by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the graduate school options in Kentucky, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. We have ranked 78 graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual evaluated graduate schools 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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Here are the top-ranked graduate schools:
Our analysis found University Of Kentucky to be the best graduate school in Kentucky. This public school is set in Lexington, KY. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,502, compared with $34,140 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,568. Students borrow a median of $24,094 to complete a degree here.
A rank of #2 makes Centre College one of the top graduate schools in Kentucky. Centre College is a private not-for-profit school based in Danville, KY. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. In-state tuition and fees run about $52,820. Median early-career earnings reach $32,327. Centre College students take on a median of $26,560 in debt.
Out of the 78 graduate schools in Kentucky in this year's ranking, University Of Louisville landed the #3 spot. University Of Louisville is a public school based in Louisville, KY. About 61% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,136, with out-of-state students paying around $29,482. Early-career graduates earn a median of $58,534. The median student debt is $21,910.
A rank of #4 makes Galen College Of Nursing Louisville one of the top graduate schools 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%. Galen College Of Nursing Louisville graduates report median early-career earnings of $63,726. Graduates carry a median of $32,425 in student loans.
Bellarmine University came in at #5 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Kentucky. Based in Louisville, KY, Bellarmine University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. In-state tuition and fees run about $48,770. Median early-career earnings reach $46,024. The median student debt is $26,766.
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Located 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 average $11,046. Median early-career earnings reach $74,388.
Transylvania University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lexington, KY. About 72% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $46,870. Transylvania University graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,208. Typical student debt is $26,653.
University Of The Cumberlands came in at #8 in this year's ranking. University Of The Cumberlands is a private not-for-profit school based in Williamsburg, KY. About 50% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $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 landed the #9 spot in Kentucky this year. Located 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 came in at #10 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Highland Heights, KY. 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. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $52,565. Graduates carry a median of $25,572 in student loans.
Murray State University did well this year, earning the #11 position. Located in Murray, KY, Murray State University is a public institution. Murray State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 64%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,900, while out-of-state students pay about $19,836. Median early-career earnings reach $48,423. Graduates carry a median of $23,420 in student loans.
Thomas More College placed #12 among the best graduate schools in Kentucky. Thomas More College is a private not-for-profit school based in Crestview Hills, KY. Thomas More College graduates 40% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $39,025 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $57,440 early in their careers. The median student debt is $31,608.
Berea College did well this year, earning the #13 position. Berea College is a private not-for-profit school based in Berea, KY. Berea College graduates 58% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,658. Median early-career earnings reach $31,428. Berea College students take on a median of $5,801 in debt.
Asbury University came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Based 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. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $50,086. The median student debt is $28,104.
Campbellsville University landed the #15 spot in Kentucky this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Campbellsville, KY. About 42% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,998. Median early-career earnings reach $43,474. Typical student debt is $24,148.
Western Kentucky University came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Western Kentucky University is a public school based in Bowling Green, KY. Western Kentucky University graduates 58% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,652, compared with $27,000 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $44,778. The median student debt is $24,499.
Galen Health Institutes Pikeville landed the #17 spot in Kentucky this year. Set in Pikeville, KY, Galen Health Institutes Pikeville is a private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,364.
Galen College Of Nursing Arh landed the #18 spot in Kentucky this year. Located in Hazard, KY, Galen College Of Nursing Arh is a private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,364. Galen College Of Nursing Arh graduates report median early-career earnings of $68,114. The median student debt is $34,859.
Spalding University did well this year, earning the #19 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Louisville, KY. Spalding University posts a six-year graduation rate of 51%. 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.
Owensboro Community And Technical College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This public school is set in Owensboro, KY. 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. Typical student debt is $9,098.
Lindsey Wilson College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Columbia, KY, Lindsey Wilson College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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.
Eastern Kentucky University came in at #22 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Richmond, KY. About 55% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,320, while out-of-state students pay about $21,230. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $43,891. Students borrow a median of $25,122 to complete a degree here.
Georgetown College came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Located in Georgetown, KY, Georgetown College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $42,840. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,752 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $26,938.
Gateway Community And Technical College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This public school is set in Florence, KY. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Early-career graduates earn a median of $46,993. Students borrow a median of $11,611 to complete a degree here.
Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College landed the #25 spot in Kentucky this year. This public school is set in Bowling Green, KY. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,892 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $12,068 in student loans.
These graduate schools rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 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.