by our College Data Analytics TeamThere are lots of options to choose from today when trying to decide which school to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Kentucky ranking is part of that endeavor. 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.
When determining the value of a school in our Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Kentucky ranking, we first look at its average net price, which is defined as the sum of room and board, tuition, and fees minus any financial aid that the student receives. 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:
Northern Kentucky University tops this year’s ranking as the best value (with aid) school in Kentucky for overall quality. Located in Highland Heights, Kentucky, the school is a fairly large public institution.
Northern Kentucky University has the honor of being ranked #7 in Kentucky for overall quality on top of being a good value. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $7,443.
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 (With Aid) in Kentucky list. Murray State is a public institution located in Murray, Kentucky.
Not only is Murray State University a great value, but it is also ranked #9 in Kentucky for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $11,237.
The quality degree programs at Bluegrass Community and Technical College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Kentucky. This medium-sized public school is located 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 net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $7,638 a year.
Out of the 39 schools in Kentucky that were part of this year’s ranking, University of the Cumberlands landed the #4 spot on the list. Williamsburg, Kentucky is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Not only is University of the Cumberlands a great value, but it is also ranked #4 in Kentucky for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $13,631.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Western Kentucky University. It ranked #5 on our 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Kentucky list. WKU is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky and has a fairly large student population. It is a public school.
Western Kentucky University has the honor of being ranked #6 in Kentucky for overall quality on top of being a good value. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $12,395.
Jefferson Community and Technical College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Kentucky ranking. Jefferson Community and Technical College is a public institution located in Louisville, Kentucky.
Not only is Jefferson Community and Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #20 in Kentucky for overall quality. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $8,417 a year.
Read full value report on Jefferson Community and Technical College
With a ranking of #7, Somerset Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Kentucky list. Located in Somerset, Kentucky, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Somerset Community College is ranked #31 for quality in the state of Kentucky. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $5,179.
Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Kentucky ranking. Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College is a small public school located in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College is ranked #25 for quality in the state of Kentucky. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $7,316 a year.
Read full value report on Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College
Morehead State University landed the #9 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Kentucky ranking. Morehead State University is located in Morehead, Kentucky and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.
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. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $10,471.
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Kentucky list. Elizabethtown Community and Technical College is a public institution located in Elizabethtown, Kentucky.
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College has the honor of being ranked #26 in Kentucky for overall quality on top of being a good value. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $7,301.
Learn More About Value at Elizabethtown 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 (With Aid) in Kentucky list. Gateway is located in Florence, Kentucky and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Gateway Community and Technical College has the honor of being ranked #23 in Kentucky for overall quality on top of being a good value. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $8,072.
Learn More About Value at Gateway Community and Technical College
With a ranking of #12, Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Kentucky list. Southeast is located in Cumberland, Kentucky and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #34 in Kentucky for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $4,863.
Learn More About Value at Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College
Madisonville Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Kentucky list. Madisonville, Kentucky is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Madisonville Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #24 in Kentucky for overall quality. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $7,837 a year.
With a ranking of #14, Eastern Kentucky University did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Kentucky list. Located in Richmond, Kentucky, the school is a fairly large public institution.
Eastern Kentucky University has the honor of being ranked #11 in Kentucky for overall quality on top of being a good value. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $14,271.
Hopkinsville Community College landed the #14 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Kentucky ranking. This small public school is located in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.
Hopkinsville Community College has the honor of being ranked #28 in Kentucky for overall quality on top of being a good value. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $7,924.
West Kentucky Community and Technical College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Kentucky ranking. This small public school is located in Paducah, Kentucky.
West Kentucky Community and Technical College has the honor of being ranked #27 in Kentucky for overall quality on top of being a good value. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $8,041.
Full West Kentucky Community and Technical College Value Report
Ashland Community and Technical College landed the #17 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Kentucky ranking. ACTC is a small public school situated 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. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $6,246.
With a ranking of #18, Owensboro Community and Technical College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Kentucky list. Owensboro Community and Technical College is located in Owensboro, Kentucky and has a small student population. It is a public school.
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. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $7,790 a year.
Read full value report on Owensboro Community and Technical College
With a ranking of #19, Big Sandy Community and Technical College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) 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. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $4,859 a year.
Read full value report on Big Sandy Community and Technical College
University of Louisville ranked #20 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Kentucky list. Louisville, Kentucky is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
University of Louisville has the honor of being ranked #2 in Kentucky for overall quality on top of being a good value. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $18,582.
University of Kentucky ranked #21 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Kentucky list. This large public school is located in Lexington, Kentucky.
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. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $20,043.
Kentucky State University landed the #22 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Kentucky ranking. This small public school is located in Frankfort, Kentucky.
Not only is Kentucky State University a great value, but it is also ranked #32 in Kentucky for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $7,492.
Maysville Community and Technical College landed the #23 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Kentucky ranking. Maysville Community and Technical College is located in Maysville, Kentucky and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Maysville Community and Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #35 in Kentucky for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $6,272.
Learn More About Value at Maysville Community and Technical College
Brescia University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Kentucky ranking, coming in at #24. This small private not-for-profit school is 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. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $13,796 a year.
Hazard Community and Technical College landed the #25 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Kentucky ranking. Hazard, 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, Hazard Community and Technical College is ranked #38 for quality in the state of Kentucky. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $5,250 a year.
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.