by our College Data Analytics Team
Looking for the best colleges for the money in Kentucky? We have ranked 39 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. You are viewing our No Aid ranking, which weighs each school’s published sticker price (tuition, fees, and room and board) before financial aid — scroll to Customize Your Rankings to switch views.
To help you make your decision, College Factual reviewed 39 schools to build this 2026 best-value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
See What’s Included in This Value Report:
After analyzing 39 schools in Kentucky to determine which deliver the best value. Our ranking is based on objective factors.
To determine a school’s value, we first add up average tuition, fees, and room and board — the published sticker price before any financial aid (the No Aid view). Cost alone isn’t enough — overall quality matters too. So we weigh that cost against outcomes like degree completion, educational resources, student-body caliber, and post-graduation earnings.
That balance of cost and outcomes is what drives the ranking below. View our full ranking methodology.
Not every student is looking for the same thing. Drill down by location and field of study, or explore related rankings below. Start by picking a degree level:
Explore the best values below:
Berea College tops our 2026 list of the best colleges for the money in Kentucky. Set in Berea, KY, Berea College is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,658. The median program debt is $5,801. Berea College alumni report median earnings of $43,150 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $5,801 median debt. About 19% of those who apply are admitted.
Out of the 39 schools in Kentucky in this year's value ranking, Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College landed the #2 spot. Located in Bowling Green, KY, Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Typical student debt is $12,068. Graduates go on to earn a median of $34,242 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Owensboro Community And Technical College came in at #3 on this year's best-value ranking in Kentucky. Located in Owensboro, KY, Owensboro Community And Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $9,098 in student loans. Median earnings reach $35,798 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Hazard Community And Technical College earned it the #4 place in Kentucky. Hazard Community And Technical College is a public school based in Hazard, KY. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. The median program debt is $12,212. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $29,868. That is a strong return on a $12,212 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Somerset Community College earned it the #5 place in Kentucky. Set in Somerset, KY, Somerset Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Graduates carry a median of $13,722 in student loans. Median earnings reach $30,787 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $13,722 median debt.
Hopkinsville Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. Set in Hopkinsville, KY, Hopkinsville Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Hopkinsville Community College students take on a median of $13,269 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $36,323. Set against $13,269 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
West Kentucky Community And Technical College came in at #7 in this year's value ranking. West Kentucky Community And Technical College is a public school based in Paducah, KY. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. West Kentucky Community And Technical College students take on a median of $10,778 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $34,891. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College placed #8 among the best values in Kentucky. Located in Cumberland, KY, Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. The median program debt is $9,687. Median earnings reach $29,482 ten years out. Set against $9,687 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ashland Community And Technical College came in at #9 in this year's value ranking. Located in Ashland, KY, Ashland Community And Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Ashland Community And Technical College students take on a median of $13,485 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $34,504. That is a strong return on a $13,485 median debt.
Elizabethtown Community And Technical College landed the #10 spot for value in Kentucky this year. This public school is set in Elizabethtown, KY. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Elizabethtown Community And Technical College students take on a median of $12,245 in debt. Elizabethtown Community And Technical College alumni report median earnings of $36,143 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $12,245 median debt.
Northern Kentucky University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for the money. Located in Highland Heights, KY, Northern Kentucky University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,088, with out-of-state students paying around $21,912. The median program debt is $25,572. Northern Kentucky University alumni report median earnings of $50,220 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $25,572 median debt. About 68% of those who apply are admitted.
Gateway Community And Technical College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for the money. Set in Florence, KY, Gateway Community And Technical College is a 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 is $11,611. Graduates go on to earn a median of $36,147 ten years after entry. Set against $11,611 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Henderson Community College landed the #13 spot for value in Kentucky this year. This public school is set in Henderson, KY. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Henderson Community College students take on a median of $13,528 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $35,714. That is a strong return on a $13,528 median debt.
Madisonville Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #14 position. Madisonville Community College is a public school based in Madisonville, KY. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt is $10,985. Graduates go on to earn a median of $35,733 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $10,985 median debt.
Big Sandy Community And Technical College landed the #15 spot for value in Kentucky this year. This public school is set in Prestonsburg, KY. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. The median program debt is $11,588. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $32,954. That is a strong return on a $11,588 median debt.
Murray State University offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. Murray State University is a public school based in Murray, KY. Students from in state pay about $9,900 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,836 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt is $23,420. Murray State University alumni report median earnings of $44,737 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $23,420 median debt. Murray State University has an acceptance rate of 86%.
Bluegrass Community And Technical College came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. This public school is set in Lexington, KY. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,808, compared with $6,512 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt is $13,366. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $36,343. That is a strong return on a $13,366 median debt.
Jefferson Community And Technical College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for the money. This public school is set in Louisville, KY. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,808, compared with $6,512 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,917 to complete their program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,171 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Maysville Community And Technical College landed the #19 spot for value in Kentucky this year. Based in Maysville, KY, Maysville Community And Technical College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Maysville Community And Technical College students take on a median of $13,031 in debt. Maysville Community And Technical College alumni report median earnings of $32,194 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Eastern Kentucky University came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. Located in Richmond, KY, Eastern Kentucky University is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,320 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,230. Typical student debt is $25,122. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,795 ten years after entry. Set against $25,122 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 78% of those who apply are admitted.
University Of The Cumberlands ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for the money. Based in Williamsburg, KY, University Of The Cumberlands is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,875. Students borrow a median of $22,868 to complete their program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,036 ten years after entry. Set against $22,868 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 99% of those who apply are admitted.
Kentucky State University offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. Set in Frankfort, KY, Kentucky State University is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,387, compared with $13,578 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt is $29,774. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $36,382. That is a strong return on a $29,774 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Morehead State University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for the money. Based in Morehead, KY, Morehead State University is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,024, with out-of-state students paying around $14,980. Students borrow a median of $25,896 to complete their program here. Median earnings reach $43,197 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 77% of those who apply are admitted.
Western Kentucky University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for the money. Western Kentucky University is a public school based in Bowling Green, KY. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,652, while out-of-state students pay about $27,000. Students borrow a median of $24,499 to complete their program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,889 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $24,499 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Georgetown College landed the #25 spot for value in Kentucky this year. Based in Georgetown, KY, Georgetown College is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,840. The median program debt is $26,938. Median earnings reach $52,074 ten years out. Set against $26,938 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Georgetown College admits about 91% of applicants.
These schools also landed near the top of this year’s value ranking:
*Averages shown above reflect the top 39 ranked schools only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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 Best Colleges For Money · Scope: State · 39 schools evaluated. References
See our data sources and methodologies.