The Bluegrass State offers colleges with some of the best sports teams and best technical schools at a low price.
Kentucky’s largest colleges offer an affordable, quality option for students in that state and neighboring states. Many of the colleges emphasize the sciences and Kentucky’s network of community and technical schools focuses on producing students ready to enter the workforce.
9. Morehead State University
Type of College: Public University
Enrollment: 8,897
Cost: In-state: $7,284, Out-of-state: $18,216
Best Programs: Nursing, Social Work, Elementary Education, and Radiation Therapy
Fun Fact: MSU’s recently built Space Science Center was put together through a partnership with NASA. The school has also compiled a space tracking system, also in partnership with NASA.
8. Murray State University
Type of College: Public University
Enrollment: 10,778
Cost: In-state: $6,840, Out-of-state: $8,902
Best Programs: Business Management and Marketing, Engineering, Education, and Health-related Programs
Fun Fact: Murray State’s resources in the sciences are wide and varied. They have a nationally recognized veterinary diagnostic research center, an equine program, an aquatic wildlife program, and a center for reservoir research.
7. Bluegrass Community and Technical College
Type of College: Community College
Enrollment: 11,596
Cost: In-state: $140, Out-of-state: $490 per credit hour
Best Programs: Cosmetology, Surgical Technology, Dental Laboratory Technology, Automotive Technology and Early Childhood Education
Fun Fact: Bluegrass offers Accelerating Opportunity Kentucky, which is like a fast track for technical programs. Students can earn career certificates or a GED in just four months.
6. Northern Kentucky University
Type of College: Public University
Enrollment: 14,785
Cost: In-state: $7,992, Out-of-state: $15,864
Best Programs: Education, Performing Arts, Communications, and Business
Fun Fact: NKU has focused on getting talented guest lecturers to come speak to students. In the past few years, Bob Dole, President George W. Bush, and journalist Bob Woodward are just a few guest lecturers that have come to NKU.
5. Jefferson Community and Technical College
Type of College: Community College
Enrollment: 15,475
Cost: In-state: $140 per credit hour, Out-of-state: $490 per credit hour
Best Programs: Digital Game and Simulation Design, Elementary Education, Occupational Therapy, and Fire Science
Fun Fact: Jefferson works closely with Workforce Solutions to ensure that students find jobs and meet the workforce needs of the Greater Louisville area.
4. Eastern Kentucky University
Type of College: Public University
Enrollment: 15,839
Cost: In-state: $6,960, Out-of-state: $19,056
Best Programs: Environmental Health Science, Forensic Science, Elementary Education, Criminal Justice, and Nursing
Fun Fact: EKU’s Mock Trial team is considered one of the nation’s best teams.
3. Western Kentucky University
Type of College: Public University
Enrollment: 19,258
Cost: In-state: $8,472, Out-of-state: $21,000
Best Programs: Journalism, Broadcasting, Engineering, and Forensics
Fun Fact: WKU has an international focus and sends students each semester to Harlaxton College in England and has other students take a semester at sea.
2. University of Louisville
Type of College: Public University
Enrollment: 20,592
Cost: In-state: $8,930, Out-of-state: $21,650
Best Programs: Engineering, Education, Business, and Parks and Recreation
Fun Fact: The University of Louisville’s campus has an art museum, a planetarium, and Rodin’s original sculpture of The Thinker.
1. University of Kentucky, Lexington
Type of College: Public University
Enrollment: 25,856
Cost: In-state: $9,676, Out-of-state: $19,864
Best Programs: Nursing, Business, Accounting, Biology, and Psychology
Fun Fact: University of Kentucky is located in Lexington, which is often called the “Horse Capital of the World.”
Quick Facts
- Some community colleges in Kentucky offer discounted rates for students from “contiguous counties,” counties which are out of state but border Kentucky.
- KnowHow2Go is a site that gives loads in Kentucky-specific information to high school students and adults who are looking to attend school in that state.
Stats source: CollegeStats and U.S. News and World Report.