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Source: National Center for Educational Statistics. This is the most recent data available as of January 2021
Questions & Answers
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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 2018-19 school year, which is the latest available as of January 2021.
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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.
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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 $15,683 and the average private school would be $21,733. You can also get information on specific Kentucky schools in the chart above or the tables below.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 (2018-19) | |
|---|---|
| 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 2018-19 school year. This is the latest data available as of January 2021. 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 $23,779 | KY Private $42,626 |
| $0 - $30k | $9,836 | $16,237 |
| $30,001 – $48k | $10,717 | $16,808 |
| $48,001 – $75k | $13,037 | $18,456 |
| $75,001 – $110k | $15,683 | $21,733 |
| $110,001+ | $16,746 | $23,474 |
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-$7,000 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
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Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $9,666 $9,876 Room and Board $10,040 $10,476 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $2,800 $2,800 Total $23,706 $24,352 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,397 $12,735 $30,001 - $48k $11,641 $11,958 $48,001 - $75k $14,004 $14,386 $75,001 - $110k $17,293 $17,764 $110,001+ $16,980 $17,443 -
Kentucky State University
Frankfort Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $8,090 $8,090 Room and Board $6,690 $6,690 Books $1,300 $1,300 Other Expenses $998 $998 Total $17,078 $17,078 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $6,646 $6,646 $30,001 - $48k $5,526 $5,526 $48,001 - $75k $7,588 $7,588 $75,001 - $110k $9,847 $9,847 $110,001+ $12,356 $12,356 -
University of Kentucky
Lexington Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $12,245 $12,360 Room and Board $12,814 $13,210 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $4,042 $4,358 Total $30,101 $30,928 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $11,848 $12,174 $30,001 - $48k $12,872 $13,226 $48,001 - $75k $15,733 $16,165 $75,001 - $110k $20,337 $20,896 $110,001+ $23,189 $23,826 -
University of Louisville
Louisville Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $11,656 $11,928 Room and Board $9,226 $9,452 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $5,898 $6,318 Total $27,980 $28,898 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,058 $13,486 $30,001 - $48k $14,341 $14,812 $48,001 - $75k $16,795 $17,346 $75,001 - $110k $20,569 $21,244 $110,001+ $21,737 $22,450
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Morehead State University
Morehead Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $9,070 $9,290 Room and Board $9,730 $9,490 Books $1,440 $1,440 Other Expenses $2,572 $2,612 Total $22,812 $22,832 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $10,029 $10,038 $30,001 - $48k $11,086 $11,096 $48,001 - $75k $12,967 $12,978 $75,001 - $110k $15,993 $16,007 $110,001+ $16,367 $16,381 -
Murray State University
Murray Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $9,084 $9,168 Room and Board $9,190 $9,466 Books $1,258 $1,260 Other Expenses $3,940 $3,800 Total $23,472 $23,694 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $8,839 $8,923 $30,001 - $48k $9,185 $9,272 $48,001 - $75k $11,959 $12,072 $75,001 - $110k $13,484 $13,612 $110,001+ $14,990 $15,132 -
Northern Kentucky University
Highland Heights Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $10,032 $10,296 Room and Board $9,912 $10,046 Books $800 $800 Other Expenses $2,500 $2,500 Total $23,244 $23,642 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $4,156 $4,227 $30,001 - $48k $6,295 $6,403 $48,001 - $75k $10,039 $10,211 $75,001 - $110k $12,301 $12,512 $110,001+ $13,395 $13,624 -
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $10,512 $10,802 Room and Board $8,343 $8,432 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $1,985 $2,035 Total $21,840 $22,269 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $11,714 $11,944 $30,001 - $48k $14,790 $15,081 $48,001 - $75k $15,209 $15,508 $75,001 - $110k $15,642 $15,949 $110,001+ $14,956 $15,250
Private KY Schools Cost Breakdown
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Alice Lloyd College
Pippa Passes Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $11,550 $12,230 Room and Board $6,240 $7,160 Books $1,400 $1,400 Other Expenses $5,100 $5,100 Total $24,290 $25,890 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,865 $13,712 $30,001 - $48k $13,597 $14,493 $48,001 - $75k $16,076 $17,135 $75,001 - $110k $17,756 $18,926 $110,001+ $16,600 $17,693 -
Asbury University
Wilmore Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $30,198 $30,952 Room and Board $7,160 $7,536 Books $1,300 $1,330 Other Expenses $2,910 $2,982 Total $41,568 $42,800 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $22,494 $23,161 $30,001 - $48k $22,929 $23,609 $48,001 - $75k $27,906 $28,733 $75,001 - $110k $29,094 $29,956 $110,001+ $31,192 $32,116 -
Bellarmine University
Louisville Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $42,200 $42,830 Room and Board $12,250 $9,420 Books $788 $752 Other Expenses $5,900 $6,688 Total $61,138 $59,690 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $21,398 $20,891 $30,001 - $48k $18,667 $18,225 $48,001 - $75k $21,666 $21,153 $75,001 - $110k $22,467 $21,935 $110,001+ $26,737 $26,104 -
Berea College
Berea Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $39,990 $44,700 Room and Board $6,764 $6,966 Books $700 $700 Other Expenses $2,400 $2,500 Total $49,854 $54,866 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $5,296 $5,828 $30,001 - $48k $5,296 $5,828 $48,001 - $75k $4,259 $4,687 $75,001 - $110k $8,723 $9,600 $110,001+ $0 $0 -
Brescia University
Owensboro Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $22,100 $23,500 Room and Board $9,350 $9,940 Books $3,000 $3,000 Other Expenses $2,000 $2,000 Total $36,450 $38,440 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $10,581 $11,159 $30,001 - $48k $11,505 $12,133 $48,001 - $75k $11,845 $12,492 $75,001 - $110k $14,147 $14,919 $110,001+ $17,215 $18,155 -
Campbellsville University
Campbellsville Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $25,400 $25,400 Room and Board $8,000 $8,000 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $4,986 $5,046 Total $39,586 $39,646 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $16,563 $16,588 $30,001 - $48k $16,625 $16,650 $48,001 - $75k $18,741 $18,769 $75,001 - $110k $18,962 $18,991 $110,001+ $20,036 $20,066 -
Centre College
Danville Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $41,700 $43,000 Room and Board $10,480 $10,740 Books $1,500 $1,400 Other Expenses $1,740 $1,770 Total $55,420 $56,910 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,953 $15,355 $30,001 - $48k $15,379 $15,792 $48,001 - $75k $16,917 $17,372 $75,001 - $110k $22,219 $22,816 $110,001+ $28,482 $29,248 -
University of the Cumberlands
Williamsburg Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $23,000 $9,875 Room and Board $9,000 $9,300 Books $1,400 $1,400 Other Expenses $5,000 $3,690 Total $38,400 $24,265 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,993 $9,474 $30,001 - $48k $15,634 $9,879 $48,001 - $75k $14,763 $9,329 $75,001 - $110k $19,300 $12,196 $110,001+ $20,100 $12,701 -
Georgetown College
Georgetown Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $38,650 $39,810 Room and Board $9,780 $10,160 Books $1,250 $1,250 Other Expenses $2,250 $2,298 Total $51,930 $53,518 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,194 $14,628 $30,001 - $48k $13,907 $14,332 $48,001 - $75k $15,068 $15,529 $75,001 - $110k $19,344 $19,936 $110,001+ $23,468 $24,186
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Kentucky Wesleyan College
Owensboro Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $26,160 $27,200 Room and Board $9,764 $10,217 Books $1,298 $1,298 Other Expenses $3,640 $3,640 Total $40,862 $42,355 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $17,271 $17,902 $30,001 - $48k $17,457 $18,095 $48,001 - $75k $19,286 $19,991 $75,001 - $110k $18,144 $18,807 $110,001+ $23,337 $24,190 -
Kentucky Christian University
Grayson Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $19,256 $20,596 Room and Board $8,200 $8,480 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $4,768 $4,900 Total $33,424 $35,176 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $17,432 $18,346 $30,001 - $48k $21,196 $22,307 $48,001 - $75k $20,221 $21,281 $75,001 - $110k $20,343 $21,409 $110,001+ $21,949 $23,100 -
Lindsey Wilson College
Columbia Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $24,850 $25,350 Room and Board $9,385 $9,425 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $5,243 $5,243 Total $40,478 $41,018 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $15,017 $15,217 $30,001 - $48k $12,838 $13,009 $48,001 - $75k $15,717 $15,927 $75,001 - $110k $17,628 $17,863 $110,001+ $18,881 $19,133 -
Midway University
Midway Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $24,750 $24,850 Room and Board $8,480 $8,600 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $7,000 $7,000 Total $41,430 $41,650 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $19,118 $19,220 $30,001 - $48k $20,489 $20,598 $48,001 - $75k $23,441 $23,565 $75,001 - $110k $24,967 $25,100 $110,001+ $26,311 $26,451 -
University of Pikeville
Pikeville Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $20,950 $21,550 Room and Board $7,800 $7,950 Books $2,500 $2,000 Other Expenses $6,500 $3,040 Total $37,750 $34,540 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $15,677 $14,344 $30,001 - $48k $19,388 $17,739 $48,001 - $75k $22,059 $20,183 $75,001 - $110k $23,310 $21,328 $110,001+ $24,256 $22,193 -
Spalding University
Louisville Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $24,500 $25,200 Room and Board $7,900 $7,900 Books $1,650 $1,650 Other Expenses $5,437 $5,437 Total $39,487 $40,187 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $23,656 $24,075 $30,001 - $48k $23,218 $23,630 $48,001 - $75k $25,448 $25,899 $75,001 - $110k $29,957 $30,488 $110,001+ $27,876 $28,370 -
Thomas More College
Crestview Hills Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $31,200 $32,090 Room and Board $8,704 $9,000 Books $0 $0 Other Expenses $2,950 $3,160 Total $42,854 $44,250 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $16,733 $17,278 $30,001 - $48k $16,104 $16,629 $48,001 - $75k $18,269 $18,864 $75,001 - $110k $21,696 $22,403 $110,001+ $22,435 $23,166 -
Transylvania University
Lexington Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $38,750 $40,210 Room and Board $10,460 $10,770 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $2,100 $2,100 Total $52,310 $54,080 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $18,713 $19,346 $30,001 - $48k $20,385 $21,075 $48,001 - $75k $20,825 $21,530 $75,001 - $110k $24,642 $25,476 $110,001+ $28,293 $29,250 -
Union College
Barbourville Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $27,140 $27,950 Room and Board $7,475 $7,500 Books $1,470 $1,470 Other Expenses $3,955 $4,030 Total $40,040 $40,950 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $15,307 $15,655 $30,001 - $48k $17,932 $18,340 $48,001 - $75k $19,693 $20,141 $75,001 - $110k $38,488 $39,363 $110,001+ $38,488 $39,363
View Other States
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