Best colleges for music in Kentucky
Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in music, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for music in Kentucky20 schools
20 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in Kentucky.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Offers a bachelor’s program in music, from the College Scorecard field-of-study data (credential level 3).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Berea College
Berea, KY · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Kentucky
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade A · Top 8%
- 2
Centre College
Danville, KY · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#2 in Kentucky
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade B · Top 41%
- 3
Transylvania University
Lexington, KY · Private nonprofit#3 in Kentucky
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade B-
- 4
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY · Public#5 in Kentucky
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade B+ · Top 34%
- 5
Asbury University
Wilmore, KY · Private nonprofit#6 in Kentucky
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade C+
- 6
Bellarmine University
Louisville, KY · Private nonprofit#7 in Kentucky
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade B · Top 45%
- 7
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY · Public#8 in Kentucky
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade B+ · Top 35%
- 8
Murray State University
Murray, KY · PublicTop 12% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade B+ · Top 26%
- 9
Kentucky Mountain Bible College
Jackson, KY · Private nonprofitTop 13% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in music
- 10
Northern Kentucky University
Highland Heights, KY · PublicTop 10% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade B+ · Top 21%
- 11
Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond, KY · PublicTop 18% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade B+ · Top 33%
- 12
Kentucky Christian University
Grayson, KY · Private nonprofit#14 in Kentucky
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade C+
- 13
University of the Cumberlands
Williamsburg, KY · Private nonprofitTop 19% for low debt
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade B+ · Top 25%
- 14
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, KY · PublicTop 18% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade B+ · Top 35%
- 15
Morehead State University
Morehead, KY · PublicTop 14% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade B+ · Top 34%
- 16
Kentucky Wesleyan College
Owensboro, KY · Private nonprofit#22 in Kentucky
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade B
- 17
Campbellsville University
Campbellsville, KY · Private nonprofitTop 24% for low debt
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade B-
- 18
Union Commonwealth University
Barbourville, KY · Private nonprofit#26 in Kentucky
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade C+
- 19
Kentucky State University
Frankfort, KY · PublicTop 10% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade B-
- 20
Simmons College of Kentucky
Louisville, KY · Private nonprofit#29 in Kentucky
- Bachelor’s program in music
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berea College | $6,106 | $3,591 | $43,150 | 58% |
| Centre College | $20,781 | $27,000 | $66,240 | 81% |
| Transylvania University | $21,913 | $27,000 | $54,705 | 71% |
| University of Kentucky | $18,851 | $22,500 | $59,025 | 71% |
| Asbury University | $21,401 | $24,028 | $42,368 | 65% |
| Bellarmine University | $21,499 | $25,000 | $62,069 | 64% |
| University of Louisville | $17,988 | $20,500 | $53,899 | 61% |
| Murray State University | $9,096 | $20,500 | $44,737 | 61% |
| Kentucky Mountain Bible College | $9,337 | — | $21,256 | 64% |
| Northern Kentucky University | $8,191 | $23,000 | $50,220 | 52% |
| Eastern Kentucky University | $11,040 | $22,500 | $45,795 | 50% |
| Kentucky Christian University | $24,038 | $22,250 | $42,375 | 37% |
| University of the Cumberlands | $14,107 | $14,911 | $45,036 | 50% |
| Western Kentucky University | $10,990 | $22,095 | $43,889 | 56% |
| Morehead State University | $9,793 | $22,250 | $43,197 | 52% |
| Kentucky Wesleyan College | $17,131 | $23,250 | $46,747 | 47% |
| Campbellsville University | $19,341 | $17,156 | $41,583 | 42% |
| Union Commonwealth University | $21,311 | $24,250 | $42,002 | 32% |
| Kentucky State University | $8,040 | $25,938 | $36,382 | 32% |
| Simmons College of Kentucky | $18,434 | — | — | 14% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 21
- Arizona 5
- Arkansas 19
- California 70
- Colorado 17
- Connecticut 18
- District of Columbia 6
- Florida 29
- Georgia 33
- Hawaii 3
- Idaho 6
- Illinois 46
- Indiana 29
- Iowa 25
- Kansas 21
- Louisiana 17
- Maine 6
- Maryland 14
- Massachusetts 31
- Michigan 28
- Minnesota 27
- Mississippi 14
- Missouri 30
- Montana 4
- Nebraska 13
- New Hampshire 6
- New Jersey 18
- New Mexico 4
- New York 59
- North Carolina 44
- North Dakota 7
- Ohio 48
- Oklahoma 20
- Oregon 17
- Pennsylvania 51
- Puerto Rico 6
- Rhode Island 6
- South Carolina 22
- South Dakota 7
- Tennessee 35
- Texas 56
- Utah 8
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 34
- Washington 16
- West Virginia 8
- Wisconsin 25