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University of Kentucky
Admission at University of Kentucky is close to open (92.9%), which shifts the homework to outcomes: check the $59,025 median earnings below before the application.
Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →
University of Kentucky sits in Lexington proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. It carries a land-grant charter — the 1862 mandate that ties it to agricultural and practical education. The university runs its own medical system, which colors both its budget and its biggest programs.
Its highest-earning path is Computer Engineering, where graduates median $99,945 four years out. 22.5% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 24,763 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 86.8% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1080 and 1290 — above the KY middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on University of Kentucky's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, University of Kentucky received 28,233 applications and admitted 26,083 (92.4%), with 6,437 enrolling.
Scores help here but aren't the gate. If your SAT sits inside the 1080–1290 submitter range, sending it likely helps; below it, University of Kentucky's own policy says you can leave it out.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 550 | 590 | 640 |
| SAT Math | 530 | 580 | 650 |
| ACT Composite | 21 | 25 | 28 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How University of Kentucky compares
| University of Kentucky | Kentucky median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 92.9% | 79.6% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $13,502 | $26,625 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $59,025 | $45,036 | $53,781 |
Earnings data favors University of Kentucky: $59,025 median at year ten, versus $45,036 across Kentucky institutions.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $13,502 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $34,140. For non-residents, University of Kentucky's $34,140 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
University of Kentucky is a big school: 24,763 undergraduates at last count.
71.4% of University of Kentucky students finish a bachelor's within six years — 16.6 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $13,502 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at University of Kentucky
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer Engineering | $99,945 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $99,535 |
| Chemical Engineering | $98,003 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $96,913 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $90,654 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $85,777 |
| Materials Engineering | $84,796 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $84,087 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $82,533 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $81,941 |
| Civil Engineering | $81,031 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $77,663 |
| Mathematics | $75,222 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $74,202 |
| Chemistry | $73,549 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $70,942 |
| Marketing | $70,776 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $69,451 |
| Agricultural Engineering | $68,605 |
| Economics | $68,532 |
| Apparel and Textiles | $66,255 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $65,847 |
| Information Science/Studies | $65,407 |
| Landscape Architecture | $64,143 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $62,966 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $62,754 |
| Architecture | $62,383 |
| Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other | $60,375 |
| Public Health | $59,163 |
| Political Science and Government | $57,514 |
| Sociology | $56,266 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $56,234 |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General | $55,937 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $55,653 |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services | $55,633 |
| Animal Sciences | $53,918 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $52,815 |
| Journalism | $52,785 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $52,477 |
| Biology, General | $52,163 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $51,379 |
| Forestry | $51,331 |
| Social Work | $51,313 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $50,204 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | $49,167 |
| International/Globalization Studies | $47,698 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General | $47,296 |
| Agricultural Production Operations | $46,843 |
| Psychology, General | $46,570 |
| History | $46,111 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $45,148 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $44,384 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $44,352 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $44,333 |
| Agricultural Public Services | $42,612 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $41,406 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | $40,538 |
| Music | $39,746 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $38,822 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $38,475 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $36,942 |
Median earnings for these 61 University of Kentucky programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $59,025 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 32 additional University of Kentucky programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for University of Kentucky?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1080–1290 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 92.9% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is University of Kentucky's acceptance rate?
92.4% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 26,083 admitted from 28,233 applicants.
How much does University of Kentucky cost?
In-state tuition is $13,502; out-of-state students pay $34,140. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do University of Kentucky graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $59,025 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Kentucky
- Kentucky State University — 96.1% admitted
- Kentucky Mountain Bible College — 100% admitted
- Midway University — 95.1% admitted
- Murray State University — 85.7% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.