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Source: National Center for Educational Statistics. This is the most recent data available as of January 2023
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 2020-21 school year, which is the latest available as of January 2023.
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 $15,566 and the average private school would be $21,911. 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 (2020-21) | |
|---|---|
| Tuition and Fees | $12,484 |
| Room and Board | $13,588 |
| Books | $1,000 |
| Other Expenses | $4,474 |
| Total | $31,546 |
Total Cost:
Total cost is the total cost of attendance for that particular institution for the 2020-21 school year. This is the latest data available as of January 2023. 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 $24,769 | KY Private $43,939 |
| $0 - $30k | $9,296 | $16,496 |
| $30,001 – $48k | $10,419 | $16,131 |
| $48,001 – $75k | $12,665 | $18,487 |
| $75,001 – $110k | $15,566 | $21,911 |
| $110,001+ | $16,999 | $24,511 |
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 $6,000-$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 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $9,876 $9,752 Room and Board $10,476 $9,410 Books $1,200 $0 Other Expenses $2,800 $2,800 Total $24,352 $21,962 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,251 $11,049 $30,001 - $48k $11,613 $10,473 $48,001 - $75k $13,581 $12,248 $75,001 - $110k $16,521 $14,900 $110,001+ $17,302 $15,604 -
Kentucky State University
Frankfort Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $8,800 $9,020 Room and Board $6,680 $6,690 Books $1,300 $1,300 Other Expenses $998 $998 Total $17,778 $18,008 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $5,905 $5,981 $30,001 - $48k $6,993 $7,083 $48,001 - $75k $8,253 $8,360 $75,001 - $110k $9,368 $9,489 $110,001+ $13,402 $13,575 -
University of Kentucky
Lexington Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $12,484 $12,610 Room and Board $13,588 $14,000 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $4,474 $4,080 Total $31,546 $31,690 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $11,926 $11,980 $30,001 - $48k $13,594 $13,656 $48,001 - $75k $16,418 $16,493 $75,001 - $110k $21,029 $21,125 $110,001+ $24,030 $24,140 -
University of Louisville
Louisville Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $12,162 $12,370 Room and Board $9,754 $9,852 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $6,562 $6,782 Total $29,678 $30,204 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,436 $14,692 $30,001 - $48k $15,466 $15,740 $48,001 - $75k $17,544 $17,855 $75,001 - $110k $21,377 $21,756 $110,001+ $22,740 $23,143
-
Morehead State University
Morehead Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $9,290 $9,462 Room and Board $9,820 $10,040 Books $1,200 $1,008 Other Expenses $2,622 $2,604 Total $22,932 $23,114 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $8,276 $8,342 $30,001 - $48k $8,959 $9,030 $48,001 - $75k $11,410 $11,501 $75,001 - $110k $14,984 $15,103 $110,001+ $15,535 $15,658 -
Murray State University
Murray Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $9,168 $9,252 Room and Board $9,512 $9,868 Books $1,260 $1,260 Other Expenses $4,355 $4,330 Total $24,295 $24,710 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $8,986 $9,139 $30,001 - $48k $7,928 $8,063 $48,001 - $75k $11,625 $11,824 $75,001 - $110k $14,603 $14,852 $110,001+ $14,896 $15,150 -
Northern Kentucky University
Highland Heights Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $10,296 $10,392 Room and Board $10,046 $11,454 Books $800 $800 Other Expenses $2,500 $2,500 Total $23,642 $25,146 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $1,287 $1,369 $30,001 - $48k $2,609 $2,775 $48,001 - $75k $6,634 $7,056 $75,001 - $110k $10,787 $11,473 $110,001+ $12,031 $12,796 -
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $10,802 $10,992 Room and Board $10,044 $10,708 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $2,086 $2,115 Total $23,932 $24,815 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $11,303 $11,720 $30,001 - $48k $16,192 $16,789 $48,001 - $75k $15,852 $16,437 $75,001 - $110k $15,859 $16,444 $110,001+ $16,059 $16,652
Private KY Schools Cost Breakdown
-
Alice Lloyd College
Pippa Passes Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $14,230 $14,230 Room and Board $7,390 $7,390 Books $1,400 $1,400 Other Expenses $5,100 $5,100 Total $28,120 $28,120 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,957 $14,957 $30,001 - $48k $15,070 $15,070 $48,001 - $75k $17,278 $17,278 $75,001 - $110k $18,344 $18,344 $110,001+ $18,576 $18,576 -
Asbury University
Wilmore Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $32,028 $32,652 Room and Board $7,969 $8,340 Books $1,365 $1,380 Other Expenses $3,060 $3,090 Total $44,422 $45,462 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $21,274 $21,772 $30,001 - $48k $20,246 $20,720 $48,001 - $75k $21,918 $22,431 $75,001 - $110k $23,201 $23,744 $110,001+ $26,629 $27,252 -
Bellarmine University
Louisville Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $43,470 $44,920 Room and Board $9,420 $9,420 Books $768 $0 Other Expenses $7,422 $6,878 Total $61,080 $61,218 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $20,161 $20,207 $30,001 - $48k $20,462 $20,508 $48,001 - $75k $21,625 $21,674 $75,001 - $110k $26,706 $26,766 $110,001+ $25,168 $25,225 -
Berea College
Berea Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $45,092 $43,612 Room and Board $7,264 $7,484 Books $700 $700 Other Expenses $2,600 $2,600 Total $55,656 $54,396 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $3,447 $3,369 $30,001 - $48k $1,902 $1,859 $48,001 - $75k $4,414 $4,314 $75,001 - $110k $12,260 $11,982 $110,001+ $0 $0 -
Brescia University
Owensboro Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $25,100 $26,950 Room and Board $10,000 $10,204 Books $3,000 $3,000 Other Expenses $2,000 $2,100 Total $40,100 $42,254 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,206 $13,915 $30,001 - $48k $11,098 $11,694 $48,001 - $75k $13,916 $14,664 $75,001 - $110k $13,456 $14,179 $110,001+ $17,435 $18,372 -
Campbellsville University
Campbellsville Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $25,400 $25,000 Room and Board $8,000 $8,880 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $5,402 $5,412 Total $40,002 $40,492 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $23,190 $23,474 $30,001 - $48k $23,563 $23,852 $48,001 - $75k $23,275 $23,560 $75,001 - $110k $23,097 $23,380 $110,001+ $24,387 $24,686 -
Centre College
Danville Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $44,300 $46,000 Room and Board $11,170 $11,600 Books $1,400 $1,250 Other Expenses $1,840 $1,850 Total $58,710 $60,700 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,849 $13,285 $30,001 - $48k $12,870 $13,306 $48,001 - $75k $16,205 $16,754 $75,001 - $110k $19,225 $19,877 $110,001+ $27,398 $28,327 -
University of the Cumberlands
Williamsburg Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $9,875 $9,875 Room and Board $9,300 $9,300 Books $0 $0 Other Expenses $5,709 $5,709 Total $24,884 $24,884 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,137 $12,137 $30,001 - $48k $13,036 $13,036 $48,001 - $75k $14,963 $14,963 $75,001 - $110k $18,465 $18,465 $110,001+ $18,532 $18,532 -
Georgetown College
Georgetown Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $40,800 $41,200 Room and Board $10,670 $10,990 Books $1,250 $1,250 Other Expenses $2,282 $2,234 Total $55,002 $55,674 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $9,144 $9,256 $30,001 - $48k $11,413 $11,552 $48,001 - $75k $13,799 $13,968 $75,001 - $110k $17,433 $17,646 $110,001+ $18,857 $19,087
-
Kentucky Wesleyan College
Owensboro Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $28,540 $29,660 Room and Board $10,000 $10,850 Books $1,298 $1,298 Other Expenses $3,964 $2,500 Total $43,802 $44,308 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $26,436 $26,741 $30,001 - $48k $27,290 $27,605 $48,001 - $75k $29,468 $29,808 $75,001 - $110k $29,629 $29,971 $110,001+ $30,366 $30,717 -
Kentucky Christian University
Grayson Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $21,200 $22,130 Room and Board $8,700 $8,840 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $5,100 $5,144 Total $36,200 $37,314 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $22,619 $23,315 $30,001 - $48k $20,852 $21,494 $48,001 - $75k $23,056 $23,766 $75,001 - $110k $23,901 $24,637 $110,001+ $24,869 $25,634 -
Lindsey Wilson College
Columbia Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $25,718 $25,718 Room and Board $9,495 $9,495 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $5,243 $5,243 Total $41,456 $41,456 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $17,337 $17,337 $30,001 - $48k $12,301 $12,301 $48,001 - $75k $13,361 $13,361 $75,001 - $110k $17,114 $17,114 $110,001+ $21,932 $21,932 -
Midway University
Midway Year 2020-21 2021-22 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 $21,413 $21,413 $30,001 - $48k $19,087 $19,087 $48,001 - $75k $23,271 $23,271 $75,001 - $110k $25,659 $25,659 $110,001+ $26,585 $26,585 -
University of Pikeville
Pikeville Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $22,050 $22,650 Room and Board $8,050 $8,200 Books $2,000 $2,000 Other Expenses $3,040 $3,040 Total $35,140 $35,890 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $11,075 $11,311 $30,001 - $48k $13,249 $13,532 $48,001 - $75k $14,159 $14,461 $75,001 - $110k $15,896 $16,235 $110,001+ $17,771 $18,150 -
Spalding University
Louisville Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $25,975 $26,550 Room and Board $7,600 $8,266 Books $1,400 $1,120 Other Expenses $6,937 $7,114 Total $41,912 $43,050 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $21,416 $21,997 $30,001 - $48k $20,188 $20,736 $48,001 - $75k $22,419 $23,028 $75,001 - $110k $24,525 $25,191 $110,001+ $26,091 $26,799 -
Thomas More College
Crestview Hills Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $33,420 $34,760 Room and Board $9,236 $9,688 Books $0 $500 Other Expenses $3,282 $3,392 Total $45,938 $48,340 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $15,556 $16,369 $30,001 - $48k $16,494 $17,356 $48,001 - $75k $18,551 $19,521 $75,001 - $110k $20,646 $21,726 $110,001+ $22,032 $23,184 -
Transylvania University
Lexington Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $41,610 $42,520 Room and Board $11,660 $12,200 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $2,350 $2,350 Total $56,620 $58,070 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $16,194 $16,609 $30,001 - $48k $20,130 $20,646 $48,001 - $75k $22,768 $23,351 $75,001 - $110k $25,594 $26,249 $110,001+ $30,803 $31,592 -
Union College
Barbourville Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $28,000 $28,889 Room and Board $6,700 $6,700 Books $1,470 $1,470 Other Expenses $4,030 $3,955 Total $40,200 $41,014 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,522 $14,816 $30,001 - $48k $11,102 $11,327 $48,001 - $75k $18,328 $18,699 $75,001 - $110k $39,252 $40,047 $110,001+ $39,252 $40,047
View Other States
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