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2024 Best Schools for the Money (No Aid) in Kentucky

39 Colleges
$11,571 Avg Undergrad Tuition & Fees*
$10,068 Avg Room & Board*

It's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. College Factual has developed its Best Colleges for the Money in Kentucky ranking as one thing you can use to help make this decision.

See What's Included in This Value Report:

Choosing the Best School for You

We analyzed 39 schools across Kentucky to determine which have the best value programs. To come up with this ranking of the best value schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. More specifically, the following explains what we consider and why.

Our Methodology

To determine the value of a school in our Best Colleges for the Money in Kentucky ranking, we first add average tuition, fees, and room and board costs (without aid) together. But, a school that excels in providing value for your money must also be a great school overall as well.

To account for this we include a college's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a collection of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.

To learn more, visit our best value ranking methodology page.

Additional Rankings

Keep scrolling for the top schools in this ranking or select one of the other rankings methods below.

With Aid (All Income Levels) Best Value Degrees
With Aid (Income $0-$30k) Best Value Degrees
With Aid (Income $30-$48k) Best Value Degrees
With Aid (Income $48-$75k) Best Value Degrees
With Aid (Income $75-$110k) Best Value Degrees
With Aid (Income Over $110k) Best Value Degrees
Want to see the list of best value schools for families with specific income levels or whether or not aid is being applied? Click on one of the tiles above. Are you more interested in the best value schools in your area? Try narrowing this list by location. Also, you may want to check out our other college rankings.

If you know what major you want to study, check out our list of the best value schools by major. If you're interested in other degree levels, you can view one of the lists below.

Best Value Schools (No Aid) in Kentucky

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

1
Cumberlands crest
University of the Cumberlands
Williamsburg, Kentucky

Our 2024 rankings named University of the Cumberlands the best value (no aid) school in Kentucky. Williamsburg, Kentucky is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.

In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of the Cumberlands is ranked #4 for quality in the state of Kentucky. The average cost without aid for the school is $19,175 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $13,882 per year for graduate students.

Learn More About Value at University of the Cumberlands

2
UofL crest
University of Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky

The quality degree programs at University of Louisville helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of Best Colleges for the Money in Kentucky. UofL is located in Louisville, Kentucky and has a large student population. It is a public school.

University of Louisville has the honor of being ranked #2 in Kentucky for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $22,222 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $23,577 a year.

Full University of Louisville Value Report

3
UK crest
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Kentucky. It ranked #3 on our 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in Kentucky list. UK is a large public school situated in Lexington, Kentucky.

In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Kentucky is ranked #1 for quality in the state of Kentucky. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $26,610 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $27,674 per year for graduate students.

Learn More About Value at University of Kentucky

4
Murray State crest
Murray State University
Murray, Kentucky

A rank of #4 on our Best Colleges for the Money in Kentucky list means Murray State University is a great place for students working on their degree. Murray State is located in Murray, Kentucky and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.

Not only is Murray State University a great value, but it is also ranked #9 in Kentucky for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $19,120 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $19,750 a year.

Full Murray State University Value Report

5
WKU crest
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, Kentucky

Out of the 39 schools in Kentucky that were part of this year’s ranking, Western Kentucky University landed the #5 spot on the list. Western Kentucky University is a fairly large public school located in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Western Kentucky University has the honor of being ranked #6 in Kentucky for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $21,700 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $22,848 per year for graduate students.

Read full value report on Western Kentucky University

6
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Northern Kentucky University
Highland Heights, Kentucky

Northern Kentucky University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in Kentucky ranking. Located in Highland Heights, Kentucky, the school is a fairly large public institution.

Northern Kentucky University has the honor of being ranked #7 in Kentucky for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $21,846 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $21,738 a year.

Read full value report on Northern Kentucky University

7
Eastern crest
Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond, Kentucky

Eastern Kentucky University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money in Kentucky list. Eastern Kentucky University is a fairly large public school located in Richmond, Kentucky.

In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Eastern Kentucky University is ranked #11 for quality in the state of Kentucky. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $19,162 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $19,610 per year for graduate students.

Full Eastern Kentucky University Value Report

8
Campbellsville University crest
Campbellsville University
Campbellsville, Kentucky

Campbellsville University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money in Kentucky list. Campbellsville, Kentucky is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.

Not only is Campbellsville University a great value, but it is also ranked #8 in Kentucky for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $34,280 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $17,653 a year.

Full Campbellsville University Value Report

9

Bluegrass Community and Technical College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money in Kentucky list. Bluegrass Community and Technical College is a medium-sized public school located in Lexington, Kentucky.

Not only is Bluegrass Community and Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #19 in Kentucky for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $12,076 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $7,508 per year for graduate students.

Full Bluegrass Community and Technical College Value Report

10

Jefferson Community and Technical College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in Kentucky ranking. Jefferson Community and Technical College is a fairly large public school situated in Louisville, Kentucky.

Jefferson Community and Technical College has the honor of being ranked #20 in Kentucky for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $12,076 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $7,508 per year for graduate students.

Read full value report on Jefferson Community and Technical College

11
Spalding crest
Spalding University
Louisville, Kentucky

Spalding University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money in Kentucky list. Spalding is a private not-for-profit institution located in Louisville, Kentucky.

Spalding University has the honor of being ranked #10 in Kentucky for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $34,766 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $20,372 a year.

Full Spalding University Value Report

12
Morehead State University crest
Morehead State University
Morehead, Kentucky

Morehead State University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money in Kentucky list. Morehead State University is a medium-sized public school located in Morehead, Kentucky.

Morehead State University has the honor of being ranked #18 in Kentucky for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $19,502 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $20,597 per year for graduate students.

Full Morehead State University Value Report

13
Sullivan University crest
Sullivan University
Louisville, Kentucky

Sullivan University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in Kentucky ranking. This small private for-profit school is located in Louisville, Kentucky.

In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Sullivan University is ranked #13 for quality in the state of Kentucky. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $23,985 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $26,325 a year.

Full Sullivan University Value Report

14

Gateway Community and Technical College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in Kentucky ranking, coming in at #14. This small public school is located in Florence, Kentucky.

Gateway Community and Technical College has the honor of being ranked #23 in Kentucky for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $12,076 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $7,508 per year for graduate students.

Read full value report on Gateway Community and Technical College

15
Madisonville Community College crest
Madisonville Community College
Madisonville, Kentucky

Madisonville Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money in Kentucky list. Madisonville, Kentucky is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.

Madisonville Community College has the honor of being ranked #24 in Kentucky for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $11,996 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $7,508 per year for graduate students.

Read full value report on Madisonville Community College

16

With a ranking of #16, Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in Kentucky list. SKYCTC is a public institution located in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College is ranked #25 for quality in the state of Kentucky. The average cost without aid for the school is $11,996 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $7,508 per year for graduate students.

Full Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College Value Report

17

Elizabethtown Community and Technical College landed the #17 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in Kentucky ranking. Elizabethtown Community and Technical College is a medium-sized public school situated in Elizabethtown, Kentucky.

In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Elizabethtown Community and Technical College is ranked #26 for quality in the state of Kentucky. The average cost without aid for the school is $11,996 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $7,508 a year.

Learn More About Value at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College

18

With a ranking of #18, West Kentucky Community and Technical College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in Kentucky list. This small public school is located in Paducah, Kentucky.

In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, West Kentucky Community and Technical College is ranked #27 for quality in the state of Kentucky. The average cost without aid for the school is $11,996 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $7,508 a year.

Full West Kentucky Community and Technical College Value Report

19
Hopkinsville Community College crest
Hopkinsville Community College
Hopkinsville, Kentucky

Hopkinsville Community College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in Kentucky ranking. Hopkinsville Community College is a public institution located in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.

Hopkinsville Community College has the honor of being ranked #28 in Kentucky for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $11,996 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $7,508 per year for graduate students.

Read full value report on Hopkinsville Community College

20

Owensboro Community and Technical College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in Kentucky ranking. Owensboro Community and Technical College is located in Owensboro, Kentucky and has a small student population. It is a public school.

In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Owensboro Community and Technical College is ranked #30 for quality in the state of Kentucky. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $11,996 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $7,508 a year.

Learn More About Value at Owensboro Community and Technical College

21
Lindsey Wilson College crest
Lindsey Wilson College
Columbia, Kentucky

Lindsey Wilson College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in Kentucky ranking. Lindsey Wilson College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Columbia, Kentucky.

Not only is Lindsey Wilson College a great value, but it is also ranked #14 in Kentucky for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $35,213 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $19,214 a year.

Full Lindsey Wilson College Value Report

22
SCC crest
Somerset Community College
Somerset, Kentucky

Somerset Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in Kentucky ranking, coming in at #22. SCC is a medium-sized public school situated in Somerset, Kentucky.

In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Somerset Community College is ranked #31 for quality in the state of Kentucky. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $11,996 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $7,508 a year.

Learn More About Value at Somerset Community College

23
Georgetown College crest
Georgetown College
Georgetown, Kentucky

Georgetown College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money in Kentucky list. Georgetown, Kentucky is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.

Not only is Georgetown College a great value, but it is also ranked #17 in Kentucky for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $52,190 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $22,735 a year.

Learn More About Value at Georgetown College

24

Ashland Community and Technical College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in Kentucky ranking, coming in at #24. ACTC is a public institution located in Ashland, Kentucky.

Ashland Community and Technical College has the honor of being ranked #33 in Kentucky for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $11,996 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $7,508 a year.

Learn More About Value at Ashland Community and Technical College

25
UPIKE crest
University of Pikeville
Pikeville, Kentucky

University of Pikeville came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in Kentucky ranking. University of Pikeville is a small private not-for-profit school located in Pikeville, Kentucky.

In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Pikeville is ranked #21 for quality in the state of Kentucky. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $30,850 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $16,570 per year for graduate students.

Learn More About Value at University of Pikeville

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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