2026 Best Value Business, Management & Marketing Schools in Kentucky
[Business, Management & Marketing](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong business, management & marketing education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 49 schools to find the best return on investment for business, management & marketing students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Business, Management & Marketing Schools in Kentucky
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in business, management & marketing, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Business, Management & Marketing Schools
Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College earned the #1 spot for value among business, management & marketing schools in Kentucky. Set in the city of Bowling Green, Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for business, management & marketing graduates is $14,645. Business, Management & Marketing graduates of Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College earn a median of $33,087 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in business, management & marketing will find it at Owensboro Community And Technical College, which ranked #2. Located in the rural area of Owensboro, Owensboro Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Typical student debt for business, management & marketing graduates is $8,018. Business, Management & Marketing graduates of Owensboro Community And Technical College earn a median of $40,065 early in their careers. Set against $8,018 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Berea College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value business, management & marketing schools. Located in the town of Berea, Berea College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $51,658 in tuition and fees. Business, Management & Marketing graduates carry a median of $5,801 in student loans. Early-career business, management & marketing graduates make about $31,428. Set against $5,801 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 19% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Hazard Community And Technical College one of the best values for business, management & marketing. Hazard Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Hazard. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Business, Management & Marketing graduates carry a median of $12,212 in student loans. Early-career business, management & marketing graduates make about $32,626. That is a strong return on a $12,212 median debt.
Somerset Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in business, management & marketing, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the town of Somerset, Somerset Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Typical student debt for business, management & marketing graduates is $16,083. Business, Management & Marketing graduates of Somerset Community College earn a median of $34,180 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hopkinsville Community College landed the #6 spot for business, management & marketing value this year. Set in the town of Hopkinsville, Hopkinsville Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Students borrow a median of $13,269 to complete the business, management & marketing program here. Soon after graduation, business, management & marketing degree recipients from Hopkinsville Community College generally make around $43,678. That is a strong return on a $13,269 median debt.
Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College came in at #7 for value in business, management & marketing this year. Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Cumberland. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Typical student debt for business, management & marketing graduates is $9,687. Soon after graduation, business, management & marketing degree recipients from Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College generally make around $35,946. Set against $9,687 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
West Kentucky Community And Technical College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value business, management & marketing schools. Set in the city of Paducah, West Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Typical student debt for business, management & marketing graduates is $12,339. Early-career business, management & marketing graduates make about $28,109. That is a strong return on a $12,339 median debt.
Ashland Community And Technical College earned the #9 position for value in business, management & marketing this year. Located in the city of Ashland, Ashland Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Business, Management & Marketing graduates carry a median of $20,584 in student loans. Early-career business, management & marketing graduates make about $35,679. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Big Sandy Community And Technical College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value business, management & marketing schools. Big Sandy Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Prestonsburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Students borrow a median of $9,000 to complete the business, management & marketing program here. Soon after graduation, business, management & marketing degree recipients from Big Sandy Community And Technical College generally make around $33,956. That is a strong return on a $9,000 median debt.
Henderson Community College placed #11 among the best values for business, management & marketing. Set in the rural area of Henderson, Henderson Community College is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Students borrow a median of $9,457 to complete the business, management & marketing program here. Early-career business, management & marketing graduates make about $40,259. Set against $9,457 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Gateway Community And Technical College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value business, management & marketing schools. Gateway Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Florence. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Typical student debt for business, management & marketing graduates is $13,197. Soon after graduation, business, management & marketing degree recipients from Gateway Community And Technical College generally make around $41,482. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Elizabethtown Community And Technical College placed #13 among the best values for business, management & marketing. Located in the city of Elizabethtown, Elizabethtown Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Business, Management & Marketing graduates carry a median of $13,517 in student loans. Early-career business, management & marketing graduates make about $39,979. Set against $13,517 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Maysville Community And Technical College earned the #14 position for value in business, management & marketing this year. Maysville Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Maysville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Students borrow a median of $19,436 to complete the business, management & marketing program here. Early-career business, management & marketing graduates make about $33,107. That is a strong return on a $19,436 median debt.
Northern Kentucky University came in at #15 for value in business, management & marketing this year. Located in the suburb of Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,088, with out-of-state students paying around $21,912. Business, Management & Marketing graduates carry a median of $22,575 in student loans. Soon after graduation, business, management & marketing degree recipients from Northern Kentucky University generally make around $45,924. Set against $22,575 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Bluegrass Community And Technical College placed #16 among the best values for business, management & marketing. Set in the city of Lexington, Bluegrass Community And Technical College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,808, compared with $6,512 for out-of-state students. Business, Management & Marketing graduates carry a median of $13,543 in student loans. Soon after graduation, business, management & marketing degree recipients from Bluegrass Community And Technical College generally make around $35,455. That is a strong return on a $13,543 median debt.
Madisonville Community College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value business, management & marketing schools. Set in the town of Madisonville, Madisonville Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Typical student debt for business, management & marketing graduates is $10,985. Business, Management & Marketing graduates of Madisonville Community College earn a median of $26,090 early in their careers. Set against $10,985 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Jefferson Community And Technical College earned the #18 position for value in business, management & marketing this year. Jefferson Community And Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Louisville. In-state tuition and fees average $4,808, compared with $6,512 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,904 to complete the business, management & marketing program here. Business, Management & Marketing graduates of Jefferson Community And Technical College earn a median of $38,416 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,904 median debt.
Murray State University earned the #19 position for value in business, management & marketing this year. Murray State University is a large public school located in the town of Murray. In-state tuition and fees average $9,900, while out-of-state students pay about $19,836. Students borrow a median of $20,998 to complete the business, management & marketing program here. Early-career business, management & marketing graduates make about $42,188. That is a strong return on a $20,998 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Kentucky State University earned the #20 position for value in business, management & marketing this year. Located in the town of Frankfort, Kentucky State University is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,387, compared with $13,578 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for business, management & marketing graduates is $30,750. Early-career business, management & marketing graduates make about $28,497. That is a strong return on a $30,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Eastern Kentucky University placed #21 among the best values for business, management & marketing. Set in the town of Richmond, Eastern Kentucky University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,320 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,230. Typical student debt for business, management & marketing graduates is $24,676. Early-career business, management & marketing graduates make about $42,278. Set against $24,676 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Eastern Kentucky University admits about 78% of applicants.
Western Kentucky University came in at #22 for value in business, management & marketing this year. Western Kentucky University is a large public school located in the city of Bowling Green. In-state tuition and fees average $11,652, with out-of-state students paying around $27,000. Business, Management & Marketing graduates carry a median of $24,151 in student loans. Soon after graduation, business, management & marketing degree recipients from Western Kentucky University generally make around $53,516. Set against $24,151 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Western Kentucky University admits about 94% of applicants.
University Of The Cumberlands ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value business, management & marketing schools. Located in the town of Williamsburg, University Of The Cumberlands is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,875. Business, Management & Marketing graduates carry a median of $21,979 in student loans. Early-career business, management & marketing graduates make about $72,394. That is a strong return on a $21,979 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Morehead State University earned the #24 position for value in business, management & marketing this year. Morehead State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Morehead. Students from in state pay about $10,024 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,980. Typical student debt for business, management & marketing graduates is $25,776. Early-career business, management & marketing graduates make about $37,387. That is a strong return on a $25,776 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Georgetown College earned the #25 position for value in business, management & marketing this year. Located in the town of Georgetown, Georgetown College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,840. Business, Management & Marketing graduates carry a median of $26,938 in student loans. Early-career business, management & marketing graduates make about $43,752. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 42 Best Value Business, Management & Marketing Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s business, management & marketing value ranking:
More Business, Management & Marketing Rankings
View All Business, Management & Marketing Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 49 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 30 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
