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Best Trade Schools in Kentucky

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2023 Best Trade Schools in Kentucky

32 Schools Ranked
$39,656 Average Earnings
$24,872 Avg Student Debt

There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which trade school program is right for you. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Trade College Search has developed this Best Trade Schools in Kentucky ranking. This report analyzed 32 schools in Kentucky to see which ones offered the best programs for trade school students.

View our full ranking methodology.

Top Trade Schools in Kentucky

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Murray State University

Murray, Kentucky
2,172 Total Awards

Our 2023 rankings named Murray State University the best school in Kentucky for trade school students working on their degree. Murray State is located in Murray, Kentucky and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2,172 degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Murray State University

3,257 Total Awards

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Elizabethtown Community and Technical College. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Kentucky list. This medium-sized public school is located in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, and it awarded 3,257 degrees in 2021-2022.

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5,011 Total Awards

Out of the 32 schools in Kentucky that were part of this year’s ranking, Bluegrass Community and Technical College landed the # 3 spot on the list. This fairly large public school is located in Lexington, Kentucky, and it awarded 5,011 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Bluegrass Community and Technical College

#4

Northern Kentucky University

Highland Heights, Kentucky
3,792 Total Awards

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northern Kentucky University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Trade Schools in Kentucky list. Located in Highland Heights, Kentucky, the fairly large public school awarded 3,792 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Northern Kentucky University

#5

Eastern Kentucky University

Richmond, Kentucky
3,622 Total Awards

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Eastern Kentucky University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Trade Schools in Kentucky list. Eastern is a fairly large public school situated in Richmond, Kentucky. It awarded 3,622 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Eastern Kentucky University Report

#6

Bellarmine University

Louisville, Kentucky
971 Total Awards

Bellarmine University landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Bellarmine U is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Louisville, Kentucky. It awarded 971 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Bellarmine University

#7

Western Kentucky University

Bowling Green, Kentucky
4,485 Total Awards

Western Kentucky University landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. WKU is a fairly large public school situated in Bowling Green, Kentucky. It awarded 4,485 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#8

Madisonville Community College

Madisonville, Kentucky
1,547 Total Awards

Madisonville Community College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Madisonville, Kentucky is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,547 students in 2021-2022.

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#9

University of Kentucky

Lexington, Kentucky
8,890 Total Awards

With a ranking of #9, University of Kentucky did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Lexington, Kentucky is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 8,890 students in 2021-2022.

Full University of Kentucky Report

#10

Sullivan University

Louisville, Kentucky
871 Total Awards

Sullivan University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Kentucky ranking. Sullivan University is a private for-profit institution located in Louisville, Kentucky. The school has a small population, and it awarded 871 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Sullivan University

#11

Spalding University

Louisville, Kentucky
556 Total Awards

Spalding University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Kentucky list. Spalding is located in Louisville, Kentucky and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 556 degrees to qualified students.

Full Spalding University Report

4,096 Total Awards

Jefferson Community and Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #12 on the list. Jefferson Community and Technical College is a fairly large public school located in Louisville, Kentucky that handed out 4,096 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Jefferson Community and Technical College

#13

Beckfield College - Florence

Florence, Kentucky
199 Total Awards

Beckfield College - Florence landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Located in Florence, Kentucky, the very small private for-profit school handed out 199 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Beckfield College - Florence Report

3,188 Total Awards

Gateway Community and Technical College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Gateway is a small public school situated in Florence, Kentucky. It awarded 3,188 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#15

University of Louisville

Louisville, Kentucky
5,751 Total Awards

University of Louisville did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #15 on the list. This large public school is located in Louisville, Kentucky, and it awarded 5,751 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#16

Somerset Community College

Somerset, Kentucky
2,625 Total Awards

Somerset Community College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Kentucky list. SCC is a medium-sized public school situated in Somerset, Kentucky. It awarded 2,625 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Somerset Community College Report

2,586 Total Awards

West Kentucky Community and Technical College landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. West Kentucky Community and Technical College is a public institution located in Paducah, Kentucky. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 2,586 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on West Kentucky Community and Technical College

#18

Morehead State University

Morehead, Kentucky
1,532 Total Awards

Morehead State University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Kentucky list. Morehead, Kentucky is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,532 students in 2021-2022.

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2,374 Total Awards

Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #19 on the list. Bowling Green, Kentucky is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 2,374 students in 2021-2022.

Full Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College Report

2,263 Total Awards

Ashland Community and Technical College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Kentucky ranking. ACTC is a small public school situated in Ashland, Kentucky. It awarded 2,263 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Ashland Community and Technical College

#21

University of the Cumberlands

Williamsburg, Kentucky
6,956 Total Awards

University of the Cumberlands did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #21 on the list. University of the Cumberlands is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in Williamsburg, Kentucky that handed out 6,956 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#22

Hopkinsville Community College

Hopkinsville, Kentucky
1,124 Total Awards

Hopkinsville Community College landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Hopkinsville Community College is a public institution located in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,124 degrees in 2021-2022.

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2,815 Total Awards

Maysville Community and Technical College landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. This small public school is located in Maysville, Kentucky, and it awarded 2,815 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#25

Henderson Community College

Henderson, Kentucky
523 Total Awards

Henderson Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #25 on the list. Henderson, Kentucky is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 523 students in 2021-2022.

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

References

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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