POPULATION (2021): 4.5 million
CAPITAL: Frankfurt
LARGEST PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IN KENTUCKY: University of Kentucky
LARGEST PRIVATE UNIVERSITY IN KENTUCKY: University of the Cumberlands
Kentucky might not have a beach, but it does have the most mile of waterways in the lower 48, with only Alaska giving residents more opportunities to fish, swim, and boat. The cities in Kentucky are known for having fun nightlife, and it’s no secret that they like washing down their live music with some local whiskey (if they’re 21, of course).
Louisville and Lexington are the two biggest, and both have areas that offer students a quiet college feel, while still being close to a lot of fun. Outside of the cities, camping and weekend getaways to rural resorts are commonplace for people who decide to go to Kentucky for their education.
Music and food are big parts of this southern state, and both are almost always presented with kindness and some southern charm.
Universities in Kentucky – 4-Year Colleges and Online
The University of Kentucky and The University of Louisville are relatively well-known, and rival each other in many different ways, including claiming to be the best state university in Kentucky, but there are several other colleges and universities throughout Kentucky for students to choose from. Here’s a look at universities and colleges in Kentucky.
Public Universities in Kentucky
If you’re from the great state of Kentucky, you pretty much have to claim allegiance to the University of Kentucky or the University of Louisville at a young age, at least when it comes to cheering for sports teams and academic contests. They are, indeed, the two largest colleges in the state, and both offer similar college experiences with entertainment, large student bodies, and decent weather year-round.
There are six other state-funded universities in Kentucky:
- Eastern Kentucky University
- Kentucky State University
- Morehead State University
- Murray State University
- Northern Kentucky University
- Western Kentucky University
Private Universities in Kentucky
There are a few more options for students who qualify to attend a private university in Kentucky. There are many religiously affiliated colleges in Kentucky, such as Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Kentucky Christian University, Clear Creek Baptist Bible College, and Kentucky Mountain Bible College.
Several private universities are considered liberal arts colleges, all of which offer 4-year degrees:
- Alice Lloyd College
- Asbury University
- Bellarmine University
- Berea College
- Campbellsville University
- Centre College
- Georgetown College
- Kentucky Wesleyan College
- Lindsey Wilson College
- Midway University
- Spalding University
- Thomas More University
- Transylvania University
- Union College
- University of the Cumberlands
- University of Pikeville
Community Colleges in Kentucky
Kentucky has a very popular and high-quality community college system known as the Kentucky Community & Technical College System that offers students many different certifications and 2-year associate degree programs with a lot of hands-on experience to be had. These affordable alternatives to one of the 4-year universities can be found all across the state:
- Ashland Community and Technical College
- Big Sandy Community and Technical College
- Bluegrass Community and Technical College
- Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
- Gateway Community and Technical College
- Hazard Community and Technical College
- Henderson Community and Technical College
- Hopkinsville Community and Technical College
- Jefferson Community and Technical College
- Madisonville Community and Technical College
- Maysville Community and Technical College
- Owensboro Community and Technical College
- Somerset Community and Technical College
- Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College
- Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College
Prominent Online Colleges in Kentucky
Online classes are becoming more and more popular for students in Kentucky, and most of the public schools have adapted some kind of hybrid learning system, if not a full-scale online education, as Western Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky and Louisville each offer several programs, as does the community colleges system mentioned above.
Universities in Lexington, KY
The city of Lexington is home to the largest college in the state, The University of Kentucky, which offers certificates, 4-year degrees, master’s, and doctorate degrees, but it’s not the only college in town, as Transylvania University and American National University also have 4-year degrees in Lexington.
Universities in Louisville, KY
As you could have guessed, the primary college in Louisville is, indeed, the University of Louisville, which is the second-largest public university in the state. Other colleges and universities in Louisville with 4-year programs are Bellarmine University, Galen College of Nursing, Simmons College of Kentucky, Spalding University, and Sullivan University.
Get to Know Kentucky
Kentucky is a very green state with miles upon miles of lakes and rivers to enjoy during the warm months. When it cools down in the winter, many residents like to enjoy the live music scenes in the big cities, with a lot of country music and hip-hop coming out of Kentucky in recent years. In addition to the natural beauty, Kentucky is also revered for its southern-inspired architecture and is said to have the most beautiful state capitol building in the country in the capital of Frankfort.
Farming is still a primary industry, and many college programs related to agriculture are considered top-notch in Kentucky… just like the barbecue!
| Institution Name | City | State | Website | Degree Levels Offered | Modality | Profit Status (CNTLAFFI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alice Lloyd College | Pippa Passes | KY | www.alc.edu | Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| American College of Barbering | Louisville | KY | www.americancollegeofbarbering.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| American National University-Lexington | Lexington | KY | www.an.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| Appalachian Beauty School | Belfry | KY | appalachianbeautyschool.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Asbury Theological Seminary | Wilmore | KY | www.asburyseminary.edu | Masters Doctorate |
Hybrid | No |
| Asbury University | Wilmore | KY | www.asbury.edu | Associates Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Ashland Community and Technical College | Ashland | KY | ashland.kctcs.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| ATA College | Louisville | KY | www.ata.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Barrett and Company School of Hair Design | Nicholasville | KY | barrett.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Beckfield College-Florence | Florence | KY | www.beckfield.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| Bellarmine University | Louisville | KY | www.bellarmine.edu | Certificates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Berea College | Berea | KY | www.berea.edu | Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| Big Sandy Community and Technical College | Prestonsburg | KY | bigsandy.kctcs.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Bluegrass Community and Technical College | Lexington | KY | bluegrass.kctcs.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Brescia University | Owensboro | KY | www.brescia.edu | Associates Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Brighton Center's Center for Employment Training | Newport | KY | www.brightoncenter.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Campbellsville University | Campbellsville | KY | www.campbellsville.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Centre College | Danville | KY | www.centre.edu | Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| Clear Creek Baptist Bible College | Pineville | KY | ccbbc.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors |
Online | No |
| Eastern Kentucky University | Richmond | KY | www.eku.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Elizabethtown Community and Technical College | Elizabethtown | KY | elizabethtown.kctcs.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Empire Beauty School-Chenoweth | Louisville | KY | www.empire.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Empire Beauty School-Dixie | Louisville | KY | www.empire.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Empire Beauty School-Elizabethtown | Elizabethtown | KY | www.empire.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Empire Beauty School-Florence | Florence | KY | www.empire.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Empire Beauty School-Hurstborne | Louisville | KY | www.empire.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Employment Solutions-College for Technical Education | Lexington | KY | cte.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Frontier Nursing University | Hyden | KY | www.frontier.edu | Masters Doctorate |
Online | No |
| Galen College of Nursing-ARH | Hazard | KY | www.galencollege.edu | Associates |
Campus | No |
| Galen College of Nursing-Louisville | Louisville | KY | www.galencollege.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters |
Hybrid | No |
| Gateway Community and Technical College | Florence | KY | gateway.kctcs.edu | Certificates Associates |
Online | No |
| Georgetown College | Georgetown | KY | www.georgetowncollege.edu | Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Hazard Community and Technical College | Hazard | KY | hazard.kctcs.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Henderson Community College | Henderson | KY | henderson.kctcs.edu | Certificates Associates |
Hybrid | No |
| Hopkinsville Community College | Hopkinsville | KY | hopkinsville.kctcs.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Hussian College-Daymar College Bowling Green | Bowling Green | KY | www.daymarcollege.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| Ideal Beauty Academy | Louisville | KY | idealbeautyacademy.net | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Interactive College of Technology-Newport | Newport | KY | www.ict.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Jefferson Community and Technical College | Louisville | KY | jefferson.kctcs.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Jenny Lea Academy of Cosmetology | Whitesburg | KY | www.jennyleaacademy.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Kentucky Christian University | Grayson | KY | www.kcu.edu | Bachelors Masters |
Hybrid | No |
| Kentucky Community and Technical College System | Versailles | KY | systemoffice.kctcs.edu | Certificates Associates |
No | |
| Kentucky Horseshoeing School | Richmond | KY | www.kentuckyhorseshoeingschool.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Kentucky Mountain Bible College | Jackson | KY | www.kmbc.edu | Associates Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| Kentucky State University | Frankfort | KY | www.kysu.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Hybrid | No |
| Kentucky Wesleyan College | Owensboro | KY | kwc.edu | Associates Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| Lexington Healing Arts Academy | Lexington | KY | www.lexingtonhealingarts.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Lexington Theological Seminary | Lexington | KY | www.lextheo.edu | Masters Doctorate |
Hybrid | No |
| Lindsey Institute of Cosmetology | Bowling Green | KY | www.lindseyinstitute.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Lindsey Wilson College | Columbia | KY | www.lindsey.edu | Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary | Louisville | KY | www.lpts.edu | Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Madisonville Community College | Madisonville | KY | madisonville.kctcs.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Maysville Community and Technical College | Maysville | KY | maysville.kctcs.edu | Certificates Associates |
Hybrid | No |
| Medical Career & Technical College | Richmond | KY | www.medicalcareerandtechnicalcollege.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| MedQuest College | Louisville | KY | medquestcollege.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Midway University | Midway | KY | www.midway.edu | Associates Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Morehead State University | Morehead | KY | www.moreheadstate.edu | Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Murray State University | Murray | KY | www.murraystate.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Hybrid | No |
| Northern Kentucky University | Highland Heights | KY | www.nku.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Owensboro Community and Technical College | Owensboro | KY | owensboro.kctcs.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Lexington | Lexington | KY | paulmitchell.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Louisville | Louisville | KY | louisville.paulmitchell.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| PJ's College of Cosmetology-Bowling Green | Bowling Green | KY | GOTOPJS.COM | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| PJ's College of Cosmetology-Glasgow | Glasgow | KY | GOTOPJS.COM | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Regina Webb Academy | Bowling Green | KY | reginawebbacademy.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Ross College-Hopkinsville | Hopkinsville | KY | www.rosseducation.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Bowling Green | Bowling Green | KY | www.rosseducation.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Erlanger | Erlanger | KY | www.rosseducation.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Owensboro | Owensboro | KY | www.rosseducation.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Simmons College of Kentucky | Louisville | KY | www.simmonscollegeky.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| Somerset Community College | Somerset | KY | somerset.kctcs.edu | Certificates Associates |
Online | No |
| South Eastern Beauty Academy | Paintsville | KY | southeasternbeautyacadaemy.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College | Bowling Green | KY | southcentral.kctcs.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College | Cumberland | KY | southeast.kctcs.edu | Certificates Associates |
Online | No |
| Spalding University | Louisville | KY | www.spalding.edu | Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Sullivan University | Louisville | KY | www.sullivan.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Hybrid | No |
| Summit Salon Academy-Lexington | Lexington | KY | www.summitsalonacademy.org | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary | Louisville | KY | www.sbts.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Hybrid | No |
| Thomas More University | Crestview Hills | KY | www.thomasmore.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Transylvania University | Lexington | KY | www.transy.edu | Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| Trend Setters' Academy of Beauty Culture-Elizabethtown | Elizabethtown | KY | www.trendsettersabc.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Trend Setters' Academy of Beauty Culture-Louisville | Louisville | KY | www.trendsettersabc.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Trend Setters' Academy of Beauty Culture-Louisville | Louisville | KY | www.trendsettersabc.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Tri-State Barber College | Ashland | KY | tri-statebarbercollege.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Union College | Barbourville | KY | www.unionky.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters |
Hybrid | No |
| University of Kentucky | Lexington | KY | www.uky.edu | Certificates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Hybrid | No |
| University of Louisville | Louisville | KY | www.louisville.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| University of Pikeville | Pikeville | KY | www.upike.edu | Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| University of the Cumberlands | Williamsburg | KY | www.ucumberlands.edu | Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| West Kentucky Community and Technical College | Paducah | KY | westkentucky.kctcs.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Western Kentucky University | Bowling Green | KY | www.wku.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Hybrid | No |