Best Public Colleges in Kentucky 2025
Public colleges and universities account for almost 75 percent of all undergraduate students in the U.S. The best public colleges in Kentucky provide broad access to reputable degree programs, affordable tuition, and sprawling educational communities.
Key Takeaways
- Many public colleges in Kentucky have highly regarded healthcare programs with state-of-the-art simulation labs and strong partnerships with local hospitals, offering students practical training in nursing, public health, and allied health professions.
- Kentucky’s public colleges provide competitive in-state tuition rates and offer a wide range of scholarships, grants, and financial aid options, making higher education more accessible to students from diverse economic backgrounds while maintaining a high standard of education.
- The University of Kentucky and other top public institutions offer leading programs in agriculture, environmental science, and sustainability, taking advantage of the state’s rural setting and providing students with hands-on learning experiences in fields like equine studies, crop science, and environmental conservation.
Best Public Colleges in Kentucky in 2025
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 public colleges in Kentucky saw a few minor changes to the ranking. Northern Kentucky University was able to move up to the fourth ranking position as the university enhanced their Health Innovation Center, which offers state-of-the-art simulation labs and research opportunities in healthcare fields like nursing, public health, and healthcare administration. The university has also upgraded its cybersecurity and data analytics programs, providing students with hands-on training in cutting-edge technology and partnerships with local tech companies.
Additionally, NKU has expanded its mental health and wellness services, offering more resources such as peer support groups, counseling, and wellness workshops. These updates reflect NKU’s commitment to innovation, career readiness, and student well-being.
This list is composed entirely of public colleges and universities that offer bachelor’s degrees. We’ve identified 8 public universities in Kentucky. To be included in our list of the best public colleges in Kentucky, shcools must receive direct funding from the state, be fully accredited, and offer a broad range of bachelor’s degress.
Best Public Colleges in Kentucky
- #13 15 Best Online Colleges for Veterans to Start Their Careers 2025 #1 Best Research Universities in Kentucky 2025 #1 Best Grad Schools in Kentucky 2025 #1 Most Affordable Colleges in Kentucky 2025
Tuition + fees
$13K
Acceptance
95%
Graduation
69%
Student body
33K
Median SAT/ACT
1180/24
Career Outlook for degree at University of Kentucky
Cost of Degree: $13,212Expenses: $21,886Starting Salary: $54,000Cost Recoup Time: 12 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is University of Kentucky known for?
University of Kentucky’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
University of Kentucky’s Online Degrees
Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts in Communication
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Health Science
Degree Concentrations
- Medical Laboratory Science
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Liberal Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts in Information Communication Technology
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Nursing
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: None Reported
BA in Social Work
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #2 Best Research Universities in Kentucky 2025 #2 Best Grad Schools in Kentucky 2025 #2 Most Affordable Colleges in Kentucky 2025 #2 Best Colleges in Kentucky 2024
Tuition + fees
$13K
Acceptance
82%
Graduation
62%
Student body
26K
Median SAT/ACT
1170/23
Career Outlook for degree at University of Louisville
Cost of Degree: $12,828Expenses: $20,878Starting Salary: $48,600Cost Recoup Time: 13 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is University of Louisville known for?
University of Louisville’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Medical
- History
- Law
- Communications
- Education
- Mathematics
- Political Science
- Social Work
- Psychology
- Criminal Justice
Most Influential Alumni
University of Louisville’s Online Degrees
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Accountancy
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA/BS in Communication
- Required Credits: 121
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 121
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Business Administration
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Organizational Leadership & Learning
Degree Concentrations
- Counseling and Human Relations Track
- Early Childhood Education
- Healthcare Leadership Track
- Career & Technical Education
- Counseling & Human Relations
- Early Childhood Education
- Healthcare Leadership (term or flex option)
- Leadership
- Training & Organization Development
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Nursing
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA/BS in Sociology
- Required Credits: 121
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Sport Administration
- Required Credits: 123
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #3 Best Research Universities in Kentucky 2025 #3 Most Affordable Colleges in Kentucky 2025 #3 Best Colleges in Kentucky 2024 #5 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
97%
Graduation
51%
Student body
20K
Median SAT/ACT
1075/21
Career Outlook for degree at Western Kentucky University
Cost of Degree: $11,436Expenses: $15,452Starting Salary: $38,600Cost Recoup Time: 13 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Western Kentucky University known for?
Western Kentucky University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
Western Kentucky University’s Online Degrees
BS in Management
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Organizational Leadership
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Workforce Administration
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Computer Information Technology
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Criminology
- Required Credits: 121
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Family And Consumer Sciences
Degree Concentrations
- Family Studies
- Child Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BIS in Interdisciplinary Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Sociology
Degree Concentrations
- Community
- Environment And Development
- Family-Gender And Sexuality
- Inequality And Social Change
- Research Methods
- Required Credits: 121
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Dental Hygiene
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Healthcare Administration
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Health Information Management
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Health Sciences
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #3 Best Grad Schools in Kentucky 2025 #4 Best Research Universities in Kentucky 2025 #4 Most Affordable Colleges in Kentucky 2025 #6 Best Colleges in Kentucky 2024
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
86%
Graduation
50%
Student body
19K
Median SAT/ACT
1160/22
Career Outlook for degree at Northern Kentucky University
Cost of Degree: $10,896Expenses: $14,960Starting Salary: $41,800Cost Recoup Time: 12 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Northern Kentucky University known for?
Northern Kentucky University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Anthropology
- Computer Science
- Psychology
- Law
- Mathematics
- Political Science
- Education
- Criminal Justice
- History
- Sociology
Most Influential Alumni
Northern Kentucky University’s Online Degrees
BA/BS in Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 48
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Human Services and Addictions
- Required Credits: 121
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA/BS in Psychological Science
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Business Administration
Degree Concentrations
- Management
- Marketing
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Integrative Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in History
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Business Administration
Degree Concentrations
- General Business
- Global Supply Chain Management
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Organizational Leadership
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #12 Top 20 Best Military Friendly Online Colleges Ranked for 2025 #4 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Kentucky 2025 #5 Most Affordable Colleges in Kentucky 2025 #5 Best Colleges in Kentucky 2024
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
64%
Graduation
49%
Student body
17K
Median SAT/ACT
1062/20
Career Outlook for degree at Eastern Kentucky University
Cost of Degree: $10,130Expenses: $14,535Starting Salary: $39,300Cost Recoup Time: 12 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Eastern Kentucky University known for?
Eastern Kentucky University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Criminal Justice
- Earth Sciences
- Chemistry
- Education
- Political Science
- History
- Biology
- Mathematics
- Business
- Psychology
Most Influential Alumni
Eastern Kentucky University’s Online Degrees
BA in Corrections & Juvenile Justice Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Emergency Medical Care
Degree Concentrations
- Emergency Services Administration
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Child & Family Studies
Degree Concentrations
- Child Development
- Required Credits: 120-125
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Health Services Administration
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Business Administration
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Global Hospitality and Tourism
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in General Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Communication Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Psychology
Degree Concentrations
- Geral Psychology
- Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Forensic Psychology
- Child & Family Psychology
- Workplace Psychology
- Psychiatric Rehabilitation
- Brain & Cognitive Sciences
- Substance Abuse
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Nursing
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BBA in Management
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Occupational Safety
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Fire Protection Administration
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Fire Protection and Safety Engineering Technology
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Fire, Arson and Explosion Investigation
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Homeland Security
Degree Concentrations
- Disaster management
- Intelligence studies
- and Security operations
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Political Science
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BBA in Risk Management & Insurance
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BBA in Finance
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Social Work
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Paralegal Science
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Sport Management
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BBA in Marketing
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Police Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #5 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Kentucky 2025 #6 Most Affordable Colleges in Kentucky 2025 #7 Best Colleges in Kentucky 2024 #2 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity Degree Programs in Kentucky
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
84%
Graduation
58%
Student body
11K
Median SAT/ACT
1077/22
Career Outlook for degree at Murray State University
Cost of Degree: $9,708Expenses: $17,211Starting Salary: $42,300Cost Recoup Time: 12 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Murray State University known for?
Murray State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
Murray State University’s Online Degrees
BS in Agricultural Science
Degree Concentrations
- Agribusiness
- Agriscience Technology
- Required Credits: 169
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA/BS in Human Services
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Cybersecurity and Network Management
Degree Concentrations
- Cybersecurity
- Wireless Communications
- Network and Systems Administration
- Required Credits: 102-104
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Integrated Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Nursing
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #8 Best Online HBCU Doctoral Programs 2025 #15 Best HBCU Online Master's Programs #4 Best Small Colleges in Kentucky 2025 #6 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Kentucky 2025
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
91%
Graduation
32%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
880/17
Career Outlook for degree at Kentucky State University
Cost of Degree: $9,214Expenses: $12,513Starting Salary: $31,300Cost Recoup Time: 13 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Kentucky State University known for?
Kentucky State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Social Work
- Education
- Biology
- Political Science
- Chemistry
- Mathematics
- Criminal Justice
- Literature
- Medical
- Sociology
Most Influential Alumni
Kentucky State University’s Online Degrees
BA in Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Psychology
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #7 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Kentucky 2025 #8 Most Affordable Colleges in Kentucky 2025 #4 Best Online Associate Degrees in Kentucky 2024 #7 Best Online MBA Programs in Kentucky
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
84%
Graduation
47%
Student body
10K
Career Outlook for degree at Morehead State University
Cost of Degree: $9,838Expenses: $12,316Starting Salary: $37,000Cost Recoup Time: 12 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Morehead State University known for?
Morehead State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Mathematics
- Computer Science
- Engineering
- Business
- Education
- Earth Sciences
- History
- Physics
- Biology
- Literature
Most Influential Alumni
Morehead State University’s Online Degrees
BS in Accounting
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Business Administration
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in General Business
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Technology Management
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BUS in University Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
Kentucky’s Best Public College in Your Area of Interest
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.
Check out our directory of public colleges throughout the U.S. for a look at the top public colleges in every state.
