Kentucky · Getting in
Most selective colleges in Kentucky
The short answer
The most selective four-year colleges in Kentucky are Berea College (19% admitted), Brescia University (35% admitted) and Centre College (48% admitted), by acceptance rate.
Selective here means a low acceptance rate: the share of applicants the college admitted. A low rate says how many people a college turns away, not how good a fit it is for you. Each row also shows the average price after grants.
The list (13 of 24)
Four-year colleges in Kentucky with 500 or more undergraduates, lowest acceptance rate first. The list shows 13 of the 24 colleges with an acceptance rate on file. Rates come from IPEDS (fall 2024) for 12 colleges and each college's own Common Data Set (fall 2025) for 1 college.
- Berea College 19% admitted Berea, KY · Average price after grants: $5,836 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Brescia University 35% admitted Owensboro, KY · Average price after grants: $14,909 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Centre College 48% admitted Danville, KY · Average price after grants: $19,980 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
- The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary 56% admitted Louisville, KY Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Union Commonwealth University 63% admitted Barbourville, KY · Average price after grants: $11,010 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Asbury University 63% admitted Wilmore, KY · Average price after grants: $21,061 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Northern Kentucky University 68% admitted Highland Heights, KY · Average price after grants: $8,976 a year in-state, about $20,232 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Kentucky Wesleyan College 72% admitted Owensboro, KY · Average price after grants: $19,409 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Alice Lloyd College 75% admitted Pippa Passes, KY · Average price after grants: $18,367 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Morehead State University 77% admitted Morehead, KY · Average price after grants: $9,912 a year in-state, about $15,082 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Eastern Kentucky University 78% admitted Richmond, KY · Average price after grants: $11,925 a year in-state, about $13,485 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- University of Louisville 79% admitted Louisville, KY · Average price after grants: $14,960 a year in-state, about $31,306 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Campbellsville University 80% admitted Campbellsville, KY · Average price after grants: $17,734 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
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What are the most selective colleges in Kentucky?
The most selective four-year colleges in Kentucky are Berea College (19% admitted), Brescia University (35% admitted) and Centre College (48% admitted), by acceptance rate.
How many colleges on this list admit fewer than half of applicants?
3 of the 13 colleges listed admitted fewer than half of their applicants.
How recent are these acceptance rates?
Each row shows its year. Rates come from IPEDS, the federal college survey, for students who applied for fall 2024, or from the college's own Common Data Set for fall 2025 where that is newer.
Numbers change each year when colleges and the Department of Education publish new data. Confirm costs and admission rules with the college before you apply.