Ranking

Best Colleges in Kentucky by ROI 2026

The top-value Kentucky colleges — graduate earnings against net price, from federal data.

Schools ranked: 25
Cheapest net price: $6,106
Top earnings 10y: $66,240
Public / Private: 8 / 15

Berea College

A+

Berea, KY · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 17.67
Net price: $6,106
Earnings 10y: $43,150
Acceptance: 19.3%

Northern Kentucky University

Highland Heights, KY · Public

ROI score: 15.33
Net price: $8,191
Earnings 10y: $50,220
Acceptance: 67.7%

Brescia University

Owensboro, KY · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 13.06
Net price: $8,709
Earnings 10y: $45,500
Acceptance: 35.2%

Murray State University

Murray, KY · Public

ROI score: 12.30
Net price: $9,096
Earnings 10y: $44,737
Acceptance: 85.7%

Kentucky State University

Frankfort, KY · Public

ROI score: 11.31
Net price: $8,040
Earnings 10y: $36,382
Acceptance: 96.1%

Morehead State University

Morehead, KY · Public

ROI score: 11.03
Net price: $9,793
Earnings 10y: $43,197
Acceptance: 77.2%

Eastern Kentucky University

Richmond, KY · Public

ROI score: 10.37
Net price: $11,040
Earnings 10y: $45,795
Acceptance: 77.6%

Western Kentucky University

Bowling Green, KY · Public

ROI score: 9.98
Net price: $10,990
Earnings 10y: $43,889
Acceptance: 93.9%

Clear Creek Baptist Bible College

Pineville, KY · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 9.50
Net price: $10,949
Earnings 10y: $41,623
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#10

Georgetown College

Georgetown, KY · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 9.24
Net price: $14,095
Earnings 10y: $52,074
Acceptance: 91.1%

#11

Galen College of Nursing-Louisville

Louisville, KY · Private For-Profit

ROI score: 8.29
Net price: $18,540
Earnings 10y: $61,480
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#12

University of the Cumberlands

Williamsburg, KY · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 7.98
Net price: $14,107
Earnings 10y: $45,036
Acceptance: 98.8%

#13

Centre College

Danville, KY · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 7.97
Net price: $20,781
Earnings 10y: $66,240
Acceptance: 54.4%

#14

University of Kentucky

Lexington, KY · Public

ROI score: 7.83
Net price: $18,851
Earnings 10y: $59,025
Acceptance: 92.9%

#15

University of Louisville

Louisville, KY · Public

ROI score: 7.49
Net price: $17,988
Earnings 10y: $53,899
Acceptance: 79.4%

#16

Galen College of Nursing-ARH

Hazard, KY · Private For-Profit

ROI score: 7.26
Net price: $21,164
Earnings 10y: $61,480
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#17

Bellarmine University

Louisville, KY · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 7.22
Net price: $21,499
Earnings 10y: $62,069
Acceptance: 86.1%

#18

Lindsey Wilson University

Columbia, KY · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 6.82
Net price: $15,070
Earnings 10y: $41,129
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#19

Kentucky Wesleyan College

Owensboro, KY · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 6.82
Net price: $17,131
Earnings 10y: $46,747
Acceptance: 71.6%

#20

Thomas More University

Crestview Hills, KY · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 6.80
Net price: $21,835
Earnings 10y: $59,384
Acceptance: 90.4%

#21

Transylvania University

Lexington, KY · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 6.24
Net price: $21,913
Earnings 10y: $54,705
Acceptance: 86.6%

#22

University of Pikeville

Pikeville, KY · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 5.94
Net price: $20,311
Earnings 10y: $48,231
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#23

Kentucky Mountain Bible College

Jackson, KY · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 5.69
Net price: $9,337
Earnings 10y: $21,256
Acceptance: 100%

#24

Alice Lloyd College

Pippa Passes, KY · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 5.45
Net price: $18,600
Earnings 10y: $40,573
Acceptance: 75.2%

#25

Campbellsville University

Campbellsville, KY · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 5.37
Net price: $19,341
Earnings 10y: $41,583
Acceptance: 79.7%

How we picked this list

This list starts with Kentucky colleges, then sorts by EduGradify's school-wide ROI proxy: ten-year median earnings weighed against average net price. The set's average EduGradify ROI score is 8.92 (8 public, 15 private).

Every figure comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. See our full methodology for the formulas.

FAQ

Who leads this ranking?

Berea College in Berea, KY tops this ranking. EduGradify value grade is A+.

How does EduGradify pick this list?

We rank this set by roi score using the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard — see our methodology for the full formula. No paid placements, no surveys.

How many Kentucky colleges are in this list?

34 Kentucky colleges qualified for this ranking based on available federal data.

What does net price mean here?

Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — not the sticker price. It is reported by each college to the U.S. Department of Education.