Kentucky State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Frankfort, Kentucky. It enrolls 1,309 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
65/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes10
Value88
Affordability94
Selectivity4
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 96.1%, Kentucky State University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
96.1%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
14 – 17
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Kentucky State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
11.9 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Kentucky State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $8,040 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$8,040
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
58%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
56%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$9,387
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$13,658
Room & Board (on-campus)
$8,686
Room & Board (off-campus)
$14,250
Books & Supplies
$1,560
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,600
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,600
Total Cost of Attendance
$21,727
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$10,225
$30,001 – $48,000
$6,739
$48,001 – $75,000
$5,256
$75,001 – $110,000
$1,958
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,50010%percentile
$7,50025%percentile
$25,938Medianpercentile
$33,25075%percentile
$47,62590%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $13,334
↓ $12,604
No Pell $8,250
↓ $17,688
Dependent students $10,250
↓ $15,688
Independent students $19,356
↓ $6,582
Female students $12,750
↓ $13,188
Male students $11,000
↓ $14,938
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($25,938), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
27% of full-time students who enrolled at Kentucky State University graduate within six years, and 62% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
27%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
62%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Kentucky State University earn a median of $36,382 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$36,382
Earning > $25K
62%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$30,800
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$31,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$27,800
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$32,300
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$39,000
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
31.1 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 63% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Kentucky State University is home to 1,309 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 40% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,309
Part-Time
11%
First-Generation
40%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Black 78.8%1,031
White 7.8%102
Other 4.7%61
Hispanic 2.4%31
International 1.4%18
Asian 0.3%4
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Kentucky State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: DistantFrankfort, Kentucky
Housing
Strongly residential1,171 beds for 1,309 students
Adult Learners
7%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Historically Black College / University (HBCU)
What You Can Study
Kentucky State University offers
a varied set of programs:
28 distinct programs across
17 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Kentucky State University is 14:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
14:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$6,927
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$20M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$62,012
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
73 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
12
16%
$70,251
Associate Professors
22
30%
$62,512
Assistant Professors
34
47%
$60,836
Instructors
5
7%
$48,037
Pros & Cons of Kentucky State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Kentucky State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Best for:
Based on the data, Kentucky State University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Kentucky State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Kentucky State University.
Is Kentucky State University hard to get into?
Kentucky State University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 96.1%.
What is the acceptance rate at Kentucky State University?
Kentucky State University has an acceptance rate of 96.1%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What ACT score do you need for Kentucky State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Kentucky State University scored between 14 and 17 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Kentucky State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Kentucky State University is $8,040 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Kentucky State University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $36,382 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $8,040 per year. That's roughly 4.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Kentucky State University known for?
Kentucky State University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Psychology, Liberal Arts. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Kentucky State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Kentucky State University are $36,382, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Kentucky State University accredited?
Yes. Kentucky State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Kentucky State University?
Kentucky State University enrolls 1,309 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Kentucky State University?
Kentucky State University graduates 27% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Kentucky State University a public or private college?
Kentucky State University is a Public institution.
Where is Kentucky State University located?
Kentucky State University is located in Frankfort, Kentucky.
What programs does Kentucky State University offer?
Kentucky State University offers 28 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Psychology, Liberal Arts.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Kentucky State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Kentucky State University is 14:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Kentucky
Other colleges in Kentucky share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
H
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The full process of narrowing from 3,839 US colleges to a shortlist of ~10. Cost, location, size, selectivity, and fit factors that actually predict whether you'll thrive.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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Across 1,645 four-year colleges, graduation rates climb steadily with selectivity, from 54% at open-admission schools to 93% at the most exclusive. The gap is real.
Graduation rate
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Rankings That Feature Kentucky State University
Kentucky State University appears in these rankings, built from the same federal data and the UCD Score.
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