University of Kentucky acceptance rate, cost and outcomes
University of Kentucky · Public · Lexington, KY · 23,930 undergraduates (IPEDS fall 2023)
University of Kentucky admitted 92.4% of applicants for fall 2023, up from 68.6% in 2013. Kentucky residents pay $13,907 in tuition and fees for 2025-26; out-of-state students pay $35,164.
Admit rate, 2013 to 2023
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| Fall | Admit rate | Applicants | Admitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 68.6% | 19,810 | 13,592 |
| 2014 | 72.2% | 20,677 | 14,930 |
| 2015 | 89.1% | 18,725 | 16,685 |
| 2016 | 90.8% | 20,480 | 18,593 |
| 2017 | 95.8% | 18,925 | 18,125 |
| 2018 | 94.5% | 19,324 | 18,258 |
| 2019 | 95.9% | 18,759 | 17,981 |
| 2020 | 96.4% | 19,648 | 18,932 |
| 2021 | 94.0% | 21,695 | 20,396 |
| 2022 | 94.9% | 22,109 | 20,979 |
| 2023 | 92.4% | 28,233 | 26,083 |
Applications went from 19,810 in fall 2013 to 28,233 in fall 2023. Admit rate = admitted ÷ applicants. Source: IPEDS fall admissions.1
What families actually pay
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| Family income | Net price / year, 2024-25 |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $12,528 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $12,460 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $14,192 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $20,327 |
| Over $110,000 | $27,661 |
| Tuition and fees, in-state (2025-26) | $13,907 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state (2025-26) | $35,164 |
| Cost of attendance (2024-25) | $35,083 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid (2024-25) | $18,868 |
Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants, for first-time full-time students with federal aid paying the in-state rate, 2024-25. Tuition is 2025-26. Source: College Scorecard.2
SAT and ACT
Middle 50% (25th to 75th percentile) of enrolled first-year students who submitted scores: 9% submitted the SAT, 55% the ACT. Source: IPEDS fall 2023.1
Similar public colleges
| College | Admit rate | Tuition and fees |
|---|---|---|
| University of Louisville KY | 80.5% | $13,390 in-state |
| Eastern Kentucky KY | 78.1% | $10,740 in-state |
| Cal State LA CA | 91.9% | $7,530 in-state |
Same state and type first, then the nearest admit rate. Fall 2023 and 2025-26 figures.
What the numbers say
Kentucky's flagship campus in Lexington received 28,233 applications for fall 2023 and extended offers to 92.4% of them.1 Its admit rate was 68.6% in 2013, which puts the long-run change at an increase of 23.8 percentage points.1 A decline appeared in only 3 of the 10 yearly comparisons.1 The 2023 rate was 2.5 percentage points lower than in 2022.1 Offers rose by 92%, going from 13,592 to 26,083, a larger gain than the 43% rise in applications.1
Test scores are optional. ACT scores came from 55% of entrants and covered 21 to 28 for the middle 50%.1 The SAT was submitted by 9% of entrants, with math scores from 530 to 650.1
In-state students are charged $13,907 for tuition and fees in 2025-26, and out-of-state students $35,164.2 The resident price sits above the $11,118 median of the 8 public bachelor's colleges in Kentucky.2 Grants leave an average net price of $12,528 for the $0 to $30,000 income band and $27,661 for families earning over $110,000.2
Graduation within 6 years reached 72% for the 2019 entering group, well above the Kentucky median of 49% across 30 bachelor's colleges.2 Median earnings 10 years after entry were $63,924, and graduates who borrowed had a median debt of $19,500.2
Every number on this page, with its source field
| Figure | Value | File, field, year |
|---|---|---|
| Applicants | 28,233 | IPEDS ADM2023, APPLCN, fall 20231 |
| Admitted | 26,083 | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMSSN, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled first-years | 6,437 | IPEDS ADM2023, ENRLT, fall 20231 |
| Undergraduates | 23,930 | IPEDS DRVEF2023, EFUG, fall 20234 |
| Admission policy | Selective (not open admission) | IPEDS IC2023, OPENADMP, 2023-243 |
| Test policy | Test-optional | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMCON7, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 25th percentile | 550 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR25, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 75th percentile | 640 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR75, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 25th percentile | 530 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT25, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 75th percentile | 650 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT75, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 25th percentile | 21 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM25, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 75th percentile | 28 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM75, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting SAT | 9% | IPEDS ADM2023, SATPCT, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting ACT | 55% | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTPCT, fall 20231 |
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $13,907 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_IN, 2025-262 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $35,164 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_OUT, 2025-262 |
| Cost of attendance | $35,083 | College Scorecard, COSTT4_A, 2024-252 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid | $18,868 | College Scorecard, NPT4_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $0 to $30,000 | $12,528 | College Scorecard, NPT41_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $30,001 to $48,000 | $12,460 | College Scorecard, NPT42_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $48,001 to $75,000 | $14,192 | College Scorecard, NPT43_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $75,001 to $110,000 | $20,327 | College Scorecard, NPT44_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income over $110,000 | $27,661 | College Scorecard, NPT45_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Graduation rate within 6 years | 72% | College Scorecard, C150_4, 2019 entrants2 |
| First-year retention | 87% | College Scorecard, RET_FT4, fall 2023 entrants2 |
| Undergraduates with a Pell grant | 25% | College Scorecard, PCTPELL, 2024-252 |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $63,924 | College Scorecard, MD_EARN_WNE_P10, 2022-232 |
| Median federal debt of graduates | $19,500 | College Scorecard, GRAD_DEBT_MDN, FY2024-252 |
| Median in-state tuition and fees, public colleges, Kentucky (N = 8) | $11,118 | College Scorecard, median TUITIONFEE_IN, public bachelor's institutions, 2025-262 |
| Median graduation rate within 6 years, Kentucky (N = 30) | 49% | College Scorecard, median C150_4, bachelor's institutions, 2019 entrants2 |
Sources
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS admissions files, fall 2013 to fall 2023 (IC2013, ADM2014, ADM2015, ADM2016, ADM2017, ADM2018, ADM2019, ADM2020, ADM2021, ADM2022, ADM2023). Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education: College Scorecard, Most Recent Institution-Level Data (Most-Recent-Cohorts-Institution (release of 15 Oct 2026)). Data years: 2019 entrants, 2022-23, 2024-25, 2025-26, FY2024-25, fall 2023 entrants. Checked 25 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Institutional Characteristics 2023-24 (IC2023.zip). Data years: 2023-24. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Fall Enrollment, derived variables, fall 2023 (DRVEF2023.zip). Data years: 2023. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
AdmitFacts is not affiliated with University of Kentucky, the U.S. Department of Education or NCES. Missing values are shown as Not reported, never estimated. The file field behind each figure is listed under "Every number on this page". How we build each page