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Best Trade Schools in Kentucky

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 analysis found Murray State University to be the best school for trade school students in Kentucky. This medium-sized public school is located in Murray, Kentucky, and it awarded 2,172 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Murray State University

3,257 Total Awards

Out of the 32 schools in Kentucky that were part of this year’s ranking, Elizabethtown Community and Technical College landed the # 2 spot on the list. Elizabethtown Community and Technical College is a medium-sized public school situated in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. It awarded 3,257 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Elizabethtown Community and Technical College

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. Located in Lexington, Kentucky, the fairly large public school awarded 5,011 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Bluegrass Community and Technical College

#4

Northern Kentucky University

Highland Heights, Kentucky
3,792 Total Awards

The excellent programs at Northern Kentucky University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade schools in Kentucky. Located in Highland Heights, Kentucky, the fairly large public school handed out 3,792 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Northern Kentucky University Report

#5

Eastern Kentucky University

Richmond, Kentucky
3,622 Total Awards

Out of the 32 schools in Kentucky that were part of this year’s ranking, Eastern Kentucky University landed the # 5 spot on the list. Eastern is a public institution located in Richmond, Kentucky. The school has a fairly large population, and 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.

Full Bellarmine University Report

#7

Western Kentucky University

Bowling Green, Kentucky
4,485 Total Awards

Western Kentucky University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Kentucky ranking. Western Kentucky University is a fairly large public school located in Bowling Green, Kentucky that handed out 4,485 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#8

Madisonville Community College

Madisonville, Kentucky
1,547 Total Awards

Madisonville Community College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Kentucky ranking. This small public school is located in Madisonville, Kentucky, and it awarded 1,547 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Madisonville Community College Report

#9

University of Kentucky

Lexington, Kentucky
8,890 Total Awards

University of Kentucky did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in Lexington, Kentucky, the large public school awarded 8,890 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Read full report on University of Kentucky

#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. Located in Louisville, Kentucky, the small private for-profit school handed out 871 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Sullivan University

#11

Spalding University

Louisville, Kentucky
556 Total Awards

Spalding University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #11 on the list. Louisville, Kentucky is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 556 students in 2021-2022.

Full Spalding University Report

4,096 Total Awards

Jefferson Community and Technical College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Kentucky ranking. Jefferson Community and Technical College is a fairly large public school situated in Louisville, Kentucky. It awarded 4,096 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Jefferson Community and Technical College Report

#13

Beckfield College - Florence

Florence, Kentucky
199 Total Awards

Beckfield College - Florence ranked #13 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Kentucky list. This very small private for-profit school is located in Florence, Kentucky, and it awarded 199 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Beckfield College - Florence

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 public institution located in Florence, Kentucky. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3,188 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Gateway Community and Technical College Report

#15

University of Louisville

Louisville, Kentucky
5,751 Total Awards

With a ranking of #15, University of Louisville did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Louisville, Kentucky is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 5,751 students 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 came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Kentucky ranking. Paducah, Kentucky is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 2,586 students in 2021-2022.

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#18

Morehead State University

Morehead, Kentucky
1,532 Total Awards

Morehead State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #18 on the list. This medium-sized public school is located in Morehead, Kentucky, and it awarded 1,532 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Morehead State University

2,374 Total Awards

Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. SKYCTC is a public institution located in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2,374 degrees in 2021-2022.

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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 public institution located in Ashland, Kentucky. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2,263 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Ashland Community and Technical College Report

#21

University of the Cumberlands

Williamsburg, Kentucky
6,956 Total Awards

University of the Cumberlands came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Kentucky ranking. Located in Williamsburg, Kentucky, the fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 6,956 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on University of the Cumberlands

#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 located in Hopkinsville, Kentucky and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,124 degrees to qualified students.

Full Hopkinsville Community College Report

2,815 Total Awards

With a ranking of #23, Maysville Community and Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Located in Maysville, Kentucky, the small public school awarded 2,815 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Full Maysville Community and Technical College Report

#25

Henderson Community College

Henderson, Kentucky
523 Total Awards

Henderson Community College landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. This small public school is located in Henderson, Kentucky, and it awarded 523 degrees 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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