by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Kentucky, it can be hard to know where to start. Our ranking highlights **16** programs by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual evaluated 16 graduate schools on more than 20 objective measures 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.
The top-ranked graduate schools span the following early-career salary range:
Learn more about these excellent graduate schools below:
Bellarmine University earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Kentucky. Bellarmine University is a private not-for-profit school based in Louisville, KY. About 64% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $48,770. Early-career graduates earn a median of $46,024. Bellarmine University students take on a median of $26,766 in debt.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Kentucky one of the top graduate schools in Kentucky. This public school is set in Lexington, KY. University Of Kentucky posts a six-year graduation rate of 71%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,502, with out-of-state students paying around $34,140. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,568. Students borrow a median of $24,094 to complete a degree here.
A rank of #3 makes The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary one of the top graduate schools in Kentucky. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit school based in Louisville, KY. Roughly 35% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $11,046 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $74,388.
Out of the 16 graduate schools in Kentucky in this year's ranking, University Of Louisville landed the #4 spot. University Of Louisville is a public school based in Louisville, KY. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. In-state tuition and fees average $13,136, compared with $29,482 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $58,534. The median student debt is $21,910.
You'll be in good company at Frontier Nursing University, which ranked #5 this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Versailles, KY. Frontier Nursing University graduates report median early-career earnings of $114,085.
University Of The Cumberlands landed the #6 spot in Kentucky this year. Set in Williamsburg, KY, University Of The Cumberlands is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of The Cumberlands posts a six-year graduation rate of 50%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,875. University Of The Cumberlands graduates report median early-career earnings of $50,547. University Of The Cumberlands students take on a median of $22,868 in debt.
Spalding University did well this year, earning the #7 position. Set in Louisville, KY, Spalding University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. Students from in state pay about $29,000 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,978 early in their careers. The median student debt is $29,862.
Northern Kentucky University placed #8 among the best graduate schools in Kentucky. Located in Highland Heights, KY, Northern Kentucky University is a public institution. About 54% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $11,088 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,912 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $52,565. Typical student debt is $25,572.
Pikeville College placed #9 among the best graduate schools in Kentucky. Pikeville College is a private not-for-profit school based in Pikeville, KY. Pikeville College graduates 42% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $24,850. Early-career graduates earn a median of $57,157. Students borrow a median of $22,966 to complete a degree here.
Lindsey Wilson College came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Lindsey Wilson College is a private not-for-profit school based in Columbia, KY. 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. Lindsey Wilson College students take on a median of $24,119 in debt.
Murray State University came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Located in Murray, KY, Murray State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,900, with out-of-state students paying around $19,836. Early-career graduates earn a median of $48,423. Graduates carry a median of $23,420 in student loans.
Western Kentucky University placed #12 among the best graduate schools in Kentucky. Western Kentucky University is a public school based in Bowling Green, KY. 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. Median early-career earnings reach $44,778. Graduates carry a median of $24,499 in student loans.
Eastern Kentucky University came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Based in Richmond, KY, Eastern Kentucky University is a public institution. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,320, compared with $21,230 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $43,891. The median student debt is $25,122.
Sullivan University did well this year, earning the #14 position. This private for-profit school is set in Louisville, KY. Students from in state pay about $15,480 in tuition and fees. Sullivan University graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,104. The median student debt is $28,394.
Morehead State University landed the #15 spot in Kentucky this year. Morehead State University is a public school based in Morehead, KY. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,024, while out-of-state students pay about $14,980. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,046 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,896 to complete a degree here.
Asbury Theological Seminary ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Wilmore, KY, Asbury Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. Median early-career earnings reach $44,082.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
This list is compiled 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.