Lexington, Kentucky Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Lexington, Kentucky: median public in-state tuition $13,502 (+145.0% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $56,865 (+4.6% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 92.1% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $10,500 (-20.9% vs U.S.) 34,636 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 8 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 34,636 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $13,502 (+145.0% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $56,865 (+4.6% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 92.1% (+4.1 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $20,382 (+104.5% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $10,500 (-20.9% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $14,456
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 71.4%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 86.9%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Lexington serve students across Kentucky with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 8 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 34,636 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $13,502. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Lexington, Kentucky and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Lexington 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington, Kentucky | $13,502 | $20,382 | $10,500 | 71.4% | 34,636 |
| 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: Lexington, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington, Kentucky | $56,865 | 92.1% | 86.9% | 4.2% | — | 77.4% | 0.44 |
| 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington, Kentucky | $13,502 | $20,382 | $10,500 | 71.4% | 34,636 | $56,865 | 92.1% |
| Louisville | $14,200 | $20,020 | $17,072 | 56.5% | 35,141 | $57,690 | 91.6% |
| 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 |
| Owensboro | $31,550 | $12,920 | $16,375 | 50.3% | 4,073 | $46,124 | 89.7% |
| Florence | $9,012 | $16,328 | $13,572 | 31.7% | 3,827 | 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 Lexington, 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, 71.5%, Transylvania University
Transylvania University
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 71.4%, University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
Top 2 colleges in Lexington, 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, 92.2%, Transylvania University
Transylvania University
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 91.9%, University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
Top 2 most selective colleges in Lexington, 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, 86.6%, Transylvania University
Transylvania University
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Rank 2, Admission Rate, 92.9%, University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
Top 2 colleges in Lexington, 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, $79,620, University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $58,803, Transylvania University
Transylvania University
Top 2 colleges in Lexington, 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, $99,945, University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $70,822, Transylvania University
Transylvania University
Top 2 colleges in Lexington, 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, $47,266, University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $40,447, Transylvania University
Transylvania University
Top 2 colleges in Lexington, 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, $53,326, University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $48,944, Transylvania University
Transylvania University
Top 2 colleges in Lexington, 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, $59,025, University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $54,705, Transylvania University
Transylvania University
Top 2 colleges in Lexington, 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, $171,834, University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $131,051, Transylvania University
Transylvania University
Top 2 most affordable colleges in Lexington, 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, $18,851, University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
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Rank 2, Net Price, $21,913, Transylvania University
Transylvania University
Top 2 colleges in Lexington, 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, 87.1%, Transylvania University
Transylvania University
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 86.8%, University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
In-state tuition: Lexington, Kentucky vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Lexington, Kentucky median in-state tuition is $13,502, +145.0% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Lexington, Kentucky vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Lexington, Kentucky is $10,500 (-20.9% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $14,456.
Median earnings (10 years out): Lexington, Kentucky vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Lexington, Kentucky center around $56,865 (+4.6% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Lexington, Kentucky vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 92.1% at the median Lexington, Kentucky campus (+4.1 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
Lexington, Kentucky median public in-state tuition is $13,502, about +145.0% vs the national median. Versus the Southeast region, tuition is +170.5%.
Median graduate debt is $10,500 (-20.9% below 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 Lexington, Kentucky are $56,865, about +4.6% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 92.1% 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% (+4.1 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 86.9% 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 4.2% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 77.4% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Transylvania University (92.2%), University of Kentucky (91.9%)—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 Lexington, Kentucky is 71.4% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Lexington?
This city profile covers 8 campuses in Lexington, Kentucky with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Lexington?
Median in-state tuition in Lexington is $13,502 and median net price is $20,382. For Kentucky overall, medians are $4,728 and $5,762; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Lexington?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Lexington is $56,865 vs $45,500 for Kentucky and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Lexington colleges?
Median completer debt in Lexington is $10,500 vs $13,521 for Kentucky and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Lexington?
Top campuses on this page include Transylvania University (graduation) and University of Kentucky (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Lexington?
Among 8 campuses in Lexington, Kentucky, 2 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) (2).
Sources & related
- Kentucky college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON