University of Kentucky
PublicLexington, KY
The University of Kentucky was established in 1865 as the state's land-grant flagship university. According to the university, it is one of only eight institutions in the country offering a full complement of liberal arts, engineering, professional, agricultural, and medical colleges on a single contiguous campus. UK comprises 16 degree-granting colleges along with the Lewis Honors College and Graduate School.
Admissions
Test scores for the Fall 2025 entering class come from University of Kentucky's own 2025-26 Common Data Set: 9% submitted SAT scores, 48% submitted ACT scores.
Application deadlines for Fall 2027 entry
- Early Action: Dec 1, 2026
- Regular Decision: Feb 15, 2027
Confirm on University of Kentucky's own admissions site before you apply.
Cost & outcomes
Out-of-state students pay $21,669 more per year in tuition and fees (2.5x the in-state rate).
Tuition & fees are University of Kentucky's own published 2026-27 rates (source); other figures are from the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Tuition & fees are the sticker price for a full-time first-year undergrad, before financial aid, and don't include room and board.
Paying less as an out-of-state student
University of Kentucky takes part in this regional program, which can cut the out-of-state rate for students from nearby states.
Academic Common Market
Residents of Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia can pay in-state tuition for a specific major that no public college in their home state offers. You need admission to that major and approval from your home state's coordinator.
Where do you stand against University of Kentucky's numbers?
Check your chances hereHow University of Kentucky weighs your application
From University of Kentucky's own Common Data Set, 2025-26, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?
See full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what University of Kentucky weighs in your application
Paying it back
"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.
Majors & earnings
Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.
Campus life
Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.
What matters in your application
From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.
Frequently asked questions
What does University of Kentucky look for in applicants?
Per University of Kentucky's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, application essay as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.
What is University of Kentucky's acceptance rate?
University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY admits approximately 93% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.
What SAT score do I need for University of Kentucky?
Per University of Kentucky's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1058–1270 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).
What ACT score do I need for University of Kentucky?
Per University of Kentucky's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 21–28 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).
How much does University of Kentucky cost?
University of Kentucky's total cost of attendance is reported at $34,391 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.
Does University of Kentucky offer reduced tuition for out-of-state students?
Yes -- University of Kentucky takes part in the Academic Common Market, a regional program that lets qualifying out-of-state students pay less than the full out-of-state rate. Eligibility depends on your home state, and the school sets its own requirements.
What is out-of-state tuition at University of Kentucky?
For 2026-27, University of Kentucky's tuition and required fees are $35,846 for out-of-state students and $14,177 for in-state students -- $21,669 more per year for out-of-state students. That's before financial aid, and room and board are extra.
When is the application deadline for University of Kentucky?
University of Kentucky's deadlines are Early Action Dec 1, 2026; Regular Decision Feb 15, 2027, per its own published admissions calendar.
Does University of Kentucky require students to live on campus?
No -- University of Kentucky doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.
Related reading
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