Best College ROI in Ky 2026
34 colleges in Ky analyzed for return on investment. Berea College leads with a ROI Score of 100/100 (STRONG BUY).
Ky has 34 colleges tracked in the Department of Education's College Scorecard, split between 8 public institutions and 26 private ones. Across the 34 schools with enough data to score, graduates of the top-paying major at each school carry a median federal debt of $23K and earn $79K in their first year out — the gap that determines whether a degree pays back.
97% of Ky colleges earn an A or B on the ROI Score, with the rest landing at C or below. First-year earnings top out at Berea College (median $95K on Computer and Information Sciences). The lowest median debt comes from Simmons College of Kentucky at $6K.
All numbers come from the latest College Scorecard release, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients only — graduates who paid cash or used private loans aren't in this dataset, so actual median debt at high-income schools may be lower than shown. The ROI Score weights debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), BLS job outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%).
Top 3 Best ROI Colleges in Ky
Berea College
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Tops Ky's ROI rankings on its Computer and Information Sciences program. Graduates earn a median $95K in their first year against $12K in median debt.
Thomas More University
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Second-best ROI in the state, driven by Computer and Information Sciences. Five-year median earnings: $147K.
Campbellsville University
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Third on the ROI Score with Computer Science. Graduation rate 10000%, debt $20K.
Top 20 Colleges by ROI in Ky
| # | School | Best Major | Median Debt | 1yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Berea College(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $12K | $95K | A (100) |
| 2 | Thomas More University(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $16K | $95K | A (98) |
| 3 | Campbellsville University(private) | Computer Science | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 4 | Georgetown College(private) | Mathematics | $21K | $78K | A (96) |
| 5 | Lindsey Wilson College(private) | Mathematics | $19K | $78K | A (96) |
| 6 | Morehead State University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 7 | Centre College(private) | Mathematics | $22K | $78K | A (95) |
| 8 | Kentucky State University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 9 | Northern Kentucky University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 10 | Sullivan University(private) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $24K | $95K | A (95) |
| 11 | Transylvania University(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $21K | $95K | A (95) |
| 12 | Union College(private) | Mathematics | $23K | $78K | A (95) |
| 13 | University of Kentucky(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $21K | $95K | A (95) |
| 14 | Western Kentucky University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 15 | University of Louisville(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 16 | Brescia University(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $25K | $95K | A (94) |
| 17 | Murray State University(public) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $27K | $95K | A (94) |
| 18 | University of the Cumberlands(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $25K | $95K | A (94) |
| 19 | Kentucky Wesleyan College(private) | Mathematics | $26K | $78K | A (93) |
| 20 | University of Pikeville(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $27K | $95K | A (93) |
College debt and earnings data for Ky is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Berea College has the best ROI in Ky with a score of 100/100 (STRONG BUY). The top major is Computer and Information Sciences, with $95K in first-year median earnings against $12K in median debt.
Across 34 Ky colleges with ROI data, graduates carry a median debt of about $23K on the best-paying major at each school. First-year median earnings on those same programs average $79K.
Berea College graduates earn the most one year out, with median first-year pay of $95K on its top major (Computer and Information Sciences). After five years, those graduates earn a median of $147K.
Ky has 34 colleges in our database (8 public, 26 private). Of the 34 with reportable ROI, 97% earn an A or B grade.
The ROI Score (0-100) weighs debt-to-income ratio (35%), earnings premium over a high school graduate (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%). Scores are graded A-F with verdicts from "Strong Buy" to "Avoid." Data comes from the College Scorecard and BLS occupational projections.
ROI Score: debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), debt vs. national average (10%).