Ranking

Best Social Work Colleges in Kentucky 2026

14 Kentucky colleges offering Social Work, ranked by EduGradify value grade.

Schools ranked: 14
Cheapest net price: $8,040
Top earnings 10y: $59,025
Public / Private: 8 / 6

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%

University of Kentucky

Lexington, KY · Public

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

University of Louisville

Louisville, KY · Public

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

#10

University of Pikeville

Pikeville, KY · Private Non-Profit

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

#11

Campbellsville University

Campbellsville, KY · Private Non-Profit

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

#12

Asbury University

Wilmore, KY · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 4.95
Net price: $21,401
Earnings 10y: $42,368
Acceptance: 63.4%

#13

Spalding University

Louisville, KY · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 4.85
Net price: $25,491
Earnings 10y: $49,438
Acceptance: 99.5%

#14

Kentucky Christian University

Grayson, KY · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 4.41
Net price: $24,038
Earnings 10y: $42,375
Acceptance: 60.9%

How we picked this list

This list starts with Kentucky schools with positive Social Work program-share evidence, 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 8.87 (8 public, 6 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?

Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights, 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?

14 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.