Programs & majors brief

University of Kentucky Majors & Programs

Updated

Which majors earn the most at University of Kentucky?

At University of Kentucky, the largest fields span markedly different earnings four years after completion, so program choice carries much of the return picture. Finance reports median earnings of $84,087 and 297 degrees awarded; Azimuth ranks it #65 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions in its field.

Nursing shows $81,941 with 302 degrees awarded and an Azimuth rank of #220 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions in its field. Business/Commerce sits at $69,451 across 352 degrees awarded, ranking #15 nationally with Azimuth among nonprofit four-year institutions in its field.

Psychology is lower at $46,570 on 290 degrees awarded and ranks #246 nationally with Azimuth among nonprofit four-year institutions in its field. The higher earnings in finance and nursing contrast with the more moderate business and psychology figures.

Major mix · each dot ≈ 1% of completions

Share of reported completions in the bachelor’s programs included here. Each dot represents approximately 1% of those completions. Counts are credentials, not unique students; excluded programs are not zero activity.

  • Business1,288 · 23.7%
  • Health professions621 · 11.4%
  • Engineering476 · 8.7%
  • Communication443 · 8.1%
  • Education390 · 7.2%
  • Other2,223 · 40.9%

76 of 76 programs shown

Four-year earnings · first six matching programs
Computer Engineering 54 degrees awarded
$99,945
Computer and Information Sciences, General 108 degrees awarded
$99,535
Chemical Engineering 68 degrees awarded
$98,003
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering 51 degrees awarded
$96,913
Mechanical Engineering 168 degrees awarded
$90,654
Accounting and Related Services 155 degrees awarded
$85,777

Each bar is a field’s median. Program size counts degrees awarded, not unique people or the earnings sample.

Compare all matching programs
Reported bachelor’s programs · earnings, program size and field ranks
ProgramDegrees awarded4-yr earningsField rank
Computer Engineering54$99,945#90
Computer and Information Sciences, General108$99,535#72
Chemical Engineering68$98,003#62
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering51$96,913#138
Mechanical Engineering168$90,654#126
Accounting and Related Services155$85,777#72
Materials Engineering small degree count13$84,796—
Finance and Financial Management Services297$84,087#65
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General103$82,533#4
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing302$81,941#220
Civil Engineering84$81,031#130
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions33$77,663#22
Mathematics41$75,222#77
Business/Managerial Economics78$74,202#27
Chemistry35$73,549#45
Health and Medical Administrative Services29$70,942#24
Marketing369$70,776#60
Business/Commerce, General352$69,451#15
Agricultural Engineering22$68,605#21
Economics46$68,532#176
Apparel and Textiles51$66,255#9
Agricultural Business and Management51$65,847#35
Information Science/Studies61$65,407#49
Landscape Architecture small degree count14$64,143—
Design and Applied Arts small degree count14$62,966—
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication162$62,754#39
Architecture57$62,383#35
Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other small degree count18$60,375—
Public Health104$59,163#58
Political Science and Government124$57,514#187
Sociology48$56,266#97
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics28$56,234—
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General33$55,937#12
Communication and Media Studies199$55,653#121
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services57$55,633#17
Animal Sciences40$53,918#25
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services50$52,815#133
Journalism50$52,785#73
Hospitality Administration/Management24$52,477#63
Biology, General168$52,163#284
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas250$51,379#59
Forestry small degree count17$51,331—
Social Work93$51,313#110
Natural Resources Conservation and Research45$50,204#116
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management20$49,167#9
International/Globalization Studies36$47,698#42
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General37$47,296#15
Agricultural Production Operations39$46,843#8
Psychology, General290$46,570#246
History46$46,111#202
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services small degree count18$45,148—
English Language and Literature, General51$44,384#222
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods126$44,352#188
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication32$44,333#54
Agricultural Public Services32$42,612#9
Fine and Studio Arts28$41,406#155
Visual and Performing Arts, General83$40,538#15
Music27$39,746#120
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies small degree count14$38,822—
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft small degree count17$38,475—
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities51$36,942#191
Food Science and Technology small degree count7Too few graduates to report—
Area Studies30Too few graduates to report—
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies small degree count9Too few graduates to report—
Special Education and Teaching small degree count14Too few graduates to report—
Mining and Mineral Engineering small degree count16Too few graduates to report—
Neurobiology and Neurosciences96Too few graduates to report—
Biotechnology39Too few graduates to report—
Applied Mathematics22Too few graduates to report—
Philosophy small degree count17Too few graduates to report—
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences small degree count8Too few graduates to report—
Physics and Astronomy small degree count7Too few graduates to report—
Anthropology35Too few graduates to report—
Geography and Cartography small degree count8Too few graduates to report—
Dance small degree count7Too few graduates to report—
Business Administration, Management and Operations small degree count13Too few graduates to report—

Program data and definitions · How to evaluate program rankings

What are the largest programs at University of Kentucky?

Ten largest programs by degrees awarded
Marketing
369
Business/Commerce, General
352
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
302
Finance and Financial Management Services
297
Psychology, General
290
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
250
Communication and Media Studies
199
Mechanical Engineering
168
Biology, General
168
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
162

Counts describe degrees awarded in the reporting period, not current enrollment. Program data and definitions

How do University of Kentucky majors rank nationally?

National program rankings

  1. Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General#4
  2. Agricultural Production Operations#8
  3. Agricultural Public Services#9
  4. Apparel and Textiles#9
  5. Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management#9
  6. Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General#12
  7. Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General#15
  8. Visual and Performing Arts, General#15
  9. Business/Commerce, General#15
  10. Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services#17
  11. Agricultural Engineering#21
  12. Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions#22
  13. Health and Medical Administrative Services#24
  14. Animal Sciences#25
  15. Business/Managerial Economics#27
  16. Agricultural Business and Management#35
  17. Architecture#35
  18. Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication#39
  19. International/Globalization Studies#42
  20. Chemistry#45
  21. Information Science/Studies#49

Programs ranked in the national top 50, supplemented by the largest ranked programs when needed to show ten. Fewer appear when fewer ranks are reported. Each rank compares bachelor’s programs in the same field; field sizes differ.

How Azimuth compares programs across colleges

Further analysis

Outcomes at University of Kentucky vary sharply by field, and Azimuth's program rankings evaluate four-year earnings among federally aided completers, median debt, and cohort size rather than reputation. The university has 61 programs with published earnings data, 52 of which carry an Azimuth national rank.

The degree mix is led by Business, which accounts for 23.7% of bachelor's degrees awarded, followed by Health Professions at 11.4% and Engineering at 8.8%. The largest single program is Marketing, with 369 degrees awarded in a year.

Its completers earn a median of $70,776 four years after completion, which places it #60 nationally and #1 in Kentucky. The highest-earning program is Computer Engineering, where completers earn $99,945 four years after completion, though it awards only 54 degrees a year.

Among the university's best-ranked programs, Health Sciences sits at #4 nationally with earnings of $82,533. Agricultural Production Operations ranks #8 and awards 39 degrees.

Award counts reflect degrees conferred in one academic year, not the number of students in a program.

Data & methodology

Sources and reporting periods: methodology.

Analysis and methodology by Daniel Rogers, founder of College Azimuth.

Explanatory text is AI-assisted drafting checked against those figures; it is not an additional data source.

Figure notes link to sources and limitations. About College Azimuth.