Most Affordable Colleges in Kentucky 2023

Most Affordable Colleges in Kentucky 2023

By James Barham

Published: Mar 25, 2021
Updated: Mar 13, 2023

Here are the most affordable colleges and universities in Kentucky. Our list will help you find the right kind of school for you, at a price you can afford.

10 Most Affordable Colleges in Kentucky 2022

University of Kentucky

58%

University of Louisville

54%

Western Kentucky University

38%

Eastern Kentucky University

34%

Northern Kentucky University

31%

Murray State University

31%

Kentucky State University

30%

Morehead State University

29%

University of the Cumberlands

23%

Sullivan University

21%

Western Kentucky University

98%

Eastern Kentucky University

98%

University of Kentucky

94%

Morehead State University

90%

Murray State University

85%

University of the Cumberlands

85%

Northern Kentucky University

80%

University of Louisville

75%

Kentucky State University

65%

Alice Lloyd College

36%

Alice Lloyd College

21 to 1

University of the Cumberlands

20 to 1

University of Louisville

19 to 1

Western Kentucky University

19 to 1

Northern Kentucky University

18 to 1

Murray State University

17 to 1

University of Kentucky

16 to 1

Eastern Kentucky University

15 to 1

Morehead State University

15 to 1

Kentucky State University

14 to 1

Alice Lloyd College

$14,230

Sullivan University

$13,500

University of Louisville

$12,174

University of Kentucky

$11,247

Western Kentucky University

$10,992

Northern Kentucky University

$10,008

University of the Cumberlands

$9,875

Eastern Kentucky University

$9,452

Morehead State University

$9,082

Murray State University

$8,040

Sullivan University

$15,840

University of Louisville

$13,524

University of Kentucky

$12,311

Western Kentucky University

$12,140

Morehead State University

$10,260

Eastern Kentucky University

$9,900

Northern Kentucky University

$9,900

Murray State University

$8,982

Kentucky State University

$7,560

University of the Cumberlands

$4,282

Alice Lloyd College

17%

Sullivan University

21%

University of the Cumberlands

23%

Morehead State University

29%

Kentucky State University

30%

Murray State University

31%

Northern Kentucky University

31%

Eastern Kentucky University

34%

Western Kentucky University

38%

University of Louisville

54%

Alice Lloyd College

36%

Kentucky State University

65%

University of Louisville

75%

Northern Kentucky University

80%

University of the Cumberlands

85%

Murray State University

85%

Morehead State University

90%

University of Kentucky

94%

Eastern Kentucky University

98%

Western Kentucky University

98%

Sullivan University

10 to 1

Kentucky State University

14 to 1

Eastern Kentucky University

15 to 1

Morehead State University

15 to 1

University of Kentucky

16 to 1

Murray State University

17 to 1

Northern Kentucky University

18 to 1

University of Louisville

19 to 1

Western Kentucky University

19 to 1

University of the Cumberlands

20 to 1

Kentucky State University

$7,700

Murray State University

$8,040

Morehead State University

$9,082

Eastern Kentucky University

$9,452

University of the Cumberlands

$9,875

Northern Kentucky University

$10,008

Western Kentucky University

$10,992

University of Kentucky

$11,247

University of Louisville

$12,174

Sullivan University

$13,500

University of the Cumberlands

$4,282

Kentucky State University

$7,560

Murray State University

$8,982

Eastern Kentucky University

$9,900

Northern Kentucky University

$9,900

Morehead State University

$10,260

Western Kentucky University

$12,140

University of Kentucky

$12,311

University of Louisville

$13,524

Sullivan University

$15,840

Key Takeaways

Kentucky offers numerous scholarship and grant opportunities to students who need support.
For those students who call Kentucky home, attending an in-state school will almost always be more affordable than attending a college outside the state.
Kentucky is known for its Academic Common Market Program, an initiative that allows students from 14 other states to pay in-state tuition while attending a participating college outside the state.

Kentucky’s Inexpensive Higher Education

Kentucky, the Bluegrass State, and the 13^th smallest state in the US has some of the best universities and colleges in the world. These schools promise student success, and in many cases, deliver a quality education that is inexpensive as well.

With more than 54 universities, the state provides students with impressive academic quality in the bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and doctoral degrees of their choosing, as well as a positive campus life experience.

While there are numerous schools and degree programs offered in the state of Kentucky, there may be instances when a specific degree program is not offered at a school in the state. In these cases, the Commonwealth does offer a special incentive program in agreement with a number of other surrounding states.

The Academic Common Market allows students to attend college in other states, while still paying an in-state tuition rate when attending a college with an approved degree program that is not offered in Kentucky. Curently there are more than 230 such degree programs.

Louisville and Frankfort, two cities in Kentucky, offer social atmospheres and inspirational environments that students will love to learn in. And since the state is bordered by the Ohio River and Mississippi River, the scenic areas of the state give students a very stimulating environment that allows them to receive the best education.

Kentucky Scholarships in Top Kentucky Colleges

While the cost of college attendance in Kentucky varies, the state offers a handful of scholarships that will certainly help cut down the cost of schooling. Below are some of the most popular ones.

George T. Lilly Industrial Arts Scholarship: This is for undergraduate students enrolled at Murray State University and majoring in Industrial Technology Education. To qualify for this academic support, students should have at least a 3.0 GPA.

Jacobs Eagle Athletic Scholarship: This is a scholarship for full-time undergraduates enrolled at Morehead State University who are players on the school’s football team.

Lewis & Ann Piper Scholarship: This is open for non-traditional undergraduate students over 60 years old and attending full-time at Midway College. Men can take offerings at the School for Career Development, while women may take any class for audit or credit.

Evelyn F. Knicely Scholarship: This is an annual award for college seniors or juniors attending Western Kentucky University - Gordon Ford College of Business majoring in Business Administration. To qualify for these financial aid packages, students must demonstrate academic achievement and prove financial needs.

Making Attending Kentucky Colleges Affordable

Earning a Kentucky college education or attending graduate school in the state is undeniably expensive. But affordable education is possible, particularly through programs that support students to obtain a nearly free education.

Attend an In-State Public University: You can save a lot of money if you attend college in your home state. Colleges assume that your family pays your taxes in your state. Those taxes are then used to support education for in-state students. Barring state agreements, which are common among public colleges in neighboring states, out-of-state college students tend to pay three times as much in tuition fees—rates that are closer to those of private colleges.

Start at a Community College: This is the most affordable way to earn your bachelor’s degree. In a community college, you will only pay a fraction of what you will usually pay at traditional four-year institutions. In 2020-2021, community college students only paid $3,770 (average) for the whole year.

Stay Away from For-Profit Colleges: For-profit colleges make promises to potential students thru deceptive marketing practices, but later fail to graduate or connect them to promised job opportunities

.

This is the very reason why these colleges have come under scrutiny from policymakers and educators, saying that these schools target underserved students. At present, the default loan rates for for-profit college students are twice the rates that students attending a public two-year college pay.

Apply For Financial Aid Ahead of Time: College tuition is very pricey, but many students do not necessarily pay the full price. The Department of Education asserts that roughly 40% of students from families who earn less than $125,000 each year receive enough financial aid to cover their full tuition at public universities.

Federal student aid helps make college affordable. However, the complex paperwork, coupled with unclear deadlines, works against underserved students. Those who need financial assistance should apply early to ensure they get financial aid. Early compliance and submission of the FAFSA also raises the chances of getting connected to other grants and state-based merit aid programs.

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?

Kentucky’s Best Overall

Kentucky's Most Affordable Colleges and Universities Badge — Download Badge

How do we determine Kentucky's best affordable colleges and universities?

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great! If you are serious about finding the best colleges and universities for a bachelor’s degree, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching and whether their graduates are themselves advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence in their fields of study.

Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Concentrated Influence provides a ranking that is freer from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

To rank the influence of schools, we first determine the influence of scholars and professionals based on the number of citations and publications they have had over the past 10 years. In addition to publications and citations, we consider the web links to and from these sources, and the page views of those sources. We then match the influential people to their alma maters and institutions of employment, so that their influence is attributed to those schools. Our machine-learning Influence Ranking algorithm produces a numerical score of academic achievements, merits, and citations across Wikipedia, wikidata, Crossref, Semantic Scholar and an ever-growing body of data. If you are interested in exploring how and why we rank by influence, explore our methodology in more depth.

There are 11 colleges and universities in Kentucky with stated tuitions and fees under $20,000/year. The following list of the most affordable colleges and universities in Kentucky is composed entirely of schools offering bachelor’s degree programs, have stated tuition and fees near or under the national average of $16,000/year, and are fully accredited colleges.

Most Affordable Colleges in Kentucky 2022

These schools are ranked by academic excellence, and all under $20,000/year.

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