The Best Online Colleges in Kentucky
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Home to outstanding private and public institutions of higher learning, Kentucky offers online programs that meet the needs of employers around the world.
Earning an online bachelor’s degree in Kentucky is a convenient, flexible option for first-year and returning students. Working professionals and individuals looking to change career paths also benefit from the programs found at accredited online colleges in Kentucky. Kentucky offers undergraduate and graduate programs through roughly 70 community and technical colleges and universities.
Nationally ranked schools, like University of Kentucky (UK) and University of Louisville (UofL), provide online undergraduate and graduate degrees in healthcare, manufacturing, and technical fields. Other leading colleges and universities in Kentucky have outstanding academic programs that train enrollees for careers in the automotive industry, agritechnology, and aerospace design and production.
Local students at online colleges in Kentucky benefit from the state’s low cost of living, historic parks, and sports and music traditions. This guide ranks the best online colleges in Kentucky and provides salary and career data.
Featured Online Schools
The Best Online Colleges in Kentucky
​University of Louisville
Louisville, KY- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$11,732
- Out-of-state$27,758
- In-State$13,000
- Out-of-state$27,114
- Retention Rate80%
- Acceptance Rate69%
- Students Enrolled21,670
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment12%
- AccreditationYes
Western Kentucky University
- Bowling Green, KY
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$10,802
- Out-of-state$26,496
- In-State$12,140
- Out-of-state$18,340
- Retention Rate73%
- Acceptance Rate97%
- Students Enrolled18,171
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment41%
- AccreditationYes
Eastern Kentucky University
- Richmond, KY
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$9,266
- Out-of-state$19,338
- In-State$9,900
- Out-of-state$13,950
- Retention Rate75%
- Acceptance Rate94%
- Students Enrolled14,980
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment44%
- AccreditationYes
Brescia University
- Owensboro, KY
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$22,900
- Out-of-state$22,900
- In-State$550
- Out-of-state$550
- Retention Rate68%
- Acceptance Rate42%
- Students Enrolled1,014
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment43%
- AccreditationYes
Asbury University
- Wilmore, KY
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$30,654
- Out-of-state$30,654
- In-State$9,990
- Out-of-state$9,990
- Retention Rate82%
- Acceptance Rate64%
- Students Enrolled1,940
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment44%
- AccreditationYes
Northern Kentucky University
- Highland Heights, KY
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$9,912
- Out-of-state$19,872
- In-State$11,034
- Out-of-state$16,974
- Retention Rate72%
- Acceptance Rate90%
- Students Enrolled15,664
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment32%
- AccreditationYes
Midway University
- Midway, KY
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$24,500
- Out-of-state$24,500
- In-State$6,240
- Out-of-state$6,240
- Retention Rate69%
- Acceptance Rate60%
- Students Enrolled1,357
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment73%
- AccreditationYes
University of the Cumberlands
- Williamsburg, KY
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$9,875
- Out-of-state$9,875
- In-State$5,670
- Out-of-state$5,670
- Retention Rate69%
- Acceptance Rate80%
- Students Enrolled16,966
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment91%
- AccreditationYes
Murray State University
- Murray, KY
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$7,974
- Out-of-state$23,592
- In-State$8,214
- Out-of-state$13,500
- Retention Rate79%
- Acceptance Rate82%
- Students Enrolled9,556
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment40%
- AccreditationYes
Campbellsville University
- Campbellsville, KY
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$24,900
- Out-of-state$24,900
- In-State$12,240
- Out-of-state$12,240
- Retention Rate68%
- Acceptance Rate70%
- Students Enrolled12,381
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment77%
- AccreditationYes
Union College
- Barbourville, KY
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$26,330
- Out-of-state$26,330
- In-State$9,600
- Out-of-state$9,600
- Retention Rate63%
- Acceptance Rate55%
- Students Enrolled1,140
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment71%
- AccreditationYes
Morehead State University
- Morehead, KY
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$8,970
- Out-of-state$13,556
- In-State$10,260
- Out-of-state$10,260
- Retention Rate73%
- Acceptance Rate78%
- Students Enrolled9,654
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment46%
- AccreditationYes
University of Kentucky
- Lexington, KY
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$11,011
- Out-of-state$29,331
- In-State$12,055
- Out-of-state$31,215
- Retention Rate85%
- Acceptance Rate96%
- Students Enrolled29,402
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment27%
- AccreditationYes
Kentucky Wesleyan College
- Owensboro, KY
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$26,270
- Out-of-state$26,270
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate69%
- Acceptance Rate62%
- Students Enrolled863
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment24%
- AccreditationYes
Lindsey Wilson College
- Columbia, KY
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$25,080
- Out-of-state$25,080
- In-State$8,735
- Out-of-state$8,735
- Retention Rate64%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled2,591
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment48%
- AccreditationYes
Best Online Programs
Kentucky
2022
Online Colleges in Kentucky Ranking Guidelines
We ranked these degree programs based on quality, curricula, school awards, rankings, and reputation.
Rankings MethodologyEmployment in Kentucky
The top industries in Kentucky include manufacturing, healthcare, and agritechnology. Kentucky also hosts major aerospace and automotive design and assembly plants, which provide thousands of local jobs each year.
Kentucky has received $555 million in investments into the healthcare industry since 2014, adding nearly 6,500 jobs. Manufacturing companies in the commonwealth maintain facilities across Kentucky, while its location makes it a hub for logistics and distribution services that span the country.
The Kentucky unemployment rate continues to decline as COVID-related restrictions ease. The unemployment rate in Kentucky reached 5% in March 2021, which is close to the pre-COVID low of 4.1% in January 2020. The mean annual wage in Kentucky was about $46,000 in May 2020, with those in managerial and administrative positions earning higher pay.
The cost of living in Kentucky sits significantly lower than the national average. While the overall cost of living index is 83.6 (based on a national average of 100), residents benefit from a housing cost index at 63.3 and lower-than-average expenses for transportation, utilities, groceries, and healthcare.
The following information details the highest-paying roles in Kentucky employing more than 1,000 individuals that are available to bachelor’s degree-holders. Salary information is specific to Kentucky, while job growth data pertains to the United States as a whole.
| Career | Annual Median Salary (2020) | Projected Job Growth (2019-2029) |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Executives | $162,670 | -10% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $123,620 | 3% |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $122,360 | 10% |
| Marketing Managers | $120,430 | 6% |
| Sales Managers | $117,530 | 4% |
| Financial Managers | $111,010 | 15% |
The following data reflects the highest-paying roles employing more than 15,000 professionals in Kentucky. Salary figures apply specifically to Kentucky, while job growth data refers to the entire United States.
| Career | Annual Mean Salary (2020) | Projected Job Growth (2019-2029) | Education Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | $64,730 | 7% | Bachelor’s |
| General and Operations Managers | $92,650 | 6% | Bachelor’s |
| Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representatives | $69,130 | 2% | High School Diploma or Bachelor’s Degree |
| Project Management Specialists | $71,880 | 6% | Bachelor’s |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $62,610 | 0% | High School Diploma |
| Accountants and Auditors | $70,710 | 4% | Bachelor’s |
| Software Developers | $92,480 | 22% | Bachelor’s |
Online Associate and Graduate Degrees
An online associate degree prepares students to continue on to bachelor’s degrees, and bachelor’s degrees provide a pathway to graduate programs. With the transition to online-only education during the COVID-19 pandemic, online degrees have expanded in scope and breadth.
Students can access over 140 online degree programs through the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. Online associate degrees include business administration programs with tracks in human resource management and general management.
Learners can also earn online associate degrees in criminal justice, with concentrations in corrections, law enforcement, or security and loss prevention. Additional online associate degrees include logistics and operations management and medical information technology, both of which align with careers in Kentucky’s major industries.
Online graduate programs integrate synchronous and asynchronous components to meet the needs of learners from diverse backgrounds. For example, prospective students looking to earn an online master’s degree in business administration can apply to Western Kentucky University (WKU) or UK. The criminal justice online master’s degree at UofL allows enrollees to explore criminal punishment, cybercrime, and juvenile justice.
Accreditation for Online Programs of Study
Always ensure that your prospective school holds national or regional accreditation. Accreditation attests to the quality and types of programs an institution offers. This recognition is important for all programs, including those found online.
Students should look into the accreditation status of potential institutions as they explore their options. Accreditation status can affect financial aid, transfer opportunities, and reputability to potential employers. National accreditation often indicates a school provides more technical and career-oriented programs, while regional accreditation is conferred to institutions with more academically rigorous offerings.
Frequently Asked Questions
​The best college is the one that meets your needs for personal fulfillment and professional growth. However, University of Louisiana and University of Kentucky rank among the best state programs.
Kentucky is home to public colleges such as University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, and Kentucky State University. Additional public colleges include Western Kentucky University, Northern Kentucky University, Eastern Kentucky University, Morehead State University, and Murray State University.
Colleges and universities in Kentucky offer outstanding academic programs. If its schools provide programs that suit your personal and professional aspirations, Kentucky is a great place to be.
