Graduate earnings are in line with similar institutions.
What graduates earn 10 years after enrollment.
Annual salary at 10 years
Lower quartile earnings
Upper quartile earnings
How graduate earnings grow in the decade after enrollment.
University of Kentucky graduates experience steady earnings growth throughout their early careers. Median earnings begin at $47,266 six years after enrollment, increase to $53,326 at eight years, and reach $59,025 at ten years.
How outcomes compare to similar institutions.
Graduate earnings align with peer institutions — outcomes are in line with similar schools.
Financial justification for the investment.
Healthy debt burden. Most graduates can manage $22,500 in debt with typical earnings.
University of Kentucky graduates carry median debt of $22,500, placing the institution at the 52nd percentile nationally and $2,500 above the peer median of $20,000. Student debt varies considerably, with the 25th percentile at $5,898 and the 75th percentile at $26,885, indicating that many students graduate with minimal borrowing while others approach federal loan limits.
University of Kentucky demonstrates above-average return on investment, ranking at the 60.7th percentile nationally. However, the institution presents a complex return profile.
Approximately 23.8% of University of Kentucky graduates continue to graduate or professional study, based on program mix analysis with high confidence...
Program mix explains much of the earnings story.
Program-level earnings reveal substantial differences in career outcomes across University of Kentucky's academic portfolio. Health Services leads with exceptional median earnings of $94,455, ranking #1 nationally in the field and demonstrating the institution's strength in healthcare education.
Engineering programs show strong performance, with Mechanical Engineering graduates earning $81,498 and Artificial Intelligence graduates earning $81,070, both substantially above the institutional median. Business programs deliver solid outcomes, with Banking and Financial Support Services producing graduates earning $71,215 and Accounting Technology graduates earning $67,805.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
Earnings outcomes show meaningful variation reflecting diverse career paths and program choices. The distribution spans from $38,233 at the 25th percentile to $86,281 at the 75th percentile, creating a 2.3:1 ratio between top and bottom quartile earners.
