2023 Best Value Associate Degree Schools in Kentucky
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Prices
Today's students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Also there are many trade schools and bootcamps that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Value Associate Degree Schools in Kentucky ranking. Our analysis looked at 28 schools in Kentucky to see which associate degree programs offered the best value experiences for students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.
When determining this ranking, we place a high emphasis on the school's quality as well as its sticker price. Even though a college may be affordable, it may not offer value. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.
Our calculations use out-of-state tuition and fees in our nationwide and regional rankings. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.
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Top Value Associate Degree Schools in Kentucky
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Bluegrass Community and Technical College to be the best value school for students who want to pursue a associate degree in Kentucky. Bluegrass Community and Technical College is a public institution located in Lexington, Kentucky. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,826 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Bluegrass Community and Technical College are $15,320 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,015 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Bluegrass Community and Technical College. In 2019-2020 about 65% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Bluegrass Community and Technical College also made our Best Associate Degree Schools in Kentucky list, coming in at #1.
The excellent associate degree programs at Jefferson Community and Technical College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best value schools in Kentucky. Located in Louisville, Kentucky, the fairly large public school awarded 1,463 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Jefferson Community and Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $15,320 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $19,839 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Jefferson Community and Technical College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2019-2020 about 57% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Jefferson Community and Technical College also took the #3 spot in our Best Associate Degree Schools in Kentucky rankings.
Read full report on Jefferson Community and Technical College
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Elizabethtown Community and Technical College is a great place for students working on their associate degree who want the most bang for their educational buck. This medium-sized public school is located in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, and it awarded 763 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College are $15,240 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $16,810 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Elizabethtown Community and Technical College does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2019-2020 year, about 70% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Read full report on Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
The excellent associate degree programs at Gateway Community and Technical College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best value schools in Kentucky. Gateway is a small public school situated in Florence, Kentucky. It awarded 589 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Gateway undergraduate students pay an average of $15,320 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $20,591 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at Gateway, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 58% took at least some of their classes online.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College is a great place for students working on their associate degree who want the most bang for their educational buck. Located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, the small public school handed out 649 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at SKYCTC are $15,240 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,042 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at SKYCTC. In 2019-2020 about 62% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Read full report on Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College
Hopkinsville Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Associate Degree Schools in Kentucky ranking. Hopkinsville, Kentucky is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 395 students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Hopkinsville Community College are $15,240 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $18,125 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at Hopkinsville Community College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2019-2020 year, about 75% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Owensboro Community and Technical College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Associate Degree Schools in Kentucky ranking. Owensboro Community and Technical College is a public institution located in Owensboro, Kentucky. The school has a small population, and it awarded 689 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Owensboro Community and Technical College are $15,240 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $13,529 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Owensboro Community and Technical College. In fact, around 52% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Read full report on Owensboro Community and Technical College
With a ranking of #8, Madisonville Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for students working on their associate degree. Madisonville, Kentucky is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 443 students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Madisonville Community College are $15,240 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $15,192 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Madisonville Community College. During the 2019-2020 year, about 54% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Somerset Community College landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree programs. SCC is located in Somerset, Kentucky and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 735 associate degrees to qualified students.
SCC undergraduate students pay an average of $15,240 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $17,345 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that SCC does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 70% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
West Kentucky Community and Technical College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Associate Degree Schools in Kentucky ranking. Located in Paducah, Kentucky, the small public school awarded 632 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at West Kentucky Community and Technical College are $15,240 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $15,306 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at West Kentucky Community and Technical College. In 2019-2020 about 55% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Read full report on West Kentucky Community and Technical College
Henderson Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Associate Degree Schools in Kentucky ranking. Henderson Community College is a small public school located in Henderson, Kentucky that handed out 188 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Henderson Community College are $15,240 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $19,894 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Henderson Community College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. During the 2019-2020 year, about 53% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Big Sandy Community and Technical College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Associate Degree Schools in Kentucky list. Big Sandy Community and Technical College is located in Prestonsburg, Kentucky and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 425 associate degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Big Sandy Community and Technical College are $15,240 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,652 in student loans.
Big Sandy Community and Technical College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2019-2020 about 84% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Read full report on Big Sandy Community and Technical College
Ashland Community and Technical College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Associate Degree Schools in Kentucky list. Ashland, Kentucky is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 393 students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at ACTC are $15,240 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,652 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since ACTC does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 62% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree programs. Southeast is located in Cumberland, Kentucky and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 317 associate degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Southeast are $15,240 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $15,824 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Southeast does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. During the 2019-2020 year, about 53% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Full Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College Report
Hazard Community and Technical College landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree programs. Hazard Community and Technical College is a public institution located in Hazard, Kentucky. The school has a small population, and it awarded 366 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Hazard Community and Technical College are $15,240 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $15,069 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Hazard Community and Technical College. In 2019-2020 about 63% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Maysville Community and Technical College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Associate Degree Schools in Kentucky list. This small public school is located in Maysville, Kentucky, and it awarded 468 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Maysville Community and Technical College are $15,240 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $18,277 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Maysville Community and Technical College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 61% took at least some of their classes online.
Read full report on Maysville Community and Technical College
Eastern Kentucky University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #17 on the list. Located in Richmond, Kentucky, the fairly large public school handed out 117 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.
Eastern undergraduate students pay an average of $20,024 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $24,515 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Eastern does offer online classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 55% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Eastern excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Associate Degree Schools in Kentucky list.
Northern Kentucky University landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree programs. Northern Kentucky University is a fairly large public school located in Highland Heights, Kentucky that handed out 27 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
NKU undergraduate students pay an average of $20,448 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $22,426 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at NKU. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 92% took at least some of their classes online.
NKU did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our Best Associate Degree Schools in Kentucky list.
Western Kentucky University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Associate Degree Schools in Kentucky ranking. WKU is a public institution located in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 164 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at WKU are $27,000 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $25,980 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since WKU does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 86% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
WKU also took the #4 spot in our Best Associate Degree Schools in Kentucky rankings.
University of the Cumberlands ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Associate Degree Schools in Kentucky list. Cumberlands is located in Williamsburg, Kentucky and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 64 associate degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Cumberlands are $9,875 per year.
Since Cumberlands is primarily an online school, it is an excellent choice for undergraduate students who need more flexibility than what is offered at some other schools.
Murray State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #21 on the list. Located in Murray, Kentucky, the medium-sized public school handed out 23 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.
Murray State undergraduate students pay an average of $18,528 in tuition and fees each year.
Murray State does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 46% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Sullivan University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Associate Degree Schools in Kentucky ranking. Sullivan University is a small private for-profit school situated in Louisville, Kentucky. It awarded 353 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Sullivan University are $13,500 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $25,771 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Sullivan University does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 73% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Morehead State University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Associate Degree Schools in Kentucky list. Morehead State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Morehead, Kentucky. It awarded 140 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Morehead State University undergraduate students pay an average of $14,106 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $27,422 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Morehead State University does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 62% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Beckfield College - Florence came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Associate Degree Schools in Kentucky ranking. Beckfield College - Florence is a very small private for-profit school situated in Florence, Kentucky. It awarded 122 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Beckfield College - Florence are $13,295 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $36,171 in student loans.
Interested in an online degree? Then you definitely want to check out Beckfield College - Florence. Every undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.
American National University - Lexington landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree programs. ANU Lexington is a private for-profit institution located in Lexington, Kentucky. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 44 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at ANU Lexington are $10,354 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $31,892 in student loans.
ANU Lexington is primarily an online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.
Read full report on American National University - Lexington
Best Value Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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