Kentucky State University

Published cost of attendance is $21,727. After need-based aid, low-income families pay approximately $10,225, middle-income families pay around $5,256.

Azimuth ranks Kentucky State University #249 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 82.6 percentile. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,938; families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $16,859.

For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $46,766, median federal debt projects to a monthly payment of about $293 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios, use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.

Graduates of Kentucky State University earn median 4-year earnings of $46,766, placing Kentucky State University in the 8.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $300 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 56.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Azimuth ranks Kentucky State University #1242 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Program outcomes vary by major.

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas reports 15 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $34,522. Psychology, General reports 14 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $42,743.

Criminal Justice and Corrections reports 12 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $46,767. Journalism reports 12 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $42,363.

Kentucky State University's program mix is anchored in business, education, and applied professional fields—a portfolio reflecting the institution's regional public-university mission. Business Administration is the largest program with 31 graduates, followed by Subject-Specific Teacher Education, General Studies, Psychology, General, and Journalism.

The dominant program family, Business, accounts for a substantial share of the institution's degree output across 11 total programs. Among the institution's ranked programs, several deliver solid four-year earnings outcomes.

Criminal Justice leads with median earnings of $46,767 four years after enrollment, with 12 graduates. Psychology, General graduates earn median earnings of $42,743, while Journalism and Subject-Specific Teacher Education deliver median earnings of $42,363 and $34,522 respectively.

These programs represent the institution's strongest early-career earnings outcomes and reflect fields where regional employers actively recruit. The program-mix signature—concentrated in Business at 21%, Education at 12%, and Social Sciences at 6%—positions Kentucky State as a regional professional-education institution.

Many of these programs are direct-to-workforce pathways where graduates enter stable, in-demand sectors including business, education, and public service. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these program families align with regional and national labor-market demand.