Owensboro, Kentucky Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
Executive Summary (TL;DR)
Colleges in Owensboro, Kentucky: median public in-state tuition $31,550 (+472.4% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $46,124 (-15.2% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 89.7% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $16,375 (+23.4% vs U.S.) 4,073 students enrolled statewide.
Overview
Colleges and universities in Owensboro serve students across Kentucky with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 4 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 4,073 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $31,550. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Owensboro, Kentucky and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Owensboro vs Kentucky & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owensboro, Kentucky | $31,550 | $12,920 | $16,375 | 50.3% | 4,073 |
| Kentucky (state median) | $4,728 | $5,762 | $13,521 | 50.0% | 174,937 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Owensboro, Kentucky vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owensboro, Kentucky | $46,124 | 89.7% | 60.0% | 9.1% | — | 70.1% | 0.57 |
| Kentucky (state median) | $45,500 | 90.2% | 74.7% | 7.6% | — | 68.9% | 0.48 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Kentucky (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owensboro, Kentucky | $31,550 | $12,920 | $16,375 | 50.3% | 4,073 | $46,124 | 89.7% |
| Louisville | $14,200 | $20,020 | $17,072 | 56.5% | 35,141 | $57,690 | 91.6% |
| Lexington | $13,502 | $20,382 | $10,500 | 71.4% | 34,636 | $56,865 | 92.1% |
| Lexington | $13,502 | $20,382 | $10,500 | 71.4% | 34,636 | $56,865 | 92.1% |
| Bowling Green | $8,190 | $14,672 | $9,838 | 55.6% | 15,818 | $43,889 | 90.2% |
| Richmond | $10,320 | $28,005 | $14,416 | 50.0% | 12,584 | $45,795 | 89.5% |
| Richmond | $10,320 | $28,005 | $14,416 | 50.0% | 12,584 | $45,795 | 89.5% |
| Richmond | $10,320 | $28,005 | $14,416 | 50.0% | 12,584 | $45,795 | 89.5% |
| Elizabethtown | $4,728 | $10,880 | $9,861 | N/A | 4,259 | N/A | N/A |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top 2 colleges in Owensboro, Kentucky by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 53.7%, Brescia University
Brescia University
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 46.8%, Kentucky Wesleyan College
Kentucky Wesleyan College
Top 2 colleges in Owensboro, Kentucky by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 92.3%, Kentucky Wesleyan College
Kentucky Wesleyan College
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 87.2%, Brescia University
Brescia University
Top 2 most selective colleges in Owensboro, Kentucky (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 35.2%, Brescia University
Brescia University
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Rank 2, Admission Rate, 71.6%, Kentucky Wesleyan College
Kentucky Wesleyan College
Top 2 colleges in Owensboro, Kentucky by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $42,269, Brescia University
Brescia University
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $41,059, Kentucky Wesleyan College
Kentucky Wesleyan College
Top 2 colleges in Owensboro, Kentucky by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $64,396, Kentucky Wesleyan College
Kentucky Wesleyan College
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $56,285, Brescia University
Brescia University
Top 2 colleges in Owensboro, Kentucky by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $39,897, Brescia University
Brescia University
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $35,895, Kentucky Wesleyan College
Kentucky Wesleyan College
Top 2 colleges in Owensboro, Kentucky by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $43,584, Kentucky Wesleyan College
Kentucky Wesleyan College
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $40,820, Brescia University
Brescia University
Top 2 colleges in Owensboro, Kentucky by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $46,747, Kentucky Wesleyan College
Kentucky Wesleyan College
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $45,500, Brescia University
Brescia University
Top 2 colleges in Owensboro, Kentucky by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $166,190, Brescia University
Brescia University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $125,476, Kentucky Wesleyan College
Kentucky Wesleyan College
Top 2 most affordable colleges in Owensboro, Kentucky (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $8,709, Brescia University
Brescia University
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Rank 2, Net Price, $17,131, Kentucky Wesleyan College
Kentucky Wesleyan College
Top 2 colleges in Owensboro, Kentucky by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 67.4%, Brescia University
Brescia University
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 52.6%, Kentucky Wesleyan College
Kentucky Wesleyan College
In-state tuition: Owensboro, Kentucky vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Owensboro, Kentucky median in-state tuition is $31,550, +472.4% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Owensboro, Kentucky vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Owensboro, Kentucky is $16,375 (+23.4% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $14,456.
Median earnings (10 years out): Owensboro, Kentucky vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Owensboro, Kentucky center around $46,124 (-15.2% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Owensboro, Kentucky vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 89.7% at the median Owensboro, Kentucky campus (+1.8 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Owensboro, Kentucky median public in-state tuition is $31,550, about +472.4% vs the national median. Versus the Southeast region, tuition is +532.0%.
Median graduate debt is $16,375 (+23.4% above the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Owensboro, Kentucky are $46,124, about -15.2% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 89.7% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (+1.8 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 60.0% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 9.1% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 70.1% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Kentucky Wesleyan College (92.3%), Brescia University (87.2%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Owensboro, Kentucky is 50.3% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Owensboro?
This city profile covers 4 campuses in Owensboro, Kentucky with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Owensboro?
Median in-state tuition in Owensboro is $31,550 and median net price is $12,920. For Kentucky overall, medians are $4,728 and $5,762; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Owensboro?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Owensboro is $46,124 vs $45,500 for Kentucky and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Owensboro colleges?
Median completer debt in Owensboro is $16,375 vs $13,521 for Kentucky and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Owensboro?
Top campuses on this page include Brescia University (graduation) and Kentucky Wesleyan College (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Owensboro?
Among 4 campuses in Owensboro, Kentucky, 2 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Roman Catholic (1), United Methodist (1).
Sources & related
- Kentucky college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON