[College research](/) / [Rankings](/rankings/)

# Best Business Colleges in Kentucky (2026)

Updated October 1, 2026

Programs in this field[Business Administration and Management](/rankings/best-business-administration-and-management-programs-in-kentucky/)

This page ranks the 21 Business programs in Kentucky by median earnings of Business graduates four years after completing. Thomas More University leads the list with median earnings of $81,795 for its graduates after completing.

Across the 13 schools with a reported completion median, earnings range from $81,795 to $39,729, with a median of $59,415.

The list includes 7 public and 14 private nonprofit institutions. Northern Kentucky University posts the lowest average net price at $8,191, and Transylvania University reports the highest six-year completion rate at 71%.

[University of Louisville](/school/university-of-louisville/majors/) ranks 207th on Azimuth's composite ranking among the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally.

## The ranked list

21 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Median Business Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Thomas More University · Crestview Hills, KY | $81,795 | $21,835 | $15,841 | 90.4% |
|  | Thomas More University reports median earnings of $81,795 for its Business graduates four years after completing, the highest figure on this list. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (66 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (12 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Business Administration, Management and Operations ($82,906) |
| 2 | University of Kentucky · Lexington, KY | $75,200 | $18,851 | $12,182 | 92.9% |
|  | With a [six-year completion rate of 71%](/school/university-of-kentucky/outcomes/), [University of Kentucky](/school/university-of-kentucky/majors/) ranks 2nd on this page and posts median earnings of $75,200 for its Business graduates four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Marketing (369 graduates), Business/Commerce, General (352 graduates), Finance and Financial Management Services (297 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Accounting and Related Services ($85,777), Finance and Financial Management Services ($84,087), Business/Managerial Economics ($74,202) |
| 3 | University of Louisville · Louisville, KY | $69,177 | $17,988 | $15,138 | 79.4% |
|  | [University of Louisville](/school/university-of-louisville/majors/) holds the strongest Azimuth composite rank on the page, placing 207th among the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally, and [admits 79% of applicants](/school/university-of-louisville/admissions/). |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Marketing (135 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (103 graduates), Finance and Financial Management Services (69 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Business/Managerial Economics ($75,845), Finance and Financial Management Services ($75,089), Accounting and Related Services ($74,924) |
| 4 | Northern Kentucky University · Highland Heights, KY | $68,145 | $8,191 | $2,603 | 67.7% |
|  | [Northern Kentucky University](/school/northern-kentucky-university/majors/) ranks 4th on this list and carries an [average net price of $8,191,](/school/northern-kentucky-university/cost/) the lowest among the schools shown. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (409 graduates), Human Resources Management and Services (61 graduates), Construction Management (29 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Management Information Systems and Services ($85,697), Construction Management ($81,833), Business Administration, Management and Operations ($67,319) |
| 5 | Transylvania University · Lexington, KY | $65,646 | $21,913 | $14,551 | 86.6% |
|  | Transylvania University graduates 71% of its students within six years, the top rate on the page, alongside median earnings of $65,646 for its Business graduates four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business/Commerce, General (42 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (11 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Accounting and Related Services ($70,822), Business/Commerce, General ($64,290) |
| 6 | Bellarmine University · Louisville, KY | $65,290 | $21,499 | $18,430 | 86.1% |
|  | A private nonprofit university in Louisville, Bellarmine University ranks 6th on this list and reports an average net price of $21,499. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (61 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (21 graduates), Finance and Financial Management Services (15 graduates) |
| 7 | Kentucky Wesleyan College · Owensboro, KY | $64,396 | $17,131 | $13,951 | 71.6% |
|  | Kentucky Wesleyan College posts median earnings of $64,396 for its Business graduates four years after completing, and its admission rate stands at 72%. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business/Commerce, General (23 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (6 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Business/Commerce, General ($64,396) |
| 8 | Spalding University · Louisville, KY | $63,642 | $25,491 | $20,509 | 99.5% |
|  | Spalding University admits 99% of applicants, the most open admission rate on the list, and reports an average net price of $20,509 for families earning under $30,000. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business/Commerce, General (26 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (5 graduates) |
| 9 | Western Kentucky University · Bowling Green, KY | $61,792 | $10,990 | $7,087 | 93.9% |
|  | Ranking 9th on this page, [Western Kentucky University](/school/western-kentucky-university/majors/) shows a [six-year completion rate of 56%](/school/western-kentucky-university/outcomes/) and an average net price of $10,990. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (209 graduates), Marketing (136 graduates), Finance and Financial Management Services (78 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Accounting and Related Services ($71,274), Finance and Financial Management Services ($70,313), Marketing ($60,222) |
| 10 | Campbellsville University · Campbellsville, KY | $59,805 | $19,341 | $17,880 | 79.7% |
|  | Campbellsville University reports median earnings of $59,805 for its Business graduates four years after completing, and its six-year completion rate is 42%. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business/Commerce, General (85 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Business/Commerce, General ($59,805) |
| 11 | Lindsey Wilson University · Columbia, KY | $59,415 | $15,070 | $14,745 | Not reported |
|  | With median earnings of $59,415 for its Business graduates four years after completing, Lindsey Wilson University ranks 11th on this list and reports an average net price of $15,070. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (53 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Business Administration, Management and Operations ($59,415) |
| 12 | Eastern Kentucky University · Richmond, KY | $58,634 | $11,040 | $8,591 | 77.6% |
|  | [Eastern Kentucky University](/school/eastern-kentucky-university/majors/) [ranks 382nd on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/eastern-kentucky-university/) among the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally and reports an average net price of $8,591 for families earning under $30,000. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business/Commerce, General (86 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (53 graduates), Marketing (49 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Construction Management ($88,120), Business Administration, Management and Operations ($68,249), Accounting and Related Services ($59,609) |
| 13 | Murray State University · Murray, KY | $57,341 | $9,096 | $6,242 | 85.7% |
|  | [Murray State University](/school/murray-state-university/majors/) reports [$57,341 in median earnings](/school/murray-state-university/outcomes/) of Business graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $9,096. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business/Commerce, General (78 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (44 graduates), Finance and Financial Management Services (41 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Accounting and Related Services ($64,269), Marketing ($56,780), Finance and Financial Management Services ($56,263) |
| 14 | Asbury University · Wilmore, KY | $57,135 | $21,401 | $18,455 | 63.4% |
|  | A private nonprofit university in Wilmore, Asbury University admits 63% of applicants and has a six-year completion rate of 65%. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (33 graduates), Business/Commerce, General (14 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (12 graduates) |
| 15 | University of the Cumberlands · Williamsburg, KY | $57,115 | $14,107 | $10,736 | 98.8% |
|  | [University of the Cumberlands](/school/university-of-the-cumberlands/majors/) [ranks 426th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/university-of-the-cumberlands/) among the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally and posts an average net price of $10,736 for families earning under $30,000. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business/Commerce, General (175 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (66 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Business/Commerce, General ($59,760) |
| 16 | Midway University · Midway, KY | $55,108 | $29,579 | $27,206 | 95.1% |
|  | With a six-year completion rate of 41%, Midway University lists $55,108 in median earnings of Business graduates four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business/Commerce, General (54 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (5 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Business/Commerce, General ($55,108) |
| 17 | Union Commonwealth University · Barbourville, KY | $51,079 | $21,311 | $12,214 | 63.2% |
|  | Union Commonwealth University admits 63% of applicants and its Business graduates earn a median of $51,079 four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (36 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (9 graduates) |
| 18 | Morehead State University · Morehead, KY | $50,285 | $9,793 | $7,150 | 77.2% |
|  | [Morehead State University](/school/morehead-state-university/majors/) [ranks 661st on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/morehead-state-university/) among the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally and reports an average net price of $9,793. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Accounting and Related Services (33 graduates), Business/Commerce, General (29 graduates), Business Administration, Management and Operations (27 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Business Administration, Management and Operations ($55,282), Business/Commerce, General ($50,191), Accounting and Related Services ($50,125) |
| 19 | University of Pikeville · Pikeville, KY | $49,971 | $20,311 | $13,115 | Not reported |
|  | Graduates of University of Pikeville earn a median of $49,971 four years after completing, and the school's six-year completion rate is 42%. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (41 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Business Administration, Management and Operations ($49,971) |
| 20 | Kentucky Christian University · Grayson, KY | $44,584 | $24,038 | $23,241 | 60.9% |
|  | Kentucky Christian University admits 61% of applicants and reports an average net price of $23,241 for families earning under $30,000. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (37 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Business Administration, Management and Operations ($44,584) |
| 21 | Georgetown College · Georgetown, KY | $39,729 | $14,095 | $9,777 | 91.1% |
|  | Georgetown College reports $39,729 in median earnings for its Business graduates two years after completing and an average net price of $14,095. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business/Commerce, General (10 graduates), Marketing (8 graduates), Business Administration, Management and Operations (6 graduates) |

## How this list is ordered

Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their Business graduates four years after completing, or two years for programs that report only a two-year figure, highest first. The figures are medians for federally aided Business completers who were working and not enrolled, measured after completing. For 1 of the 21 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The figures cited on this page cover the 13 schools with a reported completion median. Thomas More University leads University of Kentucky by $6,595, and the spread from top to bottom is $42,066.

## Related rankings

-   [Best Business Colleges in Florida by Earnings](/rankings/best-business-colleges-in-florida/)
-   [Best Business Colleges in Massachusetts](/rankings/best-business-colleges-in-massachusetts/)
-   [Best Business Colleges in Indiana](/rankings/best-business-colleges-in-indiana/)
-   [Best Business Colleges in Illinois](/rankings/best-business-colleges-in-illinois/)
-   Accounting Colleges in Kentucky for Social Mobility