2027 Best Value Education Schools in Kentucky
[Education](/majors/education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong education education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 26 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for education students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Education Schools in Kentucky
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Education Schools
Hazard Community And Technical College tops our 2027 list of the best value education schools in Kentucky. Hazard Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Hazard. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,212 to complete the education program here. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Hazard Community And Technical College generally make around $32,626. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in education will find it at Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College, which ranked #2. Located in the rural area of Cumberland, Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Typical student debt for education graduates is $9,687. Education graduates of Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College earn a median of $35,946 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,687 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Maysville Community And Technical College earned it the #3 place for education. Set in the rural area of Maysville, Maysville 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. Students borrow a median of $13,031 to complete the education program here. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Maysville Community And Technical College generally make around $37,769. Set against $13,031 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in education will find it at Big Sandy Community And Technical College, which ranked #4. Big Sandy Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Prestonsburg. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for education graduates is $11,588. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Big Sandy Community And Technical College generally make around $33,956. That is a strong return on a $11,588 median debt.
Jefferson Community And Technical College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value education schools. Located in the city of Louisville, Jefferson Community And Technical College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,808 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,512 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for education graduates is $10,000. Education graduates of Jefferson Community And Technical College earn a median of $44,346 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bluegrass Community And Technical College earned the #6 position for value in education this year. Bluegrass Community And Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Lexington. In-state tuition and fees average $4,808, with out-of-state students paying around $6,512. Education graduates carry a median of $13,366 in student loans. Education graduates of Bluegrass Community And Technical College earn a median of $44,431 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northern Kentucky University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value education schools. Set in the suburb of Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,088, while out-of-state students pay about $21,912. Students borrow a median of $29,089 to complete the education program here. Education graduates of Northern Kentucky University earn a median of $45,123 early in their careers. Set against $29,089 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northern Kentucky University admits about 68% of applicants.
Murray State University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value education schools. Located in the town of Murray, Murray State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,900, compared with $19,836 for out-of-state students. Education graduates carry a median of $21,359 in student loans. Early-career education graduates make about $46,511. That is a strong return on a $21,359 median debt. Murray State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Western Kentucky University came in at #9 for value in education this year. Set in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,652, with out-of-state students paying around $27,000. Typical student debt for education graduates is $29,282. Education graduates of Western Kentucky University earn a median of $40,536 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Morehead State University placed #10 among the best values for education. Set in the town of Morehead, Morehead State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,024 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,980. Typical student debt for education graduates is $28,445. Early-career education graduates make about $42,912. Set against $28,445 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Morehead State University admits about 77% of applicants.
Eastern Kentucky University came in at #11 for value in education this year. Located in the town of Richmond, Eastern Kentucky University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,320, compared with $21,230 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,870 to complete the education program here. Education graduates of Eastern Kentucky University earn a median of $43,772 early in their careers. Set against $21,870 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
University Of The Cumberlands placed #12 among the best values for education. Set in the town of Williamsburg, University Of The Cumberlands is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,875. Students borrow a median of $22,782 to complete the education program here. Early-career education graduates make about $48,141. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of The Cumberlands admits about 99% of applicants.
Georgetown College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value education schools. Located in the town of Georgetown, Georgetown College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,840. Education graduates carry a median of $26,938 in student loans. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Georgetown College generally make around $46,756. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Georgetown College admits about 91% of applicants.
University Of Louisville landed the #14 spot for education value this year. University Of Louisville is a very large public school located in the city of Louisville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,136, compared with $29,482 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for education graduates is $22,409. Early-career education graduates make about $57,710. Set against $22,409 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Louisville admits about 79% of applicants.
Lindsey Wilson College earned the #15 position for value in education this year. Located in the town of Columbia, Lindsey Wilson College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,808. Education graduates carry a median of $24,119 in student loans. Education graduates of Lindsey Wilson College earn a median of $34,691 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kentucky Wesleyan College placed #16 among the best values for education. Set in the city of Owensboro, Kentucky Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $34,673. Students borrow a median of $25,333 to complete the education program here. Education graduates of Kentucky Wesleyan College earn a median of $39,559 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Kentucky ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value education schools. University Of Kentucky is a very large public school located in the city of Lexington. In-state tuition and fees average $13,502, while out-of-state students pay about $34,140. Education graduates carry a median of $24,339 in student loans. Early-career education graduates make about $42,427. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Campbellsville University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value education schools. Campbellsville University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Campbellsville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,998. Typical student debt for education graduates is $23,125. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Campbellsville University generally make around $36,674. Set against $23,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Pikeville College landed the #19 spot for education value this year. Located in the town of Pikeville, Pikeville College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $24,850. Typical student debt for education graduates is $17,778. Education graduates of Pikeville College earn a median of $45,863 early in their careers. Set against $17,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Union College Kentucky placed #20 among the best values for education. Union College Kentucky is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Barbourville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,946. Typical student debt for education graduates is $27,852. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Union College Kentucky generally make around $63,402. Set against $27,852 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Union College Kentucky admits about 63% of applicants.
Asbury University earned the #21 position for value in education this year. Located in the town of Wilmore, Asbury University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $33,640. Education graduates carry a median of $28,065 in student loans. Education graduates of Asbury University earn a median of $57,927 early in their careers. Set against $28,065 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Bellarmine University came in at #22 for value in education this year. Set in the city of Louisville, Bellarmine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $48,770. Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Education graduates of Bellarmine University earn a median of $45,567 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Thomas More College earned the #23 position for value in education this year. Thomas More College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Crestview Hills. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,025. Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Education graduates of Thomas More College earn a median of $40,439 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Transylvania University landed the #24 spot for education value this year. Transylvania University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lexington. In-state tuition and fees average $46,870. Typical student debt for education graduates is $26,653. Education graduates of Transylvania University earn a median of $45,208 early in their careers. Set against $26,653 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Spalding University placed #25 among the best values for education. Located in the city of Louisville, Spalding University is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $29,000 in tuition and fees. Education graduates carry a median of $29,862 in student loans. Education graduates of Spalding University earn a median of $56,331 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,862 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 26 Best Value Education Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in education:
View All Education Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 26 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 26 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.
