CampusROI

Best Colleges in Kentucky by ROI

Trying to find the best value in Kentucky? We ranked all 28 colleges we track here on what graduates actually earn versus what families actually pay, using U.S. Department of Education data. Centre College comes out on top at 72/100 - here's how every school compares.

28
Schools
41
Avg ROI Score
$16,600
Avg Net Price
72
Top Score

We scored all 28 Kentucky colleges in our dataset from 0 to 100 on one thing: financial return. The state averages 41/100, on an average net price of $16,600 a year after grants and scholarships. The school that does best by your money is Centre College at 72/100.

Graduates of Centre College earn the most ten years out of any school in the state, a median $66,240. The lightest price tag belongs to Berea College at $6,106 a year. The list below ranks every Kentucky college we scored by ROI, so you can weigh what you'd pay against what you'd likely earn.

Top 10 Kentucky Colleges by ROI Score

  1. 1Centre CollegeDanville, KY · Private Nonprofit72ROI
  2. 2University of KentuckyLexington, KY · Public69ROI
  3. 3Bellarmine UniversityLouisville, KY · Private Nonprofit68ROI
  4. 4Berea CollegeBerea, KY · Private Nonprofit64ROI
  5. 5Galen College of Nursing-LouisvilleLouisville, KY · Private For-Profit64ROI
  6. 6University of LouisvilleLouisville, KY · Public58ROI
  7. 7Northern Kentucky UniversityHighland Heights, KY · Public58ROI
  8. 8Thomas More UniversityCrestview Hills, KY · Private Nonprofit56ROI
  9. 9Transylvania UniversityLexington, KY · Private Nonprofit51ROI
  10. 10Murray State UniversityMurray, KY · Public48ROI
Best ROI in Kentucky (Full Ranking)All RankingsCompare SchoolsROI Calculator

Kentucky College ROI: Common Questions

What is the best-value college in Kentucky?

Centre College has the highest ROI score in Kentucky at 72/100, while the lowest net price among Kentucky schools we track is $6,106/year at Berea College. Rankings are based on net price and median graduate earnings from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.

How much does college cost in Kentucky?

The average net price across the 28 Kentucky colleges in our dataset is $16,600 per year, after grants and scholarships are applied. Actual cost varies widely by family income and institution.

Which Kentucky college has the highest graduate earnings?

Centre College reports the highest median earnings among Kentucky schools we scored, at $66,240 ten years after enrollment. Higher earnings do not always mean better ROI, since cost matters just as much.

How many colleges in Kentucky did CampusROI analyze?

We scored 28 colleges in Kentucky on return on investment. Of those, 5 earn an ROI score of 60 or higher. See our methodology for how each score is calculated.

All Kentucky Schools by ROI Score

28 schools

72

Centre College

Danville, KY

Fair ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$20,781
Earnings
$66,240
Completion
81%
69

University of Kentucky

Lexington, KY

Fair ValuePublic
Net Price
$18,851
Earnings
$59,025
Completion
71%
68

Bellarmine University

Louisville, KY

Fair ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$21,499
Earnings
$62,069
Completion
64%
64

Berea College

Berea, KY

Fair ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$6,106
Earnings
$43,150
Completion
58%
64

Galen College of Nursing-Louisville

Louisville, KY

Fair ValuePrivate For-Profit
Net Price
$18,540
Earnings
$61,480
Completion
61%
58

University of Louisville

Louisville, KY

Below Average ValuePublic
Net Price
$17,988
Earnings
$53,899
Completion
61%
58

Northern Kentucky University

Highland Heights, KY

Below Average ValuePublic
Net Price
$8,191
Earnings
$50,220
Completion
52%
56

Thomas More University

Crestview Hills, KY

Below Average ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$21,835
Earnings
$59,384
Completion
41%
51

Transylvania University

Lexington, KY

Below Average ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$21,913
Earnings
$54,705
Completion
71%
48

Murray State University

Murray, KY

Below Average ValuePublic
Net Price
$9,096
Earnings
$44,737
Completion
61%
47

Georgetown College

Georgetown, KY

Below Average ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$14,095
Earnings
$52,074
Completion
49%
41

Clear Creek Baptist Bible College

Pineville, KY

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$10,949
Earnings
$41,623
Completion
38%
41

University of the Cumberlands

Williamsburg, KY

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$14,107
Earnings
$45,036
Completion
50%
40

Brescia University

Owensboro, KY

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$8,709
Earnings
$45,500
Completion
54%
39

Eastern Kentucky University

Richmond, KY

Poor ValuePublic
Net Price
$11,040
Earnings
$45,795
Completion
50%
34

Western Kentucky University

Bowling Green, KY

Poor ValuePublic
Net Price
$10,990
Earnings
$43,889
Completion
56%
33

University of Pikeville

Pikeville, KY

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$20,311
Earnings
$48,231
Completion
42%
32

Morehead State University

Morehead, KY

Poor ValuePublic
Net Price
$9,793
Earnings
$43,197
Completion
52%
31

Kentucky Wesleyan College

Owensboro, KY

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$17,131
Earnings
$46,747
Completion
47%
31

Spalding University

Louisville, KY

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$25,491
Earnings
$49,438
Completion
52%
29

Asbury University

Wilmore, KY

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$21,401
Earnings
$42,368
Completion
65%
25

Campbellsville University

Campbellsville, KY

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$19,341
Earnings
$41,583
Completion
42%
24

Midway University

Midway, KY

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$29,579
Earnings
$44,246
Completion
41%
23

Lindsey Wilson College

Columbia, KY

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$15,070
Earnings
$41,129
Completion
44%
19

Kentucky Christian University

Grayson, KY

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$24,038
Earnings
$42,375
Completion
37%
18

Alice Lloyd College

Pippa Passes, KY

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$18,600
Earnings
$40,573
Completion
39%
15

Union Commonwealth University

Barbourville, KY

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$21,311
Earnings
$42,002
Completion
32%
9

Kentucky State University

Frankfort, KY

Poor ValuePublic
Net Price
$8,040
Earnings
$36,382
Completion
32%

Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release