2026 Best Graduate Degrees Schools in Kentucky
Looking for the best Graduate Degrees degree programs in Kentucky? This list ranks 88 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Grad Degree analyzed 70 schools to produce this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Graduate Degrees Degree Schools in Kentucky
Here are the top-ranked schools:
Leading the list is Georgetown College, our #1 Graduate Degrees school in Kentucky. Georgetown College is a private not-for-profit school based in Georgetown, KY. Georgetown College posts a six-year graduation rate of 49%. Students from in state pay about $42,840 in tuition and fees. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $26,938. See the full Georgetown College profile
Out of the 70 schools in Kentucky in this year's ranking, Bellarmine University landed the #2 spot. Based in Louisville, KY, Bellarmine University is a private not-for-profit institution. Bellarmine University posts a six-year graduation rate of 64%. In-state tuition and fees run about $48,770. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $26,766. See the full Bellarmine University profile
A rank of #3 makes Spalding University one of the top choices in Kentucky. Spalding University is a private not-for-profit school based in Louisville, KY. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. In-state tuition and fees average $29,000. Graduates carry a median of $29,862 in student loans. Read the full report on Spalding University
The strong Graduate Degrees programs at University Of Kentucky earned it the #4 place in Kentucky. Located in Lexington, KY, University Of Kentucky is a public institution. University Of Kentucky graduates 71% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $13,502, compared with $34,140 for out-of-state students. University Of Kentucky Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $24,094 in debt. Read more about University Of Kentucky
Out of the 70 schools in Kentucky in this year's ranking, University Of Louisville landed the #5 spot. Set in Louisville, KY, University Of Louisville is a public institution. About 61% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,136, while out-of-state students pay about $29,482. Students borrow a median of $21,910 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. More on University Of Louisville
Thomas More College placed #6 among Graduate Degrees schools in Kentucky. Based in Crestview Hills, KY, Thomas More College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 40%. Students from in state pay about $39,025 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $31,608 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. Get the full Thomas More College report
Northern Kentucky University placed #7 among Graduate Degrees schools in Kentucky. This public school is set in Highland Heights, KY. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,088, compared with $21,912 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $25,572 in student loans. Read more about Northern Kentucky University
Asbury University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Based in Wilmore, KY, Asbury University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,640. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $28,104. Read the full report on Asbury University
Sullivan University did well this year, earning the #9 position. Based in Louisville, KY, Sullivan University is a private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,480. Sullivan University Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $28,394 in debt. Read more about Sullivan University
Lindsey Wilson College placed #10 among Graduate Degrees schools in Kentucky. Lindsey Wilson College is a private not-for-profit school based in Columbia, KY. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. Students from in state pay about $27,808 in tuition and fees. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $24,119. Read the full report on Lindsey Wilson College
Kentucky Christian University placed #11 among Graduate Degrees schools in Kentucky. Set in Grayson, KY, Kentucky Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 37% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $26,300. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $27,500. Get the full Kentucky Christian University report
Western Kentucky University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Based in Bowling Green, KY, Western Kentucky University is a public institution. Western Kentucky University graduates 58% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $11,652, while out-of-state students pay about $27,000. Students borrow a median of $24,499 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. Read more about Western Kentucky University
University Of The Cumberlands ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. University Of The Cumberlands is a private not-for-profit school based in Williamsburg, KY. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. In-state tuition and fees average $9,875. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $22,868. Read the full report on University Of The Cumberlands
Eastern Kentucky University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Set in Richmond, KY, Eastern Kentucky University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. In-state tuition and fees average $10,320, while out-of-state students pay about $21,230. Eastern Kentucky University Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $25,122 in debt. Read more about Eastern Kentucky University
Murray State University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Murray State University is a public school based in Murray, KY. About 64% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,900, compared with $19,836 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,420 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. More on Murray State University
Union College Kentucky ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Located in Barbourville, KY, Union College Kentucky is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 32% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $30,946 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,852 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. More on Union College Kentucky
Kentucky State University landed the #17 spot in Kentucky this year. Kentucky State University is a public school based in Frankfort, KY. The six-year graduation rate is 35%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,387, with out-of-state students paying around $13,578. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $29,774. Read the full report on Kentucky State University
Campbellsville University came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Located in Campbellsville, KY, Campbellsville University is a private not-for-profit institution. Campbellsville University posts a six-year graduation rate of 42%. In-state tuition and fees average $27,998. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $24,148. More on Campbellsville University
Midway College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Based in Midway, KY, Midway College is a private not-for-profit institution. Midway College posts a six-year graduation rate of 44%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,110. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $26,723. Read more about Midway College
Morehead State University came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Located in Morehead, KY, Morehead State University is a public institution. About 52% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,024, with out-of-state students paying around $14,980. Graduates carry a median of $25,896 in student loans. Get the full Morehead State University report
Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College did well this year, earning the #21 position. Read more about Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College
Asbury Theological Seminary placed #22 among Graduate Degrees schools in Kentucky. See the full Asbury Theological Seminary profile
Pikeville College landed the #23 spot in Kentucky this year. Read the full report on Pikeville College
Ashland Community And Technical College did well this year, earning the #24 position. See the full Ashland Community And Technical College profile
Lexington Healing Arts Academy landed the #25 spot in Kentucky this year. See the full Lexington Healing Arts Academy profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best Graduate Degrees Degree Schools in Kentucky
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
Big Sandy Community And Technical College did well this year, earning the #26 position. Read the full report on Big Sandy Community And Technical College
Elizabethtown Community And Technical College ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Get the full Elizabethtown Community And Technical College report
Paul Mitchell The School Lexington did well this year, earning the #28 position. Read the full report on Paul Mitchell The School Lexington
Kentucky Community And Technical College System came in at #29 in this year's ranking. Read more about Kentucky Community And Technical College System
Berea College
Berea College placed #30 among Graduate Degrees schools in Kentucky. Read the full report on Berea College
Berea Beauty Academy came in at #31 in this year's ranking. More on Berea Beauty Academy
Lindsey Institute Of Cosmetology placed #32 among Graduate Degrees schools in Kentucky. Read more about Lindsey Institute Of Cosmetology
Gateway Community And Technical College landed the #33 spot in Kentucky this year. Get the full Gateway Community And Technical College report
Madisonville Community College landed the #34 spot in Kentucky this year. Read more about Madisonville Community College
National College Lexington ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Read more about National College Lexington
Edge Academy Of Beauty ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. See the full Edge Academy Of Beauty profile
Kentucky Welding Institute landed the #37 spot in Kentucky this year. Read the full report on Kentucky Welding Institute
Clear Creek Baptist Bible College ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Get the full Clear Creek Baptist Bible College report
Simmons College Of Kentucky placed #39 among Graduate Degrees schools in Kentucky. Read the full report on Simmons College Of Kentucky
Galen College Of Nursing Arh landed the #40 spot in Kentucky this year. More on Galen College Of Nursing Arh
Interactive College Of Technology Newport ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. More on Interactive College Of Technology Newport
Jefferson Community And Technical College placed #42 among Graduate Degrees schools in Kentucky. More on Jefferson Community And Technical College
Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College came in at #43 in this year's ranking. More on Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College
Ideal Beauty Academy Louisville came in at #44 in this year's ranking. Get the full Ideal Beauty Academy Louisville report
Employment Solutions College For Technical Education did well this year, earning the #45 position. Read the full report on Employment Solutions College For Technical Education
Empire Beauty School Elizabethtown placed #46 among Graduate Degrees schools in Kentucky. Get the full Empire Beauty School Elizabethtown report
Medical Career And Technical College landed the #47 spot in Kentucky this year. Read more about Medical Career And Technical College
Empire Beauty School Chenoweth placed #48 among Graduate Degrees schools in Kentucky. More on Empire Beauty School Chenoweth
Ross Medical Education Center Erlanger ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Read the full report on Ross Medical Education Center Erlanger
American College Of Barbering ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. More on American College Of Barbering
More Graduate Degrees Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Grad Degree (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: State · 70 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 88 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
GradDegree.com provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© GradDegree.com – All Rights Reserved.