Best colleges for Business/Commerce in Kentucky
Ranked by graduate earnings
Sullivan University, University of Kentucky and Northern Kentucky University are the top bachelor's Business/Commerce programs in Kentucky by graduate earnings. Sullivan University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $56,432, College Scorecard. Northern Kentucky University, University of Kentucky and University of Louisville award the most Business/Commerce degrees in Kentucky: 463, 404 and 391 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 19 Kentucky colleges offer Business/Commerce and award 2,457 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Business/Commerce program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the principles and practices of business management, marketing, and related services. This program is ideal for those interested in pursuing a career in…
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.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sullivan University Louisville Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $56,432 | 24 | 71% | $29,703 | $43,625 |
| 2 | University of Kentucky Lexington Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,431 | 404 | 71% | — | $23,055 |
| 3 | Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,654 | 463 | 52% | — | $30,750 |
| 4 | Spalding University Louisville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $47,596 | 30 | 52% | $23,661 | $31,000 |
| 5 | University of the Cumberlands Williamsburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,242 | 227 | 50% | $11,672 | $21,219 |
| 6 | Eastern Kentucky University Richmond Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,502 | 203 | 50% | — | $27,000 |
| 7 | Kentucky Wesleyan College Owensboro Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,059 | 34 | 47% | $36,525 | $25,000 |
| 8 | Midway University Midway Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $38,334 | 57 | 41% | $23,658 | $26,000 |
| 9 | Morehead State University Morehead Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,301 | 37 | 52% | — | $25,903 |
| 10 | Murray State University Murray Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,285 | 181 | 61% | — | $18,200 |
Colleges awarding the most Business/Commerce 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.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights Public | 463 | $48,654 |
| 2 | University of Kentucky Lexington Public | 404 | $49,431 |
| 3 | University of Louisville Louisville Public | 391 | Not reported |
| 4 | Campbellsville University Campbellsville Private not-for-profit | 239 | $36,749 |
| 5 | University of the Cumberlands Williamsburg Private not-for-profit | 227 | $46,242 |
| 6 | Eastern Kentucky University Richmond Public | 203 | $41,502 |
| 7 | Murray State University Murray Public | 181 | $37,285 |
| 8 | Kentucky State University Frankfort Public | 57 | $27,013 |
| 9 | Midway University Midway Private not-for-profit | 57 | $38,334 |
| 10 | Morehead State University Morehead Public | 37 | $38,301 |
ShowHide the other 9 Kentucky colleges offering Business/Commerce
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Wesleyan College | Owensboro | Private not-for-profit | 34 |
| Transylvania University | Lexington | Private not-for-profit | 31 |
| Centre College | Danville | Private not-for-profit | 30 |
| Spalding University | Louisville | Private not-for-profit | 30 |
| Georgetown College | Georgetown | Private not-for-profit | 25 |
| Sullivan University | Louisville | Private for-profit | 24 |
| Brescia University | Owensboro | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Alice Lloyd College | Pippa Passes | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Asbury University | Wilmore | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: General and Operations Managers (SOC 11-1021).
Top skills
What General and Operations Managers earn in Kentucky
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Business/Commerce programs in Kentucky.
Which Kentucky colleges award the most Business/Commerce degrees?+
Northern Kentucky University (463 graduates a year), University of Kentucky (404 graduates a year) and University of Louisville (391 graduates a year) award the most Business/Commerce degrees in Kentucky, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 19 Kentucky colleges offer Business/Commerce.
What is the best college for Business/Commerce in Kentucky?+
By graduate earnings, Sullivan University leads among bachelor's Business/Commerce programs in Kentucky, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $56,432, College Scorecard. University of Kentucky and Northern Kentucky University follow. By degrees awarded, Northern Kentucky University is the largest, with 463 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Business/Commerce program in Kentucky has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Sullivan University tops the list at $56,432. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do General and Operations Managers earn in Kentucky?+
The average annual wage for General and Operations Managers in Kentucky is $99,990 (median $79,370), across about 52,100 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Business/Commerce program?+
The Business/Commerce program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the principles and practices of business management, marketing, and related services. This program is ideal for those interested in pursuing a career in…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, active listening, speaking, monitoring, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for General and Operations Managers?+
The national job outlook is about +4.4% growth with around 308,700 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.
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