by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re seeking a diverse and multi-faceted college experience, you’ve come to the right place. The ranking below was designed to help you find 72 colleges ranked on geographic diversity in Kentucky, using our 2026 methodology.
This ranking is based on the geographic origins of the student body (how widely students are drawn from across the country and the world). To arm you with the information you need, College Factual reviewed 72 colleges, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Diversity means different things to different students. Narrow your list by location, or explore the overall, racial-ethnic, gender, economic, and age diversity rankings, or other rankings below.
Want to compare schools head to head? Check out College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter most to you.
Learn more about these geographically diverse colleges below:
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary earned the #1 spot in this year's Most Geographically Diverse Colleges ranking in Kentucky. On geographic diversity, it scores 65.9 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 36.4, alongside a 76.1 gender-diversity score.
American National University-Pikeville earned the #2 place in Kentucky. It scores 58.2 out of 100 for geographic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 62.2, and gender diversity 78.4.
Berea College came in at #3 on this year's Most Geographically Diverse Colleges ranking in Kentucky. It scores 47.0 out of 100 for geographic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 71.5, with a gender-diversity score of 97.8.
A rank of #4 makes Asbury University one of the most geographically diverse colleges in Kentucky. It scores 44.2 out of 100 for geographic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 41.5, and gender diversity 97.1.
A rank of #5 makes Kentucky Horseshoeing School one of the most geographically diverse colleges in Kentucky. On geographic diversity, it scores 40.3 out of 100.
Centre College earned the #6 position in Kentucky. It scores 40.1 out of 100 for geographic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 47.4, alongside a 99.9 gender-diversity score.
Union Commonwealth University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the most geographically diverse colleges. The school's geographic diversity score is 39.8 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 65.9, with a gender-diversity score of 97.6.
Kentucky Welding Institute placed #8 among the most geographically diverse colleges in Kentucky. Kentucky Welding Institute scores 38.9 out of 100 for geographic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 12.1, alongside a 20.6 gender-diversity score.
University of Kentucky placed #9 among the most geographically diverse colleges in Kentucky. University of Kentucky scores 38.3 out of 100 for geographic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 47.2, alongside a 96.9 gender-diversity score.
Kentucky State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the most geographically diverse colleges. On geographic diversity, it scores 38.1 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 53.5, with a gender-diversity score of 98.4.
Kentucky Christian University landed the #11 spot in Kentucky this year. The school's geographic diversity score is 38.0 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 54.4, and gender diversity 95.7.
Kentucky Wesleyan College placed #12 among the most geographically diverse colleges in Kentucky. Kentucky Wesleyan College scores 32.6 out of 100 for geographic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 58.7, and gender diversity 100.0.
University of the Cumberlands placed #13 among the most geographically diverse colleges in Kentucky. University of the Cumberlands scores 29.6 out of 100 for geographic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 66.0, with a gender-diversity score of 99.1.
Brescia University landed the #14 spot in Kentucky this year. It scores 29.4 out of 100 for geographic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 58.3, and gender diversity 98.1.
Murray State University earned the #15 position in Kentucky. It scores 29.3 out of 100 for geographic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 44.9, alongside a 94.9 gender-diversity score.
Campbellsville University came in at #16 in this year's ranking. The school's geographic diversity score is 27.6 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 60.9, and gender diversity 99.9.
Sullivan University placed #17 among the most geographically diverse colleges in Kentucky. Sullivan University scores 27.4 out of 100 for geographic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 67.6, with a gender-diversity score of 85.6.
Bellarmine University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the most geographically diverse colleges. The school's geographic diversity score is 27.2 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 48.5, with a gender-diversity score of 96.3.
Lindsey Wilson College came in at #19 in this year's ranking. It scores 26.5 out of 100 for geographic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 62.0, and gender diversity 99.1.
Midway University placed #20 among the most geographically diverse colleges in Kentucky. Midway University scores 26.5 out of 100 for geographic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 61.0, and gender diversity 95.4.
University of Louisville came in at #21 in this year's ranking. The school's geographic diversity score is 26.0 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 58.9, alongside a 98.8 gender-diversity score.
University of Pikeville landed the #22 spot in Kentucky this year. It scores 26.0 out of 100 for geographic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 35.7, with a gender-diversity score of 98.6.
Thomas More University landed the #23 spot in Kentucky this year. It scores 25.5 out of 100 for geographic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 44.4, alongside a 99.6 gender-diversity score.
Western Kentucky University earned the #24 position in Kentucky. It scores 23.7 out of 100 for geographic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 44.9, with a gender-diversity score of 95.5.
Spalding University came in at #25 in this year's ranking. It scores 23.2 out of 100 for geographic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 56.4, with a gender-diversity score of 89.1.
Not far behind, these colleges also rank among the most geographically diverse this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
Our ranking weighs the geographic origins of the student body (how widely students are drawn from across the country and the world). The racial-ethnic minorities percentage is calculated by taking the total number of students, subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity is unknown, and dividing by total enrollment.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.
