With an above-average enrollment rate at Kentucky online colleges, universities and schools statewide are expanding distance education programs to meet the demand. Between 2012 and 2015, the number of online learners in Kentucky rose by 11.8%, while the national average of growth was only 11%. In contrast, Kentucky on-campus and hybrid program enrollment rates experienced a 2.6% decrease. Compared to the 1.7% national downturn, these numbers demonstrate that Kentucky students choose online programs over on-campus options more often than learners in other parts of the country.
Accredited online colleges in Kentucky provide a convenient, flexible alternative to rigidly-structured traditional programs. Distance education is also affordable, allowing candidates to avoid commuting costs and campus fees. In this guide, we take a look at the best online colleges in Kentucky, as well as state educational and employment trends, scholarships and other financial aid opportunities, and popular careers for Kentucky graduates. Read on to learn more about choosing the right distance education program, and what you can expect once you enroll in online college classes in Kentucky.
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Overview of Online Colleges in Kentucky
A Brief Overview of Higher Education in Kentucky
Between 2015 and 2016, Kentucky boasted 72 degree-granting schools, including 24 public institutions, 26 nonprofit private schools, and 22 for-profit institutions. Each school type offered both four-year and two-year program options, except for the nonprofits, which granted only four-year degrees. During the same period, 255,072 students, or approximately 1% of all U.S. learners, attended one of these Kentucky institutions. While Kentucky's collective student population is higher than that of many states, including Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, Nebraska, Rhode Island, and New Mexico, this figure has decreased by 13% since 2011.[dataviz-stats public="24" non-profit="26" for-profit="22"]During the 2018-2019 school year, two-year public schools in Kentucky charged learners an average of $5,310 in tuition costs and fees. Similar expenses at four-year colleges and universities averaged $10,710. At the state's flagship school, the University of Kentucky, in-state candidates paid $12,245 each year in tuition and fees, and out-of-state learners paid $29,099.While educational expenses vary from school to school, state aid can help make it financially possible to attend the best online colleges in Kentucky. State-based financial aid programs like the Kentucky National Guard Tuition Award Program, the Early Graduation Scholarship Certificate Program, the Early Child Development Scholarship, and the College Access Program awarded undergraduate students with a total of $219,922,775 in aid between 2015 and 2016. Along with these funding opportunities, the state sponsors work-study initiatives that provide candidates with employment while they study.
Higher Education in Kentucky
Featured Online Programs
The State of Online Higher Education in Kentucky
Online college classes in Kentucky are popular with state residents and out-of-state learners alike. According to the Distance Education State Almanac 2017, 96,817 Kentucky students, or 37.3% of all candidates, were enrolled in at least one distance learning course. This figure is nearly 8% higher than the 29.7% national rate. Over 40,000 students in the state were pursuing their studies entirely online, including 27,551 undergraduates and 13,563 graduate students. Of these individuals, nearly 80% are Kentucky residents. This higher-than-average percentage demonstrates Kentucky students' unique interest in distance education. In contrast, candidates pursuing on-campus or hybrid coursework number 218,531, or 84.2% of college students statewide. When compared to 2012's on-campus student body of 86.8%, this statistic reveals a waning interest in traditional, on-campus education.[dataviz-nces online="37.3" undergrad="79.4" in-state="80"]The growing popularity of online learning has driven considerable program expansion and made distance education readily available throughout the state. For example, the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) maintains agreements with other local schools, which allows students to take online courses from some of the best online colleges in Kentucky. Candidates enrolled in KCTCS institutions may enroll in classes at universities such as Eastern Kentucky University, Morehead State University, and the University of Louisville. KCTCS also works with Kentucky Virtual Campus to deliver online courses at the associate, bachelor's, and master's degree levels, as well as professional certification classes and vocational training.
Tuition Breaks for Out-of-State Students
The Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) is an alliance committed to building and maintaining educational standards. Working alongside state officials, the SREB creates research-based policies and best practices for postsecondary institutions. SREB member states include Kentucky, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Delaware, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Mississippi, West Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina.In addition to advocacy, the SREB sponsors the Academic Common Market and Electronic Campus (ACM/EC) program. The ACM/EC initiative allows both on-campus and online students to pay in-state tuition rates while attending out-of-state schools if no in-state school delivers their chosen program. If a student in Maryland, for instance, cannot locate a master's in cybersecurity within the state, that student could enroll at an out-of-state college which offers the program and pay the same tuition rates as resident learners. With the exception of professional degrees such as those in law or dentistry, candidates may request any program not listed in the ACM catalog. Benefiting students and universities, ACM/EC allows schools to focus on providing new and unique degree opportunities instead of duplicating programs offered at other institutions.
Best Online Colleges in Kentucky
Below, you will find our rankings of the best online four-year programs in Kentucky. Our profiles look at how schools approach online education and then list out their services for distance students and their popular, fully online degrees. After reviewing the best online schools in Kentucky, explore our state resources, like a database of every college and university in Kentucky or our index of popular, in-state scholarships.
Ranking Methodology
To determine the best online colleges in each state, we examined the factors most important to prospective students: Academic quality and reputation, online program strength, and cost and student aid. At the most basic level, we use the following formula to determine the best online colleges: Academic Quality + Online Offerings + Cost and Student Aid = Final Score. Of course, there's more to these calculations than meets the eye. Visit our methodology page to discover the data points that shape our formula and to learn more about the process we use to rank schools.
Most Affordable Online Colleges in Kentucky
Below, you'll find our list of the most affordable online schools in Kentucky. We've gathered the schools offering the best online programs in the state and ranked them here by lowest tuition, for those students wanting the most bang for their buck.
Affordability Methodology
Our list of the most affordable online colleges is based on in-state yearly tuition, or annual tuition rates if a school does not differentiate between in-state and out-of-state students. Tuition rates are based on a full course load each semester or term. All colleges on the list offer at least one bachelor's degree completion program available entirely online.The online schools in KY with the lowest tuition are ranked highest, providing prospective students with a true list of the most affordable online colleges in their state.
College Graduate Outlook in Kentucky
Although Kentucky's unemployment rate has steadily increased from 4.0% to 4.5% since April 2018, certain professional categories have experienced positive growth over the past several months. By September 2018, the number of trade, transportation, and utility positions rose from approximately 411,000 jobs in April to 414,000. While unemployment remains an issue in Kentucky, residents pursuing careers in the right fields enjoy a variety of job opportunities. Some of Kentucky's most lucrative industries include food and beverage, with over 50,000 employees in the field. The state also produces more cars per capita than other areas, and boasts a 63% rise in private aerospace manufacturing jobs since 2002. Kentucky is a major producer of aluminum and exported nearly $30 billion of state-made merchandise in a single year.Average salaries for Kentucky workers fall across a broad spectrum. While workers such as court reporters and human service assistants earn, on average, less than $30,000 a year, Kentucky marketing managers and aerospace engineers may bring in more than $100,000 annually. Residents seeking well-paying careers should focus on pursuing jobs within the state's thriving industries.