University of Pikeville
#7 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Kentucky- 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
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.
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
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A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 40% — 29% below the national average.
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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
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $20,311 a year after grants and scholarships — 19% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $48,231 ten years after enrolling — 18% above the typical college, against $20,679 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.6% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 44% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.27 economic connectedness).
See mobility →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
- #7 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Kentucky
- #8 Best Nursing Colleges in Kentucky
- #9 Best Computer Science Colleges in Kentucky
- #9 Best Data Science Colleges in Kentucky
- #14 Best Communications Colleges in Kentucky
- #16 Best Biology Colleges in Kentucky
- #19 Best Online Colleges in Kentucky
- #19 Best Education Colleges in Kentucky
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.
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
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.
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
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.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
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)
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.
- Health Professions 27% $74,862 early-career
- Business & Marketing 18% $34,840 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 9% $28,016 early-career
- Criminal Justice 9% $41,658 early-career
- Education 9% $37,337 early-career
- Psychology 6% $31,312 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 6%
- Communications 4% $27,186 early-career
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.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for University of Pikeville's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
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.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of Pikeville.
- William Penn UniversityOskaloosa, IA · Close peer31% grad $48,936 earn 52% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Piedmont UniversityDemorest, GA · Close peer44% grad $49,130 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Reinhardt UniversityWaleska, GA · Close peer39% grad $46,541 earn 62% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Greenville UniversityGreenville, IL · Close peer46% grad $46,827 earn 98% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar net price
- Belmont Abbey CollegeBelmont, NC · Close peer47% grad $47,937 earn 75% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Mars Hill UniversityMars Hill, NC · Close peer43% grad $44,781 earn 68% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
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.
Research Note