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Programs & majors brief

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# University of Kentucky Majors & Programs

Updated September 30, 2026

[Overview](/school/university-of-kentucky/)[Cost & aid](/school/university-of-kentucky/cost/)[Outcomes](/school/university-of-kentucky/outcomes/)[Admissions](/school/university-of-kentucky/admissions/)Majors[Similar schools](/school/university-of-kentucky/similar/)

**On this page**+

## 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](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) 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.

-   Business**1,288 · 23.7%**
-   Health professions**621 · 11.4%**
-   Engineering**476 · 8.7%**
-   Communication**443 · 8.1%**
-   Education**390 · 7.2%**
-   Other**2,223 · 40.9%**

Find a field

Sort programsLargest programsHighest four-year earningsBest national field rankProgram name

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

| Program | Degrees awarded | 4-yr earnings | Field rank |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Computer Engineering | 54 | $99,945 | #90 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 108 | $99,535 | #72 |
| Chemical Engineering | 68 | $98,003 | #62 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 51 | $96,913 | #138 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 168 | $90,654 | #126 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 155 | $85,777 | #72 |
| Materials Engineering small degree count | 13 | $84,796 | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 297 | $84,087 | #65 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | 103 | $82,533 | #4 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 302 | $81,941 | #220 |
| Civil Engineering | 84 | $81,031 | #130 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | 33 | $77,663 | #22 |
| Mathematics | 41 | $75,222 | #77 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | 78 | $74,202 | #27 |
| Chemistry | 35 | $73,549 | #45 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 29 | $70,942 | #24 |
| Marketing | 369 | $70,776 | #60 |
| Business/Commerce, General | 352 | $69,451 | #15 |
| Agricultural Engineering | 22 | $68,605 | #21 |
| Economics | 46 | $68,532 | #176 |
| Apparel and Textiles | 51 | $66,255 | #9 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | 51 | $65,847 | #35 |
| Information Science/Studies | 61 | $65,407 | #49 |
| Landscape Architecture small degree count | 14 | $64,143 | — |
| Design and Applied Arts small degree count | 14 | $62,966 | — |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 162 | $62,754 | #39 |
| Architecture | 57 | $62,383 | #35 |
| Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other small degree count | 18 | $60,375 | — |
| Public Health | 104 | $59,163 | #58 |
| Political Science and Government | 124 | $57,514 | #187 |
| Sociology | 48 | $56,266 | #97 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 28 | $56,234 | — |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General | 33 | $55,937 | #12 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 199 | $55,653 | #121 |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services | 57 | $55,633 | #17 |
| Animal Sciences | 40 | $53,918 | #25 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 50 | $52,815 | #133 |
| Journalism | 50 | $52,785 | #73 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | 24 | $52,477 | #63 |
| Biology, General | 168 | $52,163 | #284 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 250 | $51,379 | #59 |
| Forestry small degree count | 17 | $51,331 | — |
| Social Work | 93 | $51,313 | #110 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 45 | $50,204 | #116 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | 20 | $49,167 | #9 |
| International/Globalization Studies | 36 | $47,698 | #42 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General | 37 | $47,296 | #15 |
| Agricultural Production Operations | 39 | $46,843 | #8 |
| Psychology, General | 290 | $46,570 | #246 |
| History | 46 | $46,111 | #202 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services small degree count | 18 | $45,148 | — |
| English Language and Literature, General | 51 | $44,384 | #222 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 126 | $44,352 | #188 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | 32 | $44,333 | #54 |
| Agricultural Public Services | 32 | $42,612 | #9 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 28 | $41,406 | #155 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | 83 | $40,538 | #15 |
| Music | 27 | $39,746 | #120 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies small degree count | 14 | $38,822 | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft small degree count | 17 | $38,475 | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 51 | $36,942 | #191 |
| Food Science and Technology small degree count | 7 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Area Studies | 30 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies small degree count | 9 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Special Education and Teaching small degree count | 14 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Mining and Mineral Engineering small degree count | 16 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 96 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Biotechnology | 39 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Applied Mathematics | 22 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Philosophy small degree count | 17 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences small degree count | 8 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Physics and Astronomy small degree count | 7 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Anthropology | 35 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Geography and Cartography small degree count | 8 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Dance small degree count | 7 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations small degree count | 13 | Too few graduates to report | — |

[Program data and definitions](#page-sources) · [How to evaluate program rankings](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/)

## 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](#page-sources)

## 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](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/)

## Further analysis

Outcomes at University of Kentucky vary sharply by field, and [Azimuth's program ranking](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/)s 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](/methodology/).

Analysis and methodology by [Daniel Rogers](/about/#founder), 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](/about/).