Best colleges in Kentucky
Every accredited four-year college ranked by the Compass Score: outcomes, entering students, cost and teaching, from federal data.
Best colleges in Kentucky29 schools
29 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Schools in Kentucky.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- 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
- Value grade A · Top 8%
- 58% graduate
- 2
Centre College
Danville, KY · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#2 in Kentucky
- Value grade B · Top 41%
- 81% graduate
- 3
- 4
Galen College of Nursing-Louisville
Louisville, KY · Private for-profit#4 in Kentucky
- Value grade B+ · Top 33%
- 61% graduate
- 5
- 6
- 7
Bellarmine University
Louisville, KY · Private nonprofit#7 in Kentucky
- Value grade B · Top 45%
- 64% graduate
- 8
- 9
Brescia University
Owensboro, KY · Private nonprofitTop 12% for low net price
- Value grade B · Top 47%
- 54% graduate
- 10
Murray State University
Murray, KY · PublicTop 12% for low net price
- Value grade B+ · Top 26%
- 61% graduate
- 11
- 12
Northern Kentucky University
Highland Heights, KY · PublicTop 10% for low net price
- Value grade B+ · Top 21%
- 52% graduate
- 13
Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond, KY · PublicTop 18% for low net price
- Value grade B+ · Top 33%
- 50% graduate
- 14
Kentucky Christian University
Grayson, KY · Private nonprofit#14 in Kentucky
- Value grade C+
- 37% graduate
- 15
Georgetown College
Georgetown, KY · Private nonprofit#15 in Kentucky
- Value grade B · Top 37%
- 49% graduate
- 16
University of the Cumberlands
Williamsburg, KY · Private nonprofitTop 19% for low debt
- Value grade B+ · Top 25%
- 50% graduate
- 17
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, KY · PublicTop 18% for low net price
- Value grade B+ · Top 35%
- 56% graduate
- 18
Lindsey Wilson College
Columbia, KY · Private nonprofitTop 24% for low debt
- Value grade B · Top 42%
- 44% graduate
- 19
- 20
Morehead State University
Morehead, KY · PublicTop 14% for low net price
- Value grade B+ · Top 34%
- 52% graduate
- 21
Thomas More University
Crestview Hills, KY · Private nonprofit#21 in Kentucky
- Value grade B
- 41% graduate
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
Campbellsville University
Campbellsville, KY · Private nonprofitTop 24% for low debt
- Value grade B-
- 42% graduate
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% |
| Galen College of Nursing-Louisville | $18,540 | $24,166 | $61,480 | 61% |
| 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% |
| Brescia University | $8,709 | $29,430 | $45,500 | 54% |
| 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% |
| Georgetown College | $14,095 | $25,200 | $52,074 | 49% |
| University of the Cumberlands | $14,107 | $14,911 | $45,036 | 50% |
| Western Kentucky University | $10,990 | $22,095 | $43,889 | 56% |
| Lindsey Wilson College | $15,070 | $16,784 | $41,129 | 44% |
| University of Pikeville | $20,311 | $20,679 | $48,231 | 42% |
| Morehead State University | $9,793 | $22,250 | $43,197 | 52% |
| Thomas More University | $21,835 | $26,236 | $59,384 | 41% |
| Kentucky Wesleyan College | $17,131 | $23,250 | $46,747 | 47% |
| Spalding University | $25,491 | $25,250 | $49,438 | 52% |
| Midway University | $29,579 | $21,301 | $44,246 | 41% |
| Campbellsville University | $19,341 | $17,156 | $41,583 | 42% |
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 26
- Alaska 5
- Arizona 16
- Arkansas 23
- California 128
- Colorado 26
- Connecticut 26
- Delaware 4
- District of Columbia 9
- Florida 61
- Georgia 60
- Hawaii 6
- Idaho 9
- Illinois 57
- Indiana 45
- Iowa 30
- Kansas 27
- Louisiana 24
- Maine 19
- Maryland 26
- Massachusetts 67
- Michigan 44
- Minnesota 40
- Mississippi 16
- Missouri 53
- Montana 10
- Nebraska 19
- Nevada 6
- New Hampshire 13
- New Jersey 36
- New Mexico 11
- New York 135
- North Carolina 55
- North Dakota 9
- Ohio 99
- Oklahoma 23
- Oregon 21
- Pennsylvania 118
- Puerto Rico 52
- Rhode Island 11
- South Carolina 35
- South Dakota 11
- Tennessee 43
- Texas 85
- Utah 16
- Vermont 9
- Virginia 51
- Washington 24
- West Virginia 19
- Wisconsin 36
- Wyoming 3