by our College Data Analytics TeamUniversity Of Kentucky ranks #1 of 78 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best Colleges in Kentucky ranking, which scores schools on more than 20 measures of academic quality and student outcomes. The top 25 colleges average a 55% six-year graduation rate and $61,824 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, narrowing things down is no easy task. Our ranking highlights **78** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual reviewed 78 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.
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University Of Kentucky leads the 78 ranked colleges in Kentucky, followed by Galen College Of Nursing Louisville (#2) and Centre College (#3). Explore the leading colleges below:
University Of Kentucky earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Colleges ranking in Kentucky. Located in Lexington, KY, University Of Kentucky is a public institution. About 71% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $13,502, with out-of-state students paying around $34,140. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,568. University Of Kentucky students take on a median of $24,094 in debt.
Galen College Of Nursing Louisville came in at #2 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Kentucky. Based in Louisville, KY, Galen College Of Nursing Louisville is a private for-profit institution. Roughly 23% of students complete a degree within six years here. Early-career graduates earn a median of $63,726. The median student debt is $32,425.
The strong outcomes at Centre College earned it the #3 place in Kentucky. Based in Danville, KY, Centre College is a private not-for-profit institution. Centre College graduates 81% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $52,820 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $32,327. Typical student debt is $26,560.
University Of Louisville came in at #4 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Kentucky. Based in Louisville, KY, University Of Louisville is a public institution. About 61% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,136, with out-of-state students paying around $29,482. University Of Louisville graduates report median early-career earnings of $58,534. Typical student debt is $21,910.
You'll be in good company at Bellarmine University, which ranked #5 this year. Set in Louisville, KY, Bellarmine University is a private not-for-profit institution. Bellarmine University posts a six-year graduation rate of 64%. In-state tuition and fees average $48,770. Graduates go on to earn a median of $46,024 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $26,766.
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary landed the #6 spot in Kentucky this year. Based in Louisville, KY, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 35%. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,046. Graduates go on to earn a median of $74,388 early in their careers.
Transylvania University did well this year, earning the #7 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lexington, KY. Transylvania University posts a six-year graduation rate of 72%. Students from in state pay about $46,870 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $45,208. Graduates carry a median of $26,653 in student loans.
University Of The Cumberlands did well this year, earning the #8 position. Based in Williamsburg, KY, University Of The Cumberlands is a private not-for-profit institution. About 50% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,875. University Of The Cumberlands graduates report median early-career earnings of $50,547. Students borrow a median of $22,868 to complete a degree here.
Northern Kentucky University landed the #9 spot in Kentucky this year. Located in Highland Heights, KY, Northern Kentucky University is a public institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,088, with out-of-state students paying around $21,912. Median early-career earnings reach $52,565. Students borrow a median of $25,572 to complete a degree here.
Thomas More College placed #10 among the best colleges in Kentucky. Based in Crestview Hills, KY, Thomas More College is a private not-for-profit institution. Thomas More College posts a six-year graduation rate of 40%. In-state tuition and fees average $39,025. Median early-career earnings reach $57,440. Students borrow a median of $31,608 to complete a degree here.
Frontier Nursing University landed the #11 spot in Kentucky this year. Set in Versailles, KY, Frontier Nursing University is a private not-for-profit institution. Graduates go on to earn a median of $114,085 early in their careers.
Murray State University placed #12 among the best colleges in Kentucky. Murray State University is a public school based in Murray, KY. Murray State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 64%. Students from in state pay about $9,900 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,836 for out-of-state students. Murray State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $48,423. The median student debt is $23,420.
Berea College did well this year, earning the #13 position. Set in Berea, KY, Berea College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,658. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $31,428. Students borrow a median of $5,801 to complete a degree here.
Western Kentucky University did well this year, earning the #14 position. Western Kentucky University is a public school based in Bowling Green, KY. Western Kentucky University graduates 58% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,652, while out-of-state students pay about $27,000. Early-career graduates earn a median of $44,778. Western Kentucky University students take on a median of $24,499 in debt.
Campbellsville University did well this year, earning the #15 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Campbellsville, KY. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. In-state tuition and fees average $27,998. Early-career graduates earn a median of $43,474. Typical student debt is $24,148.
Asbury University came in at #16 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Wilmore, KY. Asbury University posts a six-year graduation rate of 65%. Students from in state pay about $33,640 in tuition and fees. Asbury University graduates report median early-career earnings of $50,086. Students borrow a median of $28,104 to complete a degree here.
Spalding University landed the #17 spot in Kentucky this year. Spalding University is a private not-for-profit school based in Louisville, KY. Spalding University posts a six-year graduation rate of 51%. Students from in state pay about $29,000 in tuition and fees. Spalding University graduates report median early-career earnings of $51,978. Students borrow a median of $29,862 to complete a degree here.
Georgetown College landed the #18 spot in Kentucky this year. Based in Georgetown, KY, Georgetown College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,840. Early-career graduates earn a median of $43,752. Typical student debt is $26,938.
Owensboro Community And Technical College placed #19 among the best colleges 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. Early-career graduates earn a median of $40,462. Students borrow a median of $9,098 to complete a degree here.
Eastern Kentucky University landed the #20 spot in Kentucky this year. Located in Richmond, KY, Eastern Kentucky University is a public institution. Eastern Kentucky University graduates 55% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $10,320 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,230. Eastern Kentucky University graduates report median early-career earnings of $43,891. Students borrow a median of $25,122 to complete a degree here.
Galen College Of Nursing Arh landed the #21 spot in Kentucky this year. This private for-profit school is set in Hazard, KY. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,364. Early-career graduates earn a median of $68,114. Graduates carry a median of $34,859 in student loans.
Gateway Community And Technical College came in at #22 in this year's ranking. 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. Median early-career earnings reach $46,993. Graduates carry a median of $11,611 in student loans.
Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College came in at #23 in this year's ranking. 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. Median early-career earnings reach $42,892. Students borrow a median of $12,068 to complete a degree here.
Lindsey Wilson College landed the #24 spot in Kentucky this year. Lindsey Wilson College is a private not-for-profit school based in Columbia, KY. Lindsey Wilson College graduates 44% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,808. Lindsey Wilson College graduates report median early-career earnings of $37,808. Graduates carry a median of $24,119 in student loans.
Jefferson Community And Technical College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. 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. Jefferson Community And Technical College graduates report median early-career earnings of $44,346. The median student debt is $13,917.
These 25 colleges rank #26 through #50 of 78 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. Rankings consider 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
See our data sources and methodologies.