Kentucky
Colleges in Kentucky
Kentucky has 32 accredited four-year colleges on College Compass Guide, each rated on academics and value from federal data; 7 are Compass Recommended.
Map of colleges in Kentucky
Hover or tap a dot to see the school and its score.
Compass ScoreNot yet ratedMap: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries; roads and places © OpenStreetMap contributors via OpenFreeMap.
Highest-rated colleges in Kentucky
#3 in Kentucky
Transylvania University
Compass ScoreExcellent · Top 19%Lexington, KY · Value B- · Academics A-
Top lists in Kentucky
- 29 schoolsBest colleges
- 20 schoolsBest colleges for nursing
- 9 schoolsBest colleges for engineering
- 26 schoolsBest colleges for business
- 26 schoolsBest colleges for education
- 25 schoolsBest colleges for biology and pre-med
- 26 schoolsBest colleges for psychology
- 7 schoolsBest colleges for computer science
Show all 46 lists
- 25 schoolsBest colleges for communications and journalism
- 21 schoolsBest colleges for accounting
- 11 schoolsBest colleges for finance
- 12 schoolsBest colleges for marketing
- 17 schoolsBest colleges for criminal justice
- 20 schoolsBest colleges for political science and pre-law
- 13 schoolsBest colleges for economics
- 23 schoolsBest colleges for history
- 24 schoolsBest colleges for English
- 23 schoolsBest colleges for mathematics
- 21 schoolsBest colleges for chemistry
- 20 schoolsBest colleges for music
- 22 schoolsBest colleges for art and design
- 19 schoolsBest colleges for exercise science and kinesiology
- 14 schoolsBest colleges for social work
- 7 schoolsBest value colleges
- 7 schoolsMost affordable colleges with strong academics
- 29 schoolsColleges with the highest graduation rates
- 18 schoolsBest small colleges
- 4 schoolsBest large colleges
- 7 schoolsBest mid-size colleges
- 8 schoolsBest colleges for NCAA Division I athletes
- 3 schoolsBest colleges for NCAA Division II athletes
- 5 schoolsBest colleges for NCAA Division III athletes
- 10 schoolsBest colleges for NAIA athletes
- 25 schoolsBest test-optional colleges
- 3 schoolsBest online colleges
- 7 schoolsColleges with the biggest discount off the sticker price
- 7 schoolsLowest net price for middle-income families
- 7 schoolsColleges with the lowest student debt
- 7 schoolsColleges with the best earnings for the price
- 5 schoolsColleges that pay for themselves fastest
- 3 schoolsBest colleges under $20,000 a year
- 7 schoolsBest value colleges in the South
- 7 schoolsColleges where the most freshmen return
- 7 schoolsColleges with the most faculty per student
- 7 schoolsColleges that spend the most on teaching
- 7 schoolsMost selective colleges
All colleges in Kentucky
| School | Compass Score | Value | Academics | Net price | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berea College Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value. Berea · Private nonprofit | AValue: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | A-Academics: A- (grade A-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $6,106 | 1,487 | |
| Centre College Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value. Danville · Private nonprofit | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | AAcademics: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $20,781 | 1,356 | |
| Transylvania University RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Lexington · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | A-Academics: A- (grade A-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $21,913 | 1,022 | |
| Galen College of Nursing-Louisville RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Louisville · Private for-profit | B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $18,540 | 4,794 | |
| University of Kentucky RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Lexington · Public | B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B+Academics: B+ (grade B+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $18,851 | 32,703 | |
| Asbury University RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Wilmore · Private nonprofit | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B+Academics: B+ (grade B+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $21,401 | 1,942 | |
| Bellarmine University RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Louisville · Private nonprofit | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B+Academics: B+ (grade B+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $21,499 | 2,993 | |
| University of Louisville Louisville · Public | B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B+Academics: B+ (grade B+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $17,988 | 22,139 | |
| Brescia University Owensboro · Private nonprofit | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $8,709 | 638 | |
| Murray State University Murray · Public | B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $9,096 | 9,841 | |
| Kentucky Mountain Bible College Jackson · Private nonprofit | N/AValue: Not enough information. Federal data does not cover enough of this to grade it yet. | N/AAcademics: Not enough information. Federal data does not cover enough of this to grade it yet. | $9,337 | 87 | |
| Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights · Public | B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $8,191 | 14,961 | |
| Eastern Kentucky University Richmond · Public | B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $11,040 | 15,008 | |
| Kentucky Christian University Grayson · Private nonprofit | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $24,038 | 541 | |
| Georgetown College Georgetown · Private nonprofit | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $14,095 | 1,463 | |
| University of the Cumberlands Williamsburg · Private nonprofit | B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $14,107 | 20,327 | |
| Western Kentucky University Bowling Green · Public | B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $10,990 | 16,759 | |
| Lindsey Wilson College Columbia · Private nonprofit | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $15,070 | 4,055 | |
| University of Pikeville Pikeville · Private nonprofit | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $20,311 | 2,610 | |
| Morehead State University Morehead · Public | B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $9,793 | 8,618 | |
| Thomas More University Crestview Hills · Private nonprofit | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $21,835 | 1,947 | |
| Kentucky Wesleyan College Owensboro · Private nonprofit | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $17,131 | 834 | |
| Spalding University Louisville · Private nonprofit | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $25,491 | 1,555 | |
| Midway University Midway · Private nonprofit | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $29,579 | 1,945 | |
| Campbellsville University Campbellsville · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $19,341 | 12,451 | |
| Union Commonwealth University Barbourville · Private nonprofit | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $21,311 | 1,129 | |
| Alice Lloyd College Pippa Passes · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $18,600 | 553 | |
| Kentucky State University Frankfort · Public | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $8,040 | 1,689 | |
| Simmons College of Kentucky Louisville · Private nonprofit | N/AValue: Not enough information. Federal data does not cover enough of this to grade it yet. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $18,434 | 389 | |
| Sullivan University Louisville · Private for-profit | — | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | A-Academics: A- (grade A-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $25,532 | 2,855 |
| Beckfield College-Florence Florence · Private for-profit | — | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $28,133 | 612 |
| American National University-Pikeville Pikeville · Private for-profit | — | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $17,010 | 329 |
Common questions
How many colleges are in Kentucky?
Kentucky has 32 accredited four-year colleges on College Compass Guide.
Which colleges in Kentucky are Compass Recommended?
Berea College, Centre College, Transylvania University, Galen College of Nursing-Louisville, University of Kentucky, Asbury University, Bellarmine University. Recommended means the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value (how it works).