Ranking

Cheapest Colleges in Kentucky 2026

The lowest-net-price colleges in Kentucky that report federal earnings.

Schools ranked: 25
Cheapest net price: $6,106
Top earnings 10y: $66,240
Public / Private: 8 / 14

Berea College

A+

Berea, KY · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $6,106
Net price: $6,106
Earnings 10y: $43,150
Acceptance: 19.3%

Kentucky State University

Frankfort, KY · Public

Net price/yr: $8,040
Net price: $8,040
Earnings 10y: $36,382
Acceptance: 96.1%

Northern Kentucky University

Highland Heights, KY · Public

Net price/yr: $8,191
Net price: $8,191
Earnings 10y: $50,220
Acceptance: 67.7%

Brescia University

Owensboro, KY · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $8,709
Net price: $8,709
Earnings 10y: $45,500
Acceptance: 35.2%

Murray State University

Murray, KY · Public

Net price/yr: $9,096
Net price: $9,096
Earnings 10y: $44,737
Acceptance: 85.7%

Kentucky Mountain Bible College

Jackson, KY · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $9,337
Net price: $9,337
Earnings 10y: $21,256
Acceptance: 100%

Morehead State University

Morehead, KY · Public

Net price/yr: $9,793
Net price: $9,793
Earnings 10y: $43,197
Acceptance: 77.2%

Clear Creek Baptist Bible College

Pineville, KY · Private Non-Profit

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

Western Kentucky University

Bowling Green, KY · Public

Net price/yr: $10,990
Net price: $10,990
Earnings 10y: $43,889
Acceptance: 93.9%

#10

Eastern Kentucky University

Richmond, KY · Public

Net price/yr: $11,040
Net price: $11,040
Earnings 10y: $45,795
Acceptance: 77.6%

#11

Georgetown College

Georgetown, KY · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $14,095
Net price: $14,095
Earnings 10y: $52,074
Acceptance: 91.1%

#12

University of the Cumberlands

Williamsburg, KY · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $14,107
Net price: $14,107
Earnings 10y: $45,036
Acceptance: 98.8%

#13

Lindsey Wilson University

Columbia, KY · Private Non-Profit

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

#14

American National University-Louisville

Louisville, KY · Private For-Profit

Net price/yr: $17,010
Net price: $17,010
Earnings 10y: $28,188
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#15

Kentucky Wesleyan College

Owensboro, KY · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $17,131
Net price: $17,131
Earnings 10y: $46,747
Acceptance: 71.6%

#16

University of Louisville

Louisville, KY · Public

Net price/yr: $17,988
Net price: $17,988
Earnings 10y: $53,899
Acceptance: 79.4%

#17

Galen College of Nursing-Louisville

Louisville, KY · Private For-Profit

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

#18

Alice Lloyd College

Pippa Passes, KY · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $18,600
Net price: $18,600
Earnings 10y: $40,573
Acceptance: 75.2%

#19

University of Kentucky

Lexington, KY · Public

Net price/yr: $18,851
Net price: $18,851
Earnings 10y: $59,025
Acceptance: 92.9%

#20

Campbellsville University

Campbellsville, KY · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $19,341
Net price: $19,341
Earnings 10y: $41,583
Acceptance: 79.7%

#21

University of Pikeville

Pikeville, KY · Private Non-Profit

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

#22

Centre College

Danville, KY · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $20,781
Net price: $20,781
Earnings 10y: $66,240
Acceptance: 54.4%

#23

Galen College of Nursing-ARH

Hazard, KY · Private For-Profit

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

#24

Union Commonwealth University

Barbourville, KY · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $21,311
Net price: $21,311
Earnings 10y: $42,002
Acceptance: 63.2%

#25

Asbury University

Wilmore, KY · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $21,401
Net price: $21,401
Earnings 10y: $42,368
Acceptance: 63.4%

How we picked this list

This list starts with Kentucky colleges, removes schools without usable net-price data, then sorts from lowest average net price upward. The set's average EduGradify ROI score is 8.67 (8 public, 14 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. Average net price is $6,106 per year.

How does EduGradify pick this list?

We rank this set by net price/yr 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.