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.
Kentucky, the Bluegrass State, and the 13th 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
These schools are ranked by academic excellence, and all under $20,000/year.
Tuition + fees
$13K
Acceptance
94%
Graduation
68%
Student body
25K
Median SAT/ACT
1175/25
University of Kentucky’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
75%
Graduation
62%
Student body
17K
Median SAT/ACT
1160/24
University of Louisville’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
98%
Graduation
54%
Student body
14K
Median SAT/ACT
1080/22
Western Kentucky University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
98%
Graduation
48%
Student body
12K
Median SAT/ACT
1060/22
Eastern Kentucky University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
80%
Graduation
48%
Student body
12K
Median SAT/ACT
1075/23
Northern Kentucky University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
85%
Graduation
56%
Student body
8K
Median SAT/ACT
1125/24
Murray State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
90%
Graduation
45%
Student body
7K
Morehead State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
85%
Graduation
48%
Student body
16K
Median SAT/ACT
1035/21
University of the Cumberlands’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
65%
Graduation
37%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
955/17
Kentucky State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$14K
Graduation
20%
Student body
2K
Sullivan University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$14K
Acceptance
36%
Graduation
29%
Student body
<1K
Median SAT/ACT
930/18
Alice Lloyd College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in: