Top 50 Best Doctoral Degree Programs in Kentucky by ROI

Every Doctoral 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

Colleges with salary data

Average 20-Yr Net ROI

+$565,795

Across all Kentucky programs

Average Annual Cost

$31,393

Cost of attendance

#	College	Major	20-Yr Net ROI	Median Salary	Annual Cost	Avg Debt
1	Eastern Kentucky University Grad rate: 49.5%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,341,580	$113,532	$22,265	N/A	Full ROI →
2	Frontier Nursing University	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,269,760	$105,488	N/A	N/A	Full ROI →
3	University of Kentucky Grad rate: 69.3%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,268,056	$111,861	$32,291	N/A	Full ROI →
4	Northern Kentucky University Grad rate: 49.2%	Educational Administration and Supervision.	+$1,052,056	$98,497	$19,471	N/A	Full ROI →
5	The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Grad rate: 43.5%	Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries.	+$731,180	$78,559	N/A	N/A	Full ROI →
6	Western Kentucky University Grad rate: 52.5%	Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions.	+$611,780	$77,293	$23,520	N/A	Full ROI →
7	University of Kentucky Grad rate: 69.3%	Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research.	+$598,836	$78,400	$32,291	N/A	Full ROI →
8	University of the Cumberlands Grad rate: 45.3%	Educational Administration and Supervision.	+$388,684	$66,365	$24,654	N/A	Full ROI →
9	Bellarmine University Grad rate: 63.9%	Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions.	+$331,512	$70,625	$60,247	N/A	Full ROI →
10	University of Kentucky Grad rate: 69.3%	Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology.	+$309,256	$63,921	$32,291	N/A	Full ROI →
11	Bellarmine University Grad rate: 63.9%	Educational Administration and Supervision.	+$306,132	$69,356	$60,247	N/A	Full ROI →
12	Morehead State University Grad rate: 47.5%	Curriculum and Instruction.	+$299,928	$61,548	$22,758	N/A	Full ROI →
13	University of Kentucky Grad rate: 69.3%	English Language and Literature, General.	+$128,796	$54,898	$32,291	N/A	Full ROI →
14	Western Kentucky University Grad rate: 52.5%	Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management.	-$14,480	$45,980	$23,520	N/A	Full ROI →
15	Eastern Kentucky University Grad rate: 49.5%	Psychology, Other.	-$136,140	$39,646	$22,265	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.