2026 Best Value General Educational Leadership & Administration Schools in Kentucky

[General Educational Leadership & Administration](/majors/education/educational-administration/educational-leadership-and-administration-general/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 13 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value general educational leadership & administration schools.
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2026 Best Value General Educational Leadership & Administration Schools in Kentucky
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general educational leadership & administration, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Educational Leadership & Administration Schools
Leading the list is Northern Kentucky University, our #1 best value for general educational leadership & administration in Kentucky. Set in the suburb of Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,088 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,912. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates carry a median of $25,572 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general educational leadership & administration degree recipients from Northern Kentucky University generally make around $83,156. That is a strong return on a $25,572 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Murray State University earned it the #2 place for general educational leadership & administration. Located in the town of Murray, Murray State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,900, while out-of-state students pay about $19,836. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates carry a median of $23,420 in student loans. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates of Murray State University earn a median of $53,881 early in their careers. Set against $23,420 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Murray State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Eastern Kentucky University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general educational leadership & administration, landing the #3 spot this year. Eastern Kentucky University is a large public school located in the town of Richmond. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,320, with out-of-state students paying around $21,230. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates carry a median of $25,122 in student loans. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates of Eastern Kentucky University earn a median of $46,812 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,122 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Students looking for strong value in general educational leadership & administration will find it at Western Kentucky University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,652, while out-of-state students pay about $27,000. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates carry a median of $24,499 in student loans. Early-career general educational leadership & administration graduates make about $44,778. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Morehead State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value general educational leadership & administration schools. 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. Students borrow a median of $25,896 to complete the general educational leadership & administration program here. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates of Morehead State University earn a median of $61,304 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,896 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Georgetown College landed the #6 spot for general educational leadership & administration value this year. Set in the town of Georgetown, Georgetown College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $42,840 in tuition and fees. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates carry a median of $26,938 in student loans. Early-career general educational leadership & administration graduates make about $57,378. Set against $26,938 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Pikeville College placed #7 among the best values for general educational leadership & administration. Set in the town of Pikeville, Pikeville College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $24,850. Students borrow a median of $22,966 to complete the general educational leadership & administration program here. Soon after graduation, general educational leadership & administration degree recipients from Pikeville College generally make around $47,813. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Kentucky ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value general educational leadership & administration schools. Located in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,502, compared with $34,140 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,094 to complete the general educational leadership & administration program here. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates of University Of Kentucky earn a median of $57,665 early in their careers. Set against $24,094 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Kentucky admits about 93% of applicants.
Campbellsville University came in at #9 for value in general educational leadership & administration this year. Set in the town of Campbellsville, Campbellsville University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,998. Students borrow a median of $24,148 to complete the general educational leadership & administration program here. Early-career general educational leadership & administration graduates make about $43,474. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Asbury University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value general educational leadership & administration schools. Asbury University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Wilmore. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $33,640. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates carry a median of $28,104 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general educational leadership & administration degree recipients from Asbury University generally make around $68,133. That is a strong return on a $28,104 median debt. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Bellarmine University placed #11 among the best values for general educational leadership & administration. Bellarmine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Louisville. Students from in state pay about $48,770 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,766 to complete the general educational leadership & administration program here. Soon after graduation, general educational leadership & administration degree recipients from Bellarmine University generally make around $46,024. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Union College Kentucky landed the #12 spot for general educational leadership & administration value this year. Located in the town of Barbourville, Union College Kentucky is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $30,946. Typical student debt for general educational leadership & administration graduates is $27,852. Soon after graduation, general educational leadership & administration degree recipients from Union College Kentucky generally make around $54,587. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Spalding University placed #13 among the best values for general educational leadership & administration. Located in the city of Louisville, Spalding University is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $29,000. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates carry a median of $29,862 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general educational leadership & administration degree recipients from Spalding University generally make around $51,978. Set against $29,862 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.