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 **28** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual evaluated 28 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.
Here is the early-career salary range across 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. Located in Louisville, KY, Galen College Of Nursing Louisville is a private for-profit institution. Galen College Of Nursing Louisville posts a six-year graduation rate of 23%. Graduates go on to earn a median of $63,726 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $32,425 in student loans.
Out of the 28 graduate schools in Kentucky in this year's ranking, University Of Kentucky landed the #2 spot. This public school is set in Lexington, KY. University Of Kentucky posts a six-year graduation rate of 71%. 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. Typical student debt is $24,094.
Out of the 28 graduate schools in Kentucky in this year's ranking, University Of Louisville landed the #3 spot. Set in Louisville, KY, University Of Louisville is a public institution. About 61% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $13,136 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $29,482. Early-career graduates earn a median of $58,534. Typical student debt is $21,910.
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary came in at #4 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Kentucky. This private not-for-profit school is set in Louisville, KY. The six-year graduation rate is 35%. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,046. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary graduates report median early-career earnings of $74,388.
The strong outcomes at Bellarmine University earned it the #5 place in Kentucky. Set in Louisville, KY, Bellarmine University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $48,770. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $46,024. The median student debt is $26,766.
University Of The Cumberlands ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. 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%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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 placed #7 among the best graduate schools in Kentucky. Set 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. Median early-career earnings reach $52,565. Graduates carry a median of $25,572 in student loans.
Thomas More College placed #8 among the best graduate schools in Kentucky. Based in Crestview Hills, KY, Thomas More College is a private not-for-profit institution. Thomas More College graduates 40% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $39,025. Median early-career earnings reach $57,440. The median student debt is $31,608.
Frontier Nursing University did well this year, earning the #9 position. Frontier Nursing University is a private not-for-profit school based in Versailles, KY. Frontier Nursing University graduates report median early-career earnings of $114,085.
Murray State University placed #10 among the best graduate schools in Kentucky. Located in Murray, KY, Murray State University is a public institution. Murray State University graduates 64% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,900, compared with $19,836 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,423 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,420 to complete a degree here.
Campbellsville University came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Located in Campbellsville, KY, Campbellsville University is a private not-for-profit institution. Campbellsville University posts a six-year graduation rate of 42%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,998. Median early-career earnings reach $43,474. Typical student debt is $24,148.
Asbury University placed #12 among the best graduate schools in Kentucky. Located in Wilmore, KY, Asbury University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $33,640 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $50,086. Typical student debt is $28,104.
Spalding University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Louisville, KY. Spalding University graduates 51% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $29,000. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,978 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $29,862 to complete a degree here.
Western Kentucky University came in at #14 in this year's ranking. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $27,000. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,778 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $24,499 in student loans.
Lindsey Wilson College placed #15 among the best graduate schools in Kentucky. Based in Columbia, KY, Lindsey Wilson College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. Students from in state pay about $27,808 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $37,808. Typical student debt is $24,119.
Eastern Kentucky University landed the #16 spot in Kentucky this year. Set in Richmond, KY, Eastern Kentucky University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,320, with out-of-state students paying around $21,230. Eastern Kentucky University graduates report median early-career earnings of $43,891. Graduates carry a median of $25,122 in student loans.
Georgetown College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Georgetown, KY. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $42,840 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $43,752. Students borrow a median of $26,938 to complete a degree here.
Midway College came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Set in Midway, KY, Midway College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 44% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $19,110. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $42,586. Midway College students take on a median of $26,723 in debt.
Morehead State University did well this year, earning the #19 position. Set in Morehead, KY, Morehead State University is a public institution. Morehead State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 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. Graduates carry a median of $25,896 in student loans.
Union College Kentucky did well this year, earning the #20 position. Union College Kentucky is a private not-for-profit school based in Barbourville, KY. Union College Kentucky graduates 32% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $30,946. Median early-career earnings reach $54,587. The median student debt is $27,852.
Pikeville College did well this year, earning the #21 position. Based in Pikeville, KY, Pikeville College is a private not-for-profit institution. Pikeville College posts a six-year graduation rate of 42%. Students from in state pay about $24,850 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $57,157 early in their careers. The median student debt is $22,966.
Sullivan University did well this year, earning the #22 position. Located in Louisville, KY, Sullivan University is a private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,480. Median early-career earnings reach $54,104. Sullivan University students take on a median of $28,394 in debt.
Brescia University landed the #23 spot in Kentucky this year. Based in Owensboro, KY, Brescia University is a private not-for-profit institution. Brescia University graduates 53% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $31,550. Brescia University graduates report median early-career earnings of $37,406. Graduates carry a median of $33,995 in student loans.
Kentucky Christian University came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Kentucky Christian University is a private not-for-profit school based in Grayson, KY. About 37% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $26,300. Kentucky Christian University graduates report median early-career earnings of $71,465. Graduates carry a median of $27,500 in student loans.
Kentucky State University came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Located in Frankfort, KY, Kentucky State University is a public institution. Roughly 35% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $9,387, compared with $13,578 for out-of-state students. Kentucky State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $28,497. Kentucky State University students take on a median of $29,774 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.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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.