University of Kentucky acceptance rate and your odds of getting in
University of Kentucky is a public university in Kentucky that admits most qualified applicants (around 93%), which puts it in the accessible range. A rate like this means it admits most qualified applicants; the bar is less about clearing a single cutoff and more about how your full profile compares to admitted students.
Use this page to see what University of Kentucky weighs, where it ranks among Kentucky schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1280, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.
University of Kentucky application deadlines, 2026-27
What do students study at University of Kentucky?
Bachelor's degrees awarded by field in 2023 (IPEDS completions). Each field has its own page with the school's numbers, the model's major adjustment, and peers offering it.
Will I get into University of Kentucky?
Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into University of Kentucky, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.
What are my chances of getting into University of Kentucky?
At University of Kentucky, your real chance depends on far more than the published 93% admit rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for University of Kentucky in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.
Is University of Kentucky hard to get into?
University of Kentucky is accessible: it admits most qualified applicants, with about a 93% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.
What GPA do you need to get into University of Kentucky?
There is no hard GPA cutoff at University of Kentucky, but admitted students span a wide GPA range, with many in the 2.8 to 3.5 band. University of Kentucky reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.
Your chances at University of Kentucky by GPA and SAT
Estimated chance of admission at University of Kentucky for plain profiles, from the same model as the calculator. Unweighted GPA, 3 AP courses, Regular Decision, no legacy, athletic or first-generation hook. The last column is test-optional (no score sent).
What are my chances at University of Kentucky with a 3.1 GPA and a 1180 SAT?
About 98% (Safety), by CollegeCalcAI's deterministic model, for an applicant with a 3.1 unweighted GPA and a 1180 SAT, the middle of University of Kentucky's admitted range, applying Regular Decision without a hook. A 3.4 GPA with a 1290 SAT comes out near 98%. Courses, activities, essays and the application round move the number; the free calculator includes them.
Estimates, not guarantees. Get yours with your real courses and activities. Assistants and developers can fetch this table from the free API: /api/v1/colleges/university-of-kentucky.
How to get into University of Kentucky
Built from University of Kentucky's admitted class and what it reports weighing. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled figures, not published cutoffs.
Getting into University of Kentucky comes down to four decisions, each one visible in the data on this page.
CollegeCalcAI's modeled typical admit at University of Kentucky carries about a 2.98 core GPA and a 1240 SAT, in the most rigorous schedule available. Meeting it puts you in the admitted range for most applicants.
The admitted middle 50% is 1070 to 1290 SAT (21 to 28 ACT). Submit a score at 1180 or higher; below 1070, apply test-optional if the policy allows.
University of Kentucky rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores highest in its own Common Data Set. Put your depth there: and a transcript whose rigor rises through junior year.
Most public universities read early applicants first without a binding commitment. Apply by University of Kentucky's early or priority deadline (confirm dates at www.uky.edu), and if you are out of state, know that residency changes both the bar and the price.
How many students apply to University of Kentucky, and how many get in?
28,233 students applied to University of Kentucky for fall 2023; 26,083 were admitted (92.4%). 6,437 enrolled. Only about 25% of admitted students enrolled, so the school admits several students for every seat it expects to fill, which is why its acceptance rate reads higher than its selectivity feels. University of Kentucky enrolls about 24,763 undergraduates in total, 58% of them women, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 18 to 1.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 2023 admissions and enrollment.
What SAT and ACT scores do you need for University of Kentucky?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of Kentucky scored between 1070 and 1290 on the SAT (average 1215). On the ACT the middle 50% runs from 21 to 28. A score above 1290 puts you in the top quarter of admits and turns the test into an asset; a score below 1070 puts you in the bottom quarter, where the rest of the application has to carry more weight. University of Kentucky is test-optional: scores are considered if you submit them but not required. Send a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one and let your transcript lead.
Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10.
What University of Kentucky looks for
What University of Kentucky weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.
University of Kentucky signals that it values rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores above the rest of the file. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from University of Kentucky's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.
SAT score positioning at University of Kentucky
How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability. Your full profile determines the real estimate.
How much does University of Kentucky cost after financial aid?
University of Kentucky's published cost of attendance, before any aid, is roughly $34,391 per year. Tuition and fees are $13,502 for KY residents and $34,140 for out-of-state students, a $20,638 gap that makes residency the single biggest lever on cost. What families actually pay is different: the average net price after grants and scholarships is $18,851 a year, and it ranges from $12,182 for families earning under $30,000 to $26,781 for families earning over $110,000. 23% of undergraduates receive a federal Pell Grant.
Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Net price is what students receiving aid paid after grants, by family income.
What do University of Kentucky graduates earn, and how many graduate?
Ten years after enrolling, the median University of Kentucky student who received federal aid earns $59,025 a year, up from $47,266 at six years. 71% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 87% return for a second year. Among graduates who borrowed, median federal debt at graduation is $22,500; 34% of undergraduates take federal loans.
Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Earnings cover students who received federal aid.
How University of Kentucky compares in Kentucky
University of Kentucky ranks #17 most selective of 23 schools in Kentucky in our database.
Among the 23 Kentucky schools we track, University of Kentucky ranks #17 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Berea College (19%) and Brescia University (35%) sit nearby, which makes Kentucky a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list. As a public university, residency matters: in-state applicants generally see meaningfully better odds than the headline rate suggests.
Similar to University of Kentucky
Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.
If University of Kentucky is on your list, schools with a similar admit profile are worth a look: Cal State Northridge, Jackson State University, and Northwestern State University. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.
Frequently asked questions
What is University of Kentucky's acceptance rate?
University of Kentucky admitted 26,083 of 28,233 applicants for the fall 2023 entering class, an acceptance rate of 92.4% (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS). 25% of admitted students enrolled.
What SAT score do you need for University of Kentucky?
The middle 50% of admitted students scored 1070 to 1290 on the SAT and 21 to 28 on the ACT. A score above 1290 is in the top quarter of admits. University of Kentucky is test-optional, so only submit a score that helps.
Is University of Kentucky test-optional?
Yes. University of Kentucky reports that test scores are considered but not required. Submit a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one.
How much does University of Kentucky cost after financial aid?
The average net price at University of Kentucky, what students receiving aid paid after grants and scholarships, is $18,851 a year against a sticker price of about $34,391. Families earning under $30,000 paid about $12,182 on average.
What do University of Kentucky graduates earn?
Median earnings ten years after entering University of Kentucky are $59,025 a year among students who received federal aid, and 71% of students graduate within six years (College Scorecard).
What does University of Kentucky value most in applicants?
Based on its admissions profile, University of Kentucky weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.
Does University of Kentucky favor in-state applicants?
As a public university, University of Kentucky generally admits in-state applicants at a higher rate than out-of-state applicants, so your home state affects your odds. CollegeCalcAI applies an in-state residency boost when you select your state.
How can I improve my chances at University of Kentucky?
Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at University of Kentucky specifically.
How does residency affect admission to University of Kentucky?
As a public university, University of Kentucky typically admits in-state students at a higher rate, and tuition differs sharply by residency. Select your home state in the calculator to fold the in-state effect into your estimate.
Acceptance rate, application counts, admitted test ranges, cost, and outcomes reflect publicly reported federal data (U.S. Department of Education: IPEDS 2023 and the College Scorecard) and each school's Common Data Set; figures are rounded and lag the current cycle by one to two years, so confirm deadlines and policies on the school's own site. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled estimates. Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.