There are lots of options to choose from today when trying to decide which school to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our Best Associate Degree Colleges in Kentucky ranking is part of that endeavor.
Our analysis looked at 29 schools in Kentucky to determine which ones have the best associate degree programs. To come up with this ranking of the best schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
Better Early-Career Average Salaries
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of associate graduates during the early years of their career. Recent students who earned a associate degree in Kentucky entered the job market making an average of $37,034 while those in the top 21 schools on our list made an average of $39,722.
Starting Salary ( 30119 to 45839 )
Student Loan Borrowing
Students may also take on a lot of debt while working on their associate so we factor that into our rankings as well.
During their time at college, associate degree seekers from schools in Kentucky take out an average of $19,791.
We consider this number in conjunction with average post-graduation earnings to gauge the difficulty associate recipients will have paying back their loans.
Additional Ranking Factors We Use
In addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt loads, we also look at a host of other factors to determining our Best Associate Degree Schools ranking.
These factors include things like the educational resources, the demand associated with the school, whether or not the school offers online classes, and the student body caliber - just to name a few.
Are you more interested in the top associate degree schools in your area? Try narrowing this list by location. In addition, we've put together a number of other college rankings that may help you in your search.
Western Kentucky University tops this year’s ranking as the best school for associate degrees in Kentucky for overall quality. WKU is a public institution located in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 164 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from WKU make an average of $39,385 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $20,475 after getting their degree.
A rank of #2 on our Best Associate Degree in Kentucky list means University of the Cumberlands is a great place for students working on their degree. Cumberlands is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Williamsburg, Kentucky. It awarded 64 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
A rank of #3 on our Best Associate Degree in Kentucky list means Sullivan University is a great place for students working on their degree. Sullivan University is located in Louisville, Kentucky and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 353 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Sullivan University is $35,349 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $26,134. This translates to an average monthly payment of $262 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Out of the 29 associate degree schools in Kentucky that were part of this year’s ranking, Northern Kentucky University landed the #4 spot on the list. Highland Heights, Kentucky is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 27 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from NKU go into careers with an average salary of $31,330 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $23,413 in student loans.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Eastern Kentucky University. It ranked #5 on our 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Kentucky list. Richmond, Kentucky is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 117 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Eastern make an average of $40,783 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $20,878 after getting their degree.
Midway University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Kentucky ranking. Located in Midway, Kentucky, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 69 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Midway make an average of $58,485 a year. Associate students leave the school with an average of $22,375 in student loans.
University of Pikeville landed the #7 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Kentucky ranking. UPIKE is located in Pikeville, Kentucky and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 38 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from UPIKE make an average of $61,075 a year. Associate students leave the school with an average of $20,000 in student loans.
Murray State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Kentucky list. Murray State is a public institution located in Murray, Kentucky. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 23 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Thomas More University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Kentucky list. Thomas More University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Crestview Hills, Kentucky that handed out 32 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Associate students leave the school with an average of $38,862 in student loans.
Jefferson Community and Technical College landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Kentucky ranking. Located in Louisville, Kentucky, the fairly large public school handed out 1,463 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $37,979 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $15,886.
Bluegrass Community and Technical College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Kentucky list. Bluegrass Community and Technical College is a fairly large public school situated in Lexington, Kentucky. It awarded 1,826 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Bluegrass Community and Technical College make an average of $40,023 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $16,684 after getting their degree.
With a ranking of #12, Morehead State University did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Kentucky list. Morehead State University is a medium-sized public school located in Morehead, Kentucky that handed out 140 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Morehead State University is $49,031 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $21,883 after getting their degree.
Campbellsville University did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Kentucky ranking, coming in at #13. Campbellsville University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Campbellsville, Kentucky. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 45 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Associate students leave the school with an average of $25,000 in student loans.
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College landed the #14 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Kentucky ranking. Located in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, the medium-sized public school awarded 763 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from Elizabethtown Community and Technical College make an average of $41,037 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $13,590 in student loans.
With a ranking of #15, Gateway Community and Technical College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Kentucky list. Gateway is located in Florence, Kentucky and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 589 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Gateway is $38,770 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $17,201.
Hopkinsville Community College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Kentucky ranking. Hopkinsville, Kentucky is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 395 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Hopkinsville Community College make an average of $37,774 a year. Associate students leave the school with an average of $14,300 in student loans.
With a ranking of #17, Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Kentucky list. This small public school is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and it awarded 649 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $33,671 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $14,894 in student loans.
Owensboro Community and Technical College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Kentucky ranking. This small public school is located in Owensboro, Kentucky, and it awarded 689 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Owensboro Community and Technical College make an average of $36,152 a year. Associate students leave the school with an average of $12,751 in student loans.
West Kentucky Community and Technical College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Kentucky ranking, coming in at #19. West Kentucky Community and Technical College is a medium-sized public school located in Paducah, Kentucky that handed out 632 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from West Kentucky Community and Technical College make an average of $28,750 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $11,120 in student loans.
Madisonville Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Kentucky ranking, coming in at #20. Madisonville, Kentucky is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 443 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Madisonville Community College go into careers with an average salary of $38,989 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $13,290.
Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Kentucky ranking, coming in at #21. Located in Cumberland, Kentucky, the small public school awarded 317 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from Southeast make an average of $36,786 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $11,037.
With a ranking of #22, Somerset Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Kentucky list. SCC is a public institution located in Somerset, Kentucky. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 735 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from SCC make an average of $36,142 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $17,359.
Ashland Community and Technical College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Kentucky list. ACTC is a small public school situated in Ashland, Kentucky. It awarded 393 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from ACTC is $33,893 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $14,706 after getting their degree.
With a ranking of #24, Henderson Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Kentucky list. Located in Henderson, Kentucky, the small public school handed out 188 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from Henderson Community College make an average of $36,680 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $16,197 after getting their degree.
Big Sandy Community and Technical College landed the #25 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Kentucky ranking. Big Sandy Community and Technical College is a public institution located in Prestonsburg, Kentucky. The school has a small population, and it awarded 425 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $42,079 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $15,635 after getting their degree.
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).
Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
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