Public · Mostly bachelor's degrees · Large city

University of Kentucky

Lexington, Kentucky. 24,763 undergraduates. Admits 93% of applicants.

Kentucky colleges Official websiteIts net price calculator
72%Graduation rate17 pts above the national median for similar colleges (54%)
$18,868Average net price per year5% below the national median for similar colleges ($19,899)
$63,924Median earnings 10 years after starting9% above the national median for similar colleges ($58,912)
$19,500Median debt at graduation10% below the national median for similar colleges ($21,609)
Our read

Graduates' median debt ($19,500) equals 31% of former students' median earnings ten years after starting ($63,924).

What families actually pay

Under $30,000$12,528
$30,000–$48,000$12,460
$48,001–$75,000$14,192
$75,001–$110,000$20,327
Over $110,000$27,661

Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, by family income. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships. Source: College Scorecard.

Compare net price across collegesPublished tuition and fees: $13,907 in-state, $35,164 out-of-state.

Do students finish, and what do they earn?

MeasureThis collegeSimilar colleges nationally
Graduation rate72%54%
Return for second year87%76%
Median earnings, 6 years after starting$53,371$49,318
Median earnings, 10 years after starting$63,924$58,912
Median debt at graduation$19,500$21,609

Graduation rate within 150% of normal time; retention is the share of first-year students who return. Earnings are medians for former students who received federal aid, working and not enrolled. National comparison is the median for colleges of the same type (mostly bachelor's degrees).

Programs and what graduates earn

305 programs reported
ProgramGraduates / yrMedian earnings, 1 yrMedian earnings, 5 yrsMedian debt
Computer and Information Sciences, General139$76,832$113,803$18,750
Computer Engineering37$75,439$112,070$25,044
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering57$78,654$98,692$25,697
Mechanical Engineering157$75,954$96,236$18,750
Chemical Engineering56$76,969$91,024$18,000
Finance and Financial Management Services323$61,293$89,014$19,500
Accounting and Related Services180$62,046$87,805$19,500
Mining and Mineral Engineering14$86,041——
Civil Engineering70$66,518$85,413$15,000
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General121$30,223$82,088$19,250
Business/Managerial Economics59$60,047$80,610$22,452
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing339$80,628$79,975$24,334
Agricultural Engineering15$71,081$79,936—
Materials Engineering19$78,014——
Business/Commerce, General425$52,645$77,784$19,500
Mathematics39$44,273$75,603$13,000
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions28$68,748$74,318$22,635
Marketing405$51,102$73,760$18,500
Economics35$40,722$73,525$20,500
Biotechnology33—$73,334$23,200
Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other19—$72,296$10,488
Design and Applied Arts43$52,254$71,810$26,750
Information Science/Studies63$52,970$70,698$20,253
Health and Medical Administrative Services39$58,897$70,507$23,250
Political Science and Government100$35,229$68,920$21,750
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General20$43,725$68,288$23,000
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services0$39,622$67,535—
Architecture0$44,445$66,941—
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication126$48,202$65,165$19,500
Chemistry30$49,502$65,075$15,000
Apparel and Textiles71$39,506$64,558$20,186
Public Health49$37,391$63,974$25,099
Biology, General173$35,188$63,925$19,500
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services52—$63,677$20,250
Landscape Architecture13$62,966——
Agricultural Business and Management38$49,517$62,724$22,000
Animal Sciences42$35,464$59,995$21,500
Communication and Media Studies236$43,783$59,809$22,500
Hospitality Administration/Management18$41,289$58,127—
Sociology29$37,082$57,978$19,875
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics18—$57,734—
Natural Resources Conservation and Research63$42,939$57,325$18,550
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas271$37,672$57,002$22,250
International/Globalization Studies25$34,822$52,214$20,948
Agricultural Production Operations59$35,980$52,110$18,000
Social Work64$38,808$51,603$23,944
Music28$39,963$51,484$19,400
History33$37,876$50,704$18,738
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication28$39,480$50,701$21,500
Journalism38$40,731$49,971$20,186
Psychology, General292$36,006$49,580$21,500
Applied Mathematics9$49,062——
Special Education and Teaching9—$47,725—
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services22$39,541$47,478$24,331
Agricultural Public Services31$39,658$46,895$18,750
Anthropology24$31,873$46,558$26,500
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods109$41,795$46,349$19,000
English Language and Literature, General52$31,231$45,543$20,500
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General15$35,621$44,703$27,000
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities73$43,295—$26,483
Fine and Studio Arts30$33,963$43,161$21,500
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft25$25,183$39,166$21,500
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management18$35,428——
Neurobiology and Neurosciences88$34,466—$24,227
Visual and Performing Arts, General54$33,806—$17,750
Food Science and Technology3———
Plant Sciences11———
Forestry19———
Architectural Sciences and Technology81——$21,186
Area Studies13———
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies3———
Educational Administration and Supervision1———
Biomedical/Medical Engineering32——$18,000
Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies2———
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies9———
Nutrition Sciences17———
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other1———
Philosophy11———
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences2———
Physics and Astronomy1———
Public Policy Analysis7———
Geography and Cartography10———
Dance6———
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions1———
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services44——$21,798
Business Administration, Management and Operations17——$25,917

Program-level medians for graduates who received federal aid. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure to protect privacy, usually because the program is small. At four-year colleges, certificate graduates often earned a bachelor's at the same time, so their earnings can reflect the degree. Source: College Scorecard, field of study data.

Getting in

93%Admission rate
1,215Average SAT of admitted students
21–28ACT middle 50%
18:1Students per faculty member
25%Undergraduates with a Pell Grant

Similar colleges in Kentucky

Bellarmine UniversityLouisville · net price $17,991 · grad rate 71%Centre CollegeDanville · net price $19,980 · grad rate 79%Asbury UniversityWilmore · net price $21,061 · grad rate 65%Transylvania UniversityLexington · net price $21,954 · grad rate 65%Kentucky Wesleyan CollegeOwensboro · net price $19,409 · grad rate 46%University of LouisvilleLouisville · net price $14,960 · grad rate 60%

Compare colleges side by side

Quick answers

How much does University of Kentucky cost per year?
The average net price at University of Kentucky, what students pay after grants and scholarships, is $18,868 per year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much do University of Kentucky graduates earn?
Former University of Kentucky students earn a median of $63,924 a year ten years after starting college. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What is the graduation rate at University of Kentucky?
72% of University of Kentucky students graduate within 150% of normal time. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much student debt do University of Kentucky graduates have?
The median federal student debt at graduation from University of Kentucky is $19,500. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.