University of Kentucky vs. University of Louisville
A side-by-side comparison of Kentucky and Louisville — acceptance rates (92.9% vs. 79%), SAT scores (1070–1270 vs. 1010–1230), tuition, financial aid, and majors, drawn from each school's official Common Data Set.
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Acceptance Rate
Overall acceptance rate, plus the in-state and out-of-state admit rates the school reports separately.
Admit rate by residency
% admittedEarly Action
Kentucky offers non-binding Early Action — an earlier decision with no commitment to enroll.
Standardized Tests
Kentucky is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Class Rank
Where Kentucky's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
Based on the 28.5% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. Kentucky does not publish an average GPA.
Admissions Factors
How Kentucky weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from Kentucky's Common Data Set. Only tuition changes with residency.
Out-of-state students pay $20,638 more — entirely in tuition. Room, board, and other costs are identical regardless of residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
Acceptance Rate
Overall acceptance rate, plus the in-state and out-of-state admit rates the school reports separately.
Admit rate by residency
% admittedEarly Admissions
Louisville does not offer an Early Decision or Early Action plan; all applicants apply through Regular Decision.
Standardized Tests
Louisville is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Class Rank
Where Louisville's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
Based on the 33.4% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. Louisville does not publish an average GPA.
Admissions Factors
How Louisville weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from Louisville's Common Data Set. Only tuition changes with residency.
Out-of-state students pay $16,346 more — entirely in tuition. Room, board, and other costs are identical regardless of residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
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Kentucky vs. Louisville: frequently asked questions
Is Kentucky or Louisville harder to get into?＋
Louisville is more selective: it admits about 79% of applicants, compared with 92.9% at Kentucky. Both are competitive, and your odds depend on far more than the overall rate.
Which has higher SAT scores, Kentucky or Louisville?＋
The middle 50% of admitted students scored 1070–1270 at Kentucky and 1010–1230 at Louisville on the SAT. Treat the ranges as a benchmark — a score inside or above a school's range keeps you competitive there.
Is Kentucky or Louisville cheaper for out-of-state students?＋
Louisville has the lower published price for out-of-state students — $30,288 in tuition and fees versus $34,140 at Kentucky, a gap of about $3,852 a year before financial aid.
Does Kentucky or Louisville have a higher graduation rate?＋
Kentucky graduates a higher share of its students within six years — 71% versus 61% at Louisville.
Source: University of Kentucky Common Data Set 2024-2025. Figures transcribed 2026-06-10. In-State Cost and Out-of-State Cost are from the 2023-2024 edition. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Kentucky. Banner photo by Daderot, via Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0).
Source: University of Louisville Common Data Set 2024-2025. Figures transcribed 2026-06-11. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Louisville. Banner photo by Censusdata, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).