by our College Data Analytics TeamGalen College Of Nursing Louisville ranks #1 of 37 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best Associate’s Degree Colleges in Kentucky ranking, which scores schools on more than 20 measures of academic quality and student outcomes. The top 25 colleges average a 47% six-year graduation rate and $55,442 in median earnings five years after graduation.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
With all of the college options in Kentucky, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. This list ranks **37** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual evaluated 37 colleges using more than 20 objective factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Galen College Of Nursing Louisville leads the 37 ranked colleges in Kentucky, followed by University Of The Cumberlands (#2) and Northern Kentucky University (#3). Explore the leading colleges below:
Galen College Of Nursing Louisville tops our 2027 ranking of the best colleges in Kentucky. Located in Louisville, KY, Galen College Of Nursing Louisville is a private for-profit institution. Galen College Of Nursing Louisville graduates 23% of students within six years. Early-career graduates earn a median of $63,726. Graduates carry a median of $32,425 in student loans.
A rank of #2 makes University Of The Cumberlands one of the top colleges in Kentucky. Located in Williamsburg, KY, University Of The Cumberlands is a private not-for-profit institution. About 50% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $9,875. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $50,547. Graduates carry a median of $22,868 in student loans.
A rank of #3 makes Northern Kentucky University one of the top colleges in Kentucky. This public school is set in Highland Heights, KY. About 54% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $11,088 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,912. Early-career graduates earn a median of $52,565. Students borrow a median of $25,572 to complete a degree here.
Galen College Of Nursing Arh came in at #4 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Kentucky. Based in Hazard, KY, Galen College Of Nursing Arh is a private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $16,364. Graduates go on to earn a median of $68,114 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $34,859 in student loans.
You'll be in good company at Sullivan University, which ranked #5 this year. Set in Louisville, KY, Sullivan University is a private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,480. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $54,104. Graduates carry a median of $28,394 in student loans.
Jefferson Community And Technical College placed #6 among the best colleges in Kentucky. Located in Louisville, KY, Jefferson Community And Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,808, with out-of-state students paying around $6,512. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,346 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $13,917 in student loans.
Western Kentucky University did well this year, earning the #7 position. Set in Bowling Green, KY, Western Kentucky University is a public institution. Western Kentucky University posts a six-year graduation rate of 58%. Students from in state pay about $11,652 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,000 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $44,778. Graduates carry a median of $24,499 in student loans.
Pikeville College did well this year, earning the #8 position. Pikeville College is a private not-for-profit school based in Pikeville, KY. Roughly 42% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $24,850. Pikeville College graduates report median early-career earnings of $57,157. Pikeville College students take on a median of $22,966 in debt.
Owensboro Community And Technical College came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Based in Owensboro, KY, Owensboro Community And Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Early-career graduates earn a median of $40,462. Graduates carry a median of $9,098 in student loans.
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary landed the #10 spot in Kentucky this year. Located in Louisville, KY, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary graduates 35% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,046. Graduates go on to earn a median of $74,388 early in their careers.
Murray State University came in at #11 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Murray, KY. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $9,900 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,836 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $48,423. Graduates carry a median of $23,420 in student loans.
Gateway Community And Technical College landed the #12 spot in Kentucky this year. This public school is set in Florence, KY. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Early-career graduates earn a median of $46,993. Graduates carry a median of $11,611 in student loans.
Eastern Kentucky University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Eastern Kentucky University is a public school based in Richmond, KY. Eastern Kentucky University graduates 55% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,320, compared with $21,230 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $43,891. Graduates carry a median of $25,122 in student loans.
Bluegrass Community And Technical College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Located in Lexington, KY, Bluegrass Community And Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,808, compared with $6,512 for out-of-state students. Bluegrass Community And Technical College graduates report median early-career earnings of $44,431. Bluegrass Community And Technical College students take on a median of $13,366 in debt.
Morehead State University did well this year, earning the #15 position. Based in Morehead, KY, Morehead State University is a public institution. Morehead State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 52%. In-state tuition and fees average $10,024, with out-of-state students paying around $14,980. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $41,046. Graduates carry a median of $25,896 in student loans.
Elizabethtown Community And Technical College landed the #16 spot in Kentucky this year. Set in Elizabethtown, KY, Elizabethtown Community And Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,486 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $12,245 in student loans.
West Kentucky Community And Technical College landed the #17 spot in Kentucky this year. This public school is set in Paducah, KY. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $31,903. Graduates carry a median of $10,778 in student loans.
Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Based in Bowling Green, KY, Southcentral 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. Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College graduates report median early-career earnings of $42,892. Students borrow a median of $12,068 to complete a degree here.
Madisonville Community College did well this year, earning the #19 position. Madisonville Community College is a public school based in Madisonville, KY. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $41,084. The median student debt is $10,985.
Midway College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Based in Midway, KY, Midway College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,110. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $42,586. The median student debt is $26,723.
Galen Health Institutes Pikeville landed the #21 spot in Kentucky this year. This private for-profit school is set in Pikeville, KY. Students from in state pay about $16,364 in tuition and fees. Galen Health Institutes Pikeville graduates report median early-career earnings of $57,472. Students borrow a median of $25,750 to complete a degree here.
Campbellsville University placed #22 among the best colleges in Kentucky. Set in Campbellsville, KY, Campbellsville University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. In-state tuition and fees run about $27,998. Campbellsville University graduates report median early-career earnings of $43,474. The median student debt is $24,148.
Ashland Community And Technical College came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Set in Ashland, KY, Ashland Community And Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Median early-career earnings reach $37,826. The median student debt is $13,485.
Hopkinsville Community College placed #24 among the best colleges in Kentucky. Hopkinsville Community College is a public school based in Hopkinsville, KY. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Hopkinsville Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $43,678. Typical student debt is $13,269.
Henderson Community College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Henderson Community College is a public school based in Henderson, KY. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $40,259. Students borrow a median of $13,528 to complete a degree here.
These 12 colleges rank #26 through #37 of 37 in Kentucky. Not far behind, these colleges also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.