Best Research Universities in Kentucky 2025

Badge for BEST IN KENTUCKY RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES
By Dr. James Barham
Reviewed By Jenn Finley
Published:
Updated:

Key Takeaways

  • We’ve identified seven of the best research universities in Kentucky that invest heavily in research and provide extensive opportunities for students to participate in research.
  • Attending a research university in Kentucky is a great option for students interested in obtaining STEM degrees.
  • Many of the research universities in this ranking are well known across the country and have well established alumni networks.

Best Research Universities in Kentucky 2025

  1. University of Kentucky
  2. University of Louisville
  3. Western Kentucky University
  4. Northern Kentucky University
  5. Bellarmine University
  6. University of the Cumberlands
  7. Spalding University

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.

There were no changes in our 2025 ranking of the best research universities in Kentucky.

For 2025, UK is offering an unprecedented $175 million in financial aid, aimed at boosting student retention and graduation rates by alleviating financial burdens, which is especially beneficial for those focused on research and academics.

U of L has added a new $90 million, 114,000-square-foot engineering building at the J.B. Speed School of Engineering. This state-of-the-art facility, featuring high-tech labs, classrooms, and a makerspace, and will focus on emerging fields like renewable energy, cybersecurity, and advanced manufacturing.

Related: Differences between research universities and teaching colleges

A research university is a great option for students interested in obtaining STEM degrees. Research universities invest heavily in research, which consequently provides meaningful and extensive opportunities for its students and faculty to participate in research. We’ve identified 7 research universities in Kentucky. To be included in our ranking, schools must be a fully accredited universities and must must offer doctoral degrees across the range of STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math).

Best Research Universities in Kentucky 2025

  1. #1

    University of Kentucky

    Lexington , KY
    #14 15 Best Online Colleges for Veterans to Start Their Careers #1 Most Affordable Colleges in Kentucky 2025 #1 Best Grad Schools in Kentucky 2025 #1 Best Public Colleges in Kentucky 2025
    Other Rankings

    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: $13,212
    Expenses: $21,886
    Starting Salary: $54,000
    Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What 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
    Compare school
  2. #2

    University of Louisville

    Louisville , KY
    #2 Most Affordable Colleges in Kentucky 2025 #2 Best Grad Schools in Kentucky 2025 #2 Best Public Colleges in Kentucky 2025 #2 Best Colleges in Kentucky 2024
    Other Rankings

    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: $12,828
    Expenses: $20,878
    Starting Salary: $48,600
    Cost Recoup Time: 13 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is University of Louisville known for?

    University of Louisville’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    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
    Compare school
  3. #3

    Western Kentucky University

    Bowling Green , KY
    #3 Most Affordable Colleges in Kentucky 2025 #3 Best Public Colleges in Kentucky 2025 #3 Best Colleges in Kentucky 2024 #5 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024
    Other Rankings

    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: $11,436
    Expenses: $15,452
    Starting Salary: $38,600
    Cost Recoup Time: 13 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What 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
    Compare school
  4. #4

    Northern Kentucky University

    Highland Heights , KY
    #3 Best Grad Schools in Kentucky 2025 #4 Most Affordable Colleges in Kentucky 2025 #4 Best Public Colleges in Kentucky 2025 #6 Best Colleges in Kentucky 2024
    Other Rankings

    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: $10,896
    Expenses: $14,960
    Starting Salary: $41,800
    Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Northern Kentucky University known for?

    Northern Kentucky University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    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
    Compare school
  7. #6

    University of the Cumberlands

    Williamsburg , KY
    #5 Best Grad Schools in Kentucky 2025 #6 Best Christian Colleges in Kentucky 2024 #7 Best Private Colleges in Kentucky 2025 #9 Most Affordable Colleges in Kentucky 2025
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $10K

    Acceptance

    83%

    Graduation

    44%

    Student body

    25K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1060/19

    Career Outlook for degree at University of the Cumberlands

    Cost of Degree: $9,875
    Expenses: $16,268
    Starting Salary: $38,200
    Cost Recoup Time: 13 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is University of the Cumberlands known for?

    University of the Cumberlands’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

    University of the Cumberlands’s Online Degrees

    BS/BA in Applied Science
    Degree Concentrations
    • Accounting
    • Allied Health
    • Business Administration
    • Coaching
    • Criminal Justice
    • General Studies
    • Human Services
    • Information Technology
    • Missions and Ministries
    • Public Health
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Applied Science in Coaching
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Accounting
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BAS in Human Services
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BAS in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Elementary Education
    Degree Concentrations
    • English/Communications
    • Interdisciplinary
    • Social and Behavioral Studies
    • Special Education*
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Applied Science in Business Administration
    Degree Concentrations
    • Business Administration
    • Finance
    • Strategic Marketing
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BAS in General Studies
    • Required Credits: 27
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BAS in Missions and Ministry
    • Required Credits: 122
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Applied Science in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Nursing
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: None Reported
    BAS in Information Technology
    Degree Concentrations
    • Cybersecurity
    • Infrastructure
    • Management
    • Software Engineering
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS/BAS in Psychology
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Information Technology
    Degree Concentrations
    • Cybersecurity
    • Infrastructure
    • Management
    • Software Engineering
    • Required Credits: 128
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  8. #7

    Spalding University

    Louisville , KY
    #6 Best Grad Schools in Kentucky 2025 #8 Best Christian Colleges in Kentucky 2024 #9 Best Private Colleges in Kentucky 2025 #9 Best Small Colleges in Kentucky 2025

    Tuition + fees

    $27K

    Acceptance

    98%

    Graduation

    45%

    Student body

    2K

    Median SAT/ACT

    981/19

    Career Outlook for degree at Spalding University

    Cost of Degree: $27,672
    Expenses: $17,494
    Starting Salary: $48,300
    Cost Recoup Time: 15 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Spalding University known for?

    Spalding University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

    Compare school
Back to Top

Find the Best Research Universities in Kentucky for Your Area of Interest

Anthropology Biology Business Chemistry Commun­ications Computer Science Criminal Justice Earth Sciences Economics Education Engineering History Law Literature Mathematics Medical Nursing Philosophy Physics Political Science Psychology Religious Studies Social Work Sociology

Frequently Asked Questions About Research Universities, Liberal Arts Colleges, Online Colleges

In pursuing a bachelor’s degree, you will need to choose between three kinds of schools: research universities, liberal arts colleges, and online colleges.

Research universities are colleges and universities whose faculty are active in research and publishing. Research universities offer a wide array of doctoral programs, especially in the sciences. They tend to be big, with tens of thousands of students.

Do you prefer a larger university setting, such as largest public university in your state? Research universities are typically big, offering degrees in many different disciplines.

Is a big high-powered research environment the thing for you? If not, you should think about a liberal arts college. In deciding on an undergraduate institution, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel.

  • Consider whether you are self motivated enough to be a face in the crowd for some classes and largely unknown on campus at a large university. Of course you can find clubs and friends at a large university, but often liberal arts colleges have a more personal quality to them. If you want the community feel, a research university may not fit you well.
  • Are you interested in STEM fields? Research universities have that name for a reason – real research is happening there. This can create an exciting atmosphere for students interested in STEM. Attending a research university can give you a better chance of getting into better programs for graduate degrees, although a lot of that depends on your performance.
Back to Top

Learn more about research universities by reading about the best research universities in the US.

Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges put a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree.

  • Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students.

    • Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom).

  • Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships and make walks across campus more fun. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers.

    • Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment.

Back to Top

Learn more about liberal arts colleges by reading about the best liberal arts colleges in the US.

If you think a liberal arts college may be a better fit for you, see our ranking of the best liberal arts colleges for a bachelor’s in mathematics.

Online colleges are typically the same colleges and universities you could attend in-person, but for certain degree programs the college or unviersity has made the degree programs available to be completed online. For over 5 million students, online degree programs allow students to earn their degrees in the most flexible format available.

Online degrees are as respected as the on-campus degrees you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no distinction between the two degrees, and your degree and transcript will not say that the degree was earned online.

Online degree programs are offered by a vast majority of colleges and universities, and the number of offering continues to grow. Whether you are searching for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, there’s a good chance you can earn your degree online from a respectable online college.

  • Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands.

    • Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain.

  • Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands of balancing work and life, or because the online college affords them the chance to attend a better school without moving.

    • If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are asynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc.

  • The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates. In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors.

    • Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions.

If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer, or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you. In either case, you will find well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

Back to Top

Check out our directory of research universities throughout the U.S. for a look at the top research institutions in every state.

Do you have a question about this topic? Ask it here