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Most affordable public universities in Kentucky

8 public universities in Kentucky report net price data, ranging from $8,151 at the lowest to higher costs at more selective schools. The median net price across these is $10,435. Kentucky's public universities cost about the same as the national average for the kind. The list below shows the most affordable options, ranked by net price.

Median net price in Kentucky

$10,435

National median for public universities

$10,692

public universities reporting in Kentucky

8

The most affordable public universities in Kentucky, ranked by net price

1

Northern Kentucky University

KY

Net price

$8,151

Receive grant aid

98%

2

Kentucky State University

KY

Net price

$9,672

Receive grant aid

98%

3

Murray State University

KY

Net price

$9,738

Receive grant aid

100%

4

Morehead State University

KY

Net price

$10,017

Receive grant aid

98%

5

Eastern Kentucky University

KY

Net price

$10,852

Receive grant aid

98%

6

Western Kentucky University

KY

Net price

$12,054

Receive grant aid

99%

7

University of Louisville

KY

Net price

$18,808

Receive grant aid

95%

8

University of Kentucky

KY

Net price

$19,838

Receive grant aid

96%

What makes a school affordable here

In Kentucky, the most affordable public universities share two things in common. First, low published net prices reflect both reasonable sticker prices and meaningful institutional or state aid. Second, a high share of students receive grant aid. At Northern Kentucky University, the most affordable on this list, 98% of students receive grant aid. Net price reflects what a typical family actually pays, not the sticker price you see at first glance. A school with a $50,000 sticker price and a $10,000 net price is more affordable for most families than a school with a $20,000 sticker and a $19,000 net price.

Affordable colleges in Kentucky, other types

Affordable public universities in other states

Find your personalized cost

National rankings use publicly available federal cost data. Plug in your actual aid offer and family situation for a Worth-It Score that reflects your specific picture.

Affordability rankings use publicly available federal higher-ed cost data. Net price reflects the average cost a family pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from total cost of attendance, for the 2022-23 reporting year. See full methodology →