Butler vs. Kentucky

Butler University and University of Kentucky side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Butler University
University of Kentucky

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Butler (85.1% admitted vs 92.9%). Typical SAT 1260 vs 1180.
  • Cheaper after aid: Kentucky. Average net price is $21,958 vs $38,438 at Butler.
  • Graduation: Butler 72% vs Kentucky 59%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Butler $68,400 vs Kentucky $51,000 (median).
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Key differences

Butler University University of Kentucky
Acceptance rate
Butler more selective
Butler85.1%
Kentucky92.9%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Butler higher
Butler1160-1350
Kentucky1070-1290
Average net price
Kentucky $16,480 less
Butler$38,438
Kentucky$21,958
In-state tuition
Kentucky $34,058 less
Butler$47,560
Kentucky$13,502
Out-of-state tuition
Kentucky $13,420 less
Butler$47,560
Kentucky$34,140
Graduation rate
Butler +13 pts
Butler72%
Kentucky59%
Median earnings (10 years)
Butler +$17,400
Butler$68,400
Kentucky$51,000

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Butler 9,471
  • Kentucky 31,517
  • Admitted
  • Butler 8,058
  • Kentucky 29,293
  • Acceptance rate
  • Butler 85.1%
  • Kentucky 92.9%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Butler 12.9%
  • Kentucky 22.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Butler 1260
  • Kentucky 1180
  • Typical ACT score
  • Butler 28
  • Kentucky 24
  • Average high school GPA
  • Butler 3.92
  • Kentucky 3.59
  • Typical high school grades
  • Butler A
  • Kentucky A-
  • Admissions standards
  • Butler Difficult
  • Kentucky Challenging
  • Applicant competition
  • Butler
  • Kentucky
  • SAT range
  • Butler 1160-1350
  • Kentucky 1070-1290
  • ACT range
  • Butler 26-31
  • Kentucky 21-28
  • Submit test scores
  • Butler Test optional
  • Kentucky Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Butler Aug 1, 2027
  • Kentucky Feb 15, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Butler $47,560
  • Kentucky $13,502
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Butler $47,560
  • Kentucky $34,140
  • Room & board
  • Butler $16,430
  • Kentucky $16,016
  • Average net price
  • Butler $38,438
  • Kentucky $21,958
  • Average grant aid
  • Butler $27,790
  • Kentucky $12,898
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Butler 97%
  • Kentucky 95%
  • Graduation rate
  • Butler 72%
  • Kentucky 59%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Butler $68,400
  • Kentucky $51,000
  • Making student loan payments
  • Butler 84%
  • Kentucky 62%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Butler $27,000
  • Kentucky $22,750
  • Median loan payment
  • Butler $279
  • Kentucky $235
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Butler 11:1
  • Kentucky 18:1
  • Popular majors
  • Butler
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Communication (9%)
  • Kentucky
    • Business (19%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Location
  • Butler Indianapolis, IN
  • Kentucky Lexington, KY
  • Setting
  • Butler Large City
  • Kentucky Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Butler 5,746
  • Kentucky 34,709
  • Type
  • Butler Private 4 Year
  • Kentucky Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Butler #209
  • Kentucky #437

Comparable Facts

Compare Butler University in Indianapolis, IN with University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of Kentucky is larger than Butler based on total student enrollment (34,709 students vs. 5,746 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Butler University is located in Indianapolis, IN (Large City setting); University of Kentucky is in Lexington, KY (Large City setting).
  • Butler University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Kentucky is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Butler University 11:1; University of Kentucky 18:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Kentucky are 2.5% lower than at Butler University ($16,016 vs. $16,430).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 39.3% higher at Butler than at University of Kentucky (about $13,420 more per year; $47,560 vs. $34,140).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Butler University than at University of Kentucky (97% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Butler University students is 115.5% larger than aid received by University of Kentucky students ($27,790 vs. $12,898).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 4 points higher at Butler than at Kentucky (28 vs. 24, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Butler and Kentucky.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Butler Aug 1, 2027; Kentucky Feb 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Butler average a 3.92 high school GPA, 0.33 higher than at Kentucky (3.59).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.9% at Butler vs. 22.2% at Kentucky.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Kentucky graduates have a $4,250 lower median loan debt than Butler graduates ($22,750 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Kentucky graduates have an estimated $44 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Butler graduates ($235 vs. $279).
  • More Butler graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kentucky students, three years after graduation (84% vs. 62%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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