by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Kentucky, narrowing things down is no easy task. Our ranking highlights **18** programs by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual analyzed 18 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.
This is how starting salaries are distributed among the top-ranked graduate schools:
Explore the leading graduate schools below:
Our analysis found Galen College Of Nursing Louisville to be the best graduate school in Kentucky. This private for-profit school is set in Louisville, KY. Galen College Of Nursing Louisville graduates 23% of students within six years. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $63,726. The median student debt is $32,425.
You'll be in good company at University Of Kentucky, which ranked #2 this year. Based in Lexington, KY, University Of Kentucky is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,502, while out-of-state students pay about $34,140. University Of Kentucky graduates report median early-career earnings of $49,568. Students borrow a median of $24,094 to complete a degree here.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Louisville one of the top graduate schools in Kentucky. Located in Louisville, KY, University Of Louisville is a public institution. About 61% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $13,136, compared with $29,482 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $58,534 early in their careers. University Of Louisville students take on a median of $21,910 in debt.
The strong outcomes at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary earned it the #4 place in Kentucky. Set 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.
The strong outcomes at Bellarmine University earned it the #5 place in Kentucky. Bellarmine University is a private not-for-profit school based in Louisville, KY. Bellarmine University graduates 64% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,770. Median early-career earnings reach $46,024. Graduates carry a median of $26,766 in student loans.
University Of The Cumberlands came in at #6 in this year's ranking. University Of The Cumberlands is a private not-for-profit school based in Williamsburg, KY. University Of The Cumberlands graduates 50% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,875. Early-career graduates earn a median of $50,547. University Of The Cumberlands students take on a median of $22,868 in debt.
Frontier Nursing University did well this year, earning the #7 position. Based in Versailles, KY, Frontier Nursing University is a private not-for-profit institution. Frontier Nursing University graduates report median early-career earnings of $114,085.
Northern Kentucky University landed the #8 spot in Kentucky this year. Northern Kentucky University is a public school based in Highland Heights, KY. Northern Kentucky University graduates 54% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,088, with out-of-state students paying around $21,912. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $52,565. The median student debt is $25,572.
Murray State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Murray, KY, Murray State University is a public institution. Murray State University graduates 64% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $9,900, with out-of-state students paying around $19,836. Murray State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $48,423. The median student debt is $23,420.
Campbellsville University landed the #10 spot in Kentucky this year. Set in Campbellsville, KY, Campbellsville University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 42% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $27,998 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,474 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $24,148 in student loans.
Asbury University landed the #11 spot in Kentucky this year. Located in Wilmore, KY, Asbury University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 65% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $33,640 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $50,086. The median student debt is $28,104.
Thomas More College landed the #12 spot in Kentucky this year. Thomas More College is a private not-for-profit school based in Crestview Hills, KY. Thomas More College posts a six-year graduation rate of 40%. In-state tuition and fees run about $39,025. Thomas More College graduates report median early-career earnings of $57,440. Students borrow a median of $31,608 to complete a degree here.
Lindsey Wilson College came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Based in Columbia, KY, Lindsey Wilson College is a private not-for-profit institution. Lindsey Wilson College graduates 44% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $27,808. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $37,808. Lindsey Wilson College students take on a median of $24,119 in debt.
Spalding University landed the #14 spot in Kentucky this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Louisville, KY. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. In-state tuition and fees run about $29,000. Median early-career earnings reach $51,978. Spalding University students take on a median of $29,862 in debt.
Western Kentucky University came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Based in Bowling Green, KY, Western Kentucky University is a public institution. Western Kentucky University graduates 58% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $11,652 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,000 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $44,778. Typical student debt is $24,499.
Eastern Kentucky University did well this year, earning the #16 position. Eastern Kentucky University is a public school based in Richmond, KY. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,320, with out-of-state students paying around $21,230. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $43,891. Graduates carry a median of $25,122 in student loans.
Georgetown College did well this year, earning the #17 position. Based in Georgetown, KY, Georgetown College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 49% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $42,840. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,752 early in their careers. Georgetown College students take on a median of $26,938 in debt.
Midway College came in at #18 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Midway, KY. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. Students from in state pay about $19,110 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $42,586. Midway College students take on a median of $26,723 in debt.
Sullivan University came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Sullivan University is a private for-profit school based in Louisville, KY. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,480. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,104 early in their careers. Sullivan University students take on a median of $28,394 in debt.
Morehead State University placed #20 among the best graduate schools in Kentucky. 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.
Union College Kentucky placed #21 among the best graduate schools in Kentucky. Set in Barbourville, KY, Union College Kentucky is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 32%. In-state tuition and fees average $30,946. Median early-career earnings reach $54,587. Students borrow a median of $27,852 to complete a degree here.
Pikeville College came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Located in Pikeville, KY, Pikeville College is a private not-for-profit institution. Pikeville College posts a six-year graduation rate of 42%. In-state tuition and fees average $24,850. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $57,157. The median student debt is $22,966.
Kentucky Christian University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Grayson, KY, Kentucky Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 37% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $26,300. Median early-career earnings reach $71,465. The median student debt is $27,500.
Kentucky State University placed #24 among the best graduate schools in Kentucky. This public school is set in Frankfort, KY. Kentucky State University graduates 35% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $9,387, compared with $13,578 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $28,497 early in their careers. The median student debt is $29,774.
Brescia University placed #25 among the best graduate schools in Kentucky. Brescia University is a private not-for-profit school based in Owensboro, KY. Brescia University posts a six-year graduation rate of 53%. Students from in state pay about $31,550 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $37,406 early in their careers. Brescia University students take on a median of $33,995 in debt.
Not far behind, these graduate schools also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Graduate schools are scored on 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.