Kentucky State University — College Profile

About

Founded in 1886 in the state capital of Frankfort, Kentucky State University is the Commonwealth’s sole public historically Black land-grant institution, best known for its supportive environment and strong programs in agriculture, nursing, business, and education. The university stands out globally for its world-renowned Aquaculture Research Center and expansive land-grant research facilities that offer undergraduates extensive hands-on laboratory experience. Campus life is defined by a close-knit, family-like HBCU culture featuring active Greek life, rich homecoming traditions, and the spirited Mighty Marching Thorobreds band. Furthermore, KSU’s unique position in the state capital affords students direct access to high-impact public policy, government, and corporate internships.

Wikipedia:Kentucky State University is a public historically black land-grant university in Frankfort, Kentucky, United States. Founded in 1886 as the State Normal School for Colored Persons, and becoming a land-grant college in 1890, KSU is the second-oldest state-supported institution of higher learning in Kentucky.

Location

Frankfort, KY, 40601-2355 · Town campus

✈

Nearest airport from college

CVG · Cincinnati

59 mi away

Open in Google Maps

Cost & aid

Cost of attendance

These figures are federal data and may be out of date.

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition & fees$9,387$13,658

Housing & food (on campus)$8,686$8,686

Books & supplies$1,560$1,560

Cost of attendance$21,727$25,998 est.

Average net price$8,040Not published

Out-of-state prices

Tuition & fees$13,658

In-state: $9,387

Housing & food (on campus)$8,686

Books & supplies$1,560

Cost of attendance$25,998 est.

In-state: $21,727

Average net priceNot published

In-state: $8,040

est. = the in-state cost of attendance with out-of-state tuition swapped in; no out-of-state figure is published.

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24

$0–30k

$10,225

$30–48k

$6,739

$48–75k

$5,256

$75–110k

$1,958

Your family's actual price → Kentucky State University net price calculator

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Merit aid · 2025-26

Awarded without financial need. Students with financial need can get merit awards too; they're counted as need-based aid.

Average award$5,040

Share of first-years who get one7%

Source: Kentucky State University's Common Data Set — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures (PDF).

Outcomes

Completion

Within 6 yrs

30%

Entered 2017–18

Within 4 yrs

14%

Back for yr 2

64%

Transferred

23%

8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students

36% graduated · 56% transferred · 1% still enrolled · 7% left or unknown

Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021

6 yrs after entry$29,640

10 yrs after entry$36,382

Debt

Median at graduation$25,938

Monthly payment$275

Middle 50% owe$7.5k–$33.3k

90th percentile$47,625

Admissions

Getting in · applied for fall 2024

Admit rate

96%

Test policy

Test optional

Per College Scorecard

SAT average

870

Wondering if Kentucky State University is the right fit for you?

SchoolScout builds a personalized college list — reach, match, and safety schools — tailored to your profile, grades, and goals. Get financial aid estimates, scholarship guidance, and deep dives on every school.

Personalized reach / match / safety list

Financial aid & net cost estimates

Deep dives on any school

Scholarship search

Get your college list →See a sample college plan first

Essay prompts

If Kentucky State University asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body

Gender

Men 42%Women 58%

Who enrolls

Faculty ratio

10 : 1

Pell grant

58%

First-gen

40%

Family income

$27,492

Independent

36%

Age at entry

24.0

Part-time

11%

Race & ethnicity

White

Hispanic

Black

79%

Two or more

Non-resident

Unknown

Varsity sports

NCAA Division II with football · EADA 2024-25

Baseball
Men's
Basketball
Men's · Women's
Cross Country
Men's · Women's
Football
Men's
Golf
Men's
Softball
Women's
Track and Field (Indoor)
Men's · Women's
Track and Field (Outdoor)
Men's · Women's
Volleyball
Men's · Women's

Programs & Earnings

Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings

Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021

After 6 yrs

$29,640

After 10 yrs

$36,382

Business Administration, Management and Operations20

Psychology, General18

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities17

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing16

Biology, General12

Journalism11

Criminal Justice and Corrections11

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods10

Social Work9

Computer and Information Sciences, General8

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas7

Mathematics4

Agriculture, General3

Social Sciences, General3

Chemistry2

Music2

Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.

Institutional

Resources

Endowment

$22M

Full-time faculty

56%

Faculty salary

$7,036/mo

Teaching spend

$6,140

per student

Federal loans

56%

Classification

Carnegie type

Baccalaureate — diverse fields

Research activity

Research college or university

$14M research spending

Undergraduate profile

Four-year, inclusive admissions