
- Gateway Community and Technical College $4,368
- Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College $4,368
- Maysville Community and Technical College
- Hopkinsville Community College
- Owensboro Community and Technical College
- Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College
- Madisonville Community College
- Henderson Community College
- Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College
- Gateway Community and Technical College
- Hazard Community and Technical College
- Big Sandy Community and Technical College
- Maysville Community and Technical College
- Hopkinsville Community College
- Owensboro Community and Technical College
- Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College
- Madisonville Community College
- Big Sandy Community and Technical College
- Somerset Community College
- Hazard Community and Technical College
- Gateway Community and Technical College
- Jefferson Community and Technical College
- Big Sandy Community and Technical College 13 to 1
- Hazard Community and Technical College 15 to 1
- Madisonville Community College 16 to 1
- Ashland Community and Technical College 17 to 1
- Somerset Community College 17 to 1
- Henderson Community College 17 to 1
- Hopkinsville Community College 17 to 1
- West Kentucky Community and Technical College 18 to 1
- Bluegrass Community and Technical College 18 to 1
- Gateway Community and Technical College 18 to 1
- West Kentucky Community and Technical College $4,368
- Bluegrass Community and Technical College $4,368
- Ashland Community and Technical College $4,368
- Jefferson Community and Technical College $4,368
- Elizabethtown Community and Technical College $4,368
- Somerset Community College $4,368
- Big Sandy Community and Technical College $4,368
- Hazard Community and Technical College $4,368
- Gateway Community and Technical College $4,368
- Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College $4,368
Colleges and Universities in Kentucky
Students who wish to attend traditional and online colleges in Kentucky have plenty of excellent options. Traditional students and distance learners alike have an array of affordable, accessible, and reputable undergraduate and graduate degrees to choose from.
Between community colleges, technical schools, and universities, Kentucky has 24 public schools. The community colleges and technical schools average $4,000 for tuition, and tuition for public universities ranges from $8,000 to $12,000. Online students pay the same in state tuition rates when enrolling in these public options.
Prospective students planning to attend private colleges can choose from 26 schools, of which 21 are religiously affiliated. The cost to attend private schools tends to be higher, reaching $42,000 in Kentucky. There are, however, some affordable private options with tuition rates as low as $9,000.
Find college admissions consultants in your state.
The largest and top-rated public university is the University of Kentucky. The University of Kentucky has over 30,000 students and costs about $12,000. UK offers a wide range of traditional and fully online programs in areas like political science, chemistry, and literature.
Students who attend either the University of Louisville or Western Kentucky University will become part of a friendly basketball rivalry. Both of these universities also offer highly regarded graduate and undergraduate degrees in fields like mathematics, communications, business, and history.
Eastern Kentucky University is also among the top public colleges in Kentucky, with more than 14,000 students enrolled in a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs.
In addition, Kentucky encourages graduating education students to apply for the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program. This financial aid program awards $5,000 to $17,500 toward Federal Stafford loans to those remaining in the profession.
There is something for everyone in The Bluegrass State. Kentucky is home to the famous Kentucky Derby, the Daniel Boone National Forest, and the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory. Both traditional and online Students wanting to study in a state that Abraham Lincoln and Muhammad Ali called home have 50 higher learning institutions from which to choose.
Kentucky has it all - associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Check out the top brick-and-mortar and online schools the state of Kentucky has to offer.
What are Kentucky’s Colleges & Universities?
- 7 Research Universities
- 20 Liberal Arts Colleges & Universities
- 9 Graduate Schools
- 8 Public Colleges & Universities
- 19 Private Colleges & Universities
- 15 Christian Colleges & Universities
- 18 Small Colleges & Universities (fewer than 5,000 students)
- 11 Affordable Colleges (below $20,000/year)
- 16 Community Colleges
- Best Online Colleges
Kentucky’s Best Overall
We’ve identified 16 community colleges in Kentucky. The following list shows the best community colleges and primarily associate degree granting colleges in Kentucky.
If you’re interested in an online associate degree, visit our best online associate degrees in Kentucky page.
Best Community Colleges in Kentucky
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
46%
Student body
6K
Career Outlook for degree at West Kentucky Community and Technical College
Cost of Degree: $4,560Starting Salary: $31,400What is West Kentucky Community and Technical College known for?
West Kentucky Community and Technical College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- #3 Best Online Associate in Health Information Technology & Informatics #5 Best Online Associate in Hospitality and Tourism #8 Best Online Associate in Game Development #9 Best Online Associate Degrees in Kentucky 2024
Other Rankings
- #9 Best Online Associate in Graphic Design
- #11 Best Online Associate in Human Services
- #13 Best Online Associate in Software Development
- #15 Best Online Associate in Human Resources
- #16 Best Online Associate in Finance
- #17 Best Online Associate in General Science
- #17 Best Online Associate in Education
- #23 Best Online Associate in Early Childhood Education
- #25 Best Online Associate in Marketing
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
35%
Student body
13K
Career Outlook for degree at Bluegrass Community and Technical College
Cost of Degree: $4,640Starting Salary: $29,800What is Bluegrass Community and Technical College known for?
Bluegrass Community and Technical College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
47%
Student body
3K
Career Outlook for degree at Ashland Community and Technical College
Cost of Degree: $4,560Starting Salary: $31,500What is Ashland Community and Technical College known for?
Ashland Community and Technical College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
35%
Student body
16K
Career Outlook for degree at Jefferson Community and Technical College
Cost of Degree: $4,640Starting Salary: $31,500What is Jefferson Community and Technical College known for?
Jefferson Community and Technical College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- #3 Best Online Associate in Graphic Design #4 Best Online Associate in Hospitality and Tourism #5 Best Online Associate in Health Information Technology & Informatics #5 Best Online Associate in Game Development
Other Rankings
- #8 Best Online Associate in Software Development
- #12 Best Online Associate Degrees in Kentucky 2024
- #12 Best Online Associate in Finance
- #12 Best Online Associate in Human Resources
- #19 Best Online Associate in General Science
- #21 Best Online Associate in Marketing
- #22 Best Online Associate in Human Services
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
42%
Student body
8K
Career Outlook for degree at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
Cost of Degree: $4,560Starting Salary: $31,400What is Elizabethtown Community and Technical College known for?
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- #13 Best Online Associate Degrees in Kentucky 2024 #17 Best Online Associate in Computer Science Degree Programs #23 Best Online Associate in Human Resources
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
43%
Student body
7K
Career Outlook for degree at Somerset Community College
Cost of Degree: $4,560Starting Salary: $27,500What is Somerset Community College known for?
Somerset Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
27%
Student body
3K
Career Outlook for degree at Big Sandy Community and Technical College
Cost of Degree: $4,560Starting Salary: $28,200What is Big Sandy Community and Technical College known for?
Big Sandy Community and Technical College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
44%
Student body
4K
Career Outlook for degree at Hazard Community and Technical College
Cost of Degree: $4,560Starting Salary: $28,400What is Hazard Community and Technical College known for?
Hazard Community and Technical College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- #6 Best Accredited Online Trade Schools for Vocational Skills #14 Best Online Associate Degrees in Kentucky 2024
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
46%
Student body
5K
Career Outlook for degree at Gateway Community and Technical College
Cost of Degree: $4,640Starting Salary: $31,700What is Gateway Community and Technical College known for?
Gateway Community and Technical College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
35%
Student body
4K
Career Outlook for degree at Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College
Cost of Degree: $4,560Starting Salary: $27,900What is Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College known for?
Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- #2 Best Online Associate in Health Information Technology & Informatics #3 Best Online Associate in Agribusiness Degree Programs #3 Best Online Associate in Game Development #5 Best Online Associate in Software Development
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
34%
Student body
2K
Career Outlook for degree at Henderson Community College
Cost of Degree: $4,560Starting Salary: $31,100What is Henderson Community College known for?
Henderson Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
57%
Student body
5K
Career Outlook for degree at Madisonville Community College
Cost of Degree: $4,560Starting Salary: $32,100What is Madisonville Community College known for?
Madisonville Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
50%
Student body
6K
Career Outlook for degree at Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College
Cost of Degree: $4,560Starting Salary: $32,800What is Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College known for?
Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
47%
Student body
6K
Career Outlook for degree at Owensboro Community and Technical College
Cost of Degree: $4,560Starting Salary: $31,600What is Owensboro Community and Technical College known for?
Owensboro Community and Technical College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
37%
Student body
3K
Career Outlook for degree at Hopkinsville Community College
Cost of Degree: $4,560Starting Salary: $31,500What is Hopkinsville Community College known for?
Hopkinsville Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
49%
Student body
4K
Career Outlook for degree at Maysville Community and Technical College
Cost of Degree: $4,560Starting Salary: $29,200What is Maysville Community and Technical College known for?
Maysville Community and Technical College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
2021 Ranking Archive
Many of our 2024 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2023. That’s because we took a fundamentally different approach. For 2024 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.
- West Kentucky Community and Technical College
- Big Sandy Community and Technical College
- Gateway Community and Technical College
- Bluegrass Community and Technical College
- Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
- Henderson Community College
- Hazard Community and Technical College
- Jefferson Community and Technical College
- Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College
- Maysville Community and Technical College
- Ashland Community and Technical College
- Somerset Community College
- Owensboro Community and Technical College
- Madisonville Community College
- Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College
- Hopkinsville Community College