Photo: Mobilus In Mobili · CC BY-SA 2.0Frankfort is home to Kentucky State University
Kentucky State University (1,520 students on campus) is inside the city. About 7% of Frankfort’s residents are enrolled in college, above Kentucky (6%).
From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Frankfort. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college in Frankfort
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Frankfort
One private college within 10.7 miles, and one public college within 0.7 miles.
Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.
What would your family pay?
The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at $48–75k, where Frankfort’s median household income ($53,073) falls.
The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Frankfort: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.
What students study in Frankfort
Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Kentucky State University, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.
Biggest programs
College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.
Questions about college in Frankfort
Is Frankfort a college town?
No. About 7 of every 100 Frankfort residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Kentucky (6). The largest campus in the city, Kentucky State University, has 1,520 students on campus.
What colleges are in Frankfort?
Kentucky State University is inside the city. Bluegrass Community and Technical College is 21.9 miles away in Lexington.
What is the closest community college to Frankfort, and what does it cost?
Bluegrass Community and Technical College in Lexington, 21.9 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,808 a year for Kentucky residents; the federal net price, $6,113, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Kentucky State University cost if we live in Kentucky?
Tuition and fees are $9,387 a year in-state and $13,658 from out of state.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Frankfort. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →