by our College Data Analytics TeamThere are lots of options to choose from today when trying to decide which school to attend. College Factual has developed its Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky ranking as one thing you can use to help make this decision. This list is proof that you shouldn't avoid normally high-priced schools, since the actual price may be very affordable if you qualify for financial aid.
In This Year's Value Report:
After analyzing 39 schools in Kentucky, we came up with our list of those that offered the best value programs. Our ranking for the best value schools is based on objective factors. We steer clear of subjective measures since they don't give a clear picture when determining how one school compares to another. In the next few paragraphs, we'll talk a little about what we use in our analysis and why.
The first step of determing the value of a school in our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky ranking is to look at the school's average net price for students with families that make $0-$30k a year. The net price is the sum of tuition, fees, and room and board minus any financial aid awarded to the student. In addition, the overall quality of a school is important to ensure a quality education, not just how much it costs.
To make it into this list a school must offer a quality education like the schools in our Best Colleges ranking. This ranking considers factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
Find out more about our best value ranking methodology.
You can scroll down to see the top schools for this ranking, but you may also want to view some of the other ranking methods listed below.
Know what field you want to major in? Make sure you check out our best value schools by major. In addition, you can select one of the links below to see the best value colleges for other degree levels.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2024 rankings named Northern Kentucky University the best value (income $0-$30k) school in Kentucky. NKU is located in Highland Heights, Kentucky and has a fairly large student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Northern Kentucky University is ranked #7 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.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Kentucky. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky list. UK is located in Lexington, Kentucky and has a large student population. It is a public school.
Not only is University of Kentucky 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 $11,926.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bluegrass Community and Technical College. It ranked #3 on our 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky list. This medium-sized public school is located in Lexington, Kentucky.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Bluegrass Community and Technical College is ranked #19 for quality in the state of Kentucky. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $4,492.
Learn More About Value at Bluegrass Community and Technical College
A rank of #4 on our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky list means Murray State University is a great place for students working on their degree. Located in Murray, Kentucky, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Murray State University 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 $8,986.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Jefferson Community and Technical College. It ranked #5 on our 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky list. Located in Louisville, Kentucky, the school is a fairly large public institution.
Not only is Jefferson Community and Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #20 in Kentucky for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,372.
With a ranking of #6, Centre College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky list. Centre College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Danville, Kentucky.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Centre College is ranked #3 for quality in the state of Kentucky. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $12,849.
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky list. Elizabethtown Community and Technical College is a medium-sized public school located in Elizabethtown, Kentucky.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Elizabethtown Community and Technical College is ranked #26 for quality in the state of Kentucky. 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, Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky list. Bowling Green, Kentucky is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College has the honor of being ranked #25 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 $4,137.
Read full value report on Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College
University of the Cumberlands did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky ranking, coming in at #9. 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. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $12,137.
Madisonville Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Madisonville, Kentucky, the school is a small public institution.
Not only is Madisonville Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #24 in Kentucky for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $4,339.
Gateway Community and Technical College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky ranking. Gateway Community and Technical College is a small public school located in Florence, Kentucky.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Gateway Community and Technical College is ranked #23 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.
Learn More About Value at Gateway Community and Technical College
Western Kentucky University ranked #12 on this year’s Best 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.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Western Kentucky University is ranked #6 for quality in the state of Kentucky. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $11,303.
Somerset Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky ranking, coming in at #13. This medium-sized public school is located in Somerset, Kentucky.
Somerset Community College has the honor of being ranked #31 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 $3,533.
With a ranking of #14, University of Louisville did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky list. UofL is a public institution located in Louisville, Kentucky.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Louisville is ranked #2 for quality in the state of Kentucky. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $14,436.
Morehead State University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky ranking. Morehead State University is a medium-sized public school located in Morehead, Kentucky.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Morehead State University is ranked #18 for quality in the state of Kentucky. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,276.
West Kentucky Community and Technical College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best 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 #27 for quality in the state of Kentucky. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,323.
Learn More About Value at West Kentucky Community and Technical College
Hopkinsville Community College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky ranking. Hopkinsville Community College is a small public school situated in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Hopkinsville Community College is ranked #28 for quality in the state of Kentucky. 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 #18 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky ranking. Located in Owensboro, Kentucky, the school is a small public institution.
Owensboro Community and Technical College has the honor of being ranked #30 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 $4,975.
Learn More About Value at Owensboro Community and Technical College
Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College landed the #19 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky ranking. Southeast is a public institution located in Cumberland, Kentucky.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College is ranked #34 for quality in the state of Kentucky. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $3,202.
Read full value report on Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College
Ashland Community and Technical College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky ranking. ACTC is a public institution located in Ashland, Kentucky.
Ashland Community and Technical College has the honor of being ranked #33 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 $3,958.
Read full value report on Ashland Community and Technical College
Georgetown College landed the #21 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky ranking. Georgetown College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Georgetown, Kentucky.
Georgetown 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 $9,144.
Eastern Kentucky University landed the #22 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky ranking. Located in Richmond, Kentucky, the school is a fairly large public institution.
Not only is Eastern Kentucky University a great value, but it is also ranked #11 in Kentucky for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $12,251.
Big Sandy Community and Technical College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky list. Located in Prestonsburg, Kentucky, the school is a small public institution.
Not only is Big Sandy Community and Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #37 in Kentucky for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $3,436.
Read full value report on Big Sandy Community and Technical College
With a ranking of #23, Henderson Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky list. Henderson Community College is a public institution located in Henderson, Kentucky.
Not only is Henderson Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #36 in Kentucky for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $3,949.
With a ranking of #25, Maysville Community and Technical College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky list. Located in Maysville, Kentucky, the school is a small public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Maysville Community and Technical College is ranked #35 for quality in the state of Kentucky. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $3,997.
Read full value report on Maysville Community and Technical College
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.