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2026 Best Trade Schools in Kentucky
Looking for the best Trade degree programs in Kentucky? Our ranking highlights 88 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Trade College evaluated 70 schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Trade Degree Schools in Kentucky
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Murray State University tops our 2026 ranking of the best Trade degree schools in Kentucky. Murray State University is a public school based in Murray, KY. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,900, compared with $19,836 for out-of-state students. The median Trade program debt is $23,420. Read more about Murray State University
Out of the 70 schools in Kentucky in this year's ranking, Elizabethtown Community And Technical College landed the #2 spot. Set in Elizabethtown, KY, Elizabethtown Community And Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Elizabethtown Community And Technical College Trade students take on a median of $12,245 in debt. See the full Elizabethtown Community And Technical College profile
Out of the 70 schools in Kentucky in this year's ranking, Bluegrass Community And Technical College landed the #3 spot. Located in Lexington, KY, Bluegrass Community And Technical College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,808, compared with $6,512 for out-of-state students. Typical Trade student debt is $13,366. Read the full report on Bluegrass Community And Technical College
Out of the 70 schools in Kentucky in this year's ranking, Northern Kentucky University landed the #4 spot. This public school is set in Highland Heights, KY. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,088, with out-of-state students paying around $21,912. The median Trade program debt is $25,572. Read more about Northern Kentucky University
You'll be in good company at Eastern Kentucky University, which ranked #5 this year. Eastern Kentucky University is a public school based in Richmond, KY. Eastern Kentucky University graduates 55% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,320, while out-of-state students pay about $21,230. Students borrow a median of $25,122 to complete their Trade program here. More on Eastern Kentucky University
Bellarmine University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Located in Louisville, KY, Bellarmine University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,770. Typical Trade student debt is $26,766. Get the full Bellarmine University report
Western Kentucky University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Located in Bowling Green, KY, Western Kentucky University is a public institution. Western Kentucky University posts a six-year graduation rate of 58%. In-state tuition and fees average $11,652, with out-of-state students paying around $27,000. Students borrow a median of $24,499 to complete their Trade program here. Read more about Western Kentucky University
Madisonville Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Located in Madisonville, KY, Madisonville Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Students borrow a median of $10,985 to complete their Trade program here. More on Madisonville Community College
University Of Kentucky came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Located in Lexington, KY, University Of Kentucky is a public institution. University Of Kentucky graduates 71% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $13,502, while out-of-state students pay about $34,140. Typical Trade student debt is $24,094. See the full University Of Kentucky profile
Sullivan University came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Sullivan University is a private for-profit school based in Louisville, KY. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,480. Graduates carry a median of $28,394 in student loans. Read the full report on Sullivan University
Spalding University came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Spalding University is a private not-for-profit school based in Louisville, KY. Spalding University posts a six-year graduation rate of 51%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,000. The median Trade program debt is $29,862. Read the full report on Spalding University
Jefferson Community And Technical College placed #12 among Trade schools in Kentucky. Based in Louisville, KY, Jefferson Community And Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,808, compared with $6,512 for out-of-state students. The median Trade program debt is $13,917. Get the full Jefferson Community And Technical College report
Beckfield College Florence came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Based in Florence, KY, Beckfield College Florence is a private for-profit institution. About 2% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,295. Graduates carry a median of $32,450 in student loans. Read more about Beckfield College Florence
Gateway Community And Technical College placed #14 among Trade schools in Kentucky. Based in Florence, KY, Gateway Community And Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Gateway Community And Technical College Trade students take on a median of $11,611 in debt. Get the full Gateway Community And Technical College report
University Of Louisville ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. University Of Louisville is a public school based in Louisville, KY. University Of Louisville posts a six-year graduation rate of 61%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,136, while out-of-state students pay about $29,482. The median Trade program debt is $21,910. More on University Of Louisville
Somerset Community College landed the #16 spot in Kentucky this year. Set in Somerset, KY, Somerset Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. The median Trade program debt is $13,722. Read the full report on Somerset Community College
West Kentucky Community And Technical College placed #17 among Trade schools in Kentucky. West Kentucky Community And Technical College is a public school based in Paducah, KY. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Students borrow a median of $10,778 to complete their Trade program here. More on West Kentucky Community And Technical College
Morehead State University landed the #18 spot in Kentucky this year. This public school is set in Morehead, KY. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,024, while out-of-state students pay about $14,980. Graduates carry a median of $25,896 in student loans. See the full Morehead State University profile
Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College is a public school based in Bowling Green, KY. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Graduates carry a median of $12,068 in student loans. More on Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College
Ashland Community And Technical College came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Set in Ashland, KY, Ashland Community And Technical College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $13,485 in student loans. More on Ashland Community And Technical College
University Of The Cumberlands landed the #21 spot in Kentucky this year. Based in Williamsburg, KY, University Of The Cumberlands is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,875. Students borrow a median of $22,868 to complete their Trade program here. Read more about University Of The Cumberlands
Hopkinsville Community College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Located in Hopkinsville, KY, Hopkinsville Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Typical Trade student debt is $13,269. See the full Hopkinsville Community College profile
Maysville Community And Technical College did well this year, earning the #23 position. This public school is set in Maysville, KY. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Maysville Community And Technical College Trade students take on a median of $13,031 in debt. More on Maysville Community And Technical College
Henderson Community College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Based in Henderson, KY, Henderson Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. The median Trade program debt is $13,528. Read the full report on Henderson Community College
Campbellsville University ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Campbellsville University is a private not-for-profit school based in Campbellsville, KY. Campbellsville University graduates 42% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $27,998. The median Trade program debt is $24,148. More on Campbellsville University
Rest of the Top 50 Best Trade Degree Schools in Kentucky
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Union College Kentucky landed the #27 spot in Kentucky this year. Located in Barbourville, KY, Union College Kentucky is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 32% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,946. Typical Trade student debt is $27,852. Get the full Union College Kentucky report
Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College did well this year, earning the #28 position. Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College is a public school based in Cumberland, KY. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Students borrow a median of $9,687 to complete their Trade program here. See the full Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College profile
Owensboro Community And Technical College placed #29 among Trade schools in Kentucky. Owensboro Community And Technical College is a public school based in Owensboro, KY. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Typical Trade student debt is $9,098. Read more about Owensboro Community And Technical College
Big Sandy Community And Technical College placed #30 among Trade schools in Kentucky. Located in Prestonsburg, KY, Big Sandy Community And Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $11,588 in student loans. More on Big Sandy Community And Technical College
Hazard Community And Technical College ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Set in Hazard, KY, Hazard Community And Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Hazard Community And Technical College Trade students take on a median of $12,212 in debt. Get the full Hazard Community And Technical College report
National College Lexington ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Set in Pikeville, KY, National College Lexington is a private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,484. Typical Trade student debt is $22,431. Get the full National College Lexington report
Alice Lloyd College came in at #32 in this year's ranking. Get the full Alice Lloyd College report
Galen College Of Nursing Louisville came in at #33 in this year's ranking. More on Galen College Of Nursing Louisville
Jenny Lea Academy Of Cosmetology Whitesburg placed #34 among Trade schools in Kentucky. Read the full report on Jenny Lea Academy Of Cosmetology Whitesburg
Kentucky Mountain Bible College placed #35 among Trade schools in Kentucky. Read more about Kentucky Mountain Bible College
Paul Mitchell The School Lexington landed the #36 spot in Kentucky this year. Read more about Paul Mitchell The School Lexington
Lexington Healing Arts Academy landed the #37 spot in Kentucky this year. See the full Lexington Healing Arts Academy profile
Ata College
Ata College placed #38 among Trade schools in Kentucky. Get the full Ata College report
Centre College
Centre College placed #39 among Trade schools in Kentucky. Get the full Centre College report
Kentucky Horseshoeing School landed the #40 spot in Kentucky this year. More on Kentucky Horseshoeing School
Lindsey Institute Of Cosmetology placed #41 among Trade schools in Kentucky. More on Lindsey Institute Of Cosmetology
Medquest College
Medquest College placed #42 among Trade schools in Kentucky. Read the full report on Medquest College
Asbury Theological Seminary landed the #43 spot in Kentucky this year. Get the full Asbury Theological Seminary report
Midway College
Midway College ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Read the full report on Midway College
Ideal Beauty Academy Louisville came in at #45 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Ideal Beauty Academy Louisville
Kentucky Wesleyan College did well this year, earning the #46 position. See the full Kentucky Wesleyan College profile
Frontier Nursing University came in at #47 in this year's ranking. Get the full Frontier Nursing University report
Pikeville College ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Read more about Pikeville College
Appalachian Beauty School did well this year, earning the #49 position. Read the full report on Appalachian Beauty School
Galen College Of Nursing Arh came in at #50 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Galen College Of Nursing Arh
More Trade Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Trade College (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: State · 70 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 88 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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