University of Kentucky Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
University of Kentucky (UK) is a public research university in Lexington, Kentucky, with about 24,763 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 92.94% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $59,025 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $13,502
- 2024 Average Net Price: $18,851 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 92.94% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 24,763 94.2% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 71.42%
- Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
- First-Generation Students: 23.4%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 2.7% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 5.5% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 82.4%
- Average SAT Score: 1215
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 26,691
- Applicants (IPEDS): 28,233
- Room & Board: $16,016 annual estimate
University of Kentucky: what the data shows
Common questions about University of Kentucky, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is University of Kentucky?
University of Kentucky is located in Lexington, KY (ZIP 40506-0032).
NCES locale classification: City.
Is University of Kentucky public or private?
University of Kentucky is a Public institution.
How much does University of Kentucky cost?
Published tuition: $13,502 in-state, $34,140 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $18,851.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $12,182 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $12,119 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $16,313 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $21,192 |
| $110,001+ | $26,781 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $54,008.
How hard is it to get into University of Kentucky?
Admission rate: 92.94%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1215 and midpoint ACT 26.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is University of Kentucky?
Total enrollment: 24,763 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 26,691 students.
Graduate enrollment: 9,175 students.
About 94% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at University of Kentucky?
150%-time completion rate: 71.42%.
First-year retention: 86.8%.
What do graduates of University of Kentucky earn?
Median earnings: $47,266 six years after entry; $59,025 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $22,500.
22.52% of students receive Pell grants.
What is University of Kentucky known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Social Work (1,196 completions)
- Business/Commerce, General (548 completions)
- Marketing/Marketing Management, General (439 completions)
- Clinical/Medical Social Work (420 completions)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (359 completions)
- Finance, General (323 completions)
- Psychology, General (292 completions)
- Speech Communication and Rhetoric (251 completions)
- Accounting (207 completions)
- Medicine (196 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is University of Kentucky a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 92.94%; completion rate 71.42%; median earnings $59,025 at 10 years; net price $18,851. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$13,502
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at University of Kentucky was $13,502.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$18,851
2024 Value
In 2024 University of Kentucky had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $18,851.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$75,404 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$18,851 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$54,008 4-Year In-State Tuition
$136,560 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$16,016 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,200 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$30,718 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$122,872 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for University of Kentucky.
Financial Aid by Income Level
22.52% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
33.66% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at University of Kentucky was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for University of Kentucky in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $10,110 | $21,192 | $14,333 |
| 2014 | $10,616 | $22,888 | $14,785 |
| 2015 | $10,936 | $24,268 | $16,298 |
| 2016 | $11,484 | $26,334 | $17,617 |
| 2017 | $11,942 | $28,046 | $18,903 |
| 2018 | $12,245 | $29,099 | $18,523 |
| 2019 | $12,360 | $30,680 | $17,127 |
| 2020 | $12,484 | $31,294 | $18,203 |
| 2021 | $12,610 | $31,608 | $18,268 |
| 2022 | $12,859 | $32,276 | $16,328 |
| 2023 | $13,212 | $33,406 | $17,218 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
92.94% Acceptance Rate
28,233 Total Applicants
26,083 Students Admitted
6,437 First-Time Students Enrolled
24.68% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1215
ACT Average: 26
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.3 - 3.5
Estimated Median GPA: 3.40
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
University of Kentucky reported total enrollment of about 24,763 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 42% male and 58% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (76.2%), Hispanic or Latino (6.8%), and Black or African American (6.3%). About 22.52% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 23.4% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
94.2% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at University of Kentucky in 2024 is 24,763 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 26,691 students. Graduate enrollment is about 9,175 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
86.8%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 76.2%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
55.43% 100% Completion Time
71.42% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 55.43% of students graduating from University of Kentucky completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Social Work: 11% male / 89% female
- Business/Commerce, General: 57% male / 43% female
- Marketing/Marketing Management, General: 44% male / 56% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for University of Kentucky.
Return on Investment
$22,500 Median Student Debt
$59,025 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
38.12% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
682.78% Return on Investment
3.8 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for University of Kentucky.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 218 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Social Work: 1,196 completions
2. Business/Commerce, General: 548 completions
3. Marketing/Marketing Management, General: 439 completions
4. Clinical/Medical Social Work: 420 completions
5. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 359 completions
6. Finance, General: 323 completions
7. Psychology, General: 292 completions
8. Speech Communication and Rhetoric: 251 completions
9. Accounting: 207 completions
Most popular programs at University of Kentucky.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for University of Kentucky graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for University of Kentucky from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 82.4%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $11,984
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $13,191
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
University of Kentucky is a public institution located in Lexington, KY, classified as Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Social Work, Business/Commerce, General, Marketing/Marketing Management, General. Enrollment is approximately 24,763 students. Student body composition includes White (76.2%), Hispanic or Latino (6.8%), Black or African American (6.3%). The admission rate is 92.94%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1215. The 150%-time completion rate is 71.42%. Approximately 22.52% of students receive Pell Grants. About 23.4% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
Location
Lexington, KY 40506-0032
Region: Southeast
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 218 distinct degree programs, University of Kentucky provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is UK located?
University of Kentucky is located in Lexington, KY. The institution is also known as UK.
What is UK's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at University of Kentucky (UK) is 92.9% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 28,233 applicants and 26,083 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does UK cost?
Reported tuition is $13,502 and average net price is $18,851 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $16,016 annually.
What is the student body demographics at UK?
University of Kentucky reports undergraduate enrollment of about 26,691 students, White (76.2%), Hispanic or Latino (6.8%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend UK?
About 23.4% of students at University of Kentucky are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for University of Kentucky?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, University of Kentucky reports midpoint SAT about 1215 and midpoint ACT about 26.
What do graduates of University of Kentucky earn?
Median earnings are $47,266 six years after entry and $59,025 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at University of Kentucky?
The 150%-time completion rate is 71.4% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do University of Kentucky students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $22,500.
Is University of Kentucky public or private?
University of Kentucky is a public institution located in Lexington, KY.
Is University of Kentucky an HBCU?
No. University of Kentucky is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is University of Kentucky a tribal college?
No. University of Kentucky is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Kentucky college profile
- Kentucky college costs
- Kentucky colleges by ROI
- University of Kentucky vs University of Louisville vs Northern Kentucky University
- Lexington, Kentucky city profile
- Southeast regional profile
- Urban (City) college profile
- Campus-setting profiles
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Kentucky
- Kentucky college costs
- Kentucky colleges by ROI
- University of Kentucky vs University of Louisville vs Northern Kentucky University
- Lexington, Kentucky city profile
- Southeast regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Kentucky
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.