Best Colleges in Kentucky

38
Universities
23
Community Colleges
61
Total Institutions

Explore 61 colleges and universities in Kentucky, ranked by the Repit College Score. Our ratings evaluate graduation rates, affordability, resources, and student experience.

#1
B

Berea College

Berea, KY • 1,487 students
Private Non-Profit
62%
Grad Rate
#2
B

Centre College

Danville, KY • 1,356 students
Private Non-Profit
85%
Grad Rate
#3
B

University of Kentucky

Lexington, KY • 32,703 students
Public
70%
Grad Rate
$20k
Net Price
6%
Off-Campus
#4
B

University of Louisville

Louisville, KY • 22,139 students
Public
61%
Grad Rate
$19k
Net Price
26%
Off-Campus
#5
B

Eastern Kentucky University

Richmond, KY • 15,008 students
Public
50%
Grad Rate
$11k
Net Price
8%
Off-Campus
#6
B

Murray State University

Murray, KY • 9,841 students
Public
60%
Grad Rate
$10k
Net Price
#7
C+

Kentucky Mountain Bible College

Jackson, KY • 87 students
Private Non-Profit
36%
Grad Rate
#8
C+

Morehead State University

Morehead, KY • 8,618 students
Public
48%
Grad Rate
$10k
Net Price
10%
Off-Campus
#9
C+

Western Kentucky University

Bowling Green, KY • 16,759 students
Public
54%
Grad Rate
$12k
Net Price
#10
C+

Northern Kentucky University

Highland Heights, KY • 14,961 students
Public
48%
Grad Rate
$8k
Net Price
#11
C+

Transylvania University

Lexington, KY • 1,022 students
Private Non-Profit
70%
Grad Rate
#12
C+

Asbury University

Wilmore, KY • 1,942 students
Private Non-Profit
65%
Grad Rate
#13
C+

University of the Cumberlands

Williamsburg, KY • 20,327 students
Private Non-Profit
46%
Grad Rate
#14
C+

Bellarmine University

Louisville, KY • 2,993 students
Private Non-Profit
68%
Grad Rate
#15
C

Brescia University

Owensboro, KY • 638 students
Private Non-Profit
46%
Grad Rate
#16
C

Clear Creek Baptist Bible College

Pineville, KY • 159 students
Private Non-Profit
33%
Grad Rate
#17
C

Galen College of Nursing-Louisville

Louisville, KY • 4,794 students
Private For-Profit
63%
Grad Rate
#18
C

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Louisville, KY • 4,243 students
Private Non-Profit
44%
Grad Rate
#19
C

Campbellsville University

Campbellsville, KY • 12,451 students
Private Non-Profit
47%
Grad Rate
#20
C

Kentucky State University

Frankfort, KY • 1,689 students
Public
27%
Grad Rate
$10k
Net Price
#21
C

Kentucky Wesleyan College

Owensboro, KY • 834 students
Private Non-Profit
53%
Grad Rate
#22
C

Lindsey Wilson College

Columbia, KY • 4,055 students
Private Non-Profit
38%
Grad Rate
#23
C

Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary

Louisville, KY • 94 students
Private Non-Profit
#24
C

University of Pikeville

Pikeville, KY • 2,610 students
Private Non-Profit
39%
Grad Rate
#25
C

Spalding University

Louisville, KY • 1,555 students
Private Non-Profit
57%
Grad Rate
#26
C

Alice Lloyd College

Pippa Passes, KY • 553 students
Private Non-Profit
26%
Grad Rate
#27
C

Asbury Theological Seminary

Wilmore, KY • 1,715 students
Private Non-Profit
#28
C

Georgetown College

Georgetown, KY • 1,463 students
Private Non-Profit
48%
Grad Rate
#29
C

Sullivan University

Louisville, KY • 2,855 students
Private For-Profit
30%
Grad Rate
#30
C

Union College

Barbourville, KY • 1,129 students
Private Non-Profit
36%
Grad Rate
#31
C

Kentucky Christian University

Grayson, KY • 541 students
Private Non-Profit
34%
Grad Rate
#32
C

Frontier Nursing University

Versailles, KY • 2,548 students
Private Non-Profit
#33
C

Midway University

Midway, KY • 1,945 students
Private Non-Profit
46%
Grad Rate
#34
D

Simmons College of Kentucky

Louisville, KY • 389 students
Private Non-Profit
34%
Grad Rate
#35
D

Thomas More University

Crestview Hills, KY • 1,947 students
Private Non-Profit
40%
Grad Rate
#36
D

Lexington Theological Seminary

Lexington, KY • 93 students
Private Non-Profit
#37
D

Beckfield College-Florence

Florence, KY • 612 students
Private For-Profit
30%
Grad Rate
#38
D

American National University-Pikeville

Pikeville, KY • 329 students
Private For-Profit
50%
Grad Rate
#1
C+

MedQuest College

Louisville, KY • 273 students
Private For-Profit
98%
Grad Rate
#2
C+

West Kentucky Community and Technical College

Paducah, KY • 5,132 students
Public
49%
Grad Rate
$7k
Net Price
#3
C+

Ashland Community and Technical College

Ashland, KY • 2,559 students
Public
59%
Grad Rate
$7k
Net Price
#4
C+

Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College

Bowling Green, KY • 5,084 students
Public
52%
Grad Rate
$7k
Net Price
#5
C+

Madisonville Community College

Madisonville, KY • 3,535 students
Public
55%
Grad Rate
$7k
Net Price
#6
C+

Elizabethtown Community and Technical College

Elizabethtown, KY • 6,204 students
Public
50%
Grad Rate
$8k
Net Price
#7
C+

Hazard Community and Technical College

Hazard, KY • 3,039 students
Public
47%
Grad Rate
$5k
Net Price
#8
C+

Maysville Community and Technical College

Maysville, KY • 4,296 students
Public
51%
Grad Rate
$7k
Net Price
#9
C+

Somerset Community College

Somerset, KY • 5,766 students
Public
40%
Grad Rate
$6k
Net Price
#10
C

Owensboro Community and Technical College

Owensboro, KY • 4,694 students
Public
49%
Grad Rate
$7k
Net Price
#11
C

Bluegrass Community and Technical College

Lexington, KY • 11,619 students
Public
38%
Grad Rate
$8k
Net Price
#12
C

Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College

Cumberland, KY • 3,144 students
Public
44%
Grad Rate
$5k
Net Price
#13
C

Henderson Community College

Henderson, KY • 1,606 students
Public
44%
Grad Rate
$7k
Net Price
#14
C

Gateway Community and Technical College

Florence, KY • 4,752 students
Public
49%
Grad Rate
$8k
Net Price
#15
C

Big Sandy Community and Technical College

Prestonsburg, KY • 2,583 students
Public
38%
Grad Rate
$6k
Net Price
#16
C

Jefferson Community and Technical College

Louisville, KY • 12,574 students
Public
31%
Grad Rate
$8k
Net Price
#17
C

Hopkinsville Community College

Hopkinsville, KY • 2,156 students
Public
37%
Grad Rate
$7k
Net Price
#18
D

Interactive College of Technology-Newport

Newport, KY • 73 students
Private For-Profit
43%
Grad Rate
#19
D

Ross College-Hopkinsville

Hopkinsville, KY • 65 students
Private For-Profit
47%
Grad Rate
#20
D

Kentucky Community and Technical College System

Versailles, KY
Public
#21
D

Galen College of Nursing-ARH

Hazard, KY • 424 students
Private For-Profit
45%
Grad Rate
#22
D

Galen Health Institutes-Pikeville

Pikeville, KY • 122 students
Private For-Profit
#23
D

ATA College

Louisville, KY • 337 students
Private For-Profit
33%
Grad Rate

Cities with Multiple Colleges

Bowling Green 2 colleges
Lexington 4 colleges
Owensboro 3 colleges
Wilmore 2 colleges
Louisville 11 colleges
Hopkinsville 2 colleges
Hazard 2 colleges
Florence 2 colleges
Versailles 2 colleges
Pikeville 3 colleges

About College Rankings in Kentucky

The Repit College Score ranks 61 colleges and universities in Kentucky based on outcomes (graduation rates, retention), affordability (net cost, financial aid), resources (class sizes, faculty ratios), and student experience (campus life, housing options).

4-Year Universities (38): Bachelor's degree-granting institutions including public universities, private colleges, and research institutions.

2-Year Colleges (23): Community colleges and technical schools offering associate degrees, certificates, and transfer programs.

Frequently Asked Questions About Colleges in Kentucky

How many colleges are in Kentucky?

There are 61 accredited colleges and universities in Kentucky tracked by Repit, including 38 4-year institutions and 23 community colleges. Each school is rated using our proprietary scoring system that evaluates outcomes, affordability, and resources.

How does Repit rate colleges?

Repit rates colleges on a 100-point scale across five categories: Outcomes (graduation and retention rates), Affordability (net cost and financial aid), Resources (class sizes and selectivity), Experience (campus life and learning format), and Prestige (reputation and recognition). Each factor is weighted and combined into an overall score and letter grade.

Should I attend a public or private college in Kentucky?

Kentucky has both public and private institutions. Public schools often offer lower tuition for state residents, while private schools may provide more financial aid. Compare net prices and outcomes using Repit's detailed college profiles to find the best value for your situation.

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: September 2026 | Methodology