University of Kentucky is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Lexington, Kentucky. It enrolls 24,763 students (a very large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
73/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes80
Value64
Affordability40
Selectivity40
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 92.9%, University of Kentucky is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
92.9%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1070 – 1290
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
21 – 28
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether University of Kentucky is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↓
3.5 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending University of Kentucky isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $18,851 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$18,851
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
23%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
34%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$13,502
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$34,140
Room & Board (on-campus)
$16,016
Room & Board (off-campus)
$15,912
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,840
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,944
Total Cost of Attendance
$34,391
Application fee: $50 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$12,182
$30,001 – $48,000
$12,119
$48,001 – $75,000
$16,313
$75,001 – $110,000
$21,192
Over $110,000
$26,781
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,50010%percentile
$5,89825%percentile
$22,500Medianpercentile
$26,88575%percentile
$32,40090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $18,500
↓ $4,000
No Pell $14,582
↓ $7,918
Dependent students $16,500
↓ $6,000
Independent students $18,000
↓ $4,500
Female students $17,500
↓ $5,000
Male students $15,500
↓ $7,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,500, less than completers ($22,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
60% of full-time students who enrolled at University of Kentucky graduate within six years, and 87% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
60%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
87%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered University of Kentucky earn a median of $59,025 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$59,025
Earning > $25K
83%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$48,500
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$59,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$53,700
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$52,600
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$55,300
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,400, about 19% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
14.1 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 84% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
University of Kentucky is home to 24,763 students, a sprawling student community.
Total Enrolled
24,763
Part-Time
6%
First-Generation
23%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 76.2%18,874
Hispanic 6.8%1,679
Black 6.3%1,558
Other 4.7%1,169
Asian 3.7%909
International 1.3%319
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at University of Kentucky. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityLexington, Kentucky
Housing
Partly residential8,300 beds available
Adult Learners
6%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
University of Kentucky offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
274 distinct programs across
28 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of Kentucky is 17:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
17:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$14,567
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$1.9B
Strong financial cushion supports aid and stability
Avg Faculty Salary
$105,453
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
1,710 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
590
35%
$137,895
Associate Professors
470
27%
$102,528
Assistant Professors
394
23%
$90,237
Instructors
10
1%
—
Lecturers
246
14%
$70,990
Pros & Cons of University of Kentucky
A quick at-a-glance summary of how University of Kentucky tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Strong first-year retention
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, University of Kentucky is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about University of Kentucky
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about University of Kentucky.
Is University of Kentucky hard to get into?
University of Kentucky has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 92.9%.
What is the acceptance rate at University of Kentucky?
University of Kentucky has an acceptance rate of 92.9%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for University of Kentucky?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of Kentucky scored between 1070 and 1290 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for University of Kentucky?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of Kentucky scored between 21 and 28 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does University of Kentucky cost?
The average net price after aid at University of Kentucky is $18,851 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is University of Kentucky worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $59,025 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $18,851 per year. That's roughly 3.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is University of Kentucky known for?
University of Kentucky is best known for its programs in Social Work, Business, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do University of Kentucky graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering University of Kentucky are $59,025, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is University of Kentucky accredited?
Yes. University of Kentucky is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend University of Kentucky?
University of Kentucky enrolls 24,763 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at University of Kentucky?
University of Kentucky graduates 60% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is University of Kentucky a public or private college?
University of Kentucky is a Public institution.
Where is University of Kentucky located?
University of Kentucky is located in Lexington, Kentucky.
What programs does University of Kentucky offer?
University of Kentucky offers 274 distinct programs. The most popular include Social Work, Business, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at University of Kentucky?
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of Kentucky is 17:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Kentucky
Other colleges in Kentucky share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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