2026 Best Value Teaching Schools in Kentucky
Looking for the best-value Teaching degree programs in Kentucky? We have ranked 88 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
So you can compare your options, Teaching Degree Search analyzed 13 schools to compile this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Teaching Degree Schools in Kentucky
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
For return on investment, no school beat University Of The Cumberlands this year in Kentucky. This private not-for-profit school is set in Williamsburg, KY. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,875. The median Teaching program debt is $22,868. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $45,036. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%. Read more about University Of The Cumberlands
Out of the 13 schools in Kentucky in this year's value ranking, University Of Louisville landed the #2 spot. This public school is set in Louisville, KY. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,136, with out-of-state students paying around $29,482. Graduates carry a median of $21,910 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $53,899. Set against $21,910 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Louisville admits about 79% of applicants. Read the full report on University Of Louisville
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northern Kentucky University earned it the #3 place in Kentucky. Based in Highland Heights, KY, Northern Kentucky University is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,088, while out-of-state students pay about $21,912. Graduates carry a median of $25,572 in student loans. Median earnings reach $50,220 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $25,572 median debt. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on Northern Kentucky University
Out of the 13 schools in Kentucky in this year's value ranking, Murray State University landed the #3 spot. Set in Murray, KY, Murray State University is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,900, compared with $19,836 for out-of-state students. Typical Teaching student debt is $23,420. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $44,737. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Murray State University has an acceptance rate of 86%. Get the full Murray State University report
A rank of #5 makes University Of Kentucky one of the best values in Kentucky. Set in Lexington, KY, University Of Kentucky is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,502, compared with $34,140 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,094 to complete their Teaching program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $59,025. That is a strong return on a $24,094 median debt. About 93% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about University Of Kentucky
Union College Kentucky offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Barbourville, KY. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,946. Union College Kentucky Teaching students take on a median of $27,852 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,002 ten years after entry. Set against $27,852 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 63% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full Union College Kentucky report
Western Kentucky University came in at #7 in this year's value ranking. Western Kentucky University is a public school based in Bowling Green, KY. In-state tuition and fees average $11,652, compared with $27,000 for out-of-state students. Western Kentucky University Teaching students take on a median of $24,499 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,889 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $24,499 median debt. About 94% of those who apply are admitted. More on Western Kentucky University
Eastern Kentucky University placed #8 among the best-value Teaching schools in Kentucky. Set in Richmond, KY, Eastern Kentucky University is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,320, while out-of-state students pay about $21,230. Students borrow a median of $25,122 to complete their Teaching program here. Eastern Kentucky University alumni report median earnings of $45,795 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $25,122 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%. See the full Eastern Kentucky University profile
Spalding University offered strong value this year, earning the #9 position. Located in Louisville, KY, Spalding University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $29,000 in tuition and fees. The median Teaching program debt is $29,862. Median earnings reach $49,438 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $29,862 median debt. Spalding University has an acceptance rate of 99%. Get the full Spalding University report
Asbury University came in at #10 in this year's value ranking. Set in Wilmore, KY, Asbury University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $33,640. Asbury University Teaching students take on a median of $28,104 in debt. Median earnings reach $42,368 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $28,104 median debt. About 63% of those who apply are admitted. See the full Asbury University profile
Bellarmine University landed the #11 spot for value in Kentucky this year. Set in Louisville, KY, Bellarmine University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $48,770. The median Teaching program debt is $26,766. Graduates go on to earn a median of $62,069 ten years after entry. Set against $26,766 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bellarmine University admits about 86% of applicants. Get the full Bellarmine University report
Morehead State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. This public school is set in Morehead, KY. In-state tuition and fees average $10,024, while out-of-state students pay about $14,980. The median Teaching program debt is $25,896. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $43,197. Set against $25,896 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%. More on Morehead State University
Campbellsville University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. Located in Campbellsville, KY, Campbellsville University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $27,998. Typical Teaching student debt is $24,148. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $41,583. That is a strong return on a $24,148 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%. Get the full Campbellsville University report
Brescia University landed the #14 spot for value in Kentucky this year. More on Brescia University
Ross Medical Education Center Erlanger offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. Get the full Ross Medical Education Center Erlanger report
Beckfield College Florence landed the #16 spot for value in Kentucky this year. Read more about Beckfield College Florence
Brighton Centers Center For Employment Training landed the #17 spot for value in Kentucky this year. Read the full report on Brighton Centers Center For Employment Training
Henderson Community College came in at #18 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Henderson Community College
Owensboro Community And Technical College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. More on Owensboro Community And Technical College
Lexington Theological Seminary ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. Get the full Lexington Theological Seminary report
West Kentucky Community And Technical College placed #21 among the best-value Teaching schools in Kentucky. See the full West Kentucky Community And Technical College profile
Ideal Beauty Academy Louisville came in at #22 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Ideal Beauty Academy Louisville
Simmons College Of Kentucky offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. Get the full Simmons College Of Kentucky report
Kentucky State University landed the #24 spot for value in Kentucky this year. More on Kentucky State University
Kentucky Welding Institute placed #25 among the best-value Teaching schools in Kentucky. See the full Kentucky Welding Institute profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Teaching Degree Schools in Kentucky
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
American College Of Barbering offered strong value this year, earning the #26 position. More on American College Of Barbering
Pikeville College came in at #27 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Pikeville College
Galen Health Institutes Pikeville came in at #28 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Galen Health Institutes Pikeville
Bluegrass Community And Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #29 position. Read more about Bluegrass Community And Technical College
Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. Get the full Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College report
Kentucky Mountain Bible College placed #31 among the best-value Teaching schools in Kentucky. See the full Kentucky Mountain Bible College profile
Interactive College Of Technology Newport ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. More on Interactive College Of Technology Newport
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary offered strong value this year, earning the #33 position. Get the full The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary report
National College Lexington placed #34 among the best-value Teaching schools in Kentucky. Read the full report on National College Lexington
Kentucky Wesleyan College offered strong value this year, earning the #35 position. More on Kentucky Wesleyan College
Elizabethtown Community And Technical College landed the #36 spot for value in Kentucky this year. See the full Elizabethtown Community And Technical College profile
Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College came in at #37 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College
Pjs College Of Cosmetology Bowling Green came in at #38 in this year's value ranking. See the full Pjs College Of Cosmetology Bowling Green profile
Somerset Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #39 position. See the full Somerset Community College profile
Transylvania University came in at #40 in this year's value ranking. More on Transylvania University
Paul Mitchell The School Louisville came in at #41 in this year's value ranking. More on Paul Mitchell The School Louisville
Empire Beauty School Florence placed #42 among the best-value Teaching schools in Kentucky. More on Empire Beauty School Florence
Thomas More College placed #43 among the best-value Teaching schools in Kentucky. Get the full Thomas More College report
Employment Solutions College For Technical Education offered strong value this year, earning the #44 position. More on Employment Solutions College For Technical Education
Alice Lloyd College came in at #45 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Alice Lloyd College
Empire Beauty School Dixie came in at #46 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Empire Beauty School Dixie
Galen College Of Nursing Arh placed #47 among the best-value Teaching schools in Kentucky. Read more about Galen College Of Nursing Arh
Empire Beauty School Elizabethtown offered strong value this year, earning the #48 position. See the full Empire Beauty School Elizabethtown profile
Empire Beauty School Chenoweth ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. Read more about Empire Beauty School Chenoweth
Lindsey Institute Of Cosmetology landed the #50 spot for value in Kentucky this year. See the full Lindsey Institute Of Cosmetology profile
More Teaching Value Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Teaching Degree Search (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Best Colleges For Money · Scope: State · 13 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 88 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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