University of Kentucky

Lexington, KY · SoutheastQuad's selectivityOpen

Known forBig campusTest-optional heavy

Website Admissions Apply Visit Financial aid

Updates

What changed

New and revised figures from the latest data releases, each with its year.

Published Oct 11, 2026

Fall 2025: 33,387 applied (fall 2024: 31,517)University of Kentucky (Fall 2025)
Fall 2025: 31,222 admits (fall 2024: 29,293)University of Kentucky (Fall 2025)
Fall 2025: 94% admitted (fall 2024: 93%)University of Kentucky (Fall 2025)
Fall 2025: middle 50% SAT Math 510–630 (fall 2024: 530–640)University of Kentucky Common Data Set 2025–26
Entered fall 2024: 85% returned for a second year (entered fall 2023: 87%)University of Kentucky Common Data Set 2025–26

Sources:University of Kentucky Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;University of Kentucky Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Admissions · Fall 2025

9 in 10 applicants admitted

U. Kentucky admits about 9 in 10 applicants (94%). That puts it in the "Open" tier, more selective than 15% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

94%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityOpen

Applied

33,387

Admitted

31,222

Yield

22%

of admits enroll

Avg. GPA

3.58

SAT middle 50%

1058–1270

10001600

ACT middle 50%

21–28

1836

Applications +52% since fall 2014 · admit rate 72% → 93%Over time

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

Students

Who's on campus

A large campus of 24,763 undergrads, where 23% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

24.8K

undergrads · larger than 96% of colleges

Diversity index

0.41

Pell Grant

23%

below the median

First generation

23%

below the median

Large cityNCAA D-I FBS · Southeastern ConferenceROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research

Steady · index 0.40 → 0.41 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (7% of graduates). 18 students for every faculty member, more than at 83% of colleges. 82% of faculty are full-time. Spends $13,191 a year on instruction per student.

18 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 83% of colleges

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $30,092 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $5.8K more than the national median. The 95% who received grants paid $21,958 on average; the other 5% paid the full sticker price of $35,098 in-state / $55,292 out-of-state.

29%

$30.1K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $5.8K above the national median

Full price, in-state: $35,098 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 29% of full price

Federal loans

34%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits

Cost rising · +17% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $59,025 ten years after enrolling, more than at 65% of colleges; 68% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 2.0 years of that salary.

68%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$59K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$22.5K

≈ $239/month for 10 years

Retention

85%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 61% → 71% 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 rose 19% after inflation, and what the average first-year paid moved with it. Applications rose 52% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 72% to 93%.

Cost
Rising
+17% after inflation
Applications
Growing
+52%
Selectivity
Less selective
admit rate 72% → 93% (to fall 2024)
Diversity
Steady
index 0.40 → 0.41

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

Missouri State University-Springfield

91% admit · SAT 1145 · 13.3K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size

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Utah State University

92% admit · SAT 1180 · 20.3K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size

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University of Wyoming

97% admit · SAT 1155 · 7.9K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresAlso public

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University of Kansas

93% admit · SAT 1185 · 21.2K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size

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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; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12
3
University of Kentucky Common Data Set 2025–26
University of Kentucky · Fall 2025; Entered fall 2024; 2025–26; Fall 2026 entrants; Fall 2026 cycle; 2026–27; Class of 2025 · retrieved 2026-10-05
4
IPEDS Admissions survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
5
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
6
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
7
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
8
IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12
9
College Scorecard Field of Study data
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
10
IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
11
IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
12
Common Data Set
Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
13
IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12
14
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
15
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
16
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
17
IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
18
IPEDS Outcome Measures survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12
19
University of Kentucky (2026)
University of Kentucky · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 157085 · 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