College Costs in Kentucky

Kentucky Colleges, Cost and Affordability for 2027

How much does it cost to attend college in Kentucky?   The average annual in-state college tuition in Kentucky was $17,056 for the 2024-2025 academic year. This is $754 lower than the U.S. average and ranks Kentucky in the middle of the pack as the 25th most expensive state or district to attend college. This is a change of $1,605 from the 2022-2023 average of $15,451 and represents a 10.39% annual increase in tuition costs. The list of Kentucky colleges below provides school specific cost and value rating.

This analysis surveyed tuition data from the 51 colleges and universities in Kentucky, the most popular being University of Kentucky with 30,442 full time students and an in-state tuition list price of $13,502. Centre College is the most expensive in Kentucky with an in-state tuition of $52,820.

All price data are reprinted from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS 2025 survey and reflect reported costs for academic year 2024/2025.

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Kentucky Public Private For-Profit 4 Year 2 Year

  • Private 4 Year
  • Louisville, KY
  • | 0 reviews
  • $29,200 tuition

Spalding is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and education. The urban campus sits in downtown Louisville.

#6 Best Private Colleges in Kentucky 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 875-1038
  • Avg GPA 3.87
  • Acceptance Rate 99%
  • Net Price $25,999
Lindsey Wilson College Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Columbia, KY
  • | 0 reviews
  • $27,808 tuition

Lindsey Wilson is a private college known for undergraduate nursing, education, and human services. The residential campus sits in the small town of Columbia in south-central Kentucky.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA 3.41
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $16,374
Thomas More University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Crestview Hills, KY
  • | 0 reviews
  • $39,800 tuition

Thomas More is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing and business. The suburban campus in Crestview Hills sits just south of Cincinnati.

#5 Best Private Colleges in Kentucky 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1030-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.35
  • Acceptance Rate 90%
  • Net Price $22,297

  • Private 4 Year
  • Midway, KY
  • | 0 reviews
  • $27,220 tuition

Midway is a private university known for undergraduate equestrian studies, nursing, and teacher education. The residential campus is in the small town of Midway in central Kentucky.

#8 Best Private Colleges in Kentucky 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1100-1170
  • Avg GPA 3.39
  • Acceptance Rate 95%
  • Net Price $30,679
Somerset Community College Campus
 

  • Public 2 Year
  • Somerset, KY
  • | 0 reviews
  • $4,728 tuition

Somerset Community College is a public community college known for undergraduate nursing and technical programs. The main campus is in the small city of Somerset in south-central Kentucky.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $5,748

  • Private 4 Year
  • Williamsburg, KY
  • | 0 reviews
  • $9,875 tuition
  • Aug 31 application deadline

University of the Cumberlands is a private Christian university known for undergraduate teacher education and business. Students live on a residential campus in the small Appalachian town of Williamsburg.

#10 Best Private Colleges in Kentucky 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 960-1160
  • Avg GPA 3.47
  • Acceptance Rate 99%
  • Net Price $14,743
Sullivan University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Louisville, KY
  • | 0 reviews
  • $15,480 tuition
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $19,528
Brescia University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Owensboro, KY
  • | 0 reviews
  • $31,550 tuition

Brescia is a small private Catholic university known for undergraduate social work and education. The residential campus sits along the Ohio River in Owensboro.

4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 920-1190
  • Avg GPA 3.02
  • Acceptance Rate 35%
  • Net Price $15,634
Bluegrass Community and Technical College Campus
 

  • Public 2 Year
  • Lexington, KY
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • $4,808 tuition
  • Aug 2 application deadline

A public community and technical college known for associate programs in nursing, allied health, and industrial technology. Students take classes across multiple campuses in the Lexington area.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $7,749

  • Private 4 Year
  • Pippa Passes, KY
  • | 0 reviews
  • $13,960 tuition

Alice Lloyd is a small private work college known for undergraduate liberal arts programs and a required student work program that covers tuition. The rural campus is set in the Appalachian Mountains of eastern Kentucky.

4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 710-960
  • Avg GPA 3.55
  • Acceptance Rate 75%
  • Net Price $18,600
Kentucky Christian University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Grayson, KY
  • 1.0 | 1 reviews
  • $26,625 tuition

Kentucky Christian is a private Christian university known for undergraduate ministry, nursing, and teacher education. The small campus sits in the town of Grayson in northeastern Kentucky.

4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 900-1040
  • Avg GPA 3.16
  • Acceptance Rate 61%
  • Net Price $21,099
ATA College Campus
 

  • Private 2 Year
  • Louisville, KY
  • | 0 reviews
  • $14,200 tuition
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $27,884

  • Public 2 Year
  • Elizabethtown, KY
  • | 0 reviews
  • $4,728 tuition

A public community and technical college known for nursing, allied health, and technical career programs. The campus is located in Elizabethtown in central Kentucky.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $7,143
Hopkinsville Community College Campus
 

  • Public 2 Year
  • Hopkinsville, KY
  • | 0 reviews
  • $4,728 tuition

A public community college offering associate degrees and technical programs in nursing and allied health. Most students commute to the small campus in Hopkinsville in western Kentucky.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $7,872
Gateway Community and Technical College Campus
 

  • Public 2 Year
  • Florence, KY
  • | 0 reviews
  • $4,728 tuition

Gateway is a public community and technical college known for associate degree programs in nursing and manufacturing technology. Campuses in the Florence area serve students across Northern Kentucky near Cincinnati.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA 2.94
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $8,504
Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College Campus
 

  • Public 2 Year
  • Bowling Green, KY
  • | 0 reviews
  • $4,728 tuition

A public community and technical college known for associate programs in nursing and industrial maintenance. The main campus is located in Bowling Green in south-central Kentucky.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $6,253

  • Public 2 Year
  • Ashland, KY
  • | 0 reviews
  • $4,728 tuition
  • Aug 20 application deadline

A public community and technical college known for undergraduate nursing, allied health, and applied technical programs. The campus sits in Ashland along the Ohio River in northeastern Kentucky.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $7,814
Big Sandy Community and Technical College Campus
 

  • Public 2 Year
  • Prestonsburg, KY
  • | 0 reviews
  • $4,728 tuition
  • Aug 18 application deadline

Big Sandy is a public community and technical college offering associate degrees and career-focused technical programs. Campuses serve students across the Appalachian Big Sandy region of eastern Kentucky.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $5,091