Zoom
In
Source: National Center for Educational Statistics. This is the most recent data available as of January 2020
Questions & Answers
-
What do all these numbers mean?
All costs are the average net cost paid by families in each income bracket. Net cost is the total cost of attendance minus government grants and institutional scholarships. Loans of any kind are not included. Figures are based on data from the 2017-18 school year, which is the latest available as of January 2020.
-
What is “Total Cost” on the chart?
Total cost is the total cost of attendance for 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 $16,740 and the average private school would be $20,499. 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 seemed 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 our Scholarship Guide For Busy Parents, which describes how you and your student can win scholarships for college and save money!)
- tax planning
- student work
Net Price:
Net price is the total cost of attendance minus the average amount of government grants and institutional scholarships awarded. 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 (2017-18) | |
|---|---|
| Tuition and Fees | $11,942 |
| Room and Board | $12,858 |
| Books | $1,000 |
| Other Expenses | $3,730 |
| Total | $29,530 |
Total Cost:
Total cost is the total cost of attendance for that particular institution for the 2017-18 school year. This is the latest data available as of January 2020. 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 $23,464 | KY Private $40,658 |
| $0 - $30k | $10,558 | $16,267 |
| $30,001 – $48k | $11,573 | $16,851 |
| $48,001 – $75k | $14,455 | $19,086 |
| $75,001 – $110k | $16,740 | $20,499 |
| $110,001+ | $17,691 | $22,235 |
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-$6,000 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 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $9,366 $9,666 Room and Board $9,728 $10,040 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $2,800 $2,800 Total $23,094 $23,706 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $11,920 $12,236 $30,001 - $48k $11,864 $12,178 $48,001 - $75k $14,507 $14,891 $75,001 - $110k $16,619 $17,059 $110,001+ $17,363 $17,823 -
Kentucky State University
Frankfort Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $8,184 $8,090 Room and Board $6,690 $6,690 Books $1,300 $1,300 Other Expenses $2,993 $998 Total $19,167 $17,078 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $8,924 $7,951 $30,001 - $48k $7,981 $7,111 $48,001 - $75k $11,551 $10,292 $75,001 - $110k $14,161 $12,618 $110,001+ $16,256 $14,484 -
University of Kentucky
Lexington Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $11,942 $12,245 Room and Board $12,858 $12,814 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $3,730 $4,042 Total $29,530 $30,101 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,419 $13,678 $30,001 - $48k $14,478 $14,758 $48,001 - $75k $18,436 $18,792 $75,001 - $110k $22,043 $22,469 $110,001+ $24,066 $24,531 -
University of Louisville
Louisville Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $11,264 $11,656 Room and Board $8,374 $9,226 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $5,612 $5,898 Total $26,450 $27,980 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,351 $13,065 $30,001 - $48k $13,692 $14,484 $48,001 - $75k $17,499 $18,511 $75,001 - $110k $20,922 $22,132 $110,001+ $21,380 $22,617
-
Morehead State University
Morehead Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $8,950 $9,070 Room and Board $9,436 $9,730 Books $1,440 $1,440 Other Expenses $2,500 $2,572 Total $22,326 $22,812 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $10,600 $10,831 $30,001 - $48k $10,698 $10,931 $48,001 - $75k $13,569 $13,864 $75,001 - $110k $16,047 $16,396 $110,001+ $16,520 $16,880 -
Murray State University
Murray Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $8,820 $9,084 Room and Board $8,906 $9,190 Books $1,265 $1,258 Other Expenses $3,879 $3,940 Total $22,870 $23,472 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $9,469 $9,718 $30,001 - $48k $9,834 $10,093 $48,001 - $75k $12,948 $13,289 $75,001 - $110k $14,803 $15,193 $110,001+ $15,516 $15,924 -
Northern Kentucky University
Highland Heights Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $9,744 $10,032 Room and Board $9,732 $9,912 Books $800 $800 Other Expenses $2,500 $2,500 Total $22,776 $23,244 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $5,281 $5,390 $30,001 - $48k $6,733 $6,871 $48,001 - $75k $10,310 $10,522 $75,001 - $110k $12,922 $13,188 $110,001+ $12,889 $13,154 -
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $10,202 $10,512 Room and Board $8,350 $8,343 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $1,944 $1,985 Total $21,496 $21,840 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,499 $12,699 $30,001 - $48k $17,302 $17,579 $48,001 - $75k $16,816 $17,085 $75,001 - $110k $16,403 $16,665 $110,001+ $17,535 $17,816
Private KY Schools Cost Breakdown
-
Alice Lloyd College
Pippa Passes Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $12,050 $11,550 Room and Board $6,550 $6,240 Books $1,400 $1,400 Other Expenses $5,200 $5,100 Total $25,200 $24,290 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $11,324 $10,915 $30,001 - $48k $11,991 $11,558 $48,001 - $75k $14,832 $14,296 $75,001 - $110k $15,486 $14,927 $110,001+ $16,773 $16,167 -
Asbury University
Wilmore Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $29,500 $30,198 Room and Board $6,950 $7,160 Books $1,275 $1,300 Other Expenses $2,850 $2,910 Total $40,575 $41,568 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $21,836 $22,370 $30,001 - $48k $22,598 $23,151 $48,001 - $75k $28,282 $28,974 $75,001 - $110k $29,925 $30,657 $110,001+ $31,286 $32,052 -
Bellarmine University
Louisville Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $40,750 $42,200 Room and Board $12,182 $12,250 Books $764 $788 Other Expenses $5,612 $5,900 Total $59,308 $61,138 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $19,622 $20,227 $30,001 - $48k $20,325 $20,952 $48,001 - $75k $22,598 $23,295 $75,001 - $110k $25,408 $26,192 $110,001+ $25,339 $26,121 -
Berea College
Berea Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $25,760 $39,990 Room and Board $6,534 $6,764 Books $700 $700 Other Expenses $2,400 $2,400 Total $35,394 $49,854 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $74 $104 $30,001 - $48k $3,962 $5,581 $48,001 - $75k $6,948 $9,787 $75,001 - $110k $9,394 $13,232 $110,001+ $0 $0 -
Brescia University
Owensboro Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $21,550 $22,100 Room and Board $9,150 $9,350 Books $2,400 $3,000 Other Expenses $1,050 $2,000 Total $34,150 $36,450 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $10,514 $11,222 $30,001 - $48k $13,840 $14,772 $48,001 - $75k $11,150 $11,901 $75,001 - $110k $16,341 $17,442 $110,001+ $16,805 $17,937 -
Campbellsville University
Campbellsville Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $25,400 $25,400 Room and Board $8,900 $8,000 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $4,408 $4,986 Total $39,908 $39,586 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $15,368 $15,244 $30,001 - $48k $15,648 $15,522 $48,001 - $75k $17,638 $17,496 $75,001 - $110k $18,027 $17,882 $110,001+ $23,182 $22,995 -
Centre College
Danville Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $40,500 $41,700 Room and Board $10,180 $10,480 Books $1,500 $1,500 Other Expenses $1,730 $1,740 Total $53,910 $55,420 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $16,429 $16,889 $30,001 - $48k $17,412 $17,900 $48,001 - $75k $19,075 $19,609 $75,001 - $110k $23,571 $24,231 $110,001+ $29,001 $29,813 -
University of the Cumberlands
Williamsburg Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $23,000 $23,000 Room and Board $9,000 $9,000 Books $1,400 $1,400 Other Expenses $2,916 $5,000 Total $36,316 $38,400 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $17,331 $18,326 $30,001 - $48k $16,341 $17,279 $48,001 - $75k $17,506 $18,511 $75,001 - $110k $18,625 $19,694 $110,001+ $20,713 $21,902 -
Georgetown College
Georgetown Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $37,160 $38,650 Room and Board $9,410 $9,780 Books $1,250 $1,250 Other Expenses $2,266 $2,250 Total $50,086 $51,930 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $16,259 $16,858 $30,001 - $48k $16,534 $17,143 $48,001 - $75k $19,594 $20,315 $75,001 - $110k $19,663 $20,387 $110,001+ $24,414 $25,313
-
Kentucky Wesleyan College
Owensboro Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $25,070 $26,160 Room and Board $9,596 $9,764 Books $1,400 $1,298 Other Expenses $3,462 $3,640 Total $39,528 $40,862 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $24,557 $25,386 $30,001 - $48k $25,490 $26,350 $48,001 - $75k $24,866 $25,705 $75,001 - $110k $0 $0 $110,001+ $0 $0 -
Kentucky Christian University
Grayson Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $19,256 $19,256 Room and Board $8,080 $8,200 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $4,768 $4,768 Total $33,304 $33,424 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $16,826 $16,887 $30,001 - $48k $16,861 $16,922 $48,001 - $75k $20,101 $20,173 $75,001 - $110k $20,708 $20,783 $110,001+ $21,685 $21,763 -
Lindsey Wilson College
Columbia Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $24,246 $24,850 Room and Board $9,300 $9,385 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $5,243 $5,243 Total $39,789 $40,478 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,972 $15,231 $30,001 - $48k $14,663 $14,917 $48,001 - $75k $15,755 $16,028 $75,001 - $110k $17,437 $17,739 $110,001+ $19,760 $20,102 -
Midway University
Midway Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $23,950 $24,750 Room and Board $8,480 $8,480 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $7,000 $7,000 Total $40,630 $41,430 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $18,443 $18,806 $30,001 - $48k $19,758 $20,147 $48,001 - $75k $22,458 $22,900 $75,001 - $110k $23,851 $24,321 $110,001+ $26,213 $26,729 -
University of Pikeville
Pikeville Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $20,338 $20,950 Room and Board $7,500 $7,800 Books $2,500 $2,500 Other Expenses $6,500 $6,500 Total $36,838 $37,750 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $15,642 $16,029 $30,001 - $48k $16,235 $16,637 $48,001 - $75k $19,945 $20,439 $75,001 - $110k $20,074 $20,571 $110,001+ $23,712 $24,299 -
Spalding University
Louisville Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $24,000 $24,500 Room and Board $7,900 $7,900 Books $1,260 $1,650 Other Expenses $3,618 $5,437 Total $36,778 $39,487 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $21,351 $22,924 $30,001 - $48k $20,039 $21,515 $48,001 - $75k $24,314 $26,105 $75,001 - $110k $26,581 $28,539 $110,001+ $28,486 $30,584 -
Thomas More College
Crestview Hills Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $30,270 $31,200 Room and Board $7,592 $8,704 Books $0 $0 Other Expenses $2,806 $2,950 Total $40,668 $42,854 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $15,237 $16,056 $30,001 - $48k $14,048 $14,803 $48,001 - $75k $17,444 $18,382 $75,001 - $110k $20,939 $22,065 $110,001+ $20,977 $22,105 -
Transylvania University
Lexington Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $37,290 $38,750 Room and Board $10,160 $10,460 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $2,100 $2,100 Total $50,550 $52,310 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $21,048 $21,781 $30,001 - $48k $20,077 $20,776 $48,001 - $75k $22,371 $23,150 $75,001 - $110k $25,449 $26,335 $110,001+ $28,924 $29,931 -
Union College
Barbourville Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $26,080 $27,140 Room and Board $7,400 $7,475 Books $1,470 $1,470 Other Expenses $3,955 $3,955 Total $38,905 $40,040 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $15,967 $16,433 $30,001 - $48k $17,497 $18,007 $48,001 - $75k $18,674 $19,219 $75,001 - $110k $37,499 $38,593 $110,001+ $37,499 $38,593
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.
