Kentucky · Accounting and Related Services

Best colleges for Accounting and Related Services in Kentucky

Ranked by graduate earnings

University of Kentucky, Transylvania University and Northern Kentucky University are the top bachelor's Accounting and Related Services programs in Kentucky by graduate earnings. University of Kentucky leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $59,474, College Scorecard. University of Kentucky, Murray State University and University of Louisville award the most Accounting and Related Services degrees in Kentucky: 199, 94 and 88 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 22 Kentucky colleges offer Accounting and Related Services and award 815 degrees and certificates a year in all.

The Accounting and Related Services program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of accounting principles and practices. This program is designed for individuals interested in pursuing a career in accounting, auditing, or…

Institutions
22
offering CIP 52.03
States & territories
58
with a program page
Degrees / yr
815
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$50,104
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
12
College Scorecard
Median net price
$19,816
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
52%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Accountants and Auditors
$80,790
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings

Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1University of Kentucky
Lexington Public · Bachelor's degree
$59,47419971%—$23,250
2Transylvania University
Lexington Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$58,8032271%$21,881$27,000
3Northern Kentucky University
Highland Heights Public · Bachelor's degree
$52,4255552%—$23,750
4University of Louisville
Louisville Public · Bachelor's degree
$51,9238861%—$19,374
5Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green Public · Bachelor's degree
$50,1047756%—$25,000
6University of the Cumberlands
Williamsburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$50,1025450%$11,672$22,000
7Morehead State University
Morehead Public · Bachelor's degree
$43,6073752%—$27,440
8Murray State University
Murray Public · Bachelor's degree
$42,3229461%—$18,750
9Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond Public · Bachelor's degree
$40,7265750%—$27,000
10Thomas More University
Crestview Hills Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program
$55,3851240%$18,902$27,000

Top certificate or associate program

Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Interactive College of Technology - Newport
Newport Private for-profit · Certificate Small program
$36,264130%$16,359$13,557

Colleges awarding the most Accounting and Related Services degrees in Kentucky

Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1University of Kentucky
Lexington Public
199$59,474
2Murray State University
Murray Public
94$42,322
3University of Louisville
Louisville Public
88$51,923
4Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green Public
77$50,104
5Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond Public
57$40,726
6Northern Kentucky University
Highland Heights Public
55$52,425
7University of the Cumberlands
Williamsburg Private not-for-profit
54$50,102
8Morehead State University
Morehead Public
37$43,607
9Campbellsville University
Campbellsville Private not-for-profit
23Not reported
10Transylvania University
Lexington Private not-for-profit
22$58,803
Show the other 12 Kentucky colleges offering Accounting and Related Services
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Sullivan UniversityLouisvillePrivate for-profit19
Midway UniversityMidwayPrivate not-for-profit13
Bellarmine UniversityLouisvillePrivate not-for-profit12
Thomas More UniversityCrestview HillsPrivate not-for-profit12
Georgetown CollegeGeorgetownPrivate not-for-profit11
Alice Lloyd CollegePippa PassesPrivate not-for-profit9
Brescia UniversityOwensboroPrivate not-for-profit9
Asbury UniversityWilmorePrivate not-for-profit7
Spalding UniversityLouisvillePrivate not-for-profit7
Kentucky Wesleyan CollegeOwensboroPrivate not-for-profit5
Union Commonwealth UniversityBarbourvillePrivate not-for-profit4
Interactive College of Technology - NewportNewportPrivate for-profit1

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Accountants and Auditors (SOC 13-2011).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+4.6%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~124,200
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$81,680
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

Reading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingActive ListeningSpeakingWritingMonitoring

What Accountants and Auditors earn in Kentucky

Jobs in Kentucky
11,930
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$80,790
median $75,270
Best-paying metro
$84,220
Lexington-Fayette, KY

Related careers

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
$48,190 avg · 23,480 jobs
Accountants and Auditors
$80,790 avg · 11,930 jobs
Financial Managers
$145,780 avg · 6,630 jobs
Financial and Investment Analysts
$90,010 avg · 2,460 jobs
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks
$54,510 avg · 1,670 jobs
Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents
$59,310 avg · 1,290 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Accounting and Related Services programs in Kentucky.

Which Kentucky colleges award the most Accounting and Related Services degrees?+

University of Kentucky (199 graduates a year), Murray State University (94 graduates a year) and University of Louisville (88 graduates a year) award the most Accounting and Related Services degrees in Kentucky, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 22 Kentucky colleges offer Accounting and Related Services.

What is the best college for Accounting and Related Services in Kentucky?+

By graduate earnings, University of Kentucky leads among bachelor's Accounting and Related Services programs in Kentucky, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $59,474, College Scorecard. Transylvania University and Northern Kentucky University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Kentucky is the largest, with 199 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

Which Accounting and Related Services program in Kentucky has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Kentucky tops the list at $59,474. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Accountants and Auditors earn in Kentucky?+

The average annual wage for Accountants and Auditors in Kentucky is $80,790 (median $75,270), across about 11,930 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Accounting and Related Services program?+

The Accounting and Related Services program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of accounting principles and practices. This program is designed for individuals interested in pursuing a career in accounting, auditing, or…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop reading comprehension, critical thinking, active listening, speaking, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Accountants and Auditors?+

The national job outlook is about +4.6% growth with around 124,200 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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