Kentucky vs. Louisville

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

University of Kentucky
University of Louisville

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Louisville (79.4% admitted vs 92.9%). Typical SAT 1160 vs 1180.
  • Cheaper after aid: Louisville. Average net price is $19,785 vs $21,958 at Kentucky.
  • Graduation: Kentucky 59% vs Louisville 51%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Kentucky $51,000 vs Louisville $45,200 (median).
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Key differences

University of Kentucky University of Louisville
Acceptance rate
Louisville more selective
Kentucky92.9%
Louisville79.4%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Kentucky higher
Kentucky1070-1290
Louisville1040-1270
Average net price
Louisville $2,173 less
Kentucky$21,958
Louisville$19,785
In-state tuition
Louisville $366 less
Kentucky$13,502
Louisville$13,136
Out-of-state tuition
Louisville $4,658 less
Kentucky$34,140
Louisville$29,482
Graduation rate
Kentucky +8 pts
Kentucky59%
Louisville51%
Median earnings (10 years)
Kentucky +$5,800
Kentucky$51,000
Louisville$45,200

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Kentucky 31,517
  • Louisville 15,668
  • Admitted
  • Kentucky 29,293
  • Louisville 12,442
  • Acceptance rate
  • Kentucky 92.9%
  • Louisville 79.4%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Kentucky 22.2%
  • Louisville 25.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Kentucky 1180
  • Louisville 1160
  • Typical ACT score
  • Kentucky 24
  • Louisville 23
  • Average high school GPA
  • Kentucky 3.59
  • Louisville 3.64
  • Typical high school grades
  • Kentucky A-
  • Louisville A-
  • Admissions standards
  • Kentucky Challenging
  • Louisville Average
  • Applicant competition
  • Kentucky
  • Louisville
  • SAT range
  • Kentucky 1070-1290
  • Louisville 1040-1270
  • ACT range
  • Kentucky 21-28
  • Louisville 19-27
  • Submit test scores
  • Kentucky Test optional
  • Louisville Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Kentucky Feb 15, 2027
  • Louisville Feb 15, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Kentucky $13,502
  • Louisville $13,136
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Kentucky $34,140
  • Louisville $29,482
  • Room & board
  • Kentucky $16,016
  • Louisville $12,576
  • Average net price
  • Kentucky $21,958
  • Louisville $19,785
  • Average grant aid
  • Kentucky $12,898
  • Louisville $14,677
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Kentucky 95%
  • Louisville 98%
  • Graduation rate
  • Kentucky 59%
  • Louisville 51%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Kentucky $51,000
  • Louisville $45,200
  • Making student loan payments
  • Kentucky 62%
  • Louisville 58%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Kentucky $22,750
  • Louisville $19,656
  • Median loan payment
  • Kentucky $235
  • Louisville $203
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Kentucky 18:1
  • Louisville 14:1
  • Popular majors
  • Kentucky
    • Business (19%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Louisville
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Location
  • Kentucky Lexington, KY
  • Louisville Louisville, KY
  • Setting
  • Kentucky Large City
  • Louisville Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Kentucky 34,709
  • Louisville 23,065
  • Type
  • Kentucky Public 4 Year
  • Louisville Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Kentucky #437
  • Louisville #408

Comparable Facts

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

University of Kentucky is larger than Louisville based on total student enrollment (34,709 students vs. 23,065 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Kentucky is located in Lexington, KY (Large City setting); University of Louisville is in Louisville, KY (Large City setting).
  • University of Kentucky is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Louisville is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Kentucky 18:1; University of Louisville 14:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Louisville are 21.5% lower than at University of Kentucky ($12,576 vs. $16,016).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 15.8% higher at Kentucky than at University of Louisville (about $4,658 more per year; $34,140 vs. $29,482).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Louisville than at University of Kentucky (98% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Louisville students is 13.8% larger than aid received by University of Kentucky students ($14,677 vs. $12,898).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at Kentucky than at Louisville (24 vs. 23, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Kentucky and Louisville.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Kentucky Feb 15, 2027; Louisville Feb 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Louisville average a 3.64 high school GPA, 0.05 higher than at Kentucky (3.59).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.2% at Kentucky vs. 25.1% at Louisville.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Louisville graduates have a $3,094 lower median loan debt than Kentucky graduates ($19,656 vs. $22,750).
  • Among borrowers, Louisville graduates have an estimated $32 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Kentucky graduates ($203 vs. $235).
  • More Kentucky graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Louisville students, three years after graduation (62% vs. 58%).

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

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