Best Online Colleges in Kentucky 2024

Badge for BEST ONLINE COLLEGES IN KENTUCKY

Updated: Nov 22, 2023

Find the best online colleges in Kentucky ranked by the academic success of faculty and alumni associated with the colleges and universities and their online degree programs.

Top 10 Online Colleges in Kentucky

University of Kentucky
University of Louisville
Western Kentucky University
Eastern Kentucky University
Northern Kentucky University
Murray State University
Morehead State University
Bellarmine University
Kentucky State University
University of the Cumberlands

University of Kentucky
University of Louisville
Western Kentucky University
Eastern Kentucky University
Murray State University
Northern Kentucky University
Kentucky State University
Morehead State University
Bellarmine University
University of the Cumberlands

Western Kentucky University 97%
University of Kentucky 95%
Kentucky State University 91%
Bellarmine University 88%
Northern Kentucky University 86%
Morehead State University 84%
Murray State University 84%
University of the Cumberlands 83%
University of Louisville 82%
Eastern Kentucky University 64%

Western Kentucky University 18 to 1
University of the Cumberlands 18 to 1
Northern Kentucky University 17 to 1
University of Kentucky 17 to 1
Murray State University 16 to 1
Eastern Kentucky University 16 to 1
Morehead State University 14 to 1
University of Louisville 13 to 1
Bellarmine University 12 to 1
Kentucky State University 11 to 1

Bellarmine University $46,030
University of Louisville $12,324
University of Kentucky $11,496
Western Kentucky University $11,112
Northern Kentucky University $10,208
University of the Cumberlands $9,875
Eastern Kentucky University $9,544
Morehead State University $9,240
Murray State University $8,196
Kentucky State University $7,854

University of Louisville $13,944
Bellarmine University $13,785
University of Kentucky $12,583
Western Kentucky University $12,140
Morehead State University $10,260
Eastern Kentucky University $10,008
Northern Kentucky University $9,900
Murray State University $9,144
Kentucky State University $6,501
University of the Cumberlands $4,282

University of the Cumberlands
Kentucky State University
Bellarmine University
Morehead State University
Murray State University
Northern Kentucky University
Eastern Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University
University of Louisville
University of Kentucky

University of the Cumberlands
Bellarmine University
Morehead State University
Kentucky State University
Northern Kentucky University
Murray State University
Eastern Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University
University of Louisville
University of Kentucky

Eastern Kentucky University 64%
University of Louisville 82%
University of the Cumberlands 83%
Murray State University 84%
Morehead State University 84%
Northern Kentucky University 86%
Bellarmine University 88%
Kentucky State University 91%
University of Kentucky 95%
Western Kentucky University 97%

Kentucky State University 11 to 1
Bellarmine University 12 to 1
University of Louisville 13 to 1
Morehead State University 14 to 1
Murray State University 16 to 1
Eastern Kentucky University 16 to 1
Northern Kentucky University 17 to 1
University of Kentucky 17 to 1
Western Kentucky University 18 to 1
University of the Cumberlands 18 to 1

Kentucky State University $7,854
Murray State University $8,196
Morehead State University $9,240
Eastern Kentucky University $9,544
University of the Cumberlands $9,875
Northern Kentucky University $10,208
Western Kentucky University $11,112
University of Kentucky $11,496
University of Louisville $12,324
Bellarmine University $46,030

University of the Cumberlands $4,282
Kentucky State University $6,501
Murray State University $9,144
Northern Kentucky University $9,900
Eastern Kentucky University $10,008
Morehead State University $10,260
Western Kentucky University $12,140
University of Kentucky $12,583
Bellarmine University $13,785
University of Louisville $13,944

Key Takeaways

Kentucky’s straightforward residency requirements make it easier for students to pursue the state’s best online colleges and universities, with no 12-month residency requirement.
The state features some of the best online universities in the country that are often distinguished by different school-ranking publications, including Western Kentucky University, The University of Kentucky, Brescia University, Morehead State University, and Murray State University.
Financial aid opportunities are abundant in Kentucky, which allows in-state and out-of-state students to complete their online academic programs with fewer financial obligations.

Table of Contents

Featured Programs

Cost of Attending Online Academic Programs in Kentucky

Several online schools in Kentucky provide in-state residents with various financial aid options. Some schools also extend in-state tuition benefits to students of neighboring states. Many schools also offer flat-rate tuition for students regardless of their residency status.

Although online programs have different fees, students may benefit from reduced expenses, such as food, housing, and transportation and parking fees.

As an overview, the National Center for Education Statistics reports the following undergraduate tuition for Kentucky:

Public 4-Year Institution

$22,317 (In-State)
$25,049 (Out-of-State)

Private 4-Year Institution

$36,275 (In-State)

Public 2-Year Institution

$4,517 (In-State)
$15,262 (Out-of-State)

Is Kentucky ideal for out-of-state students?

Given Kentucky’s affordability, many out-of-state learners consider attending online academic programs. Kentucky is a member state of the SREB or Southern Regional Education Board, an initiative of 16 states that permits students residing in other member states to enroll in a specialized program through a Kentucky college or university and pay in-state tuition rates.

The reciprocity agreement also allows students to pursue academic degrees from any Kentucky online college or university in the program. Before enrolling, out-of-state learners should verify if their school has obtained authorization to accommodate students from other states.

SREB’s Academic Common Market allows students to enroll in certain online academic programs through out-of-state member colleges and universities and still pay in-state tuition.

ACM comprises 15 states and 2,000+ undergraduate and graduate programs, providing access to online degrees nationwide that allow students to boost their academic and professional development.

Accreditation for Online Colleges and Universities in Kentucky

Before pursuing an academic program in an online college or university in Kentucky, make sure that the school is regionally accredited. Accreditation status guarantees that particular academic and professional standards of quality are met. Accreditation is also necessary for the student to be able to receive Federal financial aid.

The country’s highest form of accreditation should come from regional accreditation agencies. Aspiring traditional students and online learners in fully online programs should check if the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges accredits their prospective online school in Kentucky.

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

Online education has grown dramatically in quality, credibility, and popularity over the last two decades. Today, more than a quarter of all college students are taking at least one online course. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there are more than 5 million college students who are pursuing their undergraduate degree fully online. And the number of online college and graduate students continues to grow as online technology and instructional methods improve.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, access to remote learning has proven an essential part of the educational ecosystem. Schools that offer primarily online degree programs saw an increase of 7% enrollment just between Fall 2020 and Spring 2021. The number of traditional institutions offering online courses and degrees is growing as well. This all paints a promising picture for the future of online education. But it also produces a dizzying array of options.

Frequently Asked Questions About Best Online Colleges 2024

Asynchronous learning means classes don’t meet at set times. This is the most flexible online learning experience, making when you cover your course material up to you. Most asynchronous online courses will still have deadlines throughout the semester for various assignments and tests. Some asynchronous classes may still ask for an occasional meeting, such as initial meet-and-greets, and in some cases there may be scheduled test times. The idea of asynchronous learning is to allow the student to manage their schedules as needed.

Synchronous learning means you will have scheduled meeting times for your online classes. Synchronous learning gives online students the flexibility of location while also giving students a chance to engage with each other and their professors. For many online students, the structured class schedules and ability to see and hear from peers in real-time helps create the learning experience they want.

Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable institutions and less-than-reputable for-profit schools. Accreditation gives you the power to differentiate between the two. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency which indicates that a college or university is meeting standards of quality, credibility, and currency. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.

Attending a college or university which is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. When seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that students opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree.

As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited, you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer. In many cases, you will be required to navigate a bureaucracy in which some of your credits will be transferred and others will be jettisoned. However, provided that you have attended an online school with the proper regional accreditation, you should have plenty of options for transfer.

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript or resume differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

While some employers may express concern about making the adjustment from online education to in-person workplace collaboration, many other employers will view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st Century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

The advantages of online classes are many. First and foremost, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities—educational experiences that you can complete on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

10 Best Online Colleges in Kentucky

Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions

If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require a time of adjustment. Although you’ll typically learn the same material and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, going online will require greater independence and responsibility than going in person. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, for harnessing the online educational technology that you’ll need to use, and for completing the course requirements, such as listening to lectures, learning lessons, reading texts, and handing in assignments. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take the initiative in building relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online college, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.

No. The only part of online education that’s easier than campus-based education is ease of access: all you need is a computer and an internet connection for online education. But even this seeming advantage of online education can be misleading: what’s easier, studying online with your computer and internet connection from your home where you need to cook, clean, pay rent, and maintain a job? Or studying on campus in a dorm where all your living needs are handled by the school, and college staff are there to help you every step of the way?

If you take the commute to campus out of the equation, campus-based education is easier. All the support structures available on campus for students, especially with real people to help you in person, are not there online. The demands on you as an online student will largely be the same as for your campus-based counterpart, but without the same helps.

In general, your online courses will present the same material and test you in the same way as traditional in-person courses. In many cases, you’ll even have the same instructors as your on-campus counterparts. In fact, if you are adjusting to the experience of independent learning with remote educational technology for the first time, online college may be considerably more challenging than campus-based college. For a few insights on how to manage this new online experience, check out our 10 Tips for Adjusting to School Online.

Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable non-profit institutions on the one end and less-than-reputable for-profit institutions on the other end. Accreditation gives you the power to identify the more reputable actors in online education. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency indicating that a college or university is meeting standards of quality and credibility. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.

Attending a college or university that is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. For students seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that they opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree. For more on this important topic, check out our What is Accreditation and Why Does It Matter? College & University Accreditation Guide.

As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited (see the previous point), you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer of credits. In many cases, you will encounter some bureaucratic haggling in which some of your credits will be transferred and others may be refused. However, provided that you have attended an online school with recognized regional accreditation, you should be in good shape in transferring your credits earned online.

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript, or resumé differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

Some employers may express the concern that because you did your degree online, you may need to transition from an online education experience to in-person workplace experience. But in an age of Covid, that concern seems much diminished. The fact is that much employment these days is remote. And collaboration increasingly happens online over Zoom. Many employers will therefore view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will be less than ideal for you (though depending on your circumstances, it may also be the only viable option).

While there is much in traditional campus-based education that can be substituted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing that can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual in-person classroom setting. As you transition to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face in getting the most out of your online classes is overcoming this difference between “real reality” and “virtual reality.” Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.

The advantages of online classes are many. Above all, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities-educational experiences that you can complete at your own pace and on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

Whether you’re just getting started on your college search, you’re looking for survival tips on your way to a bachelor’s degree, or you’re preparing for the transition into grad school, we’ve got guides, how to’s and tons of other valuable resources to keep you moving forward in your educational journey.

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Best Online Colleges in Kentucky 2024

Top 10 Online Colleges in Kentucky

Key Takeaways

Featured Programs

Cost of Attending Online Academic Programs in Kentucky

Is Kentucky ideal for out-of-state students?

Accreditation for Online Colleges and Universities in Kentucky

Colleges and Universities in Kentucky

What are Kentucky’s Colleges & Universities?

10 Best Online Colleges in Kentucky

Career Outlook for degree at University of Kentucky

Online Bachelor's Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at University of Louisville

Online Bachelor's Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Western Kentucky University

Online Bachelor's Degrees

Concentrations

Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Eastern Kentucky University

Online Bachelor's Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Northern Kentucky University

Online Bachelor's Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Murray State University

Online Bachelor's Degrees

Concentrations

Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Morehead State University

Online Bachelor's Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Bellarmine University

Online Bachelor's Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Kentucky State University

Online Bachelor's Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at University of the Cumberlands

Online Bachelor's Degrees

Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions

What can I expect from an online college course?+

Is online college easier than campus-based college?+

Why does accreditation matter in online college?+

Will I be able to transfer my online college degree?+

Will employers respect my online degree?+

What are the disadvantages of online classes?+

What are the advantages of online classes?+

Resources for Online College-Bound Students