Key takeaway: Our directory currently lists 53 schools serving Kentucky students that offer at least one fully online program (IPEDS/College Scorecard data in our directory). Among the 16 of those schools that publish an in-state tuition figure, the median is $11,408 a year (IPEDS/College Scorecard data in our directory). Verify accreditation directly through the U.S. Department of Education’s DAPIP database before enrolling, and compare schools below, ranked by our independent BOC Score.
Studying online from Kentucky does not mean giving up access to Kentucky-based pricing, support, or licensure alignment. Many public universities that serve Kentucky residents extend in-state tuition to online learners who meet residency requirements, even when coursework is delivered entirely off campus. Reviewing a school’s residency policy before enrolling can meaningfully change the total cost of a degree.
What studying online from Kentucky means
Online programs based at public universities typically set tuition using the same in-state/out-of-state structure used for on-campus students. Among the schools in our directory that offer online programs to Kentucky students, 16 publish an in-state tuition figure, with a median of $11,408 a year (IPEDS/College Scorecard data in our directory). That figure reflects published sticker tuition and does not include fees, books, or technology charges that can add to total cost. Because a smaller subset of schools publish this figure, treat it as directional rather than a full market average, and confirm current, individual pricing directly with any school under consideration.
Public institutions generally offer the lowest published tuition for Kentucky residents, while private nonprofit and for-profit schools set tuition nationally regardless of where a student lives. Some public universities also extend in-state or reduced online tuition to out-of-state students through regional exchange programs or online-specific tuition rates, so it is worth asking directly whether a program qualifies.
Verifying accreditation before you apply
Accreditation status determines whether a school’s credits transfer and whether graduates meet the education requirements for many state licensing boards. Before applying to any online college serving Kentucky, search the institution in the U.S. Department of Education’s DAPIP database to confirm it holds accreditation from an agency the Department recognizes. A school that is not listed, or whose accreditor is not on the Department’s recognized list, may leave students unable to transfer credits.
For programs tied to state licensure – nursing, education, counseling, and similar fields – also confirm the program itself (not just the institution) is recognized by the relevant Kentucky licensing board, since institutional accreditation alone does not guarantee licensure eligibility.
How the list below is ranked
The schools listed below are ordered by our independently published BOC Score, which weighs affordability, outcomes data, and accreditation status rather than marketing claims or paid placement. Review the full methodology page for the exact factors and how they are weighted before comparing schools.
Accredited Online Colleges in Kentucky
How We Rank Schools
Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most
recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS).
To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the
U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked
against schools at the same credential level:
BOCSCORE
- Graduation rate 30%
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
- Average net price (lower is better) 20%
- Retention rate 15%
- Fully online availability 10%
Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Acceptance rate
93%
Graduation rate
71%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$59,025
Avg net price
$18,851/yr
TuitionIn‑state$13,502
Out‑of‑state$34,140
Key stats- Retention rate: 87%
- Programs offered: 20
Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges · IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
71%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$61,480
Avg net price
$18,540/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 74%
- Programs offered: 2
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
65%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$62,069
Avg net price
$21,499/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 75%
- Programs offered: 7
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Acceptance rate
79%
Graduation rate
61%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$53,899
Avg net price
$17,988/yr
TuitionIn‑state$13,136
Out‑of‑state$29,482
Key stats- Retention rate: 81%
- Programs offered: 19
Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges · IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
61%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$44,737
Avg net price
$9,096/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 76%
- Programs offered: 18
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
51%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$50,220
Avg net price
$8,191/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 77%
- Programs offered: 24
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Acceptance rate
78%
Graduation rate
50%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$45,795
Avg net price
$11,040/yr
TuitionIn‑state$10,320
Out‑of‑state$21,230
Key stats- Retention rate: 78%
- Programs offered: 32
Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges · IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
54%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$43,889
Avg net price
$10,990/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 78%
- Programs offered: 31
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
61%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$42,368
Avg net price
$21,401/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 84%
- Programs offered: 3
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Acceptance rate
91%
Graduation rate
48%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$52,074
Avg net price
$14,095/yr
TuitionIn‑state$42,840
Out‑of‑state$42,840
Key stats- Retention rate: 68%
- Programs offered: 5
Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges · IPEDS · College Scorecard
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