Best colleges for business in Kentucky
Northern Kentucky University ranks first in Kentucky for business value (#185 nationally, value score 66.7): graduates earn $67,319 4 years after the bachelor's degree, and the average net price is $8,976 a year.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition · Source: College Scorecard field of study, reporting year 2025 · 17 Kentucky colleges ranked · Updated November 4, 2026
Best business colleges in Kentucky
Northern Kentucky University ranks first in Kentucky for business value (#185 nationally, value score 66.7): graduates earn $67,319 4 years after the bachelor's degree, and the average net price is $8,976 a year. 17 Kentucky colleges qualify. At the median one, business graduates earn $59,415 and the average net price is $17,991 a year.
Source: U.S. College Scorecard field of study, 2025
What the data shows
Key findings
- 17 Kentucky colleges qualify. At the median one, business graduates earn $59,415 and the average net price is $17,991 a year.
- The highest business earnings in the state are at Thomas More University ($82,906), ranked #3 in the state once cost, debt and graduation rate count.
- Median earnings
- $59,415
- National: $64,860
- Median net price
- $17,991
- National: $19,132
- Median federal debt
- $20,500
- business graduates
- Public colleges
- 6 of 17
- in this list
17 colleges
The Kentucky ranking
Ordered by the national value score; the national rank is shown with each college. Earnings are medians 4 years after the bachelor's degree.
- Rank in Kentucky 1
Highland Heights, KY · Public · #185 nationally
66.7Value- Earnings
- $67,319
- Net price
- $8,976
- Federal debt
- $20,000
- Graduation rate
- 54%
- Earnings
- $69,451
- Net price
- $18,868
- Federal debt
- $18,500
- Graduation rate
- 72%
- Rank in Kentucky 3
Crestview Hills, KY · Private nonprofit · #300 nationally
60.0Value- Earnings
- $82,906
- Net price
- $22,723
- Federal debt
- $27,000
- Graduation rate
- 49%
- Rank in Kentucky 4
Louisville, KY · Private nonprofit · #408 nationally
54.6Value- Earnings
- $63,991
- Net price
- $17,991
- Federal debt
- $20,500
- Graduation rate
- 71%
- Earnings
- $59,362
- Net price
- $12,395
- Federal debt
- $17,750
- Graduation rate
- 54%
- Rank in Kentucky 6
Owensboro, KY · Private nonprofit · #489 nationally
49.8Value- Earnings
- $64,396
- Net price
- $19,409
- Federal debt
- $17,635
- Graduation rate
- 46%
- Rank in Kentucky 7
Lexington, KY · Private nonprofit · #605 nationally
43.9Value- Earnings
- $64,290
- Net price
- $21,954
- Federal debt
- $25,462
- Graduation rate
- 65%
- Earnings
- $57,724
- Net price
- $11,925
- Federal debt
- $21,500
- Graduation rate
- 51%
- Earnings
- $51,818
- Net price
- $11,237
- Federal debt
- $18,250
- Graduation rate
- 56%
- Earnings
- $55,282
- Net price
- $10,471
- Federal debt
- $20,163
- Graduation rate
- 45%
- Rank in Kentucky 11
Columbia, KY · Private nonprofit · #691 nationally
38.9Value- Earnings
- $59,415
- Net price
- $14,300
- Federal debt
- $21,557
- Graduation rate
- 41%
- Rank in Kentucky 12
Campbellsville, KY · Private nonprofit · #712 nationally
38.1Value- Earnings
- $59,805
- Net price
- $17,734
- Federal debt
- $18,750
- Graduation rate
- 34%
- Earnings
- $63,325
- Net price
- $24,262
- Federal debt
- $25,000
- Graduation rate
- 45%
- Rank in Kentucky 14
Barbourville, KY · Private nonprofit · #813 nationally
32.0Value- Earnings
- $51,079
- Net price
- $11,010
- Federal debt
- $20,500
- Graduation rate
- 40%
- Rank in Kentucky 15
Pikeville, KY · Private nonprofit · #952 nationally
18.8Value- Earnings
- $49,971
- Net price
- $19,224
- Federal debt
- $25,000
- Graduation rate
- 41%
- Earnings
- $55,108
- Net price
- $29,981
- Federal debt
- $22,125
- Graduation rate
- 45%
- Rank in Kentucky 17
Grayson, KY · Private nonprofit · #984 nationally
7.1Value- Earnings
- $44,584
- Net price
- $25,469
- Federal debt
- $24,740
- Graduation rate
- 25%
Method: the same value score as the national business ranking (earnings, debt relative to earnings, average net price and graduation rate, each a national percentile). Data: College Scorecard, reporting year 2025; 2026–27 edition, verified Nov 2026.
Questions about business colleges in Kentucky
What are the best colleges for business in Kentucky?
By CollegesRef value score, the top 3 Kentucky colleges for business are Northern Kentucky University (value score 66.7), University of Kentucky (value score 66.6) and Thomas More University (value score 60). The score weighs graduate earnings, debt relative to earnings, average net price and graduation rate.
Which Kentucky college has the highest earnings for business graduates?
Thomas More University: its business graduates have median earnings of $82,906 4 years after the bachelor's degree.
What is the most affordable business college in Kentucky on this list?
Northern Kentucky University has the lowest average net price of the ranked Kentucky colleges, $8,976 a year after grants. A family's own price depends on income and aid.
How many Kentucky colleges are ranked for business?
17 Kentucky colleges have a business bachelor's program with enough graduates and reported earnings, plus a published net price and graduation rate. Ranks shown are national; the state rank is their order within Kentucky.