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Compare Eastern Kentucky University vs University of Kentucky

Richmond, KY · Lexington, KY

Eastern Kentucky UniversityUniversity of Kentucky
Cost
Price after aid (average)$11,040/yr$18,851/yr
Price after aid (family income under $30k)$8,591/yr$12,182/yr
Typical loan debt at graduation$22,500$22,500
Price after aid ($30k–$48k income)$8,005/yr$12,119/yr
Price after aid ($48k–$75k income)$10,382/yr$16,313/yr
Price after aid ($75k–$110k income)$14,384/yr$21,192/yr
Price after aid (income over $110k)$17,009/yr$26,781/yr
Typical loan payment after graduation$239/mo$239/mo
Room & board (on campus)$12,268/yr$16,016/yr
Room & board (off campus)$12,268/yr$15,912/yr
Borrowers who default0%0%
Books & supplies$0/yr$1,200/yr
Other living costs (on campus)$3,650/yr$5,840/yr
Sticker price (before aid)$23,735/yr$34,391/yr
Tuition (in-state)$10,320/yr$13,502/yr
Tuition (out-of-state)$21,230/yr$34,140/yr
Students with Pell Grants41%23%
Students taking federal loans41%34%
Getting in
Students who get accepted78%93%
SAT range (middle 50%)880–10801070–1290
SAT average11491215
ACT range (middle 50%)19–2521–28
ACT sections (middle 50%)English 20–26 · Math 18–25English 21–30 · Math 20–27
Admissions data fromFall 2023Fall 2023
Applications received17,08228,233
Students accepted13,34026,083
Students who enrolled2,7826,437
Accepted students who enroll21%25%
Enrolled who sent SAT scores3%9%
Enrolled who sent ACT scores87%55%
High-school GPARequiredRequired
High-school transcriptRequiredRequired
EssayRequiredRequired
Recommendation lettersNot consideredNot considered
Class rankRequiredNot considered
College-prep programRequiredRequired
Demonstrated competenciesNot consideredNot considered
Work experienceRequiredNot considered
English proficiency testRequiredRequired
Other admission testsNot consideredNot considered
Legacy consideredOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
SAT/ACT policyOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Graduation & earnings
Students who graduate50%71%
Freshmen who come back77%87%
Typical earnings 10 years in$45,795/yr$59,025/yr
Earnings range 10 years in$29,173–$66,400$38,233–$86,281
Finish within 8 years (anywhere)50%68%
White students graduating52%74%
Black students graduating25%55%
Hispanic students graduating39%63%
Asian students graduating69%81%
Typical earnings 6 years in$38,611/yr$47,266/yr
Earn more than a HS grad65%77%
Graduate on time41%55%
Pell students who graduate41%57%
First-gen students who finish39%55%
Low-income students who finish35%53%
Students who transfer out2%No data reported
Typical earnings 8 years in$43,614/yr$53,326/yr
Majors & programs
Top 3 programsBusiness, Management & Marketing 18% · Health Professions 13% · Homeland Security & Protective Services 11%Business, Management & Marketing 23% · Health Professions 14% · Engineering 8%
Most popular programBusiness, Management & Marketing — 18% of degreesBusiness, Management & Marketing — 23% of degrees
2nd most popular programHealth Professions — 13% of degreesHealth Professions — 14% of degrees
3rd most popular programHomeland Security & Protective Services — 11% of degreesEngineering — 8% of degrees
4th most popular programPsychology — 10% of degreesCommunication & Journalism — 8% of degrees
5th most popular programLiberal Arts & General Studies — 9% of degreesEducation — 7% of degrees
Highest-paying major (1 year out)Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $104,754/yrDentistry — $123,321/yr
Degrees in STEM11%20%
Campus & students
Undergrad enrollment12,31824,763
Students per professor17 : 118 : 1
Graduate students2,2259,175
Average professor pay$7,826/mo$11,984/mo
Full-time professors56%82%
Fully onlineNoNo
Accredited bySouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on CollegesSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Median family income$39,224$61,932
SettingTown (distant)City (large)
LocationRichmond, KYLexington, KY
RegionSoutheastSoutheast
Founded18741865
Public or privatePublicPublic
Main degree offeredBachelor's degreesBachelor's degrees
Carnegie classificationDoctoral/Professional UniversitiesDoctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
Main or branch campusMain campusMain campus
International students0.7%1.3%
Men40%42%
Women60%58%
White students80%76%
Black students6.9%6.3%
Hispanic or Latino students5.6%6.8%
Asian students1.1%3.7%
Two or more races5%4.5%
Other / not reported1%1.3%
Special typeNoneNone
First-generation students40%23%
Part-time students14%5.8%
Students age 25+100%5.5%
Spent on teaching per student$9,026/yr$13,191/yr
Endowment$97.8M$2.0B
Campus life
Campus data from20232023
On-campus housingYes — dorms on campusYes — dorms on campus
Beds in campus housing4,6888,300
Required to live on campusNoNo
Room charge (campus housing)$6,695/yr$10,362/yr
Meal plan charge$5,040/yr$4,880/yr
Meal plan offeredYesYes
Academic calendarSemesterSemester
Federal designationNoneLand-grant institution
Study abroadYesYes
Undergraduate researchNoYes
ROTCYes — ArmyYes — Army, Air Force
Accepts AP creditYesYes
Accepts dual-enrollment creditNoNo
Credit for life experienceYesYes
Online classesYesYes
Whole degrees onlineYesYes
Weekend & evening classesNoYes
Teacher certificationYesYes
Academic & career counselingYesYes
Job help while you studyYesYes
Job placement for graduatesYesYes
On-campus day careNoYes
Program for students with intellectual disabilitiesNoYes
Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) schoolYesYes
Credit for military trainingYesYes
Student veteran organizationYesYes
Tuition payment planYesYes
Guaranteed (locked) tuitionNoNo
Prepaid tuition planNoNo
Athletics
Athletics data from2024-252024-25
College sports levelNCAA Division I-FCSNCAA Division I-FBS
Football teamYesYes
Varsity teams1420
Student athletes395614
Athletic scholarships$6.2M$17.2M
Athletics budget$25.3M$186.6M
Athletics revenue$25.3M$186.6M
Recruiting spend$256,778$4.0M

Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.