Top Value Colleges in Kentucky
Top Value Kentucky Colleges
Below you will find a list of the top value colleges in Kentucky that we found to provide the highest academic and career-based value for students. In our study, we utilized a number of data sources from the US Census Bureau to the US Department of Education coupled with student and alumni feedback to ascertain the important elements of value in a college education. Our team collected college data and arrived at the top value Kentucky colleges for you to research further. Remember to use your best judgment and prioritize your academic goals and career aspirations to narrow down your list of top colleges.
List of Top Value Kentucky Colleges
Berea College is a private liberal arts work college located in Berea, Kentucky and established in 1855 by Presbyterian minister who was an abolitionist. It is the only one of America’s top colleges that guarantees free tuition to enrolled students. Their generous tuition promise scholarship makes it possible for their students to graduate debt-free, that is the reason why they call Berea to be the best education money can’t buy. Berea College was listed as the no. 1 “Best Bang for the Buck” College in the year 2017,2018,2019 and 2020. They also ranked no. 3 in the “Best National Liberal Arts College” in 2020 as stated by Washington Monthly. 93% of their graduates from the academic year 2018-2019 had either studied abroad, had a paid internship, taken a service-learning course, or had engaged in research mentored by a faculty member.
PJ’s College of Cosmetology – Glasgow is dedicated in providing their students not only an outstanding cosmetology education but also the opportunity to build an exciting and rewarding career. PJ’s College of Cosmetology has eleven locations throughout Indiana and Kentucky and have earned industry experience for more than 40 years. They aim to educate students in the art of cosmetology and encourage them to do their best in developing creative hair design, nail design techniques and skin care. As a result, when their students graduate, they leave as individuals knowledgeable in methodology and possess practical skills needed to sit before the State Board of Cosmetology for licensing. They are renowned for assisting students as they discover and develop the skills needed for their chosen field. From the past to present, PJ’s College is dedicated to improving the standards of their profession through education.
Appalachian Bible College is a private Christian Bible college established in 1950. They are located on a beautiful 150-acre campus in West Virginia and is one of the most affordable Bible colleges in the U.S. where financial aid and scholarships are also available. ABC is an independent, non-denominational and fundamental college they primarily serve with Baptist and Bible churches. The academic degrees that they offer are Bible Certificates, Associate of Arts degree, Bachelor of Arts Degree, Master of Arts in Ministry, and Online Learning via ABC Connect. They have majors in Bible & Theology, Biblical Counseling, Camping Ministry, Elementary Education, Interdisciplinary Ministry, Missions, Music Ministry, and Pastoral Ministry. ABC is accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education and by the Higher Learning Commission.
Asbury University is a private Christian university located in Wilmore, Kentucky and was established in 1890. Since its founding their mission has been to provide the best, rigorous education while continually engaging the hearts of the students for God. Students who choose Asbury University experience a process which is deeply human, spiritual and personal. There are more than 150 areas of study, along with graduate programs and adult degree completion programs offered at Asbury University. They maintain small class sizes, rigorous coursework and engaged faculty are the keys to academic excellence at Asbury. Asbury university has proven that their excellence is at the core of the Asbury experience.
Centre College is a private liberal arts college located in Danville, Kentucky and was established in 1819. They were listed among the U.S. News top-50 national liberal arts college and Forbes top-15 college/university in the South for seven years in a row. Centre currently offers more than 50 majors, minors, pre-professional and dual degree programs as well as graduate partnerships. They have 87 campus organizations and each year, they conduct more than 2,000 campus events and since 98% of their students live on campus, it’s easier to participate and also find a friend to join them. The total number of their students enrolled are nearly 1450 and the student/faculty ratio that they maintain is 10:1. 90% of their students receive some kind of aid and 85% of them study abroad.
Bellarmine University is a private Catholic university located in Louisville, Kentucky. It first opened on October 3, 1950 and was established by Archbishop John A. Floersh. 100% of their undergraduate students receive some kind of financial aid which allows the students of all backgrounds to attend. Bellarmine offers a variety of scholarships, grants and awards to help attaining a top-notch education easier to students. They have more than 60 majors in the arts and sciences, education, environmental studies, business, communication, nursing and clinical sciences. But the unique offer of Bellarmine university is this: their students will graduate with their undergraduate degree in four years, if not, the additional year of study is on them.
Jenny Lea Academy of Cosmetology is authorized for operation as a postsecondary educational institution by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. They are a NACCAS accredited Cosmetology school, including Barbering, Aesthetics and Nail Technology. This accreditation verifies that they hold strict standards and maintains them in each renewal. Jenny Lea Academy of Cosmetology meets the academic and institutional for cosmetology school curriculum, quality of education provided to students, staff, facilities, and admission policies. Their students receive help with the cost of education. Jenny Lea Academy gives VA Educational Benefits and Financial Aid to those who qualify, and they don’t have to pay back.
Transylvania University is a highly ranked private liberal arts university in the heart of Lexington, Kentucky and was founded in 1780. Known as a challenging, relationship-rich university with an engaging faculty that encourages community-driven students to pursue personal fulfillment and professional success. It is the oldest university west of the Allegheny Mountains. For generations Transylvania University has provided students with an education that has set them on a path to become lifelong learners that excel in their fields. Their location was listed among the 50 America’s Best Cities to live and the #2 Mid-sized city for new grads. TU guarantees that the experience that they give to students goes beyond a degree, instead, it is a relationship that continues to pay off long after graduation.
University of Louisville is a public state-supported research university. It is located in Kentucky’s largest metropolitan area and was established in 1798. University of Louisville has three campuses, and their mission is to pursue excellence and inclusiveness in their work to educate and serve their community. It is accredited to award associate, bachelor, master, specialist, doctoral, and first-professional degrees by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. In fall 2019, University of Louisville’s total student body is 22,684, faculty and staff excluding instruction and research assistants are 7,163. More than 151,000 of their alumni reside in the United States and around the world.
Kentucky Wesleyan College is a private Methodist college located in Owensboro, Kentucky and was established in 1858. They have 29 majors and 13 pre-professional curriculums and a student-to-faculty ratio of 13:1. More than 88% of their faculty holds a PhD or terminal degree. Kentucky Wesleyan College has been approved as a United Methodist-related academic institution by the University Senate of the General Board of Higher Education & Ministry. With regards to athletics, the Wesleyan Kentucky Panthers competes in NCAA Division II and are active members of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. In everything that they do, their mission is to foster a liberal arts education which nourishes and prepares students intellectually, physically and spiritually to achieve success in life.
Kentucky Mountain Bible College is a private Holiness Bible undergraduate higher educational institution located in Vancleve, Kentucky and was established in 1931. Their mission is to equip men and women to serve with a passion to know God and to prepare in ministry. The quality of education they offer is ensured by a student/faculty ratio of 6 to 1. KMBS’s academic programs are designed to develop their student’s skills to a higher level. They do this through class work and tests with projects and reading which provides a well-rounded academic program. Their graduates are now serving around the globe and impacting over 50 nations.
Midway College is a private Christian liberal arts university located in Midway, Kentucky and established in 1847. It is accredited to award associate, baccalaureate, and master’s degrees by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The online and on-campus undergraduate and graduate degrees that they offer are structured to help students unlock their true potential. They also offer AND, BSN and MSN nursing programs which are all accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. Midway University’s Education Program is approved by the Kentucky Educational and Professional Standards Board. They are also eligible to participate in the National Council for the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.
Georgetown College is a private, Christian liberal arts college located in Georgetown, Kentucky established in 1829. Its mission is to prepare students to engage in their life’s pursuits along with thoughtfulness and skill by giving an exceptional educational experience in a vibrant Christian community. They put emphasis on outstanding teaching and mentoring. Georgetown College offers excellent academic programs in the liberal arts, sciences and professions and they continue to be one of the finest Christian colleges in the country. They do more in preparing their students to be successful in any future career they would have. They also give stress and focuses on their students as a whole person.
Galen College of Nursing – Louisville is a private nursing school. Galen opened its doors in 1899 and since then, nursing degree programs have been their only focus. With the accreditation from the Council on Occupational Education that they gained in 2005, Galen College of Nursing offer two-year Associate of Science in Nursing degree which enabled their graduates to become registered nurses. Today, they are one of America’s largest private nursing colleges yet still implements a one-on-one mindset. They make sure to deliver all of their nursing programs with the individual in mind. Galen College of Nursing – Louisville is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.
Murray State University is a public university located in Murray, Kentucky established in 1922. What they guarantee to give are high quality education, best value education, and total college experience. From physics to music and accounting to nursing, they proudly offer 145 ways to help their students become what and who they want to be. Murray State has 173 student organizations, and 145 academic programs available. They are known to have a friendly community and that is one factor that makes them an incredible university. Students can also ask for their assistance to find which degree best fits them.
University of Kentucky is a public land-grant research university located in Lexington, Kentucky and was established in 1865. In response to a campus wide initiative to “change the culture” as a community united against systemic racism, University of Kentucky took an action by moving forward with their anti-racism trainings. When it comes to academic programs, they have more than 200 majors to choose from, so there is a very high chance for students to find what they’re looking for. University of Kentucky invested in infrastructure across campus, including the continued expansion of a $1 billion health care facility started in 2004. They are one of only 8 institutions in the country with the full complement of engineering, agricultural, liberal arts, professional, and medical colleges and disciplines on one contiguous campus. UK’s average graduating GPA of Lewis Honors students is 3.68.
Morehead State University started as Morehead Normal School and first opened its doors in 1887. It is a comprehensive public university with robust undergraduate and graduate programs which emerges doctoral programs with an emphasis on regional engagement. They are the #17 in the Top Public Regional Universities in the South and it’s their 17th consecutive year of ranking. The student-to-faculty ratio at Morehead State is 16:1 and the average class size is 18. Morehead State was also recognized as the #1 Best Public University in Kentucky for Financial Aid. Until today they still aim to educate students for success in a global environment and foster innovation, collaboration and creative thinking.
Union College – Barbourville is a private college in Kentucky and was established in 1879. Since then, they have provided students from throughout Appalachia and all over the country, a collegiate experience which ensures lifelong success. The four pillars to which the Union College is founded with are their Appalachian culture and heritage, their core affiliation with Methodism and the liberal arts academic experience. Union aims to spark passion and lifelong learning to all of their students. That is why we don’t question why more than 70% of their students call Kentucky a home. Union can create special connections to the families that they serve and to the lives they helped to change for the better.
Thomas More College is a private Catholic university located in Crestview Hills, Kentucky and established in 1921. Despite being a small liberal arts university, they do have a big reputation. They consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best regional universities in the South. Moreover, they also ranked as the highest among other private and public colleges and universities for long term gain in Kentucky. Today, Thomas More serves more than 2,000 students from across the country and around the world. They teach each student how to harness the power of human reason in order to solve problems and discover the truth.
Kentucky Christian University is a private Christian university located in Grayson, Kentucky and established in 1919. For nearly a century, KCU has been transforming the hearts and minds of students within an academically rigorous and intimately personal community. At Kentucky, students and faculty treat each other like family. They provide a variety of student-centered activities which are designed to take place each week so students can enjoy a break from their classes and at the same time build relationships with fellow students. The heart of the parks at KCU is 6,400 acres with 3 lakes and 40 miles of hiking and biking trails. Students at KCU also enjoy plenty of off-campus excursions available to them. But what makes the experience at KCU more valuable is that the classes are relevant, the professors are genuine, and the campus is focused on the school’s mission and lives with it.
Northern Kentucky University is a public university located in Highland Heights, Kentucky and established in 1968. Their teaching and outreach which drives development and improves the quality of life in northern Kentucky and beyond was recognized when they were ranked by Forbes in “America’s Top Colleges”. Today, NKU is proven to be a growing metropolitan university with more than 14,000 students being served by more than 2,000 faculty and staff. NKU is a leader in Greater Cincinnati and Kentucky by offering a private school education for a fraction of the cost. NKU is also cherished by the student because of the personal interest that they consistently give. Despite being one of the fastest growing universities in Kentucky, yet the professors can still call their students by name.
Brescia University is a coeducational Catholic university located in Owensboro, Kentucky and established in 1925. They instill in their students that education is not just about receiving a diploma, instead, it is actually about making a difference. The Brescia Difference means making a difference in the lives of the students through providing them an access to affordable, high quality education which will make a way for them to pursue meaningful careers and fulfill their personal lives. Brescia graduates become the kind of alumni who lead generous lives of service making a difference in the community and in turn, in the world. They aim to educate students in mind, body and spirit with the help of the challenging academics, championship athletics and a holistic student life that Brescia can provide.
University of the Cumberlands is a private university located in Williamsburg, Kentucky and established in 1888. The academic programs available at the University of Cumberlands are constantly growing and innovating so that it can meet both the current and future demands. They offer more than 40 undergraduate programs and 10 graduate programs. Cumberlands proudly claims that their high-quality education is affordable and their students are able to study only what matters and just be themselves. As a result, their undergraduate admissions reached up to 4.4k undergraduate students and the graduate admissions are 14.5k graduate students. They are also recognized as the safest college campus in Kentucky, the highest ranked university in south Kentucky, and the best online college in Kentucky.
Additional College Research
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