# Most Affordable Colleges in Kentucky

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-05-31 | Schools: 44 | Category: By State (Affordable)
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/most-affordable-colleges-kentucky

## Methodology

Ranked by lowest net price in Kentucky

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Summary

When considering higher education in Kentucky, affordability is often a top concern for students and families. This list highlights colleges that not only keep costs low but also aim to deliver solid outcomes for their graduates. For instance, many of these institutions have net prices below $4,000, making them financially accessible options for many.

The schools featured here are distinguished by their low net prices, completion rates, and post-graduation earnings. The data reveals that while all these institutions keep costs down, their performance in terms of graduation rates and earnings varies significantly. For example, while the average earnings among these schools is $42,173, the graduation rates hover around 49%, indicating a mix of challenges and successes in student retention and completion.

Take Hazard Community and Technical College, which has a net price of just $2,955 and a graduation rate of 47%. In contrast, Berea College has a higher net price of $6,106 but boasts a graduation rate of 60% and significantly higher average earnings at $43,150. This contrast underscores the importance of weighing not just cost, but also potential outcomes when choosing a college.

## Key Findings

- Hazard Community and Technical College has a net price of just $2,955 and average earnings of $29,868.
- Berea College graduates earn an average of $43,150, with a graduation rate of 60%.
- The average graduation rate among these colleges is 49%, highlighting varied student success.
- Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College has a net price of $3,731 and $6,919 in average debt.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [Hazard Community and Technical College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/hazard-community-and-technical-college) | Hazard, KY | 47% | $29,868 | $2,955 | $10,125 | 0.34x |
| 2 | [Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southcentral-kentucky-community-and-technical-college) | Bowling Green, KY | 55% | $34,242 | $3,537 | $10,175 | 0.3x |
| 3 | [Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southeast-kentucky-community-technical-college) | Cumberland, KY | 45% | $29,482 | $3,731 | $6,919 | 0.23x |
| 4 | [Big Sandy Community and Technical College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/big-sandy-community-and-technical-college) | Prestonsburg, KY | 38% | $32,954 | $3,873 | $9,357 | 0.28x |
| 5 | [Berea College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/berea-college) | Berea, KY | 60% | $43,150 | $6,106 | $3,591 | 0.08x |
| 6 | [Henderson Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/henderson-community-college) | Henderson, KY | 40% | $35,714 | $4,232 | $10,483 | 0.29x |
| 7 | [Somerset Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/somerset-community-college) | Somerset, KY | 42% | $30,787 | $4,398 | $12,215 | 0.4x |
| 8 | [Maysville Community and Technical College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/maysville-community-and-technical-college) | Maysville, KY | 54% | $32,194 | $4,605 | $11,500 | 0.36x |
| 9 | [Kentucky State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/kentucky-state-university) | Frankfort, KY | 30% | $36,382 | $8,040 | $25,938 | 0.71x |
| 10 | [Northern Kentucky University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northern-kentucky-university) | Highland Heights, KY | 50% | $50,220 | $8,191 | $23,000 | 0.46x |
| 11 | [Elizabethtown Community and Technical College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/elizabethtown-community-and-technical-college) | Elizabethtown, KY | 54% | $36,143 | $5,143 | $9,055 | 0.25x |
| 12 | [Jefferson Community and Technical College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/jefferson-community-and-technical-college) | Louisville, KY | 33% | $38,171 | $6,376 | $11,651 | 0.31x |
| 13 | [West Kentucky Community and Technical College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/west-kentucky-community-and-technical-college) | Paducah, KY | 49% | $34,891 | $5,353 | $8,986 | 0.26x |
| 14 | [Madisonville Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/madisonville-community-college) | Madisonville, KY | 52% | $35,733 | $5,406 | $8,450 | 0.24x |
| 15 | [Ashland Community and Technical College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/ashland-community-and-technical-college) | Ashland, KY | 55% | $34,504 | $5,717 | $10,950 | 0.32x |
| 16 | [Gateway Community and Technical College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/gateway-community-and-technical-college) | Florence, KY | 53% | $36,147 | $5,725 | $10,711 | 0.3x |
| 17 | [Owensboro Community and Technical College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/owensboro-community-and-technical-college) | Owensboro, KY | 52% | $35,798 | $5,800 | $7,933 | 0.22x |
| 18 | [Hopkinsville Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/hopkinsville-community-college) | Hopkinsville, KY | 41% | $36,323 | $5,875 | $10,691 | 0.29x |
| 19 | [Murray State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/murray-state-university) | Murray, KY | 60% | $44,737 | $9,096 | $20,500 | 0.46x |
| 20 | [Bluegrass Community and Technical College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bluegrass-community-and-technical-college) | Lexington, KY | 40% | $36,343 | $6,113 | $10,500 | 0.29x |
| 21 | [Brescia University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/brescia-university) | Owensboro, KY | 51% | $45,500 | $8,709 | $29,430 | 0.65x |
| 22 | [Morehead State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/morehead-state-university) | Morehead, KY | 50% | $43,197 | $9,793 | $22,250 | 0.52x |
| 23 | [Eastern Kentucky University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/eastern-kentucky-university) | Richmond, KY | 50% | $45,795 | $11,040 | $22,500 | 0.49x |
| 24 | [Western Kentucky University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/western-kentucky-university) | Bowling Green, KY | 55% | $43,889 | $10,990 | $22,095 | 0.5x |
| 25 | [Georgetown College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/georgetown-college) | Georgetown, KY | 48% | $52,074 | $14,095 | $25,200 | 0.48x |
| 26 | [University of the Cumberlands](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-the-cumberlands) | Williamsburg, KY | 48% | $45,036 | $14,107 | $14,911 | 0.33x |
| 27 | [Lindsey Wilson College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lindsey-wilson-college) | Columbia, KY | 41% | $41,129 | $15,070 | $16,784 | 0.41x |
| 28 | [Kentucky Wesleyan College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/kentucky-wesleyan-college) | Owensboro, KY | 49% | $46,747 | $17,131 | $23,250 | 0.5x |
| 29 | [University of Louisville](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-louisville) | Louisville, KY | 61% | $53,899 | $17,988 | $20,500 | 0.38x |
| 30 | [University of Kentucky](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-kentucky) | Lexington, KY | 71% | $59,025 | $18,851 | $22,500 | 0.38x |
| 31 | [Alice Lloyd College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/alice-lloyd-college) | Pippa Passes, KY | 32% | $40,573 | $18,600 | $19,599 | 0.48x |
| 32 | [Campbellsville University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/campbellsville-university) | Campbellsville, KY | 44% | $41,583 | $19,341 | $17,156 | 0.41x |
| 33 | [Centre College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/centre-college) | Danville, KY | 83% | $66,240 | $20,781 | $27,000 | 0.41x |
| 34 | [Bellarmine University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bellarmine-university) | Louisville, KY | 66% | $62,069 | $21,499 | $25,000 | 0.4x |
| 35 | [University of Pikeville](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-pikeville) | Pikeville, KY | 40% | $48,231 | $20,311 | $20,679 | 0.43x |
| 36 | [Thomas More University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/thomas-more-university) | Crestview Hills, KY | 40% | $59,384 | $21,835 | $26,236 | 0.44x |
| 37 | [Transylvania University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/transylvania-university) | Lexington, KY | 71% | $54,705 | $21,913 | $27,000 | 0.49x |
| 38 | [Asbury University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/asbury-university) | Wilmore, KY | 65% | $42,368 | $21,401 | $24,028 | 0.57x |
| 39 | [Union Commonwealth University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/union-commonwealth-university) | Barbourville, KY | 34% | $42,002 | $21,311 | $24,250 | 0.58x |
| 40 | [Simmons College of Kentucky](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/simmons-college-of-kentucky) | Louisville, KY | 24% | N/A | $18,434 | N/A | N/A |
| 41 | [Kentucky Christian University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/kentucky-christian-university) | Grayson, KY | 35% | $42,375 | $24,038 | $22,250 | 0.53x |
| 42 | [Spalding University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/spalding-university) | Louisville, KY | 54% | $49,438 | $25,491 | $25,250 | 0.51x |
| 43 | [Employment Solutions-College for Technical Education](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/employment-solutions-college-for-technical-education) | Lexington, KY | 63% | $20,156 | $22,871 | $11,600 | 0.58x |
| 44 | [Midway University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/midway-university) | Midway, KY | 43% | $44,246 | $29,579 | $21,301 | 0.48x |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Most Affordable Colleges in Kentucky." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/most-affordable-colleges-kentucky

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.