There are 87 colleges in Kentucky - 24 public and 63 private schools. At Kentucky colleges, college Cost of Attendance (COA), which factors in tuition, fees, books, housing, meals, and personal expenses, has risen steadily in the past ten years, reflecting the growing price of higher education.
The total Cost of Attendance has increased substantially at Kentucky colleges:
Tuition and fees saw dramatic increases across institution types:
| Institution Type | 10-Year Increase (2016-2025) | 2025 Average Tuition & Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Public, In-State | 21.48% (from $9,232 to $11,215) | $11,215 |
| Public, Out-of-State | 7.62% (from $21,241 to $22,859) | $22,859 |
| Private Colleges | 30.50% (from $20,974 to $27,371) | $27,371 |
Note on Degrees: Undergraduate tuition & fees increased by 7.62%, while graduate program tuition & fees increased by -2.56% over the same period.
Over the past 10 years, the COA has increased 15.63% when living on campus and 19.77% when living off campus at Kentucky Colleges.
In private Kentucky Colleges, the COA has increase by 30.00% (on-campus) and 34.01% (off-camus). The COA includes tuition, fees, books & supplies, room & board, and other personal expenses.
For the academic year 2024-2025, the total cost of attendance is $39,095 when a student lives on campus and $40,966 when living off campus at Kentucky Colleges. The following table and chart illustrate the changes of COA for Kentucky Colleges over the past 10 years.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools | In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools | |
| 2015-16 | $21,802 | $33,811 | $33,544 | $22,194 | $34,203 | $33,936 |
| 2016-17 | $22,775 4.46% | $34,337 1.56% | $35,041 4.46% | $22,830 2.87% | $34,392 0.55% | $35,096 3.42% |
| 2017-18 | $23,534 3.33% | $35,597 3.67% | $36,063 2.92% | $23,824 4.35% | $35,887 4.35% | $36,353 3.58% |
| 2018-19 | $23,731 0.84% | $36,094 1.40% | $37,416 3.75% | $24,199 1.57% | $36,562 1.88% | $37,884 4.21% |
| 2019-20 | $23,949 0.92% | $35,715 -1.05% | $37,587 0.46% | $24,824 2.58% | $36,590 0.08% | $38,462 1.53% |
| 2020-21 | $24,449 2.09% | $35,511 -0.57% | $38,333 1.98% | $25,358 2.15% | $36,420 -0.46% | $39,242 2.03% |
| 2021-22 | $24,765 1.29% | $35,946 1.22% | $39,349 2.65% | $25,810 1.78% | $36,991 1.57% | $40,394 2.94% |
| 2022-23 | $25,394 2.54% | $36,688 2.06% | $39,638 0.73% | $26,333 2.03% | $37,627 1.72% | $40,577 0.45% |
| 2023-24 | $26,518 4.43% | $38,022 3.64% | $41,762 5.36% | $28,071 6.60% | $39,575 5.18% | $43,315 6.75% |
| 2024-25 | $27,451 3.52% | $39,095 2.82% | $43,607 4.42% | $29,322 4.46% | $40,966 3.51% | $45,478 4.99% |
For the current year (2025), the average tuition & fees for Kentucky Colleges is $11,931 for Kentucky residents and $23,575 out-of-state students. In private schools, the average tuition & fees is $28,320.
For graduate programs, the 2025 average graduate tuition & fees is $12,665 for Kentucky residents and $19,241 out-of-state students. In private schools, the average graduate program tuition & fees is $12,296.
The tuition & fees has increased 7.62% for undergraduate programs at Kentucky Colleges. The following table and chart illustrate the changes of tuition & fees by tuition rates and degrees.
| Year | Undergraduate | Graduate | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools | In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools | |
| 2015-16 | $9,232 | $21,241 | $20,974 | $10,727 | $19,155 | $9,852 |
| 2016-17 | $9,604 4.03% | $21,166 -0.35% | $21,870 4.27% | $11,027 2.80% | $19,953 4.17% | $10,408 5.64% |
| 2017-18 | $9,971 3.82% | $22,034 4.10% | $22,500 2.88% | $10,982 -0.41% | $19,481 -2.37% | $10,215 -1.85% |
| 2018-19 | $10,125 1.54% | $22,488 2.06% | $23,810 5.82% | $11,062 0.73% | $18,240 -6.37% | $10,669 4.44% |
| 2019-20 | $10,307 1.80% | $22,073 -1.85% | $23,945 0.57% | $11,094 0.29% | $18,437 1.08% | $10,586 -0.78% |
| 2020-21 | $10,452 1.41% | $21,514 -2.53% | $24,336 1.63% | $11,218 1.12% | $18,654 1.18% | $10,243 -3.24% |
| 2021-22 | $10,573 1.16% | $21,754 1.12% | $25,157 3.37% | $11,253 0.31% | $18,446 -1.12% | $11,051 7.89% |
| 2022-23 | $10,615 0.40% | $21,909 0.71% | $24,859 -1.18% | $11,320 0.60% | $17,806 -3.47% | $10,515 -4.85% |
| 2023-24 | $10,908 2.76% | $22,412 2.30% | $26,152 5.20% | $12,527 10.66% | $18,221 2.33% | $11,511 9.47% |
| 2024-25 | $11,215 2.81% | $22,859 1.99% | $27,371 4.66% | $12,088 -3.50% | $18,664 2.43% | $11,702 1.66% |
For the current year (2025), the average book & supplies costs is $1,142 for Kentucky Colleges. The following table shows the changes of book & supplies costs from year 2016 to 2025.
| Year | Books & Supplies |
|---|---|
| 2015-16 | $1,344 |
| 2016-17 | $1,360 1.19% |
| 2017-18 | $1,404 3.24% |
| 2018-19 | $1,328 -5.41% |
| 2019-20 | $1,318 -0.75% |
| 2020-21 | $1,268 -3.79% |
| 2021-22 | $1,242 -2.05% |
| 2022-23 | $1,183 -4.75% |
| 2023-24 | $1,188 0.42% |
| 2024-25 | $1,142 -3.87% |
For Kentucky Colleges, the living have increased 22.51% when a student lives on campus facilities and 28.36% when living off campus from year 2016 to 2025. The living costs includes costs for room & board, and other living expenses.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus |
|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | $11,226 | $12,264 |
| 2016-17 | $11,811 5.59% | $12,776 2.44% |
| 2017-18 | $12,159 2.78% | $13,238 4.76% |
| 2018-19 | $12,278 1.19% | $13,233 5.20% |
| 2019-20 | $12,324 1.37% | $13,537 3.28% |
| 2020-21 | $12,729 1.91% | $14,020 1.47% |
| 2021-22 | $12,950 2.73% | $14,412 2.44% |
| 2022-23 | $13,596 3.90% | $15,050 2.97% |
| 2023-24 | $14,422 4.55% | $15,929 11.02% |
| 2024-25 | $15,094 6.74% | $16,636 9.52% |