What is the Average Retention Rate in Kentucky?
The retention rate is the percentage of first-time students who attend and continue their study in next year at colleges. The low retention rate means that more students transfer out to or stop/pause the program at a school. In general, high ranked colleges or special purpose colleges' retention rate is higher than others.
The average retention rate of Kentucky colleges is 68.72% for full-time students and 47.85% for part-time students. 24,634 out of 32,661 full-time first-year students continued their study in next year at Kentucky colleges. In public Kentucky colleges, the retention rate is 70% and private schools' rate is 70% By school levels, the retention rate at four-years colleges is 73% and community colleges' rate is 66% in Kentucky.
The next schools are the top 5 Kentucky colleges that have the highest retention rate. University of Kentucky has the highest retention rate of 87% among Kentucky colleges. University of Louisville and Galen College of Nursing-Louisville also have higher rate of 81% and 80% respectively. For the ranking, we exclude community colleges and four-colleges with less than 1,000 first-time students.
- University of Kentucky Retention Rate: 87% (full-time), 39% (part-time)
- University of Louisville Retention Rate: 81% (full-time), 53% (part-time)
- Galen College of Nursing-Louisville Retention Rate: 80% (full-time), 32% (part-time)
- Western Kentucky University Retention Rate: 78% (full-time), 41% (part-time)
- Eastern Kentucky University Retention Rate: 77% (full-time), 30% (part-time)
The following table summarizes the average retention rate in Kentucky by school type and level.
| Total | Public | Private (not-for-profit) | Private (for-profit) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 68.72% | 70.29% | 70.08% | 66.21% |
| 4 Years Colleges | 72.97% | 75.50% | 71.73% | 80.00% |
| Community Colleges | 65.86% | 67.69% | - | 61.00% |
| Trade Schools | 65.74% | - | 52.00% | 67.05% |
The following table summarizes the retention rate and number of students by attending status for Kentucky collegesNumbers in parentheses in each column indicate the number of students in the corresponding category.
| Retention Rate | First-time Students | Enrolled in Next Year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time | 68.72% | 32,661 | 24,634 |
| Part-time | 47.85% | 5,103 | 2,568 |
The following table shows the Kentucky Colleges. You can see more schools and narrow down the results in search result page.
| School Name | Location | Tuition & Fees | Enrollment | Acceptance Rate | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alice Lloyd College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Pippa Passes, KY | $13,960 | 589 | 75.23% | 39% |
| Asbury University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Wilmore, KY | $33,640 | 2,100 | 63.40% | 65% |
| Asbury Theological Seminary Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Wilmore, KY | - | 1,689 | - | - |
| Ashland Community and Technical College Public, 2-4 years | Ashland, KY | $6,432 ($4,728) | 2,552 | - | 51% |
| Bellarmine University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Louisville, KY | $48,770 | 2,886 | 86.11% | 64% |
| Berea College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Berea, KY | $51,658 | 1,527 | 19.34% | 58% |
| PJ's College of Cosmetology-Bowling Green Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Bowling Green, KY | $18,616 | 219 | - | 64% |
| Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College Public, 2-4 years | Bowling Green, KY | $6,432 ($4,728) | 5,825 | - | 58% |
| Brescia University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Owensboro, KY | $31,550 | 690 | 35.24% | 54% |
| Campbellsville University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Campbellsville, KY | $27,998 | 10,836 | 79.74% | 42% |
| Bluegrass Community and Technical College Public, 2-4 years | Lexington, KY | $6,512 ($4,808) | 12,965 | - | 43% |
| Centre College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Danville, KY | $52,820 | 1,404 | 54.36% | 81% |
| Clear Creek Baptist Bible College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Pineville, KY | $10,720 | 183 | - | 38% |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Lexington Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Lexington, KY | $19,391 | 189 | - | 79% |
| Galen College of Nursing-Louisville Private (for-profit), four-years | Louisville, KY | $43,104 | 5,585 | - | 61% |
| University of the Cumberlands Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Williamsburg, KY | $9,875 | 22,120 | 98.81% | 50% |
| Eastern Kentucky University Public, four-years | Richmond, KY | $21,230 ($10,320) | 15,673 | 77.61% | 50% |
| Elizabethtown Community and Technical College Public, 2-4 years | Elizabethtown, KY | $6,432 ($4,728) | 6,420 | - | 59% |
| Frontier Nursing University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Versailles, KY | - | 2,664 | - | - |
| Georgetown College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Georgetown, KY | $42,840 | 1,345 | 91.06% | 49% |
| PJ's College of Cosmetology-Glasgow Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Glasgow, KY | $18,616 | 44 | - | 67% |
| Hazard Community and Technical College Public, 2-4 years | Hazard, KY | $6,432 ($4,728) | 3,134 | - | 48% |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Louisville Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Louisville, KY | $19,391 | 233 | - | 73% |
| Henderson Community College Public, 2-4 years | Henderson, KY | $6,432 ($4,728) | 1,944 | - | 35% |
| Hopkinsville Community College Public, 2-4 years | Hopkinsville, KY | $6,432 ($4,728) | 2,211 | - | 45% |
| Jefferson Community and Technical College Public, 2-4 years | Louisville, KY | $6,512 ($4,808) | 13,429 | - | 35% |
| Summit Salon Academy-Lexington Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Lexington, KY | $7,800 | 154 | 81.25% | 55% |
| American National University-Pikeville Private (for-profit), four-years | Pikeville, KY | $11,484 | 444 | - | 50% |
| Kentucky Mountain Bible College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Jackson, KY | $10,360 | 94 | 100.00% | 64% |
| Kentucky State University Public, four-years | Frankfort, KY | $13,578 ($9,387) | 2,020 | 96.08% | 32% |
| Kentucky Wesleyan College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Owensboro, KY | $34,673 | 887 | 71.60% | 47% |
| University of Kentucky Public, four-years | Lexington, KY | $34,140 ($13,502) | 34,709 | 92.94% | 71% |
| Kentucky Christian University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Grayson, KY | $26,300 | 550 | 60.91% | 37% |
| Lexington Theological Seminary Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Lexington, KY | $9,120 | 82 | - | - |
| Lindsey Wilson College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Columbia, KY | $27,808 | 4,193 | - | 44% |
| University of Louisville Public, four-years | Louisville, KY | $29,482 ($13,136) | 23,065 | 79.41% | 61% |
| Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Louisville, KY | - | 103 | - | - |
| Madisonville Community College Public, 2-4 years | Madisonville, KY | $6,432 ($4,728) | 3,569 | - | 49% |
| Maysville Community and Technical College Public, 2-4 years | Maysville, KY | $6,432 ($4,728) | 4,434 | - | 56% |
| Midway University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Midway, KY | $19,110 | 2,003 | 95.14% | 41% |
| Morehead State University Public, four-years | Morehead, KY | $14,980 ($10,024) | 8,791 | 77.21% | 52% |
| Murray State University Public, four-years | Murray, KY | $19,836 ($9,900) | 10,020 | 85.68% | 61% |
| Gateway Community and Technical College Public, 2-4 years | Florence, KY | $6,432 ($4,728) | 5,320 | - | 59% |
| Northern Kentucky University Public, four-years | Highland Heights, KY | $21,912 ($11,088) | 15,347 | 67.65% | 52% |
| West Kentucky Community and Technical College Public, 2-4 years | Paducah, KY | $6,432 ($4,728) | 5,274 | - | 50% |
| University of Pikeville Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Pikeville, KY | $24,850 | 2,547 | - | 42% |
| Big Sandy Community and Technical College Public, 2-4 years | Prestonsburg, KY | $6,432 ($4,728) | 2,618 | - | 38% |
| Empire Beauty School-Chenoweth Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Louisville, KY | $17,145 | 100 | - | 57% |
| Empire Beauty School-Elizabethtown Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Elizabethtown, KY | $18,345 | 171 | - | 51% |
| Empire Beauty School-Dixie Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Louisville, KY | $18,345 | 119 | - | 52% |
| Empire Beauty School-Florence Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Florence, KY | $17,145 | 124 | - | 75% |
| Somerset Community College Public, 2-4 years | Somerset, KY | $6,432 ($4,728) | 6,155 | - | 43% |
| Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College Public, 2-4 years | Cumberland, KY | $6,432 ($4,728) | 3,371 | - | 47% |
| The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Louisville, KY | $11,046 | 4,298 | 55.87% | 40% |
| Spalding University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Louisville, KY | $29,000 | 1,553 | 99.45% | 52% |
| Sullivan University Private (for-profit), four-years | Louisville, KY | $15,480 | 2,498 | - | 71% |
| Thomas More University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Crestview Hills, KY | $39,025 | 2,350 | 90.35% | 40% |
| Transylvania University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Lexington, KY | $46,870 | 1,006 | 86.55% | 71% |
| Union College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Barbourville, KY | $30,946 | 1,324 | 63.15% | 32% |
| Western Kentucky University Public, four-years | Bowling Green, KY | $27,000 ($11,652) | 16,291 | 93.87% | 56% |
| Appalachian Beauty School Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Belfry, KY | $12,365 | 49 | - | 56% |
| Beckfield College-Florence Private (for-profit), four-years | Florence, KY | $13,295 | 536 | - | 32% |
| Owensboro Community and Technical College Public, 2-4 years | Owensboro, KY | $6,432 ($4,728) | 4,875 | - | 54% |
| Allure Beauty College Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Whitesburg, KY | $11,100 | 17 | - | 53% |
| Interactive College of Technology-Newport Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | Newport, KY | $10,970 | 101 | - | 30% |
| Ross College-Hopkinsville Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | Hopkinsville, KY | $16,297 | 90 | - | 61% |
| Brighton Center's Center for Employment Training Private (not-for-profit), less than 2-years | Newport, KY | $9,185 | 53 | - | 27% |
| Employment Solutions-College for Technical Education Private (not-for-profit), less than 2-years | Lexington, KY | $17,795 | 203 | - | 63% |
| ATA College Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | Louisville, KY | $14,200 | 363 | - | 46% |
| Lexington Healing Arts Academy Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Lexington, KY | $11,500 | 78 | - | - |
| Lindsey Institute of Cosmetology Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Bowling Green, KY | $15,100 | 56 | - | 83% |
| Simmons College of Kentucky Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Louisville, KY | $16,398 | 506 | 100.00% | 14% |
| Ideal Beauty Academy Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Louisville, KY | $13,500 | 2 | - | 95% |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Bowling Green Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Bowling Green, KY | $16,297 | 57 | - | 74% |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Erlanger Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Erlanger, KY | $16,297 | 77 | - | 60% |
| MedQuest College Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | Louisville, KY | $15,680 | 524 | - | 59% |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Owensboro Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Owensboro, KY | $16,297 | 38 | - | 61% |
| American College of Barbering Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Louisville, KY | $17,675 | 84 | - | 62% |
| Kentucky Horseshoeing School Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Richmond, KY | $30,000 | 31 | - | 83% |
| Regina Webb Academy Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Bowling Green, KY | $15,500 | 23 | - | 100% |
| Medical Career & Technical College Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Richmond, KY | $19,575 | 235 | - | 56% |
| Galen College of Nursing-ARH Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | Hazard, KY | $16,364 | 350 | - | 63% |
| South Eastern Beauty Academy Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Paintsville, KY | $12,400 | 45 | - | 41% |
| Edge Academy of Beauty Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Manchester, KY | $16,626 | 56 | - | 100% |
| Galen Health Institutes-Pikeville Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | Pikeville, KY | $16,364 | 169 | - | - |
| PJ's College of Cosmetology- Louisville Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Louisville, KY | $18,616 | - | - | - |
| American College of Barbering - Florence Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Florence, KY | $17,675 | - | - | - |
Related Kentucky Statistics
- Graduation Rate Statistics Comparison Between Kentucky Best Schools
- Graduation Rate Statistics Comparison Between All Kentucky Schools
- Core Statistics for College Graduation Rate Stats at Kentucky
- Average Kentucky Graduation Rate Statistics
- Colleges with Highest Graduation Rate in Kentucky
- Colleges with Lowest Graduation Rate in Kentucky
- Lowest Students to Faculty Ratio in Kentucky
- Highest Students to Faculty Ratio in Kentucky