Kentucky State University

Frankfort, KY · SoutheastQuad's selectivityOpen

Known forEconomic diversityLow average costMost who leave go on to another collegeTest-optional heavy

Website Admissions Apply Visit Financial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

10 in 10 applicants admitted

Kentucky State admits about 10 in 10 applicants (96%). That puts it in the "Open" tier, more selective than 10% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

96%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityOpen

Applied

1,453

Admitted

1,396

Yield

27%

of admits enroll

ACT middle 50%

14–17

1236

Applications −78% since fall 2014 · admit rate 48% → 96%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 1,309 undergrads, where 58% receive Pell Grants, a high share compared to other colleges.

1.3K

undergrads · larger than 45% of colleges

Diversity index

0.37

Pell Grant

58%

above the median

First generation

40%

above the median

Distant townNCAA D-II · Southern Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceROTCStudy abroad

Less diverse · index 0.59 → 0.37 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Business/Commerce, General (25% of graduates). 10 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 76% of colleges. 56% of faculty are full-time. Spends $6,140 a year on instruction per student.

10 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 76% of colleges

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $14,602 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $9.7K less than the national median. The 94% who received grants paid $9,397 on average; the other 6% paid the full sticker price of $21,727 in-state / $25,773 out-of-state.

40%

$14.6K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $9.7K below the national median

Full price, in-state: $21,727 a year; tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid: Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes

Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 40% of full price

Federal loans

56%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits

Cost falling · −29% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $36,382 ten years after enrolling, more than at 9% of colleges; 44% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.6 years of that salary.

44%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$36.4K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$25.9K

≈ $275/month for 10 years

Retention

64%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 20% → 32% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price fell 19% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 29%, because grants grew faster. Applications fell 78% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 48% to 96%.

Cost
Falling
−29% after inflation
Applications
Shrinking
−78%
Selectivity
Less selective
admit rate 48% → 96%
Diversity
Less diverse
index 0.59 → 0.37

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

Concord University

93% admit · SAT 960 · 1.5K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso Southeast

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Mississippi Valley State University

92% admit · 1.4K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso Southeast

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Harris-Stowe State University

960 undergrads

Also public

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University of Maryland Eastern Shore

96% admit · 2.4K undergrads

Similar selectivityAlso public

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

1
IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
2
College Scorecard
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12
3
IPEDS Admissions survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
4
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
5
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
6
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
7
IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12
8
College Scorecard Field of Study data
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
9
IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
10
IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
11
Common Data Set
Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
12
IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12
13
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
14
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
15
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
16
IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
17
IPEDS Outcome Measures survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12
18
Kentucky State University (2026)
Kentucky State University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 157058 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything