2026 Best Business Schools in Kentucky
Looking for the best Business degree programs in Kentucky? We have ranked 88 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
So you can compare your options, Business Degree Central evaluated 70 schools to compile this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Business Degree Schools in Kentucky
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Leading the list is Gateway Community And Technical College, our #1 Business school in Kentucky. Set in Florence, KY, Gateway Community And Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Gateway Community And Technical College Business students take on a median of $11,611 in debt. More on Gateway Community And Technical College
Out of the 70 schools in Kentucky in this year's ranking, Bluegrass Community And Technical College landed the #2 spot. Located in Lexington, KY, Bluegrass Community And Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,808, while out-of-state students pay about $6,512. The median Business program debt is $13,366. Get the full Bluegrass Community And Technical College report
The strong Business programs at University Of Kentucky earned it the #3 place in Kentucky. Based in Lexington, KY, University Of Kentucky is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. In-state tuition and fees average $13,502, compared with $34,140 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $24,094 in student loans. See the full University Of Kentucky profile
Thomas More College came in at #4 on this year's Business ranking in Kentucky. Thomas More College is a private not-for-profit school based in Crestview Hills, KY. Thomas More College graduates 40% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $39,025. Graduates carry a median of $31,608 in student loans. More on Thomas More College
You'll be in good company at Transylvania University, which ranked #5 this year. Located in Lexington, KY, Transylvania University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. In-state tuition and fees average $46,870. The median Business program debt is $26,653. Read the full report on Transylvania University
Jefferson Community And Technical College did well this year, earning the #6 position. Jefferson Community And Technical College is a public school based in Louisville, KY. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,808, while out-of-state students pay about $6,512. Jefferson Community And Technical College Business students take on a median of $13,917 in debt. More on Jefferson Community And Technical College
Bellarmine University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best Business schools. Based in Louisville, KY, Bellarmine University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,770. Students borrow a median of $26,766 to complete their Business program here. See the full Bellarmine University profile
Northern Kentucky University placed #8 among Business schools in Kentucky. Set in Highland Heights, KY, Northern Kentucky University is a public institution. Northern Kentucky University graduates 54% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,088, compared with $21,912 for out-of-state students. The median Business program debt is $25,572. Read more about Northern Kentucky University
University Of Louisville landed the #9 spot in Kentucky this year. Based in Louisville, KY, University Of Louisville is a public institution. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,136, while out-of-state students pay about $29,482. The median Business program debt is $21,910. More on University Of Louisville
Beckfield College Florence came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Beckfield College Florence is a private for-profit school based in Florence, KY. The six-year graduation rate is 2%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,295. Typical Business student debt is $32,450. More on Beckfield College Florence
West Kentucky Community And Technical College landed the #11 spot in Kentucky this year. West Kentucky Community And Technical College is a public school based in Paducah, KY. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Students borrow a median of $10,778 to complete their Business program here. Read the full report on West Kentucky Community And Technical College
Western Kentucky University did well this year, earning the #12 position. Set in Bowling Green, KY, Western Kentucky University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Students from in state pay about $11,652 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $27,000. Western Kentucky University Business students take on a median of $24,499 in debt. See the full Western Kentucky University profile
Sullivan University landed the #13 spot in Kentucky this year. Located in Louisville, KY, Sullivan University is a private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,480. The median Business program debt is $28,394. Read more about Sullivan University
Elizabethtown Community And Technical College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best Business schools. Set in Elizabethtown, KY, Elizabethtown Community And Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Typical Business student debt is $12,245. Read the full report on Elizabethtown Community And Technical College
Maysville Community And Technical College did well this year, earning the #15 position. Set in Maysville, KY, Maysville Community And Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Students borrow a median of $13,031 to complete their Business program here. More on Maysville Community And Technical College
Asbury University placed #16 among Business schools in Kentucky. Located in Wilmore, KY, Asbury University is a private not-for-profit institution. Asbury University posts a six-year graduation rate of 65%. In-state tuition and fees average $33,640. The median Business program debt is $28,104. See the full Asbury University profile
Murray State University placed #17 among Business schools in Kentucky. Based in Murray, KY, Murray State University is a public institution. Murray State University graduates 64% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,900, compared with $19,836 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $23,420 in student loans. See the full Murray State University profile
Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College landed the #18 spot in Kentucky this year. Based in Bowling Green, KY, Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,068 to complete their Business program here. Read the full report on Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College
Midway College did well this year, earning the #19 position. Located in Midway, KY, Midway College is a private not-for-profit institution. Midway College graduates 44% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $19,110. The median Business program debt is $26,723. Read the full report on Midway College
University Of The Cumberlands came in at #20 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Williamsburg, KY. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,875. Graduates carry a median of $22,868 in student loans. Get the full University Of The Cumberlands report
Spalding University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best Business schools. Spalding University is a private not-for-profit school based in Louisville, KY. About 51% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,000. Spalding University Business students take on a median of $29,862 in debt. More on Spalding University
Eastern Kentucky University came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Located in Richmond, KY, Eastern Kentucky University is a public institution. Eastern Kentucky University graduates 55% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $10,320, while out-of-state students pay about $21,230. Eastern Kentucky University Business students take on a median of $25,122 in debt. Get the full Eastern Kentucky University report
Campbellsville University did well this year, earning the #23 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Campbellsville, KY. Roughly 42% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,998. Graduates carry a median of $24,148 in student loans. Read the full report on Campbellsville University
Somerset Community College landed the #24 spot in Kentucky this year. Set in Somerset, KY, Somerset 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. Graduates carry a median of $13,722 in student loans. Read more about Somerset Community College
Pikeville College landed the #25 spot in Kentucky this year. Located in Pikeville, KY, Pikeville College is a private not-for-profit institution. Pikeville College posts a six-year graduation rate of 42%. Students from in state pay about $24,850 in tuition and fees. The median Business program debt is $22,966. See the full Pikeville College profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best Business Degree Schools in Kentucky
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
Lindsey Wilson College ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best Business schools. Located in Columbia, KY, Lindsey Wilson College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $27,808. Typical Business student debt is $24,119. Read more about Lindsey Wilson College
Union College Kentucky ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best Business schools. Located in Barbourville, KY, Union College Kentucky is a private not-for-profit institution. About 32% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,946. Students borrow a median of $27,852 to complete their Business program here. Read more about Union College Kentucky
Morehead State University placed #28 among Business schools in Kentucky. Set in Morehead, KY, Morehead State University is a public institution. About 52% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,024, compared with $14,980 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $25,896 in student loans. Read more about Morehead State University
Hopkinsville Community College came in at #29 in this year's ranking. More on Hopkinsville Community College
Medquest College
Medquest College landed the #30 spot in Kentucky this year. Read the full report on Medquest College
Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College came in at #31 in this year's ranking. More on Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College
Alice Lloyd College placed #32 among Business schools in Kentucky. See the full Alice Lloyd College profile
Kentucky Wesleyan College came in at #33 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Kentucky Wesleyan College
Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary did well this year, earning the #34 position. See the full Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary profile
Henderson Community College came in at #35 in this year's ranking. Read more about Henderson Community College
Medical Career And Technical College landed the #36 spot in Kentucky this year. More on Medical Career And Technical College
Ashland Community And Technical College did well this year, earning the #37 position. Read more about Ashland Community And Technical College
Edge Academy Of Beauty ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best Business schools. See the full Edge Academy Of Beauty profile
Empire Beauty School Florence landed the #39 spot in Kentucky this year. Read more about Empire Beauty School Florence
Paul Mitchell The School Louisville did well this year, earning the #40 position. Read the full report on Paul Mitchell The School Louisville
Hazard Community And Technical College landed the #41 spot in Kentucky this year. Get the full Hazard Community And Technical College report
Jenny Lea Academy Of Cosmetology Whitesburg ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best Business schools. Read the full report on Jenny Lea Academy Of Cosmetology Whitesburg
Ross Medical Education Center Bowling Green landed the #43 spot in Kentucky this year. See the full Ross Medical Education Center Bowling Green profile
Lindsey Institute Of Cosmetology did well this year, earning the #44 position. See the full Lindsey Institute Of Cosmetology profile
Pjs College Of Cosmetology Bowling Green did well this year, earning the #45 position. See the full Pjs College Of Cosmetology Bowling Green profile
Empire Beauty School Dixie ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best Business schools. More on Empire Beauty School Dixie
Galen College Of Nursing Louisville did well this year, earning the #47 position. See the full Galen College Of Nursing Louisville profile
Kentucky Community And Technical College System placed #48 among Business schools in Kentucky. Read more about Kentucky Community And Technical College System
Kentucky Horseshoeing School placed #49 among Business schools in Kentucky. Read more about Kentucky Horseshoeing School
Asbury Theological Seminary came in at #50 in this year's ranking. Read more about Asbury Theological Seminary
More Business Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Business Degree Central (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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).