A college town · College Scorecard

Lexington is home to 3 colleges

About 36,393 students study on campus here. The largest is University of Kentucky, the most selective Transylvania University (admits 87%), and 11% of Lexington’s residents are enrolled in college. 6 more colleges are within 30 miles.

University of Kentucky Bluegrass Community and Technical College Transylvania University

Colleges in town

degree-granting · 4 career schools

Students on campus

36,393

1 for every 9 residents

Residents in college

11%

Above KY (6%)

Most selective

87%

admitted · Transylvania University

Lowest net price

$6k

a year · Bluegrass Community and Technical College

Earnings, 10 yrs

$59k

University of Kentucky · median

What stands out about college in Lexington

Read from the numbers below. The page puts what stands out first.

Degrees that payUniversity of Kentucky students earn a median $59,025 ten years after starting, more than at 83% of U.S. colleges.Affordable for lower-income familiesFamilies earning under $30,000 pay about $4,728 a year at Bluegrass Community and Technical College after grants.Plenty of choice3 colleges in town and 6 more within 30 miles.A big universityAbout 28,008 students on campus at University of Kentucky.

★ What stands out · Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting. Lexington’s are named; gray dots are colleges nearby.

University of Kentucky71% graduate$59k earnings$23k typical debt

Bluegrass Community and Technical College43% graduate$36k earnings$11k typical debt

Transylvania University71% graduate$55k earnings$27k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, students on federal aid. A college that’s part of a larger system reports earnings for the whole system.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for families on federal aid. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Lexington’s median household income ($69K) falls.

Kentucky State University24.3 mi · Frankfort · sticker $21,727 $5,256a year

Bluegrass Community and Technical CollegeIn Lexington · sticker $13,902 $7,019a year

Georgetown College12.7 mi · Georgetown · sticker $56,886 $9,797a year

Eastern Kentucky University22.4 mi · Richmond · sticker $23,735 $10,382a year

University of KentuckyIn Lexington · sticker $34,391 $16,313a year

Asbury University16.6 mi · Wilmore · sticker $47,459 $18,724a year

Transylvania UniversityIn Lexington · sticker $60,993 $19,272a year

Midway University14 mi · Midway · sticker $48,805 $28,160a year

Federal figures: your own price depends on your aid package. Every college has a net price calculator on its website. “—” = not reported for that income.

Within reach

More colleges near Lexington

Colleges within 30 miles of the center of Lexington, beyond its own.

University or collegeCommunity college

Georgetown CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Georgetown

12.7 mi1,200 students

Midway UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Midway

14 mi1,426 students

Asbury Theological SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Wilmore

16.6 mi1,085 students

Asbury UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Wilmore

16.6 mi1,342 students

Eastern Kentucky UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Richmond

22.4 mi10,318 students

Kentucky State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Frankfort

24.3 mi1,520 students

Straight-line distance. Degree-granting colleges with students on campus. Dashed rows are too small, or report too little to the Department of Education, for a page of their own.

Every college

All 3 colleges in Lexington

Tap a college for who gets in, what families pay, majors and outcomes.

University or collegeCommunity collegeBigger dot = more students

University of KentuckyUniversity or college · Public · 28,008 on campus 93%admitted$19knet price71%graduate$59kearnings Bluegrass Community and Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,363 on campus Openadmitted$6knet price43%graduate$36kearnings Transylvania UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,022 on campus 87%admitted$22knet price71%graduate$55kearnings

Also in Lexington: Paul Mitchell the School-Lexington, Employment Solutions-College for Technical Education, Summit Salon Academy-Lexington, Lexington Healing Arts Academy (career schools, online-only programs or campuses too small for their own page).

Majors

What students study in Lexington

Share of degrees by field, across Lexington’s colleges, then the biggest programs and what their graduates earn.

Business 17%Health professions 17%Communication 6%Engineering 6%Education 5%Psychology 4%Everything else 45%

Biggest programs

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesBluegrass Community and Technical College · 711 graduates a year · associate

$40k4 yrs out

Business/Commerce, GeneralUniversity of Kentucky · 392 graduates a year

$69k4 yrs out

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingUniversity of Kentucky · 387 graduates a year

$82k4 yrs out

MarketingUniversity of Kentucky · 385 graduates a year

$71k4 yrs out

Finance and Financial Management ServicesUniversity of Kentucky · 327 graduates a year

$84k4 yrs out

Psychology, GeneralUniversity of Kentucky · 276 graduates a year

$47k4 yrs out

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasUniversity of Kentucky · 274 graduates a year

$51k4 yrs out

Biology, GeneralUniversity of Kentucky · 205 graduates a year

$52k4 yrs out

Town & gown

What it’s like to live in Lexington

How much the college shapes the town, and the pages a student or a new neighbor needs.

11 of every 100 Lexington residents are in college (KY: 6).

36,393students on campus · 323,725 residents

35.3median age · KY 39.1

46%of homes rented · KY 32%

$1,164median rent · 20% above the state

Housing$333K typical home SafetySafety Grade C−HealthHealth Grade B Climate24° January low · 86° July high HandbookTrash day, parking, who to call

Neighbors talk college

Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.

Town Square →

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023). “On campus” counts fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Net price is the average a year after grants for families on federal aid; earnings are the median 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. Distances are straight-line from the center of Lexington. Town figures: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.