by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the options you have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take when you want to pursue a degree. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Best Kentucky Schools For The Money For Those Making $30-$48k for an Associate ranking - to help you make that decision. You may be surprised that some normally high-priced schools offer very generous financial aid packages to those who qualify.
In This Year's Value Report:
After analyzing 29 schools in Kentucky, we came up with our list of those that offered the best value Associate Degree programs. Our ranking methodology focuses on different objective factors to make this determination of the best value schools. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
The first step of determing the value of a school in our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky ranking is to look at the school's average net price for students with families that make $30-$48k a year. The net price is the sum of tuition, fees, and room and board minus any financial aid awarded to the student. In addition, the overall quality of a school is important to ensure a quality education, not just how much it costs.
To make it into this list a school must offer a quality education like the schools in our Best Colleges ranking. This ranking considers factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
We go into more detail on these factors on our best value ranking methodology page.
You can scroll down to see the top schools for this ranking, but you may also want to view some of the other ranking methods listed below.
Know what field you want to major in? Make sure you check out our best value schools by major. In addition, you can select one of the links below to see the best value colleges for other degree levels.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Northern Kentucky University to be the best value (income $30-$48k) school for associate degrees in Kentucky in this year’s ranking. Located in Highland Heights, Kentucky, the school is a fairly large public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Northern Kentucky University is ranked #5 for quality in the state of Kentucky. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $2,609.
A rank of #2 on our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky list means Bluegrass Community and Technical College is a great place for students working on their degree. Bluegrass Community and Technical College is located in Lexington, Kentucky and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Bluegrass Community and Technical College is ranked #11 for quality in the state of Kentucky. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,288.
Read full value report on Bluegrass Community and Technical College
The quality degree programs at Murray State University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky. Murray State is a medium-sized public school situated in Murray, Kentucky.
Murray State University has the honor of being ranked #6 in Kentucky for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $7,928.
The quality degree programs at Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky. This small public school is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Not only is Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #16 in Kentucky for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $3,504.
Full Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College Value Report
A rank of #5 on our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky list means Jefferson Community and Technical College is a great place for students working on their degree. Jefferson Community and Technical College is a public institution located in Louisville, Kentucky.
Not only is Jefferson Community and Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #12 in Kentucky for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $6,229.
With a ranking of #6, Elizabethtown Community and Technical College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky list. Elizabethtown Community and Technical College is a medium-sized public school situated in Elizabethtown, Kentucky.
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College has the honor of being ranked #17 in Kentucky for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $4,583.
Learn More About Value at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
With a ranking of #7, West Kentucky Community and Technical College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky list. West Kentucky Community and Technical College is a public institution located in Paducah, Kentucky.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, West Kentucky Community and Technical College is ranked #18 for quality in the state of Kentucky. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $5,032.
Read full value report on West Kentucky Community and Technical College
Gateway Community and Technical College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky list. Gateway is a public institution located in Florence, Kentucky.
Gateway Community and Technical College has the honor of being ranked #14 in Kentucky for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,936.
Read full value report on Gateway Community and Technical College
Owensboro Community and Technical College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky ranking. Owensboro Community and Technical College is a small public school situated in Owensboro, Kentucky.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Owensboro Community and Technical College is ranked #20 for quality in the state of Kentucky. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $4,812.
Read full value report on Owensboro Community and Technical College
Hopkinsville Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky ranking. Located in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, the school is a small public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Hopkinsville Community College is ranked #19 for quality in the state of Kentucky. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $5,470.
Somerset Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Somerset, Kentucky.
Somerset Community College has the honor of being ranked #21 in Kentucky for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $4,216.
With a ranking of #12, Morehead State University did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky list. This medium-sized public school is located in Morehead, Kentucky.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Morehead State University is ranked #10 for quality in the state of Kentucky. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $8,959.
With a ranking of #13, Eastern Kentucky University did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky list. Eastern is located in Richmond, Kentucky and has a fairly large student population. It is a public school.
Eastern Kentucky University has the honor of being ranked #3 in Kentucky for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $11,613.
Ashland Community and Technical College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky list. Ashland, Kentucky is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Ashland Community and Technical College has the honor of being ranked #22 in Kentucky for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $4,028.
Learn More About Value at Ashland Community and Technical College
Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College landed the #15 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky ranking. Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College is a small public school located in Cumberland, Kentucky.
Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College has the honor of being ranked #23 in Kentucky for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $3,570.
Full Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College Value Report
Madisonville Community College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky list. Madisonville Community College is a small public school situated in Madisonville, Kentucky.
Madisonville Community College has the honor of being ranked #15 in Kentucky for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $6,612.
Henderson Community College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky ranking. Located in Henderson, Kentucky, the school is a small public institution.
Not only is Henderson Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #25 in Kentucky for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $3,592.
University of the Cumberlands landed the #18 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky ranking. Cumberlands is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Williamsburg, Kentucky.
Not only is University of the Cumberlands a great value, but it is also ranked #4 in Kentucky for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $13,036.
Maysville Community and Technical College landed the #19 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky ranking. Maysville Community and Technical College is a small public school situated in Maysville, Kentucky.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Maysville Community and Technical College is ranked #24 for quality in the state of Kentucky. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $4,274.
Learn More About Value at Maysville Community and Technical College
Big Sandy Community and Technical College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky ranking. Located in Prestonsburg, Kentucky, the school is a small public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Big Sandy Community and Technical College is ranked #26 for quality in the state of Kentucky. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $4,037.
Read full value report on Big Sandy Community and Technical College
Western Kentucky University landed the #21 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky ranking. Bowling Green, Kentucky is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Western Kentucky University a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in Kentucky for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $16,192.
Hazard Community and Technical College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky ranking, coming in at #22. Hazard Community and Technical College is located in Hazard, Kentucky and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Hazard Community and Technical College has the honor of being ranked #27 in Kentucky for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $3,702.
Learn More About Value at Hazard Community and Technical College
University of Pikeville came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky ranking. University of Pikeville is a small private not-for-profit school located in Pikeville, Kentucky.
University of Pikeville has the honor of being ranked #9 in Kentucky for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $13,249.
Thomas More University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky list. Thomas More is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Crestview Hills, Kentucky.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Thomas More University is ranked #7 for quality in the state of Kentucky. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $16,494.
With a ranking of #25, Midway University did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky list. Midway is a private not-for-profit institution located in Midway, Kentucky.
Midway University has the honor of being ranked #8 in Kentucky for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $19,087.
View Best Value Associate Degree Schools (Income $30-$48k) Nationwide >
All Majors and Fields of Study >
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
