Best Value Degrees in Kentucky (2026)
Top 100 of 365 programs in Kentucky · Updated 2026
The best college programs in Kentucky, ranked by overall value. We scored 365 programs across Kentucky schools on earnings, AI resilience, job demand, and tuition ROI. The top programs average $55,567/yr in graduate earnings.
Programs in KY
365
Avg Earnings (Top 100)
$55,567/yr
Avg DW Score
75/100
#1 Program
Nursing (RN/BSN)
University of the Cumberlands
Top Programs in Kentucky
Top 100 programs by DegreeWorth Score. Click any row for full analysis.
| # | Program | DW Score | Earnings | AI Risk | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Nursing (RN/BSN)
University of the Cumberlands · Williamsburg, KY |
89
84–88 |
$81,012/yr | High | 19.5x |
| 2 |
Nursing (RN/BSN)
Eastern Kentucky University · Richmond, KY |
86
80–84 |
$68,633/yr | High | 18.3x |
| 3 |
Nursing (RN/BSN)
Morehead State University · Morehead, KY |
87
81–84 |
$70,523/yr | High | 17.6x |
| 4 |
Nursing (RN/BSN)
Murray State University · Murray, KY |
86
81–84 |
$68,608/yr | High | 18.1x |
| 5 |
Nursing (RN/BSN)
Beckfield College-Florence · Florence, KY |
88
82–86 |
$83,033/yr | High | 14.6x |
| 6 |
Fire Protection & Safety
Eastern Kentucky University · Richmond, KY |
81
78–80 |
$66,617/yr | Moderate | 17.5x |
| 7 |
Nursing (RN/BSN)
Northern Kentucky University · Highland Heights, KY |
85
80–82 |
$68,649/yr | High | 15.3x |
| 8 |
Nursing (RN/BSN)
Western Kentucky University · Bowling Green, KY |
85
80–82 |
$68,294/yr | High | 15.5x |
| 9 |
Computer & Information Science
University of Kentucky · Lexington, KY |
84
73–86 |
$71,293/yr | Very High | 16.3x |
| 10 |
Finance
University of Kentucky · Lexington, KY |
80
73–84 |
$58,422/yr | Very High | 14.2x |
| 11 |
Computer & Information Science
Northern Kentucky University · Highland Heights, KY |
84
72–86 |
$62,411/yr | Very High | 18.9x |
| 12 |
Business (General)
Northern Kentucky University · Highland Heights, KY |
82
76–83 |
$48,654/yr | High | 14.0x |
| 13 |
Business (General)
University of the Cumberlands · Williamsburg, KY |
81
76–82 |
$46,242/yr | High | 14.3x |
| 14 |
Nursing (RN/BSN)
University of Kentucky · Lexington, KY |
84
79–80 |
$71,461/yr | High | 12.8x |
| 15 |
Nursing (RN/BSN)
University of Louisville · Louisville, KY |
84
79–80 |
$69,027/yr | High | 13.2x |
| 16 |
Allied Health & Diagnostic Professions
Morehead State University · Morehead, KY |
79
76–78 |
$64,504/yr | Moderate | 17.3x |
| 17 |
Construction Management
Eastern Kentucky University · Richmond, KY |
81
75–82 |
$68,726/yr | High | 19.6x |
| 18 |
Business (General)
University of Kentucky · Lexington, KY |
80
74–81 |
$49,431/yr | High | 12.0x |
| 19 |
Finance
Northern Kentucky University · Highland Heights, KY |
79
72–82 |
$50,457/yr | Very High | 15.0x |
| 20 |
Construction Management
Northern Kentucky University · Highland Heights, KY |
81
74–82 |
$67,295/yr | High | 19.6x |
| 21 |
Quality Control
Eastern Kentucky University · Richmond, KY |
77
72–78 |
$71,240/yr | High | 21.6x |
| 22 |
Accounting
University of Kentucky · Lexington, KY |
78
70–82 |
$59,474/yr | Very High | 14.1x |
| 23 |
Computer Engineering
University of Louisville · Louisville, KY |
81
69–84 |
$72,710/yr | Very High | 19.3x |
| 24 |
Finance
University of Louisville · Louisville, KY |
77
70–81 |
$52,167/yr | Very High | 13.4x |
| 25 |
Business Administration
Northern Kentucky University · Highland Heights, KY |
79
73–81 |
$44,564/yr | High | 13.6x |
| 26 |
Business (General)
Sullivan University · Louisville, KY |
81
77–79 |
$56,432/yr | High | 9.8x |
| 27 |
Business Administration
Eastern Kentucky University · Richmond, KY |
79
72–80 |
$43,055/yr | High | 13.6x |
| 28 |
Computer & Information Science
University of Louisville · Louisville, KY |
83
72–82 |
$68,351/yr | Very High | 12.3x |
| 29 |
Accounting
Northern Kentucky University · Highland Heights, KY |
77
69–81 |
$52,425/yr | Very High | 15.0x |
| 30 |
Quality Control
Murray State University · Murray, KY |
76
71–77 |
$66,418/yr | High | 21.1x |
| 31 |
IT Management
Sullivan University · Louisville, KY |
81
72–81 |
$69,369/yr | Very High | 11.2x |
| 32 |
Accounting
Western Kentucky University · Bowling Green, KY |
75
67–80 |
$50,104/yr | Very High | 14.7x |
| 33 |
Computer Engineering
University of Kentucky · Lexington, KY |
81
71–82 |
$79,620/yr | Very High | 14.1x |
| 34 |
Teacher Education (Subject-Specific)
University of Louisville · Louisville, KY |
78
76–76 |
$56,188/yr | High | 10.1x |
| 35 |
Accounting
University of Louisville · Louisville, KY |
74
66–78 |
$51,923/yr | Very High | 12.7x |
| 36 |
Finance
Murray State University · Murray, KY |
74
68–77 |
$43,320/yr | Very High | 13.7x |
| 37 |
Industrial Production Technologies
Northern Kentucky University · Highland Heights, KY |
73
71–73 |
$67,641/yr | Moderate | 18.4x |
| 38 |
Nursing (RN/BSN)
University of Pikeville · Pikeville, KY |
80
75–77 |
$82,878/yr | High | 7.6x |
| 39 |
Business Administration
Western Kentucky University · Bowling Green, KY |
77
72–78 |
$44,498/yr | High | 11.2x |
| 40 |
Finance
Western Kentucky University · Bowling Green, KY |
74
66–79 |
$44,355/yr | Very High | 13.6x |
| 41 |
Allied Health & Diagnostic Professions
Eastern Kentucky University · Richmond, KY |
76
74–74 |
$56,947/yr | Moderate | 12.6x |
| 42 |
Nursing (RN/BSN)
Kentucky Christian University · Grayson, KY |
77
73–74 |
$76,970/yr | High | 7.0x |
| 43 |
Computer & Information Science
Sullivan University · Louisville, KY |
76
63–78 |
$52,134/yr | Very High | 12.6x |
| 44 |
Business Administration
Asbury University · Wilmore, KY |
76
70–77 |
$67,117/yr | High | 4.0x |
| 45 |
Accounting
University of the Cumberlands · Williamsburg, KY |
76
69–78 |
$50,102/yr | Very High | 11.7x |
| 46 |
Medical Laboratory Science
Eastern Kentucky University · Richmond, KY |
72
70–70 |
$55,917/yr | Moderate | 15.5x |
| 47 |
Business (General)
Eastern Kentucky University · Richmond, KY |
76
71–75 |
$41,502/yr | High | 10.9x |
| 48 |
Business (General)
Morehead State University · Morehead, KY |
74
68–75 |
$38,301/yr | High | 12.4x |
| 49 |
Information Science
Murray State University · Murray, KY |
75
60–79 |
$43,178/yr | Very High | 21.9x |
| 50 |
Electromechanical Instrumentation
Murray State University · Murray, KY |
73
69–73 |
$79,974/yr | Moderate | 19.6x |
Methodology
This ranking includes the top 100 programs at Kentucky colleges and universities, drawn from 365 total programs with earnings data. Programs are ranked by DegreeWorth Score (0–100), which combines graduate earnings, AI automation resilience, job market demand, and tuition ROI.
Only in-state tuition is used for ROI calculations. Earnings data comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best college program in Kentucky?
By DegreeWorth Score, Nursing (RN/BSN) at University of the Cumberlands ranks #1 in Kentucky with a score of 89/100 and graduate earnings of $81,012/yr.
How many college programs are in Kentucky?
Our database includes 365 programs across Kentucky colleges with reported earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034
(employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE.
Last updated 2025.