These are the top-ranked colleges in Kentucky in 2024, U.S. News and World Report says

Several Kentucky colleges and universities have been recognized by the 2025 U.S. News and World Report Best College rankings released Tuesday.

The University of Kentucky and University of Louisville received the highest rankings in the state for national universities. Several Kentucky schools were also ranked in the top 100 among regional universities in the South.

Nearly 1,500 schools were ranked by U.S. News this year. Nationally, Princeton University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University were again ranked the top three universities.

“By considering factors such as social mobility and post-graduate success, we aim to help students choose schools that not only provide a quality education but also prepare them for a successful and fulfilling future,” said LaMont Jones, managing editor for Education at U.S. News.

While rankings can be a factor for parents and students when making a college decision, U.S. News and World Report has faced criticism from schools for its methodology.

In recent years, several top-ranked schools ended their participation in some of the rankings. A group of the country’s top law schools pulled their participation, including Yale, Harvard, Stanford and Georgetown. Harvard’s medical school also withdrew participation in the rankings. All cited concerns about how the rankings are created, and the potential incentives for schools to submit inaccurate data that could increase their rank.

U.S. News looks at 17 factors in the rankings, with consideration given to peer assessment, graduation rates, financial resources and faculty salaries.

Here’s how schools around Kentucky were ranked, compared to rankings from last year when available.

National Universities

152. University of Kentucky (159 last year)

179. University of Louisville (195)

273. Bellarmine University (280)

Top Public Schools

81. University of Kentucky (84 last year)

97. University of Louisville (106)

170. Eastern Kentucky University (188)

200. Western Kentucky University (195)

Regional Universities — South

20. Murray State University (31 last year)

31. Asbury University (24)

33. Morehead State University (45)

41. Spalding University (64)

65. Midway University (76)

82. Thomas More University (79)

97. Lindsey Wilson College (93)

104. Campbellsville University (100)

104. Union College (113)

Historically Black Colleges and Universities

32. Kentucky State University (32 last year)

National Liberal Arts Colleges

40. Berea College (30 last year)

59. Centre College (51)

108. Transylvania University (121)

178. Georgetown College

Regional Colleges — South

22. Kentucky Wesleyan College (22 last year)

36. Brescia University (44)

41. Kentucky State University (34)

47. Alice Lloyd College (34)

62. Kentucky Christian University (64)