Best value colleges in Kentucky
Colleges with an Academic Excellence grade of B+ or better, ranked by Value: net price, graduation rate, earnings, and debt from federal data.
Best value colleges in Kentucky7 schools
7 schools qualify, ranked by Value.
How this list is made
- Schools in Kentucky.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Academic Excellence grade B+ or better (the top 35% of rated colleges).
- Has a Value score from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Value, highest first.
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%
- Net price $6,106 a year
- 2
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY · Public#5 in Kentucky
- Value grade B+ · Top 34%
- Net price $18,851 a year
- 3
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY · Public#8 in Kentucky
- Value grade B+ · Top 35%
- Net price $17,988 a year
- 4
Centre College
Danville, KY · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#2 in Kentucky
- Value grade B · Top 41%
- Net price $20,781 a year
- 5
Bellarmine University
Louisville, KY · Private nonprofit#7 in Kentucky
- Value grade B · Top 45%
- Net price $21,499 a year
- 6
Transylvania University
Lexington, KY · Private nonprofit#3 in Kentucky
- Value grade B-
- Net price $21,913 a year
- 7
Asbury University
Wilmore, KY · Private nonprofit#6 in Kentucky
- Value grade C+
- Net price $21,401 a year
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% |
| University of Kentucky | $18,851 | $22,500 | $59,025 | 71% |
| University of Louisville | $17,988 | $20,500 | $53,899 | 61% |
| Centre College | $20,781 | $27,000 | $66,240 | 81% |
| Bellarmine University | $21,499 | $25,000 | $62,069 | 64% |
| Transylvania University | $21,913 | $27,000 | $54,705 | 71% |
| Asbury University | $21,401 | $24,028 | $42,368 | 65% |
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 5
- Arizona 4
- Arkansas 5
- California 59
- Colorado 6
- Connecticut 13
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 21
- Georgia 9
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 16
- Kansas 4
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 9
- Maryland 15
- Massachusetts 46
- Michigan 20
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 17
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 16
- New York 75
- North Carolina 16
- Ohio 32
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 10
- Pennsylvania 60
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 9
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 20
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15