by our College Data Analytics TeamIt's not easy to decide which grad school to attend when you have so many options available. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Top Kentucky Colleges for a Master's ranking - to help you make that decision.
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Our analysis looked at 19 grad schools in Kentucky to determine which ones have the best master's degree programs. To come up with this ranking of the best grad schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of master's graduates during the early years of their career. This is because one of the main reasons people pursue a master's degree is to enable themselves to find better-paying positions.
Another factor that we look at to determine a school's ranking is the average debt load that graduate students take on while they are working on their master's degree. The average amount taken out in student loans for graduates at a particular school may be crippling for those who earn less than average wages after graduation.
Our Best Master's Degree Schools considers other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt. These factors include things like the educational resources, the demand associated with the school, whether or not the school offers online classes, and the student body caliber - just to name a few.
To learn more, visit our graduate school ranking methodology page.
Thinking about continuing your education further? Check out our Best Doctorate Degree Schools ranking.
Learn more about these excellent grad schools below:
Our analysis found University of Kentucky to be the best grad school for master’s degrees in Kentucky in this year’s ranking. University of Kentucky is a large public school located in Lexington, Kentucky that handed out 1,289 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from UK go into careers with an average salary of $47,316 during the early years of their career.
A rank of #2 on our Best Master’s Degree in Kentucky list means University of Louisville is a great place for students working on their degree. UofL is located in Louisville, Kentucky and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,458 master’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $57,748 during the early years of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of the Cumberlands. The school came in at #3 in Kentucky on this year’s best master’s degree schools ranking. Williamsburg, Kentucky is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 3,053 students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from Cumberlands is $49,823 during the early years of their career.
Out of the 19 master’s degree schools in Kentucky that were part of this year’s ranking, Northern Kentucky University landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Highland Heights, Kentucky, the fairly large public school awarded 1,015 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from NKU is $58,227 during the early years of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Bellarmine University. The school came in at #5 in Kentucky on this year’s best master’s degree schools ranking. Bellarmine U is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Louisville, Kentucky. It awarded 175 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $64,168 during the early years of their career.
Campbellsville University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in Kentucky ranking. Campbellsville, Kentucky is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 2,839 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from Campbellsville University make an average of $43,106 a year.
Eastern Kentucky University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Kentucky ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Richmond, Kentucky, the fairly large public school handed out 745 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $47,168 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #8, Murray State University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Kentucky list. Murray State University is a medium-sized public school located in Murray, Kentucky that handed out 544 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from Murray State make an average of $46,474 a year.
Western Kentucky University landed the #9 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Kentucky ranking. Bowling Green, Kentucky is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 728 students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from WKU make an average of $45,343 per year during the early years of their career.
Sullivan University landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Kentucky ranking. Louisville, Kentucky is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 157 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from Sullivan University go into careers with an average salary of $70,690 during the early years of their career.
Spalding University landed the #11 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Kentucky ranking. Spalding University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Louisville, Kentucky that handed out 292 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from Spalding make an average of $48,167 a year.
Lindsey Wilson College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in Kentucky ranking. Lindsey Wilson College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Columbia, Kentucky that handed out 225 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from Lindsey Wilson College is $35,861 during the early years of their career.
Thomas More University landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Kentucky ranking. Thomas More is located in Crestview Hills, Kentucky and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 98 master’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from Thomas More is $71,446 during the early years of their career.
Asbury University landed the #14 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Kentucky ranking. Asbury is located in Wilmore, Kentucky and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 66 master’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from Asbury is $46,712 during the early years of their career.
Georgetown College did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Kentucky ranking, coming in at #15. Located in Georgetown, Kentucky, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 168 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from Georgetown College is $43,930 during the early years of their career.
Morehead State University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in Kentucky list. Morehead State University is a medium-sized public school located in Morehead, Kentucky that handed out 204 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from Morehead State University make an average of $40,961 per year during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #17, University of Pikeville did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Kentucky list. UPIKE is a private not-for-profit institution located in Pikeville, Kentucky. The school has a small population, and it awarded 28 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $45,386 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #18, Union College Kentucky did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Kentucky list. Union College is located in Barbourville, Kentucky and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 78 master’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $44,736 during the early years of their career.
Midway University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in Kentucky ranking. Midway is a private not-for-profit institution located in Midway, Kentucky. The school has a small population, and it awarded 94 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from Midway make an average of $44,089 a year.
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More about our data sources and methodologies.