Kentucky Trade Schools: Cost, Completion & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Trade schools in Kentucky: 47 trade and vocational campuses (47 trade schools, 0 community colleges) median net price $14,068 (-1.0% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $30,060 (-14.1% vs U.S.) median completion rate 56.4% employment-outcome proxy 80.0% working & not enrolled at 8 years.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 47 campuses (47 trade schools, 0 community colleges)
- Total enrollment: 52,837 students
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $30,060 (-14.1% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 80.0% (-1.0 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $14,068 (-1.0% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $10,150 (+4.6% vs U.S. $9,699); regional median $9,724. Debt rank: #34 nationally of 52 (lower debt = better rank); #9 in Southeast of 12
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 56.4%
- Earnings rank: #46 nationally (higher median 10-yr earnings = better rank)
- Employment-outcome rank: #30 nationally (higher working share = better rank)
- Student debt rank: #34 nationally of 52; #9 in Southeast of 12 (lower debt = better rank)
Download the data
Full profile payload including top-college lists and peer comparisons.
Overview
Trade schools and vocational programs in Kentucky include certificate-focused campuses and community colleges with career and technical education pathways. 47 campuses in this profile (47 trade schools, 0 community colleges), with about 52,837 students enrolled, and median net price near $14,068. Programs span healthcare, skilled trades, manufacturing, and other workforce credentials—tables below compare completion, earnings, and employment outcomes with U.S. and Southeast medians.
Kentucky vs regional & 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky (KY) | — | $14,068 | $10,150 | 56.4% | 52,837 |
| Southeast (region median) | — | $12,646 | $9,724 | 53.3% | 1,214,956 |
| United States | — | $14,215 | $9,699 | 63.3% | 5,490,315 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky (KY) | $30,060 | 80.0% | N/A | 14.7% | — | 44.2% | 0.32 |
| United States | $34,984 | 80.9% | 64.9% | 11.1% | — | 50.5% | 0.28 |
Kentucky vs peer states (Southeast region)
Peer states are other campuses in the same Scorecard region, chosen by similar total enrollment.
| State | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky (KY) | N/A | $14,068 | $10,150 | 56.4% | 52,837 | $30,060 | 80.0% |
| Mississippi (MS) | N/A | $8,616 | $8,239 | 52.1% | 53,340 | $31,420 | 84.8% |
| Louisiana (LA) | N/A | $14,183 | $9,500 | 59.4% | 61,228 | $29,834 | 82.9% |
| Alabama (AL) | N/A | $12,609 | $9,833 | 41.2% | 61,273 | $32,912 | 83.5% |
| Arkansas (AR) | N/A | $11,698 | $9,833 | 54.5% | 40,660 | $33,603 | 81.6% |
| United States | N/A | $14,215 | $9,699 | 63.3% | 5,490,315 | $34,984 | 80.9% |
Outcomes by sector in Kentucky
Median campus-level metrics within each ownership type (public, private nonprofit, private for-profit).
| Sector | Campuses | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working share (8 yr) | Retention | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private for-profit | 20 | $24,397 | 78.8% | N/A | 9.4% | — | 34.8% |
| Public | 16 | $35,302 | 80.7% | N/A | 21.0% | — | 46.7% |
Top 10 trade schools in Kentucky by completion rate (150% time, certificate programs)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate among trade schools and community colleges in this profile (enrollment ≥ 50). Source: College Scorecard.
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Rank 1, Completion Rate, 83.3%, Lindsey Institute of Cosmetology
Lindsey Institute of Cosmetology
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Rank 2, Completion Rate, 78.6%, Paul Mitchell the School-Lexington
Paul Mitchell the School-Lexington
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Rank 3, Completion Rate, 75.0%, Empire Beauty School-Florence
Empire Beauty School-Florence
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Rank 4, Completion Rate, 73.7%, Ross Medical Education Center-Bowling Green
Ross Medical Education Center-Bowling Green
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Rank 5, Completion Rate, 72.7%, Paul Mitchell the School-Louisville
Paul Mitchell the School-Louisville
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Rank 6, Completion Rate, 64.4%, PJ's College of Cosmetology-Bowling Green
PJ's College of Cosmetology-Bowling Green
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Rank 7, Completion Rate, 63.0%, Employment Solutions-College for Technical Education
Employment Solutions-College for Technical Education
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Rank 8, Completion Rate, 62.1%, American College of Barbering
American College of Barbering
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Rank 9, Completion Rate, 60.6%, Ross College-Hopkinsville
Ross College-Hopkinsville
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Rank 10, Completion Rate, 60.2%, Ross Medical Education Center-Erlanger
Ross Medical Education Center-Erlanger
Top 10 trade schools in Kentucky by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 89.7%, Galen Health Institutes-Pikeville
Galen Health Institutes-Pikeville
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 83.6%, Ross Medical Education Center-Bowling Green
Ross Medical Education Center-Bowling Green
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Rank 3, Employment Outcome, 83.3%, Madisonville Community College
Madisonville Community College
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Rank 4, Employment Outcome, 83.2%, Paul Mitchell the School-Lexington
Paul Mitchell the School-Lexington
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Rank 5, Employment Outcome, 83.0%, Jefferson Community and Technical College
Jefferson Community and Technical College
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Rank 6, Employment Outcome, 82.9%, West Kentucky Community and Technical College
West Kentucky Community and Technical College
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Rank 7, Employment Outcome, 82.8%, Henderson Community College
Henderson Community College
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Rank 8, Employment Outcome, 82.8%, Ross College-Hopkinsville
Ross College-Hopkinsville
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Rank 9, Employment Outcome, 82.8%, Ross Medical Education Center-Erlanger
Ross Medical Education Center-Erlanger
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Rank 10, Employment Outcome, 82.6%, Bluegrass Community and Technical College
Bluegrass Community and Technical College
Top 10 trade schools in Kentucky by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
None
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $58,951, Galen Health Institutes-Pikeville
Galen Health Institutes-Pikeville
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $34,492, Gateway Community and Technical College
Gateway Community and Technical College
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Rank 3, Mid-Career Earnings, $32,950, Jefferson Community and Technical College
Jefferson Community and Technical College
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Rank 4, Mid-Career Earnings, $32,645, Hopkinsville Community College
Hopkinsville Community College
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Rank 5, Mid-Career Earnings, $32,562, Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
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Rank 6, Mid-Career Earnings, $32,195, Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College
Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College
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Rank 7, Mid-Career Earnings, $32,081, Bluegrass Community and Technical College
Bluegrass Community and Technical College
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Rank 8, Mid-Career Earnings, $31,551, Henderson Community College
Henderson Community College
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Rank 9, Mid-Career Earnings, $31,283, Owensboro Community and Technical College
Owensboro Community and Technical College
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Rank 10, Mid-Career Earnings, $31,257, Madisonville Community College
Madisonville Community College
Top 10 trade schools in Kentucky by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
None
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $60,671, Galen Health Institutes-Pikeville
Galen Health Institutes-Pikeville
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $35,599, Hopkinsville Community College
Hopkinsville Community College
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Rank 3, 8-Yr Earnings, $35,090, Henderson Community College
Henderson Community College
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Rank 4, 8-Yr Earnings, $35,031, Jefferson Community and Technical College
Jefferson Community and Technical College
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Rank 5, 8-Yr Earnings, $34,533, Gateway Community and Technical College
Gateway Community and Technical College
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Rank 6, 8-Yr Earnings, $34,181, Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
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Rank 7, 8-Yr Earnings, $33,814, Bluegrass Community and Technical College
Bluegrass Community and Technical College
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Rank 8, 8-Yr Earnings, $33,568, Madisonville Community College
Madisonville Community College
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Rank 9, 8-Yr Earnings, $33,407, Owensboro Community and Technical College
Owensboro Community and Technical College
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Rank 10, 8-Yr Earnings, $31,722, Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College
Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College
Top 10 trade schools in Kentucky by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
None
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $61,480, Galen Health Institutes-Pikeville
Galen Health Institutes-Pikeville
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $38,171, Jefferson Community and Technical College
Jefferson Community and Technical College
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Rank 3, 10-Yr Earnings, $36,343, Bluegrass Community and Technical College
Bluegrass Community and Technical College
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Rank 4, 10-Yr Earnings, $36,323, Hopkinsville Community College
Hopkinsville Community College
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Rank 5, 10-Yr Earnings, $36,147, Gateway Community and Technical College
Gateway Community and Technical College
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Rank 6, 10-Yr Earnings, $36,143, Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
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Rank 7, 10-Yr Earnings, $35,798, Owensboro Community and Technical College
Owensboro Community and Technical College
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Rank 8, 10-Yr Earnings, $35,733, Madisonville Community College
Madisonville Community College
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Rank 9, 10-Yr Earnings, $35,714, Henderson Community College
Henderson Community College
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Rank 10, 10-Yr Earnings, $34,891, West Kentucky Community and Technical College
West Kentucky Community and Technical College
Top 10 trade schools in Kentucky by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year ROI among trade schools and community colleges with enrollment ≥ 50.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $197,508, Galen Health Institutes-Pikeville
Galen Health Institutes-Pikeville
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $170,711, Hopkinsville Community College
Hopkinsville Community College
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $170,686, Jefferson Community and Technical College
Jefferson Community and Technical College
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Rank 4, 10-Yr ROI, $169,128, Gateway Community and Technical College
Gateway Community and Technical College
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Rank 5, 10-Yr ROI, $166,014, Henderson Community College
Henderson Community College
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Rank 6, 10-Yr ROI, $165,826, Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
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Rank 7, 10-Yr ROI, $164,344, Bluegrass Community and Technical College
Bluegrass Community and Technical College
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Rank 8, 10-Yr ROI, $162,808, Owensboro Community and Technical College
Owensboro Community and Technical College
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Rank 9, 10-Yr ROI, $161,839, Madisonville Community College
Madisonville Community College
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Rank 10, 10-Yr ROI, $159,306, Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College
Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College
Top 10 most affordable trade schools in Kentucky (net price)
Lowest median net price among trade schools and community colleges with enrollment ≥ 50.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $3,537, Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College
Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College
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Rank 2, Net Price, $2,955, Hazard Community and Technical College
Hazard Community and Technical College
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Rank 3, Net Price, $4,398, Somerset Community College
Somerset Community College
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Rank 4, Net Price, $4,232, Henderson Community College
Henderson Community College
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Rank 5, Net Price, $5,143, Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
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Rank 6, Net Price, $4,605, Maysville Community and Technical College
Maysville Community and Technical College
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Rank 7, Net Price, $3,731, Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College
Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College
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Rank 8, Net Price, $5,875, Hopkinsville Community College
Hopkinsville Community College
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Rank 9, Net Price, $3,873, Big Sandy Community and Technical College
Big Sandy Community and Technical College
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Rank 10, Net Price, $5,353, West Kentucky Community and Technical College
West Kentucky Community and Technical College
Student debt: Kentucky vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Kentucky is $10,150 (+4.7% vs U.S. median $9,699). Regional median: $9,724. Rank: #34 nationally of 52 (lower debt = better rank); #9 in Southeast of 12.
Median earnings (10 years out): Kentucky vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Kentucky center around $30,060 (-14.1% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Kentucky vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 80.0% at the median Kentucky campus (-1.0 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
Median graduate debt is $10,150 (+4.7% above the U.S. median of $9,699, and +4.4% vs the Southeast regional median of $9,724). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Student debt rank: #34 nationally of 52 (lower debt = better rank); #9 in Southeast of 12 (1 = lowest median debt).
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Kentucky are $30,060, about -14.1% vs the U.S. campus median ($34,984).
The median campus reports 80.0% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 80.9% (-1.0 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 14.7% (U.S. 11.1%); 3-yr repayment progress 44.2% (U.S. 50.5%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Nationally, Kentucky ranks earnings #46 and employment proxy #30 on these outcome medians (1 = best).
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Galen Health Institutes-Pikeville (89.7%), Ross Medical Education Center-Bowling Green (83.6%), Madisonville Community College (83.3%), Paul Mitchell the School-Lexington (83.2%), Jefferson Community and Technical College (83.0%), West Kentucky Community and Technical College (82.9%), Henderson Community College (82.8%), Ross College-Hopkinsville (82.8%), Ross Medical Education Center-Erlanger (82.8%), Bluegrass Community and Technical College (82.6%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Within Kentucky, sector medians diverge: Private for-profit median 10-yr earnings $24,397 (20 campuses); Public median 10-yr earnings $35,302 (16 campuses). Public campuses often dominate enrollment while private nonprofits can show higher earnings medians at selective institutions.
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Kentucky is 56.4% (national institution average about 63.3%).
FAQ
How much do trade schools cost in Kentucky?
Among trade schools and community colleges in Kentucky, median net price is $14,068 vs $14,215 nationally (-1.0% vs U.S.).
What is typical student debt at Kentucky trade schools?
Median federal loan debt among completers at trade and vocational campuses in Kentucky is $10,150 vs a U.S. median of $9,699 (Kentucky ranks #34 nationally for median debt among states.)
What do trade school graduates earn in Kentucky?
Median earnings 10 years after entry for Kentucky trade schools and community colleges reporting to the College Scorecard is $30,060 vs $34,984 nationally. Six-year medians are $27,858.
What share of Kentucky trade school students are working after completion?
The federal employment-outcome proxy on this site (8-year cohort working and not enrolled) has a median of 80.0% in Kentucky vs 80.9% nationally.
How many trade schools are in Kentucky?
This profile covers 47 trade schools and 0 community colleges (47 total) in Kentucky with roughly 52,837 total reported enrollment.
How many public vs. private trade schools are in Kentucky?
Among trade schools and community colleges with outcomes in the College Scorecard extract: 16 public, 0 private nonprofit, and 20 private for-profit institutions.
What are the top trade schools in Kentucky?
Rankings on this page use College Scorecard medians for trade schools and community colleges; standouts include highest completion rate: Lindsey Institute of Cosmetology; highest 10-year earnings: Galen Health Institutes-Pikeville; lowest net price among large campuses: Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College. See the ranked lists below for full details.
Are there Hispanic-serving or other designated trade schools in Kentucky?
Among 89 campuses in Kentucky, 2 historically Black colleges or universities (HBCUs, IPEDS HBCU flag), including Kentucky State University and Simmons College of Kentucky; 22 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Roman Catholic (4), Baptist (3), Presbyterian Church (USA) (3).
How does Kentucky compare to its Census region for trade schools?
Kentucky is in the Southeast region. Regional median net price is $12,646 and median 10-year earnings are $32,612 vs $14,068 net price and $30,060 earnings in Kentucky.
Sources & related
- All trade school profiles
- Kentucky college profile
- Trade school costs by state
- Trade schools and public community colleges (College Scorecard)
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON