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CollegeRanker
Private nonprofit Pikeville, KY · Town · Southeast · 87% data
B- Earnings C+ Social Mobility C Value
Graduation Rate
40% D+
Lower completion rate than most colleges
Earnings (10yr)
$48,231 B-
Roughly in line with national averages
Net Price
$20,311 C-
19% more than the typical college
Enrollment
1,135
Earnings +18% vs avg
Graduation -29% vs avg
Net Price 19% vs avg
Mobility Top 44%

Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 19.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $19.0 over 20 years. Ranked #7 in Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Kentucky.

19.0× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $19.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,464,048.

What The Data Says

  1. A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Graduation of 40% — 29% below the national average.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $19.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why University of Pikeville Matters

University of Pikeville is a private doctoral / professional university in Pikeville, KY and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Private Doctoral / Professional University
Carnegie Class
Doctoral/Professional
Enrollment
1,135
Setting
Town
Designations
66
Primary Strengths
Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Criminal Justice

Why students choose University of Pikeville

Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Strength in Health Professions
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C-
Top 56% overall
B-
Earnings
$48,231 median
C
Value
2.4× net price
C-
Affordability
$20,311/yr net
D+
Graduation
40% graduate
C+
Social Mobility
1.6% climb Q1→Q5
D
Diversity
0.32 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

At the University of Pikeville, students can find a supportive environment that focuses on practical fields of study. With around 1,135 enrolled, this school caters especially well to those interested in Health Professions, Business and Marketing, Biology and Biomedical sciences, Psychology, and Education. The smaller campus size often means more personalized attention from faculty, which can be a big plus for students looking for guidance in their academic and career paths.

Looking at life after graduation, students can expect to earn about $48,231 within ten years of completing their degree. This number can be particularly encouraging for those considering the financial aspects of their education. The net price of attending Pikeville is approximately $20,311 after aid, which allows many graduates to enter their careers without overwhelming debt. With a graduation rate of 40%, it’s clear that while the journey can be challenging, those who persist often find solid opportunities in the job market.

When it comes to financial considerations, the median debt for students is around $20,679. This debt load is fairly manageable given the earnings potential, especially for graduates in high-demand fields. The school tends to attract students who are motivated to succeed and take advantage of the resources available to them. It’s a place where dedication can lead to meaningful outcomes, making it a viable option for those ready to invest in their future.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective University of Pikeville is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into University of Pikeville? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a private institution in Pikeville, Kentucky, University of Pikeville enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 40%.

Retention Rate
69%
Full-Time Faculty
60%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$7,086
Student–Faculty Ratio
15:1
Diversity Index
0.32
First-Gen Students
45%

Inside the Admissions Office

School-reported Common Data Set · 2025-26

The acceptance rate tells you how hard University of Pikeville is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 16% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.

Yield Rate
16%
of admits enroll
Submitted SAT
5%
of enrolled freshmen
Submitted ACT
71%
of enrolled freshmen
Source: University of Pikeville's Common Data Set, 2025-26 View the source document on collegedata.fyi →

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Pikeville? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at University of Pikeville is $24,850, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $20,311. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,115 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,679 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$24,850
Out-of-State
$24,850
Avg Net Price
$20,311
Median Debt
$20,679
Pell Grant Rate
38%
Federal Loan Rate
66%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$13,115
Family Income $30K–$48K
$18,160
Family Income $48K–$75K
$23,075
Family Income $110K+
$25,755

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Students Like You

Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at University of Pikeville — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is University of Pikeville Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of University of Pikeville earn a median of $48,231, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$34,508
8 Years
$39,752
10 Years
$48,231
Debt-to-Earnings
0.43x
Earning > $25K
57%

Earnings Trajectory

$34,508 6yr $39,752 8yr $48,231 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (68)
23%
100% (68)
23%
100% (68)
23%
100% (68)
23%

How University Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation40%Earnings 10yr$48KNet Price$20KRetention69%Median Debt$21KPell Grant Rate38%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$13K$0-30K$18K$30-48K$23K$48-75K$26K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%20.5%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%7.7%MOBILITY1.58%

College ROI Calculator

Is University of Pikeville Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, University of Pikeville delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $20,311/year ($81,244 total). Graduates earn $48,231 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,545,292 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,464,048 (19.0× your investment). The median debt is $20,679, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 40% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$81,244
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,545,292
Net Return
$1,464,048
ROI Multiple
19.0×
Cost Per Year
$20,311
Median Debt
$20,679
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
40%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Mobility

Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records

Does University of Pikeville Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

University of Pikeville is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.58%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 20.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 7.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $57,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
1.58%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
7.7%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
20.5%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$77,986
today's $ (2015 cohort data)

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is University of Pikeville? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Pikeville. Its economic connectedness score is 1.27, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.06), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.27
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
-0.06
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
6.6%
Support Ratio
1.00
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Federal Grants
$4,949,838
Investment Income
$-3,181,078

Top Programs

The fields University of Pikeville awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.

Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into University of Pikeville? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a private institution in Pikeville, Kentucky, University of Pikeville enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 40%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Pikeville? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at University of Pikeville is $24,850, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $20,311. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,115 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,679 in federal student loans.

Is University of Pikeville Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of University of Pikeville earn a median of $48,231, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

Does University of Pikeville Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

University of Pikeville is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.58%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 20.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 7.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $57,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is University of Pikeville? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Pikeville. Its economic connectedness score is 1.27, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.06), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Does University of Pikeville offer Early Decision?

No. University of Pikeville does not report a binding Early Decision plan (2025-26 Common Data Set).

Is University of Pikeville really test-optional?

University of Pikeville reports test-optional admission, but most enrolled students still submit scores: about 76% of first-year students sent an SAT or ACT (2025-26 Common Data Set). Submitting strong scores is the norm here.

What percentage of admitted students enroll at University of Pikeville?

About 16% of admitted students choose to enroll at University of Pikeville — its yield rate (2025-26 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

Free · 21 pages · 5,745 institutions · 100% federal data, no surveys