Kentucky Best College Rankings
University of Kentucky ranked first and Centre College ranked second in Kentucky college rankings. The 2025 average tuition & fees of the Kentucky best colleges is $21,730 for Kentucky residents and $29,001 for out-of-state students. The average acceptance rate is 81.04% and the average SAT score is 1,112. The average number of student population is 7,675 and the average student to faculty ratio is 14 to 1.
Below statements summarize the average statistics of tuition, admission, and more academic factors for Kentucky best colleges. For the statistics, we only include 4 years colleges such as national universities and liberal arts colleges.
- The average undergraduate tuition & fees is $29,001 and Centre College has the highest tuition & fees of $52,820 and University of the Cumberlands has the lowest tuition & fees of $9,875.
- The average graduate tuition & fees is $13,598 and University of Kentucky has the highest tuition & fees of $36,238 and University of the Cumberlands has the lowest tuition & fees of $3,195.
- The average SAT score is 1,112 and Centre College has the highest SAT score of 1,360 and Western Kentucky University has the lowest score of 930.
- The average acceptance rate is 81.04% and Berea College has the tightest (lowest) rate of 19% and Kentucky Mountain Bible College has the loosest (lowest) rate of 100%.
- The average student population is 7,675 and University of Kentucky has the most students of 34,709 and Kentucky Mountain Bible College has the fewest students of 94.
- The average graduation rate is 53.46% and Centre College has the highest rate of 81% and Simmons College of Kentucky has the lowest rate of 14%.
Kentucky Best Colleges Comparison
The below table compares the 24 best colleges in Kentucky with important academic factors. You can sort the table by touching/clicking a column name that you want to sort.
| Rank | College Name | Undergraduate Tuition & Fees | Graduate Tuition & Fees | SAT Score | Acceptance Rate | Population | Graduation Rate | Student to Faculty Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Kentucky Lexington, KY | $34,140 | $36,238 | 1,180 | 92.9% | 34,709 | 71% | 18 to 1 |
| 2 | Centre College Danville, KY | $52,820 | - | 1,360 | 54.4% | 1,404 | 81% | 10 to 1 |
| 3 | University of Louisville Louisville, KY | $29,482 | $30,546 | 1,150 | 79.4% | 23,065 | 61% | 14 to 1 |
| 4 | Transylvania University Lexington, KY | $46,870 | - | 1,250 | 86.6% | 1,006 | 71% | 10 to 1 |
| 5 | Georgetown College Georgetown, KY | $42,840 | $11,880 | 1,060 | 91.1% | 1,345 | 49% | 13 to 1 |
| 6 | Berea College Berea, KY | $51,658 | - | 1,240 | 19.3% | 1,527 | 58% | 9 to 1 |
| 7 | Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights, KY | $21,912 | $16,350 | 1,040 | 67.7% | 15,347 | 52% | 19 to 1 |
| 8 | Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, KY | $27,000 | $18,340 | 930 | 93.9% | 16,291 | 56% | 19 to 1 |
| 9 | Murray State University Murray, KY | $19,836 | $10,683 | 1,060 | 85.7% | 10,020 | 61% | 17 to 1 |
| 10 | Campbellsville University Campbellsville, KY | $27,998 | $9,920 | - | 79.7% | 10,836 | 42% | 19 to 1 |
| 11 | Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, KY | $21,230 | $14,628 | 970 | 77.6% | 15,673 | 50% | 17 to 1 |
| 12 | Midway University Midway, KY | $19,110 | $5,650 | 1,140 | 95.1% | 2,003 | 41% | 15 to 1 |
| 13 | Morehead State University Morehead, KY | $14,980 | $10,512 | - | 77.2% | 8,791 | 52% | 16 to 1 |
| 14 | Bellarmine University Louisville, KY | $48,770 | $14,760 | 1,150 | 86.1% | 2,886 | 64% | 12 to 1 |
| 15 | Kentucky Mountain Bible College Jackson, KY | $10,360 | $8,910 | 1,070 | 100.0% | 94 | 64% | 9 to 1 |
| 16 | Asbury University Wilmore, KY | $33,640 | $8,700 | - | 63.4% | 2,100 | 65% | 13 to 1 |
| 17 | Spalding University Louisville, KY | $29,000 | $12,530 | 965 | 99.5% | 1,553 | 52% | 9 to 1 |
| 18 | Thomas More University Crestview Hills, KY | $39,025 | $16,080 | 1,110 | 90.4% | 2,350 | 40% | 14 to 1 |
| 19 | Simmons College of Kentucky Louisville, KY | $16,398 | $13,150 | - | 100.0% | 506 | 14% | 10 to 1 |
| 20 | Lindsey Wilson University Columbia, KY | $27,808 | $10,163 | - | - | 4,193 | 44% | 16 to 1 |
| 21 | University of Pikeville Pikeville, KY | $24,850 | $8,550 | - | - | 2,547 | 42% | 14 to 1 |
| 22 | Sullivan University Louisville, KY | $15,480 | $15,840 | - | - | 2,498 | 71% | 13 to 1 |
| 23 | Union Commonwealth University Barbourville, KY | $30,946 | $8,930 | - | 63.2% | 1,324 | 32% | 14 to 1 |
| 24 | University of the Cumberlands Williamsburg, KY | $9,875 | $3,195 | - | 98.8% | 22,120 | 50% | 23 to 1 |
| Average | $29,001 | $13,598 | 1,112 | 81.0% | 7,675 | 53% | 14 to 1 |
Kentucky Colleges by Ranking and School Type