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Colleges in and near Lexington

Lexington is home to three colleges, with about 36,000 students on campus

The University of Kentucky (28,008 students on campus) and Bluegrass Community and Technical College (7,363) are inside the town. About 11% of Lexington’s residents are enrolled in college, above Kentucky (6%).

Transylvania UniversityUniversity of KentuckyBluegrass Community and Technical College

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 Lexington. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
5
39,019 students on campus
Nearest college
2.1 mi
Transylvania University
Residents in college
11%
Above KY (6%)
Nearest community college
2.7 mi
Bluegrass Community and Technical College · $4,808 tuition
Nearest public university
2.5 mi
University of Kentucky · $13,502 in-state
Median household income
$69K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Lexington

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Three colleges within 2.7 milesTransylvania University admits 87% of applicants; University of Kentucky admits 93%. Together they have 36,393 students on campus.In-state price at University of KentuckyLiving in Kentucky, the University of Kentucky charges $13,502 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $34,140. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 2.7 miles awayBluegrass Community and Technical College in Lexington: tuition and fees $4,808 a year for Kentucky residents.Students are 11% of residentsAbove Kentucky (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Lexington

Three private colleges within 14 miles, one public college within 2.5 miles, and Bluegrass Community and Technical College 2.7 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of KentuckyBluegrass Community and Technical CollegeMidway UniversityLexington
University or collegeCommunity college
Transylvania UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,022 on campus · In Lexington87%admitted$22knet price71%graduate$55kearningsUniversity of KentuckyUniversity or college · Public · 28,008 on campus · In Lexington93%admitted$19knet price71%graduate$59kearningsBluegrass Community and Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,363 on campus · In Lexington$6knet price43%graduate$36kearningsTuition and fees: $4,808 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Georgetown CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,200 on campus · 12.7 mi · Georgetown91%admitted$14knet price49%graduate$52kearningsMidway UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,426 on campus · 14 mi · Midway95%admitted$30knet price41%graduate$44kearnings

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 it costs

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.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Lexington’s median household income ($69,479) falls.

Bluegrass Community and Technical CollegeIn Lexington · sticker $13,902 · tuition $4,808$7,019a year
Georgetown College12.7 mi · Georgetown · sticker $56,886$9,797a year
University of KentuckyIn Lexington · sticker $34,391$16,313a year
Transylvania UniversityIn Lexington · sticker $60,993$19,272a year
Midway University14 mi · Midway · sticker $48,805$28,160a year

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.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Lexington: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Transylvania UniversityUniversity of KentuckyBluegrass Community and Technical CollegeGeorgetown CollegeMidway University
University of Kentucky71% graduate$59k earnings$22k typical debt
Bluegrass Community and Technical College43% graduate$36k earnings$10k typical debt
Midway University41% graduate$44k earnings$21k typical debt
Georgetown College49% graduate$52k earnings$25k 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, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.

Majors

What students study in Lexington

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Lexington’s 3 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

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
$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

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 Lexington

Is Lexington a college town?

No. About 11 of every 100 Lexington residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Kentucky (6). The largest campus in the town, the University of Kentucky, has 28,008 students on campus.

What colleges are in Lexington?

The University of Kentucky, Bluegrass Community and Technical College and Transylvania University are inside the town.

What is the closest community college to Lexington, and what does it cost?

Bluegrass Community and Technical College in Lexington, 2.7 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 the University of Kentucky cost if we live in Kentucky?

Tuition and fees are $13,502 a year in-state and $34,140 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $12,182 (under $30,000 income) to $26,781 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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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 Lexington. 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 →