Best Community Colleges in Kentucky 2025

Badge for BEST IN KENTUCKY COMMUNITY COLLEGES

By Dr. James Barham
Reviewed By Chloe Dembski

Published: Mar 25, 2021
Updated: Nov 1, 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.

Key Takeaways

Kentucky’s top community colleges offer affordable tuition rates, alongside a range of financial aid options, including scholarships and grants, making higher education accessible to students from various financial backgrounds.
Many of the best community colleges in Kentucky emphasize career-oriented degrees and certifications in fields like healthcare, skilled trades, and information technology, equipping students with practical skills that meet local job market demands.
Kentucky’s best community colleges have strong transfer agreements with state universities, allowing students to easily transition to a four-year institution, offering a cost-effective path to a bachelor’s degree.

10 Best Community Colleges in Kentucky in 2025

Bluegrass Community and Technical College
+1
Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College
+8
West Kentucky Community and Technical College
–2
Ashland Community and Technical College
–1
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
Henderson Community College
+5
Jefferson Community and Technical College
–3
Gateway Community and Technical College
+1
Big Sandy Community and Technical College
–2
Hazard Community and Technical College
–2

2025 Ranking Update

Our Influence Ranking Engine™ leverages machine learning to track the real-world influence of colleges and universities over time. Below you’ll see which schools gained or lost ground for the 2025 school year.

In 2025, the top schools in our ranking of the best community colleges in Kentucky saw a considerable amount of movement. Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College gained the most ranking positions as the college is implementing several key improvements to enhance the student experience. A comprehensive roadway improvement project on East Exchange Street, adjacent to the campus, is set to be completed by spring 2025, featuring new pavement, sidewalks, bike lanes, street lighting, and landscaping, thereby improving accessibility and safety for students.

Additionally, the university is focusing on financial accessibility through initiatives like the Making Akron Possible (MAP) Grant, which offers tuition-free education to eligible students, aiming to broaden access to higher education. These developments reflect the university’s commitment to creating a more welcoming and supportive environment for its students.

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.