Zoom
In
Source: National Center for Educational Statistics. This is the most recent data available as of January 2022
Questions & Answers
What do all these numbers mean?
All costs shown here are the average net cost paid by families in each income bracket for one year at the college in question. Net cost is the total cost of attendance for one year, minus government grants and institutional scholarships. Figures are based on data from the 2019-20 school year, which is the latest available as of January 2022.
What is “Total Cost” on the chart?
Total cost is the total cost of attendance for one year at that particular college. It includes:
- Tuition and fees (in-state tuition for public schools)
- Room and board (on campus)
- Books and supplies
- Other expenses (travel and personal)
There are detailed chart below for each school that shows these expenses. Click here to go to the individual cost breakdown for schools.
How can I use this information?
This information is useful for building a realistic college budget. It's a good place to start until you better understand your specific circumstances. For example, let's say your income is $100,000 per year. This chart shows that the average state school would run $16,338 and the average private school would be $21,973. You can also get information on specific Kentucky schools in the chart above or the tables below.
Will my family pay the amount on this chart?
Probably not. The numbers are averages. You may be below average or above average. However, there are two key points we can learn from this data:
- Families with higher incomes ($75,000-$110,000 and $110,000+) will most likely pay close to full price at the public schools.
- Private colleges have a higher list price but offer more discounts. This brings their net price much closer to the cost of state-funded schools.
Where did this information come from?
As part of federal financial aid, colleges are required to provide detailed cost information to the U.S. government. This data is made available to the public through the National Center for Education Statistics. For more details, click here.
What about athletes, merit aid or minority students?
Athletes, high achieving students, and those with minority status are averaged in with everyone else. Within each income bracket, there are families that pay more than average and families that pay less than average.
The costs on this chart seem large. How can families afford to pay it?
For many families paying for college is not easy, but in the end they figure out. Most families will pay their net cost of college with some combination of:
- College savings and investments
- Payments from current income
- Loans
- Outside scholarships (check out the Scholarship Guide For Busy Parents to learn how your student can win scholarships)
- Tax planning
- Student work
Net Price:
Net prices is the total cost of attendance for one year, minus the average amount in government grants and institutional scholarships the school awards. This is an average, so you may pay above the average or below the average. Your exact net price is likely to be different and sometimes drastically different.
Most families will pay the net price with some combination of savings and investments, current income and various loans. Some students will also receive scholarships from sources other than the federal or state government or the college. Any scholarships and grants from these outside sources are not included in the data. However, government grants and institutional scholarships are included in the averages.
| Total Cost at University of Kentucky (2019-20) | |
|---|---|
| Tuition and Fees | $12,360 |
| Room and Board | $13,210 |
| Books | $1,000 |
| Other Expenses | $4,358 |
| Total | $30,928 |
Total Cost:
Total cost is the total cost of attendance for that particular institution for the 2019-20 school year. This is the latest data available as of January 2022. Total costs include:
- Tuition and fees (in-state tuition for public schools)
- Room and board (on campus)
- Books and supplies
- Other expenses (travel and personal)
| College Total Cost | ||
|---|---|---|
| Family Income | KY Public $24,212 | KY Private $42,791 |
| $0 - $30k | $9,949 | $16,267 |
| $30,001 – $48k | $10,810 | $15,950 |
| $48,001 – $75k | $13,759 | $17,736 |
| $75,001 – $110k | $16,338 | $21,973 |
| $110,001+ | $17,038 | $24,833 |
Public vs. Private Averages
This table shows the average total cost of attendance for the Kentucky public and private colleges we have included in our analysis. The costs include a breakdown of the average net price paid by family income. Notice that the average private college is $4,000-$8,000 more than the average public school, depending on your income bracket. It is important to stress that these are averages. Most families will not be average, and their individual circumstances could be drastically different. I encourage all families to work with their preferred colleges to get information specific to their family.
Below are similar charts for each individual private and public college in Kentucky. Click a school to view its complete chart.
Public KY Schools Cost Breakdown
-
Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $9,876 $9,876 Room and Board $10,476 $10,476 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $2,800 $2,800 Total $24,352 $24,352 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $11,333 $11,333 $30,001 - $48k $11,876 $11,876 $48,001 - $75k $14,287 $14,287 $75,001 - $110k $17,100 $17,100 $110,001+ $17,342 $17,342 -
Kentucky State University
Frankfort Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $8,090 $8,800 Room and Board $6,690 $6,680 Books $1,300 $1,300 Other Expenses $998 $998 Total $17,078 $17,778 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $6,240 $6,496 $30,001 - $48k $5,910 $6,152 $48,001 - $75k $10,371 $10,796 $75,001 - $110k $12,559 $13,074 $110,001+ $12,740 $13,262 -
University of Kentucky
Lexington Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $12,360 $12,484 Room and Board $13,210 $13,588 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $4,358 $4,474 Total $30,928 $31,546 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,593 $12,845 $30,001 - $48k $13,424 $13,692 $48,001 - $75k $16,708 $17,042 $75,001 - $110k $20,959 $21,378 $110,001+ $23,946 $24,424 -
University of Louisville
Louisville Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $11,928 $12,162 Room and Board $9,452 $9,754 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $6,318 $6,562 Total $28,898 $29,678 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,431 $13,794 $30,001 - $48k $13,725 $14,095 $48,001 - $75k $17,380 $17,849 $75,001 - $110k $20,122 $20,665 $110,001+ $22,004 $22,598
-
Morehead State University
Morehead Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $9,290 $9,290 Room and Board $9,490 $9,820 Books $1,440 $1,200 Other Expenses $2,612 $2,622 Total $22,832 $22,932 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $9,825 $9,868 $30,001 - $48k $9,870 $9,913 $48,001 - $75k $13,087 $13,144 $75,001 - $110k $16,101 $16,172 $110,001+ $16,191 $16,262 -
Murray State University
Murray Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $9,168 $9,168 Room and Board $9,466 $9,512 Books $1,260 $1,260 Other Expenses $3,800 $4,355 Total $23,694 $24,295 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $9,339 $9,576 $30,001 - $48k $9,520 $9,761 $48,001 - $75k $11,244 $11,529 $75,001 - $110k $14,681 $15,053 $110,001+ $15,509 $15,902 -
Northern Kentucky University
Highland Heights Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $10,296 $10,296 Room and Board $10,046 $10,046 Books $800 $800 Other Expenses $2,500 $2,500 Total $23,642 $23,642 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $4,632 $4,632 $30,001 - $48k $5,947 $5,947 $48,001 - $75k $9,505 $9,505 $75,001 - $110k $12,656 $12,656 $110,001+ $13,235 $13,235 -
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $10,802 $10,802 Room and Board $8,432 $10,044 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $2,035 $2,086 Total $22,269 $23,932 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,195 $13,106 $30,001 - $48k $16,211 $17,422 $48,001 - $75k $17,490 $18,796 $75,001 - $110k $16,529 $17,763 $110,001+ $15,338 $16,483
Private KY Schools Cost Breakdown
-
Alice Lloyd College
Pippa Passes Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $12,230 $14,230 Room and Board $7,160 $7,390 Books $1,400 $1,400 Other Expenses $5,100 $5,100 Total $25,890 $28,120 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,315 $14,462 $30,001 - $48k $13,112 $14,241 $48,001 - $75k $17,004 $18,469 $75,001 - $110k $17,669 $19,191 $110,001+ $18,054 $19,609 -
Asbury University
Wilmore Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $30,952 $32,028 Room and Board $7,536 $7,969 Books $1,330 $1,365 Other Expenses $2,982 $3,060 Total $42,800 $44,422 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $21,453 $22,266 $30,001 - $48k $18,887 $19,603 $48,001 - $75k $17,959 $18,640 $75,001 - $110k $22,711 $23,572 $110,001+ $26,216 $27,210 -
Bellarmine University
Louisville Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $42,830 $43,470 Room and Board $9,420 $9,420 Books $752 $768 Other Expenses $6,688 $7,422 Total $59,690 $61,080 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $21,295 $21,791 $30,001 - $48k $19,455 $19,908 $48,001 - $75k $22,380 $22,901 $75,001 - $110k $24,666 $25,240 $110,001+ $26,527 $27,145 -
Berea College
Berea Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $44,700 $45,092 Room and Board $6,966 $7,264 Books $700 $700 Other Expenses $2,500 $2,600 Total $54,866 $55,656 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $4,531 $4,596 $30,001 - $48k $5,313 $5,390 $48,001 - $75k $6,551 $6,645 $75,001 - $110k $7,113 $7,215 $110,001+ $0 $0 -
Brescia University
Owensboro Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $23,500 $25,100 Room and Board $9,940 $10,000 Books $3,000 $3,000 Other Expenses $2,000 $2,000 Total $38,440 $40,100 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,557 $15,186 $30,001 - $48k $10,869 $11,338 $48,001 - $75k $12,377 $12,911 $75,001 - $110k $14,499 $15,125 $110,001+ $16,150 $16,847 -
Campbellsville University
Campbellsville Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $25,400 $25,400 Room and Board $8,000 $8,000 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $5,046 $5,402 Total $39,646 $40,002 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $21,110 $21,300 $30,001 - $48k $18,759 $18,927 $48,001 - $75k $17,449 $17,606 $75,001 - $110k $20,461 $20,645 $110,001+ $19,446 $19,621 -
Centre College
Danville Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $43,000 $44,300 Room and Board $10,740 $11,170 Books $1,400 $1,400 Other Expenses $1,770 $1,840 Total $56,910 $58,710 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,302 $12,691 $30,001 - $48k $13,778 $14,214 $48,001 - $75k $18,180 $18,755 $75,001 - $110k $22,196 $22,898 $110,001+ $28,780 $29,690 -
University of the Cumberlands
Williamsburg Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $9,875 $9,875 Room and Board $9,300 $9,300 Books $1,400 $0 Other Expenses $3,690 $5,709 Total $24,265 $24,884 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $11,477 $11,770 $30,001 - $48k $11,939 $12,244 $48,001 - $75k $13,547 $13,893 $75,001 - $110k $16,147 $16,559 $110,001+ $17,694 $18,145 -
Georgetown College
Georgetown Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $39,810 $40,800 Room and Board $10,160 $10,670 Books $1,250 $1,250 Other Expenses $2,298 $2,282 Total $53,518 $55,002 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,323 $14,720 $30,001 - $48k $16,410 $16,865 $48,001 - $75k $16,552 $17,011 $75,001 - $110k $20,607 $21,178 $110,001+ $21,979 $22,588
-
Kentucky Wesleyan College
Owensboro Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $27,200 $28,540 Room and Board $10,217 $10,000 Books $1,298 $1,298 Other Expenses $3,640 $3,964 Total $42,355 $43,802 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $17,767 $18,374 $30,001 - $48k $17,157 $17,743 $48,001 - $75k $25,880 $26,764 $75,001 - $110k $37,375 $38,652 $110,001+ $39,655 $41,010 -
Kentucky Christian University
Grayson Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $20,596 $21,200 Room and Board $8,480 $8,700 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $4,900 $5,100 Total $35,176 $36,200 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $19,142 $19,699 $30,001 - $48k $20,090 $20,675 $48,001 - $75k $19,796 $20,372 $75,001 - $110k $21,074 $21,687 $110,001+ $23,955 $24,652 -
Lindsey Wilson College
Columbia Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $25,350 $25,718 Room and Board $9,425 $9,495 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $5,243 $5,243 Total $41,018 $41,456 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,027 $14,177 $30,001 - $48k $13,736 $13,883 $48,001 - $75k $15,399 $15,563 $75,001 - $110k $15,771 $15,939 $110,001+ $19,158 $19,363 -
Midway University
Midway Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $24,850 $24,850 Room and Board $8,600 $8,600 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $7,000 $7,000 Total $41,650 $41,650 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $21,312 $21,312 $30,001 - $48k $20,786 $20,786 $48,001 - $75k $22,831 $22,831 $75,001 - $110k $27,001 $27,001 $110,001+ $27,879 $27,879 -
University of Pikeville
Pikeville Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $21,550 $22,050 Room and Board $7,950 $8,050 Books $2,000 $2,000 Other Expenses $3,040 $3,040 Total $34,540 $35,140 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $11,096 $11,289 $30,001 - $48k $12,358 $12,573 $48,001 - $75k $14,360 $14,609 $75,001 - $110k $16,942 $17,236 $110,001+ $18,574 $18,897 -
Spalding University
Louisville Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $25,200 $25,975 Room and Board $7,900 $7,600 Books $1,650 $1,400 Other Expenses $5,437 $6,937 Total $40,187 $41,912 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $20,652 $21,538 $30,001 - $48k $18,941 $19,754 $48,001 - $75k $20,224 $21,092 $75,001 - $110k $24,873 $25,941 $110,001+ $26,419 $27,553 -
Thomas More College
Crestview Hills Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $32,090 $33,420 Room and Board $9,000 $9,236 Books $0 $0 Other Expenses $3,160 $3,282 Total $44,250 $45,938 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $16,692 $17,329 $30,001 - $48k $18,441 $19,144 $48,001 - $75k $18,690 $19,403 $75,001 - $110k $21,727 $22,556 $110,001+ $23,197 $24,082 -
Transylvania University
Lexington Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $40,210 $41,610 Room and Board $10,770 $11,660 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $2,100 $2,350 Total $54,080 $56,620 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $22,178 $23,220 $30,001 - $48k $19,267 $20,172 $48,001 - $75k $20,594 $21,561 $75,001 - $110k $25,238 $26,423 $110,001+ $29,037 $30,401 -
Union College
Barbourville Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $27,950 $28,000 Room and Board $7,500 $6,700 Books $1,470 $1,470 Other Expenses $4,030 $4,030 Total $40,950 $40,200 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $15,570 $15,285 $30,001 - $48k $17,801 $17,475 $48,001 - $75k $19,476 $19,119 $75,001 - $110k $39,439 $38,717 $110,001+ $39,439 $38,717
View Other States
Select a state from the map below to view colleges in nearby states.
If you found the information of this page useful, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes or Stitcher. Get great information on all aspects of planning for college. We have interviews with experts, students and their stories, and the latest news in college admissions. Listen to each half-hour episode while you’re driving or working out. Use your favorite podcast app, iTunes, or listen directly at the website.
