by our College Data Analytics TeamIt's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard. This list may shock you as many typically expensive schools are very generous with need-based financial aid.
See What's Included in This Value Report:
We analyzed 30 schools across Kentucky to determine which have the best value Associate Degree programs. To come up with this ranking of the best value schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. More specifically, the following explains what we consider and why.
When determining the value of a school in our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky ranking, we first look at its average net price of a student coming from a family that makes $0-$30k a year. The net price is defined as the sum of room and board, tuition, and fees minus any financial aid that the student receives. But, a school that excels in providing value for your money must also be a great school overall as well.
To account for this we include a college's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a collection of different factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
To learn more, visit our best value ranking methodology page.
Keep scrolling for the top schools in this ranking or select one of the other rankings methods below.
If you know what major you want to study, check out our list of the best value schools by major. If you're interested in other degree levels, you can view one of the lists below.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Northern Kentucky University to be the best value (income $0-$30k) school for associate degrees in Kentucky in this year’s ranking. NKU is a fairly large public school situated in Highland Heights, Kentucky.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Northern Kentucky University is ranked #5 for quality in the state of Kentucky. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $1,287.
Out of the 30 associate degree schools in Kentucky that were part of this year’s ranking, Bluegrass Community and Technical College landed the #2 spot on the list. Bluegrass Community and Technical College is a medium-sized public school located in Lexington, Kentucky.
Bluegrass Community and Technical College has the honor of being ranked #11 in Kentucky for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $4,492.
Read full value report on Bluegrass Community and Technical College
A rank of #3 on our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky list means Jefferson Community and Technical College is a great place for students working on their degree. Jefferson Community and Technical College is a fairly large public school situated in Louisville, Kentucky.
Jefferson Community and Technical College has the honor of being ranked #12 in Kentucky for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,372.
Read full value report on Jefferson Community and Technical College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Western Kentucky University. It ranked #4 on our 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky list. WKU is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky and has a fairly large student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Western Kentucky University a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in Kentucky for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $11,303.
Out of the 30 associate degree schools in Kentucky that were part of this year’s ranking, Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College landed the #5 spot on the list. Bowling Green, Kentucky is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College is ranked #16 for quality in the state of Kentucky. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $4,137.
Full Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College Value Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Elizabethtown Community and Technical College. It ranked #5 on our 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky list. Located in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College has the honor of being ranked #17 in Kentucky for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $4,020.
Read full value report on Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
With a ranking of #7, Madisonville Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky list. Located in Madisonville, Kentucky, the school is a small public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Madisonville Community College is ranked #15 for quality in the state of Kentucky. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $4,339.
Gateway Community and Technical College landed the #8 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky ranking. Gateway is a small public school situated in Florence, Kentucky.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Gateway Community and Technical College is ranked #14 for quality in the state of Kentucky. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $4,827.
Read full value report on Gateway Community and Technical College
With a ranking of #9, Murray State University did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky list. Located in Murray, Kentucky, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
Murray State University has the honor of being ranked #6 in Kentucky for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $8,986.
With a ranking of #10, Somerset Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky list. SCC is a public institution located in Somerset, Kentucky.
Somerset Community College has the honor of being ranked #21 in Kentucky for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $3,533.
With a ranking of #11, Morehead State University did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky list. This medium-sized public school is located in Morehead, Kentucky.
Morehead State University has the honor of being ranked #10 in Kentucky for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $8,276.
West Kentucky Community and Technical College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky ranking. This small public school is located in Paducah, Kentucky.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, West Kentucky Community and Technical College is ranked #18 for quality in the state of Kentucky. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $5,323.
Learn More About Value at West Kentucky Community and Technical College
Hopkinsville Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky ranking, coming in at #13. Hopkinsville, Kentucky is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Hopkinsville Community College has the honor of being ranked #19 in Kentucky for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,327.
Owensboro Community and Technical College landed the #14 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky ranking. Owensboro Community and Technical College is a public institution located in Owensboro, Kentucky.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Owensboro Community and Technical College is ranked #20 for quality in the state of Kentucky. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $4,975.
Read full value report on Owensboro Community and Technical College
Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky list. Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College is a small public school located in Cumberland, Kentucky.
Not only is Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #23 in Kentucky for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $3,202.
Full Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College Value Report
Ashland Community and Technical College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky ranking. ACTC is a public institution located in Ashland, Kentucky.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Ashland Community and Technical College is ranked #22 for quality in the state of Kentucky. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $3,958.
Learn More About Value at Ashland Community and Technical College
University of the Cumberlands ranked #17 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky list. Cumberlands is a private not-for-profit institution located in Williamsburg, Kentucky.
Not only is University of the Cumberlands a great value, but it is also ranked #4 in Kentucky for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $12,137.
Eastern Kentucky University did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky ranking, coming in at #18. Eastern is a fairly large public school situated in Richmond, Kentucky.
Eastern Kentucky University has the honor of being ranked #3 in Kentucky for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $12,251.
Big Sandy Community and Technical College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky ranking, coming in at #19. This small public school is located in Prestonsburg, Kentucky.
Not only is Big Sandy Community and Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #26 in Kentucky for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $3,436.
With a ranking of #19, Henderson Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky list. Henderson Community College is a public institution located in Henderson, Kentucky.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Henderson Community College is ranked #25 for quality in the state of Kentucky. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $3,949.
Maysville Community and Technical College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky list. Maysville Community and Technical College is a public institution located in Maysville, Kentucky.
Not only is Maysville Community and Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #24 in Kentucky for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $3,997.
Read full value report on Maysville Community and Technical College
University of Pikeville came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Pikeville, Kentucky.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Pikeville is ranked #9 for quality in the state of Kentucky. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $11,075.
Hazard Community and Technical College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky list. Hazard Community and Technical College is a small public school located in Hazard, Kentucky.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Hazard Community and Technical College is ranked #27 for quality in the state of Kentucky. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $3,555.
Thomas More University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky ranking. Thomas More is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Crestview Hills, Kentucky.
Not only is Thomas More University a great value, but it is also ranked #7 in Kentucky for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $15,556.
With a ranking of #25, Sullivan University did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky list. Sullivan University is a private for-profit institution located in Louisville, Kentucky.
Sullivan University has the honor of being ranked #2 in Kentucky for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $22,236.
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.