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2024 Best Colleges in Kentucky

38 Colleges
$41,658 Avg Salary*
37% Avg 4-Year Grad Rate*

There are lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Top Kentucky Colleges ranking - to help you make that decision.

After analyzing 38 schools in Kentucky, we came up with our list of those that offered the highest quality education. Instead of depending on subjective information, we focus on over 20 objective factors to determine this ranking. These factors include such things as student-to-faculty ratio, average graduate earnings, and graduation rate.

See what other factors we include in our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

We've developed a number of other tools and rankings to help you make your college decision. Start by filtering this list by location or field of study and then explore our other rankings that feature schools great for different groups of students such as veterans or returnings adults.

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We've created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you're torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another!

Top Colleges in Kentucky

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

1
UK crest
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky

Our 2024 rankings named University of Kentucky the best school in Kentucky in terms of overall quality for students working on their bachelor’s degree. This large public school is located in Lexington, Kentucky, and it awarded 8,208 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from UK is $54,458 during the early years of their career.

Full University of Kentucky Report

2
UofL crest
University of Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky

A rank of #2 on our Best Colleges in Kentucky list means University of Louisville is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in Louisville, Kentucky, the large public school awarded 5,454 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from UofL make an average of $49,875 per year during the early years of their career.

Read More…

3
Centre College of Kentucky crest
Centre College
Danville, Kentucky

The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Centre College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Kentucky. Located in Danville, Kentucky, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 407 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The student-to-faculty rate of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Centre College of Kentucky go into careers with an average salary of $57,976 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Centre College

4
Cumberlands crest
University of the Cumberlands
Williamsburg, Kentucky

A rank of #4 on our Best Colleges in Kentucky list means University of the Cumberlands is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree. University of the Cumberlands is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in Williamsburg, Kentucky that handed out 4,110 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Cumberlands make an average of $41,506 per year during the early years of their career.

Read full report on University of the Cumberlands

5
Bellarmine U crest
Bellarmine University
Louisville, Kentucky

Out of the 38 schools in Kentucky that were part of this year’s ranking, Bellarmine University landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Louisville, Kentucky, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 977 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 3.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% During the early years of their career, graduates from Bellarmine U make an average of $52,312 a year.

Read More…

6
NKU crest
Northern Kentucky University
Highland Heights, Kentucky

Northern Kentucky University landed the #6 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Kentucky ranking. NKU is a fairly large public school situated in Highland Heights, Kentucky. It awarded 3,686 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from NKU is $44,814 during the early years of their career.

Read More…

7
WKU crest
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, Kentucky

With a ranking of #7, Western Kentucky University did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Kentucky list. WKU is a public institution located in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 4,546 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, graduates from WKU make an average of $39,268 a year.

Read full report on Western Kentucky University

8
Campbellsville University crest
Campbellsville University
Campbellsville, Kentucky

Campbellsville University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Kentucky ranking, coming in at #8. Campbellsville University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Campbellsville, Kentucky. It awarded 3,488 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $38,684 during the early years of their career..

Read full report on Campbellsville University

9
Murray State crest
Murray State University
Murray, Kentucky

Murray State University landed the #9 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Kentucky ranking. Murray State University is a medium-sized public school located in Murray, Kentucky that handed out 2,251 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Murray State make an average of $41,894 per year during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Murray State University

10
Eastern crest
Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond, Kentucky

Eastern Kentucky University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Kentucky ranking, coming in at #10. Eastern Kentucky University is a fairly large public school located in Richmond, Kentucky that handed out 3,594 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Eastern go into careers with an average salary of $40,500 during the early years of their career.

Read More…

11
Sullivan University crest
Sullivan University
Louisville, Kentucky

Sullivan University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Kentucky ranking. Sullivan University is a small private for-profit school situated in Louisville, Kentucky. It awarded 930 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The student-to-faculty rate of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. During the early years of their career, graduates from Sullivan University make an average of $33,754 a year.

Read full report on Sullivan University

12
Spalding crest
Spalding University
Louisville, Kentucky

Spalding University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Colleges in Kentucky list. Located in Louisville, Kentucky, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 634 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 4.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Spalding go into careers with an average salary of $47,088 during the early years of their career.

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13
Lindsey Wilson College crest
Lindsey Wilson College
Columbia, Kentucky

Lindsey Wilson College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Kentucky ranking, coming in at #13.Columbia, Kentucky is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 687 students in 2020-2021.

Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Lindsey Wilson College make an average of $32,910 per year during the early years of their career.

Read More…

14
Thomas More crest
Thomas More University
Crestview Hills, Kentucky

Thomas More University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Colleges in Kentucky list.Crestview Hills, Kentucky is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 440 students in 2020-2021.

Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Thomas More go into careers with an average salary of $55,566 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Thomas More University

15
Asbury crest
Asbury University
Wilmore, Kentucky

Asbury University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Colleges in Kentucky list. Asbury University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Wilmore, Kentucky that handed out 429 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Asbury go into careers with an average salary of $41,352 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Asbury University

16
UPIKE crest
University of Pikeville
Pikeville, Kentucky

University of Pikeville ranked #16 on this year’s Best Colleges in Kentucky list. UPIKE is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Pikeville, Kentucky. It awarded 440 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $41,466 during the early years of their career..

Read full report on University of Pikeville

17
Georgetown College crest
Georgetown College
Georgetown, Kentucky

Georgetown College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Kentucky ranking, coming in at #17. Georgetown College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Georgetown, Kentucky that handed out 373 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 4.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown College is $45,697 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Georgetown College

18
Morehead State University crest
Morehead State University
Morehead, Kentucky

Morehead State University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Kentucky ranking. Morehead State University is located in Morehead, Kentucky and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,547 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.

The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Morehead State University is $37,486 during the early years of their career.

Full Morehead State University Report

19

Jefferson Community and Technical College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Kentucky ranking.Louisville, Kentucky is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 4,956 students in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, graduates from Jefferson Community and Technical College make an average of $34,255 a year.

Full Jefferson Community and Technical College Report

20

With a ranking of #20, Bluegrass Community and Technical College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Kentucky list. Bluegrass Community and Technical College is located in Lexington, Kentucky and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6,249 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.

During the early years of their career, graduates from Bluegrass Community and Technical College make an average of $33,097 a year.

Full Bluegrass Community and Technical College Report

21
Midway crest
Midway University
Midway, Kentucky

Midway University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Kentucky ranking. Midway is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Midway, Kentucky. It awarded 328 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Midway make an average of $38,294 per year during the early years of their career.

Read More…

22

Elizabethtown Community and Technical College landed the #22 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Kentucky ranking. Elizabethtown Community and Technical College is a medium-sized public school situated in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. It awarded 2,965 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $32,946 during the early years of their career..

Read More…

23

With a ranking of #23, Gateway Community and Technical College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Kentucky list. Gateway is a public institution located in Florence, Kentucky. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2,876 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Gateway make an average of $36,773 per year during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Gateway Community and Technical College

24

Kentucky Christian University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Kentucky ranking, coming in at #24. Located in Grayson, Kentucky, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 127 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $38,662 during the early years of their career..

Full Kentucky Christian University Report

25
Hopkinsville Community College crest
Hopkinsville Community College
Hopkinsville, Kentucky

Hopkinsville Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Kentucky ranking, coming in at #25. Located in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, the small public school awarded 1,033 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $30,826 during the early years of their career..

Read More…

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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