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2023 Best Value Trade School Bachelor's Degree Schools in Kentucky
Identifying High-Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
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 Value Trade School Bachelor's Degree Schools in Kentucky ranking. This report analyzed 16 schools in Kentucky to see which ones offered the best value bachelor's degree programs for trade school students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
When determining this ranking, we place a high emphasis on the school's quality as well as its sticker price. Even though a college may be affordable, it may not offer value. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.
Our calculations use out-of-state tuition and fees in our nationwide and regional rankings. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
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Top Value Trade Bachelor's Degree Schools in Kentucky
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Murray State University to be the best value school for trade school students who want to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Kentucky. Located in Murray, Kentucky, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,500 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Murray State are $18,888 per year. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $21,717 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Murray State. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 42% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Murray State did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree Trade Schools in Kentucky list.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Eastern Kentucky University. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Kentucky list. Eastern is a fairly large public school situated in Richmond, Kentucky. It awarded 2,492 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Eastern are $20,222 a year. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $23,082 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Eastern does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 71% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, Eastern is ranked #3 for overall quality in Kentucky.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Northern Kentucky University is a great place for trade school students working on their bachelor’s degree who want the most bang for their educational buck. This fairly large public school is located in Highland Heights, Kentucky, and it awarded 2,147 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
NKU undergraduate students pay an average of $20,848 in tuition and fees each year. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $22,440 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at NKU. In 2020-2021 about 69% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
NKU also took the #2 spot in our Best Bachelor’s Degree Trade Schools in Kentucky rankings.
Out of the 16 schools in Kentucky that were part of this year’s value ranking, Morehead State University landed the # 4 spot on the list. Morehead State University is located in Morehead, Kentucky and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,135 bachelor’s degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Morehead State University are $14,286 per year. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $25,121 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that Morehead State University does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 53% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Western Kentucky University is a great place for trade school students working on their bachelor’s degree who want the most bang for their educational buck. Western Kentucky University is a fairly large public school located in Bowling Green, Kentucky that handed out 3,009 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
WKU undergraduate students pay an average of $27,072 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,570 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at WKU. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 55% took at least some of their classes online.
WKU also made our Best Bachelor’s Degree Trade Schools in Kentucky list, coming in at #5.
University of Kentucky landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value bachelor’s degree trade school programs. Located in Lexington, Kentucky, the large public school handed out 5,449 bachelor’s degree awards in 2021-2022.
UK undergraduate students pay an average of $32,276 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,844 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at UK. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 37% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
University of the Cumberlands ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Kentucky list. Located in Williamsburg, Kentucky, the fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 1,360 bachelor’s degree awards in 2021-2022.
Cumberlands undergraduate students pay an average of $9,875 in tuition and fees each year. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $17,690 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Cumberlands does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 85% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #8, University of Louisville did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their bachelor’s degree. UofL is a public institution located in Louisville, Kentucky. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3,008 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UofL are $28,866 per year. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,473 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at UofL. In fact, around 60% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Sullivan University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Kentucky list. Sullivan University is a small private for-profit school situated in Louisville, Kentucky. It awarded 152 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Sullivan University are $14,220 a year. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $32,867 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Sullivan University. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 81% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #10, Midway University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their bachelor’s degree. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Midway, Kentucky, and it awarded 204 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Midway undergraduate students pay an average of $25,050 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,297 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Midway. In 2020-2021 about 74% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Spalding University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Kentucky list. Located in Louisville, Kentucky, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 216 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Spalding are $27,050 a year. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $24,832 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Spalding. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 70% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Campbellsville University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for trade school students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #12 on the list. Campbellsville University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Campbellsville, Kentucky. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 421 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Campbellsville University are $26,100 per year. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $21,915 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Campbellsville University does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 41% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Bellarmine University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for trade school students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #13 on the list. Bellarmine U is located in Louisville, Kentucky and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 660 bachelor’s degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Bellarmine U are $45,630 per year. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $23,971 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Bellarmine U. During the 2020-2021 year, about 8% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Bellarmine U also took the #4 spot in our Best Bachelor’s Degree Trade Schools in Kentucky rankings.
With a ranking of #13, Thomas More University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their bachelor’s degree. Crestview Hills, Kentucky is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 288 students in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Thomas More are $35,810 per year. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $23,126 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at Thomas More, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 51% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Union College Kentucky came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Kentucky ranking. This very small private not-for-profit school is located in Barbourville, Kentucky, and it awarded 220 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Union College are $30,065 per year. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $26,924 in student loans.
Union College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 65% took at least some of their classes online.
Berea College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value bachelor’s degree trade school programs. Located in Berea, Kentucky, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 316 bachelor’s degree awards in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Berea are $45,026 per year. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $6,157 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that Berea does offer online classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 1% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Best Value Trade Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Southeast Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 16 schools only.
References
- 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.