Kentucky is home to a diverse array of colleges and universities, offering a wide range of academic programs and campus experiences. Whether you’re a high school student preparing for college or an adult learner looking to advance your career, Kentucky has an institution that can meet your needs.
University of Kentucky (Lexington): The state’s flagship university with over 30,000 students, offering a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate programs, including top-ranked engineering, business, and medical schools.
University of Louisville (Louisville): A public research university with over 22,000 students, known for its strength in medicine, law, dentistry, and nursing.
Eastern Kentucky University (Richmond): A regional university with over 15,000 students, specializing in teacher education, nursing, and business.
Western Kentucky University (Bowling Green): A comprehensive university with over 20,000 students, offering programs in agriculture, health sciences, and business.
Morehead State University (Morehead): A public liberal arts institution with over 10,000 students, known for its strong academic programs and beautiful mountain setting.
Northern Kentucky University (Highland Heights): A public university with over 15,000 students, focusing on undergraduate education and serving the northern Kentucky region.
Kentucky State University (Frankfort): A historically black university with over 2,000 students, specializing in agriculture, engineering, and teacher education.
Private Universities
University of the Cumberlands (Williamsburg): A private university with over 5,000 students, offering undergraduate and graduate programs in a Christian context.
Centre College (Danville): A private liberal arts college with over 1,300 students, known for its academic excellence and emphasis on experiential learning.
Berea College (Berea): A private work college with over 1,500 students, where all students receive full tuition scholarships.
Kentucky Wesleyan College (Owensboro): A private liberal arts college with over 1,000 students, offering undergraduate programs in a Methodist tradition.
Transylvania University (Lexington): A private liberal arts college with over 1,000 students, founded in 1780 and known for its strong academic programs and beautiful campus.
Community Colleges
Bluegrass Community and Technical College (Lexington): A comprehensive community college with over 15,000 students, offering associate degrees and vocational training programs.
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College (Elizabethtown): A community college with over 4,000 students, offering associate degrees and workforce training programs.
Fayetteville Technical Community College (Fayetteville): A community college with over 2,000 students, serving the Fayette County area.
Gateway Community and Technical College (Covington): A community college with over 3,000 students, offering associate degrees and technical training.
Henderson Community College (Henderson): A community college with over 2,000 students, offering associate degrees and workforce training programs.
Hopkinsville Community College (Hopkinsville): A community college with over 2,000 students, serving the western Kentucky region.
Jefferson Community and Technical College (Louisville): A community college with over 15,000 students, offering associate degrees and certificate programs.
Kentucky Community and Technical College System (Lexington): A statewide system of community and technical colleges with campuses across Kentucky, offering a wide range of associate degrees and workforce training programs.
Maysville Community and Technical College (Maysville): A community college with over 1,000 students, serving the northeastern Kentucky region.
Owensboro Community and Technical College (Owensboro): A community college with over 3,000 students, offering associate degrees and workforce training programs.
Paducah Community College (Paducah): A community college with over 2,000 students, serving the western Kentucky region.
Prestonsburg Community College (Prestonsburg): A community college with over 1,000 students, serving the eastern Kentucky region.
Somerset Community College (Somerset): A community college with over 2,000 students, serving the south-central Kentucky region.
Choosing the Right College or University
With so many colleges and universities to choose from, it can be overwhelming to narrow down your options. Here are a few questions to ask yourself to help you make an informed decision:
What are my academic goals?
What type of campus environment do I prefer?
What is the cost of attendance?
What is the financial aid and scholarship availability?
What are the career services and alumni network like?
By carefully considering your needs and preferences, you can find the college or university that is the best fit for you.
Table 1: Kentucky Universities by Enrollment
University
Enrollment
University of Kentucky
30,362
University of Louisville
22,765
Eastern Kentucky University
15,490
Western Kentucky University
20,765
Morehead State University
11,476
Table 2: Kentucky Private Universities by Endowment
University
Endowment
Centre College
$314 million
Berea College
$1.2 billion
Kentucky Wesleyan College
$45 million
Transylvania University
$163 million
University of the Cumberlands
$120 million
Table 3: Kentucky Community Colleges by Location
Community College
Location
Bluegrass Community and Technical College
Lexington
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
Elizabethtown
Fayetteville Technical Community College
Fayetteville
Gateway Community and Technical College
Covington
Henderson Community College
Henderson
Hopkinsville Community College
Hopkinsville
Jefferson Community and Technical College
Louisville
Kentucky Community and Technical College System
Statewide
Maysville Community and Technical College
Maysville
Owensboro Community and Technical College
Owensboro
Paducah Community College
Paducah
Prestonsburg Community College
Prestonsburg
Somerset Community College
Somerset
Table 4: Kentucky Colleges and Universities by Academic Programs