Top 50 Best Bachelor's Degree Programs in Kentucky by ROI

Every Bachelor's Degree program in Kentucky ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment across all majors. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Programs in Kentucky

378

Colleges with salary data

Average 20-Yr Net ROI

-$144,969

Across all Kentucky programs

Average Annual Cost

$29,802

Cost of attendance

# College Major 20-Yr Net ROI Median Salary Annual Cost Avg Debt
1 University of Louisville

Grad rate: 61.4%

 Computer Engineering. +$723,544 $85,784 $30,843 $21,306 Full ROI →
2 University of Kentucky

Grad rate: 69.3%

 Mining and Mineral Engineering. +$693,396 $83,128 $32,291 N/A Full ROI →
3 University of Louisville

Grad rate: 61.4%

 Chemical Engineering. +$622,763 $80,758 $30,843 $21,500 Full ROI →
4 Western Kentucky University

Grad rate: 52.5%

 Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. +$609,860 $77,197 $23,520 N/A Full ROI →
5 Eastern Kentucky University

Grad rate: 49.5%

 Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians. +$584,898 $78,046 $22,265 $34,786 Full ROI →
6 University of Louisville

Grad rate: 61.4%

 Mechanical Engineering. +$551,783 $77,209 $30,843 $21,500 Full ROI →
7 University of Louisville

Grad rate: 61.4%

 Industrial Engineering. +$551,058 $77,274 $30,843 $23,000 Full ROI →
8 Northern Kentucky University

Grad rate: 49.2%

 Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians. +$541,471 $74,689 $19,471 $25,500 Full ROI →
9 Galen College of Nursing-Louisville

Grad rate: 62.5%

 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. +$539,503 $72,065 N/A $45,775 Full ROI →
10 University of Kentucky

Grad rate: 69.3%

 Computer Engineering. +$531,811 $76,500 $32,291 $21,500 Full ROI →
11 Northern Kentucky University

Grad rate: 49.2%

 Construction Management. +$503,484 $72,692 $19,471 $24,053 Full ROI →
12 University of Louisville

Grad rate: 61.4%

 Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. +$495,258 $73,830 $30,843 $13,311 Full ROI →
13 University of Louisville

Grad rate: 61.4%

 Management Information Systems and Services. +$490,516 $74,379 $30,843 $24,957 Full ROI →
14 University of Louisville

Grad rate: 61.4%

 Civil Engineering. +$457,228 $72,684 $30,843 $24,503 Full ROI →
15 Eastern Kentucky University

Grad rate: 49.5%

 Construction Management. +$457,115 $71,030 $22,265 $25,500 Full ROI →
16 University of Kentucky

Grad rate: 69.3%

 Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. +$453,106 $72,801 $32,291 $25,000 Full ROI →
17 University of Kentucky

Grad rate: 69.3%

 Computer and Information Sciences, General. +$437,938 $71,857 $32,291 $22,250 Full ROI →
18 University of Kentucky

Grad rate: 69.3%

 Chemical Engineering. +$436,570 $71,995 $32,291 $25,308 Full ROI →
19 Murray State University

Grad rate: 59.0%

 Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians. +$435,570 $69,761 $21,475 $25,000 Full ROI →
20 Western Kentucky University

Grad rate: 52.5%

 Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians. +$433,080 $68,358 $23,520 N/A Full ROI →
21 University of Kentucky

Grad rate: 69.3%

 Mechanical Engineering. +$428,166 $71,554 $32,291 $25,000 Full ROI →
22 Murray State University

Grad rate: 59.0%

 Engineering Physics. +$397,446 $67,485 $21,475 $19,521 Full ROI →
23 Northern Kentucky University

Grad rate: 49.2%

 Computer and Information Sciences, General. +$382,846 $66,724 $19,471 $25,000 Full ROI →
24 Western Kentucky University

Grad rate: 52.5%

 Mechanical Engineering. +$366,470 $66,850 $23,520 $27,000 Full ROI →
25 Murray State University

Grad rate: 59.0%

 Computer Science. +$360,510 $66,008 $21,475 $25,000 Full ROI →
26 Western Kentucky University

Grad rate: 52.5%

 Construction Engineering Technologies. +$343,070 $65,815 $23,520 $29,000 Full ROI →
27 Kentucky State University

Grad rate: 29.2%

 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. +$309,748 $61,692 $21,023 N/A Full ROI →
28 Midway University

Grad rate: 44.9%

 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. +$304,040 $65,482 $41,400 N/A Full ROI →
29 Northern Kentucky University

Grad rate: 49.2%

 Management Information Systems and Services. +$299,586 $62,291 $19,471 $21,000 Full ROI →
30 Morehead State University

Grad rate: 47.5%

 Engineering Technology, General. +$296,393 $63,288 $22,758 $28,396 Full ROI →
31 Eastern Kentucky University

Grad rate: 49.5%

 Computer and Information Sciences, General. +$288,994 $62,600 $22,265 $25,145 Full ROI →
32 Sullivan University

Grad rate: 28.8%

 Computer and Information Sciences, General. +$284,857 $64,923 $31,100 $36,446 Full ROI →
33 Kentucky Christian University

Grad rate: 32.2%

 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. +$257,245 $64,514 $38,893 $27,750 Full ROI →
34 Campbellsville University

Grad rate: 43.8%

 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. +$244,189 $64,318 $40,924 $28,500 Full ROI →
35 Murray State University

Grad rate: 59.0%

 Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians. +$243,265 $59,977 $21,475 $22,500 Full ROI →
36 Eastern Kentucky University

Grad rate: 49.5%

 Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. +$236,205 $59,674 $22,265 $20,900 Full ROI →
37 University of Louisville

Grad rate: 61.4%

 Business/Managerial Economics. +$229,500 $60,808 $30,843 $17,250 Full ROI →
38 Western Kentucky University

Grad rate: 52.5%

 Architectural Sciences and Technology. +$222,948 $59,662 $23,520 $26,823 Full ROI →
39 Morehead State University

Grad rate: 47.5%

 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. +$221,598 $59,589 $22,758 $29,000 Full ROI →
40 Centre College

Grad rate: 86.0%

 Political Science and Government. +$218,544 $65,598 $63,354 N/A Full ROI →
41 Eastern Kentucky University

Grad rate: 49.5%

 Health/Medical Preparatory Programs. +$213,040 $57,105 $22,265 N/A Full ROI →
42 Northern Kentucky University

Grad rate: 49.2%

 Accounting and Related Services. +$208,213 $57,908 $19,471 $23,750 Full ROI →
43 Eastern Kentucky University

Grad rate: 49.5%

 Fire Protection. +$195,210 $58,036 $22,265 $27,000 Full ROI →
44 Eastern Kentucky University

Grad rate: 49.5%

 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. +$192,690 $57,935 $22,265 $27,370 Full ROI →
45 Morehead State University

Grad rate: 47.5%

 Marketing. +$190,603 $57,830 $22,758 $25,900 Full ROI →
46 Northern Kentucky University

Grad rate: 49.2%

 Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General. +$187,124 $57,267 $19,471 $29,875 Full ROI →
47 Western Kentucky University

Grad rate: 52.5%

 Civil Engineering. +$184,945 $57,443 $23,520 $22,100 Full ROI →
48 Centre College

Grad rate: 86.0%

 Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. +$183,786 $65,445 $63,354 $23,480 Full ROI →
49 University of Kentucky

Grad rate: 69.3%

 Finance and Financial Management Services. +$182,809 $59,109 $32,291 $22,375 Full ROI →
50 Northern Kentucky University

Grad rate: 49.2%

 Chemistry. +$176,696 $54,729 $19,471 N/A Full ROI →

How ROI is calculated

20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.