by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Kentucky, it can be hard to know where to start. We have ranked **10** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual reviewed 10 graduate schools across over 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.
Here is the early-career salary range across the top-ranked graduate schools:
Here are the top-ranked graduate schools:
University Of Kentucky earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Kentucky. Set in Lexington, KY, University Of Kentucky is a public institution. About 71% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,502, compared with $34,140 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,568. Graduates carry a median of $24,094 in student loans.
You'll be in good company at Bellarmine University, which ranked #2 this year. Based in Louisville, KY, Bellarmine University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $48,770. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $46,024. Students borrow a median of $26,766 to complete a degree here.
University Of Louisville came in at #3 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Kentucky. Located in Louisville, KY, University Of Louisville is a public institution. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $13,136, compared with $29,482 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $58,534. Graduates carry a median of $21,910 in student loans.
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary came in at #4 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Kentucky. Located in Louisville, KY, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary posts a six-year graduation rate of 35%. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,046. Graduates go on to earn a median of $74,388 early in their careers.
A rank of #5 makes University Of The Cumberlands one of the top graduate schools in Kentucky. Set in Williamsburg, KY, University Of The Cumberlands is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of The Cumberlands graduates 50% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,875. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $50,547. Students borrow a median of $22,868 to complete a degree here.
Northern Kentucky University did well this year, earning the #6 position. Located in Highland Heights, KY, Northern Kentucky University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,088, with out-of-state students paying around $21,912. Northern Kentucky University graduates report median early-career earnings of $52,565. Northern Kentucky University students take on a median of $25,572 in debt.
Spalding University landed the #7 spot in Kentucky this year. Spalding University is a private not-for-profit school based in Louisville, KY. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $29,000. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $51,978. Graduates carry a median of $29,862 in student loans.
Murray State University came in at #8 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Murray, KY. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,900, 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.
Lindsey Wilson College placed #9 among the best graduate schools in Kentucky. Located in Columbia, KY, Lindsey Wilson College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 44% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $27,808. Graduates go on to earn a median of $37,808 early in their careers. The median student debt is $24,119.
Western Kentucky University landed the #10 spot in Kentucky this year. Based in Bowling Green, KY, Western Kentucky University is a public institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,652, with out-of-state students paying around $27,000. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $44,778. Western Kentucky University students take on a median of $24,499 in debt.
Eastern Kentucky University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This public school is set in Richmond, KY. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,320, while out-of-state students pay about $21,230. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $43,891. Eastern Kentucky University students take on a median of $25,122 in debt.
Morehead State University landed the #12 spot in Kentucky this year. This public school is set in Morehead, KY. About 52% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,024, compared with $14,980 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $41,046. Graduates carry a median of $25,896 in student loans.
Asbury Theological Seminary ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Wilmore, KY, Asbury Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $44,082.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.