Best colleges for Liberal Arts and Sciences in Kentucky
Ranked by graduate earnings
Thomas More University, Northern Kentucky University and Eastern Kentucky University are the top bachelor's Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Kentucky by graduate earnings. Thomas More University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $62,607, College Scorecard. Western Kentucky University, University of the Cumberlands and Eastern Kentucky University award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in Kentucky: 308, 298 and 247 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 37 Kentucky colleges offer Liberal Arts and Sciences and award 6,592 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Liberal Arts and Sciences program, formally known as Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, offers a broad educational foundation in various disciplines. This program is designed for students seeking a well-rounded…
Top 8 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 | Thomas More University Crestview Hills Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $62,607 | 31 | 40% | $18,902 | $29,358 |
| 2 | Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,602 | 145 | 52% | — | $28,750 |
| 3 | Eastern Kentucky University Richmond Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,958 | 247 | 50% | — | $31,000 |
| 4 | Western Kentucky University Bowling Green Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,746 | 308 | 56% | — | $28,892 |
| 5 | Murray State University Murray Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,304 | 122 | 61% | — | $28,162 |
| 6 | University of Kentucky Lexington Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,700 | 52 | 71% | — | $30,690 |
| 7 | Morehead State University Morehead Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,055 | 112 | 52% | — | $28,902 |
| 8 | University of Louisville Louisville Public · Bachelor's degree | $22,239 | 66 | 61% | — | $27,001 |
Top 10 certificate and associate programs
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.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jefferson Community and Technical College Louisville Public · Associate degree | $36,623 | 742 | 35% | — | $13,730 |
| 2 | Gateway Community and Technical College Florence Public · Associate degree | $36,311 | 290 | 59% | — | $12,400 |
| 3 | Bluegrass Community and Technical College Lexington Public · Associate degree | $30,467 | 741 | 43% | — | $12,000 |
| 4 | Henderson Community College Henderson Public · Associate degree | $30,204 | 104 | 35% | — | $11,516 |
| 5 | Elizabethtown Community and Technical College Elizabethtown Public · Associate degree | $28,792 | 608 | 59% | — | $11,000 |
| 6 | Hopkinsville Community College Hopkinsville Public · Associate degree | $27,978 | 216 | 45% | — | $9,500 |
| 7 | Hazard Community and Technical College Hazard Public · Associate degree | $27,569 | 106 | 48% | — | $10,442 |
| 8 | Maysville Community and Technical College Maysville Public · Associate degree | $27,342 | 134 | 56% | — | $12,703 |
| 9 | Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College Bowling Green Public · Associate degree | $27,263 | 278 | 58% | — | $10,949 |
| 10 | Ashland Community and Technical College Ashland Public · Associate degree | $27,263 | 113 | 51% | — | $13,399 |
Colleges awarding the most Liberal Arts and Sciences 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 | Western Kentucky University Bowling Green Public | 308 | $35,746 |
| 2 | University of the Cumberlands Williamsburg Private not-for-profit | 298 | Not reported |
| 3 | Eastern Kentucky University Richmond Public | 247 | $35,958 |
| 4 | Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights Public | 145 | $37,602 |
| 5 | Murray State University Murray Public | 122 | $34,304 |
| 6 | Morehead State University Morehead Public | 112 | $30,055 |
| 7 | University of Louisville Louisville Public | 66 | $22,239 |
| 8 | University of Kentucky Lexington Public | 52 | $33,700 |
| 9 | Campbellsville University Campbellsville Private not-for-profit | 46 | Not reported |
| 10 | Kentucky State University Frankfort Public | 32 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 27 Kentucky colleges offering Liberal Arts and Sciences
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Postsecondary Teachers, All Other (SOC 25-1199).
What Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn in Kentucky
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Kentucky.
Which Kentucky colleges award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees?+
Western Kentucky University (308 graduates a year), University of the Cumberlands (298 graduates a year) and Eastern Kentucky University (247 graduates a year) award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in Kentucky, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 37 Kentucky colleges offer Liberal Arts and Sciences.
What is the best college for Liberal Arts and Sciences in Kentucky?+
By graduate earnings, Thomas More University leads among bachelor's Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Kentucky, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $62,607, College Scorecard. Northern Kentucky University and Eastern Kentucky University follow. By degrees awarded, Western Kentucky University is the largest, with 308 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Liberal Arts and Sciences program in Kentucky has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Thomas More University tops the list at $62,607. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn in Kentucky?+
The average annual wage for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other in Kentucky is $80,050 (median $67,690), across about 4,120 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Liberal Arts and Sciences program?+
The Liberal Arts and Sciences program, formally known as Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, offers a broad educational foundation in various disciplines. This program is designed for students seeking a well-rounded…
What is the job outlook for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other?+
The national job outlook is about +1.8% growth with around 13,500 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Doctoral or professional 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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