by our College Data Analytics TeamIt's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. College Factual has developed its Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky ranking as one thing you can use to help make this decision. The amount of financial aid you could receive at various schools, including some with high sticker prices, may surprise you.
See What's Included in This Value Report:
After analyzing 39 schools in Kentucky, we came up with our list of those that offered the best value programs. To come up with this ranking of the best value schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. In the next few paragraphs, we'll talk a little about what we use in our analysis and why.
To calculate the value of a school in our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky ranking, we first consider its average net price of students from families making $30-$48k a year. The net price is the sum of room and board, tuition, and fees minus any financial aid that 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 take this into account we include a school's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a combination of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
Find out more about our best value ranking methodology.
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 2024 rankings named Northern Kentucky University the best value (income $30-$48k) school in Kentucky. 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 #7 for quality in the state of Kentucky. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $2,609.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Murray State University. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky list. Murray State University is a medium-sized public school located in Murray, Kentucky.
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. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $7,928.
The quality degree programs at University of Kentucky helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky. Located in Lexington, Kentucky, the school is a large public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Kentucky is ranked #1 for quality in the state of Kentucky. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $13,594.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bluegrass Community and Technical College. It ranked #4 on our 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky list. Bluegrass Community and Technical College is a medium-sized public school situated in Lexington, Kentucky.
Not only is Bluegrass Community and Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #19 in Kentucky for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $5,288.
Read full value report on Bluegrass Community and Technical College
Out of the 39 schools in Kentucky that were part of this year’s ranking, Centre College landed the #5 spot on the list. Danville, Kentucky is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Centre College 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 $30-$48k per year is $12,870.
Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky ranking. SKYCTC is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #25 in Kentucky for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $3,504.
Read full value report on Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College
Jefferson Community and Technical College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky list. This fairly large public school is located in Louisville, Kentucky.
Jefferson Community and Technical College has the honor of being ranked #20 in Kentucky for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $6,229.
University of the Cumberlands did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky ranking, coming in at #8. Williamsburg, Kentucky is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of the Cumberlands is ranked #4 for quality in the state of Kentucky. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $13,036.
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky list. Elizabethtown, Kentucky is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
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. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $4,583.
Read full value report on Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
With a ranking of #10, West Kentucky Community and Technical College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky list. Located in Paducah, Kentucky, the school is a small public institution.
Not only is West Kentucky Community and Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #27 in Kentucky for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,032.
Learn More About Value at West Kentucky Community and Technical College
With a ranking of #11, Gateway Community and Technical College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky list. Gateway is a small public school situated in Florence, Kentucky.
Gateway Community and Technical College has the honor of being ranked #23 in Kentucky for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $5,936.
Learn More About Value at Gateway Community and Technical College
Owensboro Community and Technical College landed the #12 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky ranking. Owensboro Community and Technical College is a small public school situated in Owensboro, Kentucky.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Owensboro Community and Technical College is ranked #30 for quality in the state of Kentucky. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $4,812.
Eastern Kentucky University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky ranking, coming in at #13. Richmond, Kentucky is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Eastern Kentucky University is ranked #11 for quality in the state of Kentucky. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $11,613.
Hopkinsville Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky ranking, coming in at #14. Hopkinsville Community College is a public institution located 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. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $5,470.
Somerset Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky ranking, coming in at #15. This medium-sized public school is located in Somerset, Kentucky.
Not only is Somerset Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #31 in Kentucky for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $4,216.
University of Louisville landed the #16 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky ranking. UofL is located in Louisville, Kentucky and has a large student population. It is a public school.
Not only is University of Louisville a great value, but it is also ranked #2 in Kentucky for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $15,466.
Morehead State University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky list. This medium-sized public school is 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 $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,959.
Ashland Community and Technical College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky ranking, coming in at #18. ACTC is located in Ashland, Kentucky and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Ashland Community and Technical College has the honor of being ranked #33 in Kentucky for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $4,028.
Read full value report on Ashland Community and Technical College
Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky list. This small public school is 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. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $3,570.
Learn More About Value at Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College
With a ranking of #20, Madisonville Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) 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 #24 for quality in the state of Kentucky. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $6,612.
With a ranking of #21, Henderson Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky list. Henderson Community College is a small public school situated 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 $30-$48k per year is $3,592.
Brescia University landed the #22 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky ranking. Brescia University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Owensboro, Kentucky.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Brescia University is ranked #16 for quality in the state of Kentucky. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $11,098.
With a ranking of #23, Lindsey Wilson College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky list. Located in Columbia, Kentucky, the school is a small private not-for-profit institution.
Lindsey Wilson College has the honor of being ranked #14 in Kentucky for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $12,301.
With a ranking of #24, Maysville Community and Technical College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky list. Maysville Community and Technical College is a public institution located in Maysville, Kentucky.
Maysville Community and Technical College has the honor of being ranked #35 in Kentucky for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $4,274.
Read full value report on Maysville Community and Technical College
Big Sandy Community and Technical College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Kentucky ranking, coming in at #25. Big Sandy Community and Technical College is a public institution located in Prestonsburg, Kentucky.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Big Sandy Community and Technical College is ranked #37 for quality in the state of Kentucky. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $4,037.
Learn More About Value at Big Sandy 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.