[hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”aboveTheFold” /] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Home to outstanding private and public institutions of higher learning, Kentucky offers online programs that meet the needs of employers around the world.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Earning an online bachelor’s degree in Kentucky is a convenient, flexible option for first-year and returning students. Working professionals and individuals looking to change career paths also benefit from the programs found at accredited online colleges in Kentucky. Kentucky offers undergraduate and graduate programs through roughly 70 community and technical colleges and universities.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nationally ranked schools, like University of Kentucky (UK) and University of Louisville (UofL), provide online undergraduate and graduate degrees in healthcare, manufacturing, and technical fields. Other leading colleges and universities in Kentucky have outstanding academic programs that train enrollees for careers in the automotive industry, agritechnology, and aerospace design and production.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Local students at online colleges in Kentucky benefit from the state’s low cost of living, historic parks, and sports and music traditions. This guide ranks the best online colleges in Kentucky and provides salary and career data.[/hen-ui-text] ​ [hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”editorialListings” /] ​ ​ [hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″ id=””]The Best Online Colleges in Kentucky[/hen-ui-heading] ​ ​ [hen-ui-grid columns-md=”2″ gap=”md”] [/hen-ui-grid] ​ [hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″ id=”employment”]Employment in Kentucky[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The top industries in Kentucky include manufacturing, healthcare, and agritechnology. Kentucky also hosts major aerospace and automotive design and assembly plants, which provide thousands of local jobs each year.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Kentucky has received [hen-ui-link href=”https://ced.ky.gov/Existing_Industries/Healthcare/” target=”_blank”]$555 million[/hen-ui-link] in investments into the [hen-ui-link href=”/careers/career-guide/medical-careers/”]healthcare industry[/hen-ui-link] since 2014, adding nearly 6,500 jobs. Manufacturing companies in the commonwealth maintain facilities across Kentucky, while its location makes it a hub for [hen-ui-link href=”/rankings/bachelors/best-online-bachelors-supply-chain-logistics/”]logistics and distribution services[/hen-ui-link] that [hen-ui-link href=”https://ced.ky.gov/Existing_Industries/Logistics_Distribution/” target=”_blank”]span the country[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The Kentucky unemployment rate continues to decline as COVID-related restrictions ease. The unemployment rate in Kentucky reached 5% in March 2021, which is close to the pre-COVID low of [hen-ui-link href=”https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LASST210000000000003?amp%253bdata_tool=XGtable&output_view=data&include_graphs=true” target=”_blank”]4.1% in January 2020[/hen-ui-link]. The mean annual wage in Kentucky was [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ky.htm/” target=”_blank”]about $46,000[/hen-ui-link] in May 2020, with those in managerial and administrative positions earning higher pay.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The cost of living in Kentucky sits significantly lower than the national average. While the overall [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bestplaces.net/cost_of_living/state/kentucky/” target=”_blank”]cost of living index is 83.6[/hen-ui-link] (based on a national average of 100), residents benefit from a housing cost index at 63.3 and lower-than-average expenses for transportation, utilities, groceries, and healthcare.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The following information details the highest-paying roles in Kentucky employing more than 1,000 individuals that are available to bachelor’s degree-holders. Salary information is specific to Kentucky, while job growth data pertains to the United States as a whole.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-table] [hen-ui-table-caption]Highest-Paying Careers for an Individual With a Bachelor’s Degree[/hen-ui-table-caption] [hen-ui-table-header] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Career[/hen-ui-table-head] [hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Annual Median Salary (2020)[/hen-ui-table-head] [hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)[/hen-ui-table-head] [/hen-ui-table-row] [/hen-ui-table-header] [hen-ui-table-body] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Career”]Chief Executives[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Annual Median Salary (2020)”]$162,670[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)”][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/top-executives.htm/” target=”_blank”]-10%[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Career”]Architectural and Engineering Managers[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Annual Median Salary (2020)”]$123,620[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)”][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/architectural-and-engineering-managers.htm/” target=”_blank”]3%[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Career”]Computer and Information Systems Managers[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Annual Median Salary (2020)”]$122,360[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)”][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/computer-and-information-systems-managers.htm/” target=”_blank”]10%[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Career”]Marketing Managers[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Annual Median Salary (2020)”]$120,430[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)”][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/advertising-promotions-and-marketing-managers.htm/” target=”_blank”]6%[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Career”]Sales Managers[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Annual Median Salary (2020)”]$117,530[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)”][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/sales-managers.htm/” target=”_blank”]4%[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Career”]Financial Managers[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Annual Median Salary (2020)”]$111,010[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)”][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/financial-managers.htm/” target=”_blank”]15%[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [/hen-ui-table-body] [/hen-ui-table] Source: [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ky.htm/” target=”_blank”]Bureau of Labor Statistics[/hen-ui-link] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The following data reflects the highest-paying roles employing more than 15,000 professionals in Kentucky. Salary figures apply specifically to Kentucky, while job growth data refers to the entire United States.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-table] [hen-ui-table-caption]Most Common Careers in Kentucky[/hen-ui-table-caption] [hen-ui-table-header] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Career[/hen-ui-table-head] [hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Annual Mean Salary (2020)[/hen-ui-table-head] [hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)[/hen-ui-table-head] [hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Education Required[/hen-ui-table-head] [/hen-ui-table-row] [/hen-ui-table-header] [hen-ui-table-body] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Career”]Registered Nurses[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Annual Mean Salary (2020)”]$64,730[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)”][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm/” target=”_blank”]7%[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Education Required”]Bachelor’s[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Career”]General and Operations Managers[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Annual Mean Salary (2020)”]$92,650[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)”][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/top-executives.htm/” target=”_blank”]6%[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Education Required”]Bachelor’s[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Career”]Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representatives[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Annual Mean Salary (2020)”]$69,130[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)”][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/ooh/sales/wholesale-and-manufacturing-sales-representatives.htm/” target=”_blank”]2%[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Education Required”]High School Diploma or Bachelor’s Degree[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Career”]Project Management Specialists[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Annual Mean Salary (2020)”]$71,880[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)”][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/ooh/about/data-for-occupations-not-covered-in-detail.htm/” target=”_blank”]6%[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Education Required”]Bachelor’s[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Career”]First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Annual Mean Salary (2020)”]$62,610[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)”][hen-ui-link href=”http://bls.gov/ooh/about/data-for-occupations-not-covered-in-detail.htm/” target=”_blank”]0%[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Education Required”]High School Diploma[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Career”]Accountants and Auditors[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Annual Mean Salary (2020)”]$70,710[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)”][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/accountants-and-auditors.htm/” target=”_blank”]4%[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Education Required”]Bachelor’s[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Career”]Software Developers[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Annual Mean Salary (2020)”]$92,480[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)”][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/software-developers.htm/” target=”_blank”]22%[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Education Required”]Bachelor’s[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [/hen-ui-table-body] [/hen-ui-table] Source: [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ky.htm/” target=”_blank”]Bureau of Labor Statistics[/hen-ui-link] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″ id=”degrees”]Online Associate and Graduate Degrees[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]An online associate degree prepares students to [hen-ui-link href=”/resources/transfer-credits-online-colleges/”]continue on to bachelor’s degrees[/hen-ui-link], and bachelor’s degrees provide a pathway to graduate programs. With the transition to online-only education during the COVID-19 pandemic, [hen-ui-link href=”/rankings/online-colleges/”]online degrees[/hen-ui-link] have expanded in scope and breadth.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Students can access over 140 online degree programs through the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. Online associate degrees include business administration programs with tracks in human resource management and general management.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Learners can also earn online associate degrees in criminal justice, with concentrations in corrections, law enforcement, or security and loss prevention. Additional online associate degrees include logistics and operations management and medical information technology, both of which align with careers in Kentucky’s major industries.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Online graduate programs integrate synchronous and asynchronous components to meet the needs of learners from diverse backgrounds. For example, prospective students looking to earn an [hen-ui-link href=”https://gatton.uky.edu/programs/mba/programs/real-time-online-mba/” target=”_blank”]online master’s degree[/hen-ui-link] in business administration can apply to [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.wku.edu/mba/online/” target=”/"_blank"”]Western Kentucky University[/hen-ui-link] (WKU) or UK. The [hen-ui-link href=”http://louisville.edu/online/programs/masters/master-of-science-in-criminal-justice/” target=”_blank”]criminal justice online master’s degree[/hen-ui-link] at UofL allows enrollees to explore criminal punishment, cybercrime, and juvenile justice.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-grid columns=”1″ columns-md=”2″ gap=”md”] [hen-ui-article-card title=”What to Look for in an Online College” href=”/resources/what-to-look-for-online-college/” size=”compact” border=”stroke”][/hen-ui-article-card] [hen-ui-article-card title=”How to Pick a College” href=”/resources/how-to-pick-a-college/” size=”compact” border=”stroke”][/hen-ui-article-card] [/hen-ui-grid] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″ id=”accreditation”]Accreditation for Online Programs of Study[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Always ensure that your prospective school holds [hen-ui-link href=”/resources/accreditation/”]national or regional accreditation[/hen-ui-link]. Accreditation attests to the quality and types of programs an institution offers. This recognition is important for all programs, including those found online.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Students should look into the accreditation status of potential institutions as they explore their options. Accreditation status can affect financial aid, transfer opportunities, and reputability to potential employers. National accreditation often indicates a school provides more technical and career-oriented programs, while regional accreditation is conferred to institutions with more academically rigorous offerings.[/hen-ui-text] ​ ​ [hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″ id=”faqs”]Frequently Asked Questions[/hen-ui-heading] ​ [hen-ui-accordion variant=”no-background”] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”What’s the Best College in Kentucky?” expanded=”true”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The best college is the one that meets your needs for personal fulfillment and professional growth. However, University of Louisiana and University of Kentucky rank among the best state programs.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”Which Public Colleges Are in Kentucky?” expanded=”true”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Kentucky is home to public colleges such as University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, and Kentucky State University. Additional public colleges include Western Kentucky University, Northern Kentucky University, Eastern Kentucky University, Morehead State University, and Murray State University.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”Is Kentucky a Good Place to Go to School?” expanded=”true”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Colleges and universities in Kentucky offer outstanding academic programs. If its schools provide programs that suit your personal and professional aspirations, Kentucky is a great place to be.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [/hen-ui-accordion] [hen-ui-section-header title=”Popular with our students.” /] [hen-ui-article-row variant=”2-col” ids=”970,1538,905″][/hen-ui-article-row]