Kentucky · Frankfort
Kentucky State University
Kentucky's public 1890 land-grant HBCU, founded in 1886 in Frankfort as the State Normal School for Colored Persons.
Snapshot
At a glance
Undergraduate enrollment
1,309
Admission rate
96%
Retention (first-year)
64%
Completion (150% of time)
32%
Pell recipients
58%
Black undergraduate share
79%
These figures come from federal college data updated May 26, 2026. A dash means the number was not available.
Student body
Undergraduate composition
Black
79%
Hispanic
2%
White
8%
Asian
0%
American Indian / Alaska Native
0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander
0%
Two or more races
4%
Nonresident
1%
Unknown
5%
Percentages may not add to 100% when a category is not reported.
Costs
Tuition and financial aid
Tuition, in-state
$9,387
Tuition, out-of-state
$13,658
Median federal loan debt
$12,250
Federal loan recipients
56%
Pell recipients
58%
Sticker tuition only. Real cost after federal, state, and institutional aid is typically lower — see the school’s net price calculator.
Outcomes
Earnings, retention, and completion
Median earnings, 6 years
$29,640
Median earnings, 10 years
$36,382
Median debt
$12,250
Retention
64%
Completion
32%
Earnings and debt are shown only when federal data is available.
Institution
Campus and classification
Accreditor
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Campus setting
Town: distant
Carnegie basic
Baccalaureate colleges: diverse fields
Undergraduate profile
Full-time four-year, more selective, lower transfer-in
Size and setting
Small four-year, highly residential
Average faculty salary
$7,036 monthly
Full-time faculty share
56%
DOE unit ID
157058
These labels describe the school’s size, location, and academic mix. They are not rankings.
Test scores
SAT and ACT
SAT (average)
870
ACT composite (25th–75th)
14–17
Middle 50% of enrolled first-year students who submitted scores. Many HBCUs are test-optional or test-flexible; confirm the current policy at admissions.
45 programs
Academic programs
Undergraduate certificate · 8
- Agricultural Business and Management
- Agricultural Production Operations
- Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
- Food Science and Technology
- Journalism
- Natural Resources Conservation and Research
- Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
- Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
Associate · 2
- Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
Bachelor · 23
- Accounting and Related Services
- Agriculture, General
- Biology, General
- Business Administration, Management and Operations
- Business/Commerce, General
- Chemistry
- Computer and Information Sciences, General
- Criminal Justice and Corrections
- English Language and Literature, General
- Fine and Studio Arts
- Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
- Journalism
- Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
- Mathematics
- Music
- Political Science and Government
- Psychology, General
- Public Administration
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
- Social Sciences, General
- Social Work
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
Master · 9
- Agricultural Production Operations
- Business Administration, Management and Operations
- Business/Commerce, General
- Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
- Computer and Information Sciences, General
- Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management
- Natural Resources Conservation and Research
- Public Administration
- Special Education and Teaching
First professional · 1
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
Graduate certificate · 2
- Agricultural Production Operations
- Natural Resources Conservation and Research
This is a broad program list. Check the school’s own catalog for current majors, minors, concentrations, and course details.