University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky is the public land-grant flagship in Lexington, enrolling about 25,500 undergraduates in the heart of horse country. Admission is open and accessible — UK admitted roughly 93% of about 31,500 applicants for its most recent class, and enrolled first-years posted middle-50% SAT scores of 1070–1270 with an average high school GPA of 3.58. Business and marketing leads the degrees conferred at about 26%, followed by the health professions, and UK pairs one of the lower in-state tuition figures among SEC flagships with guaranteed scholarship review for every Early Action applicant.
See how Kentucky compares
Pick up to two rivals — or search any school.
Kentucky admissions statistics
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.
Writing your Kentucky application essay?
Esslo gives you line-by-line feedback on your Common App and supplemental essays — so your application stands out at Kentucky and beyond.
Frequently asked questions about Kentucky admissions
Is it hard to get into the University of Kentucky?＋
No, UK is one of the more accessible flagship universities. It admitted about 92.9% of roughly 31,500 applicants in the most recent cycle, so meeting the academic minimums and submitting a complete application puts most students in strong shape. Admission to selective programs and competitive scholarships runs tighter than the overall rate.
What are my chances of getting into the University of Kentucky from out of state?＋
Out-of-state applicants are admitted at nearly the same rate as Kentucky residents. In the Fall 2024 CDS data, UK admitted 94.5% of in-state applicants and 92.3% of out-of-state applicants, with international students at 93.4%. Out-of-state students make up about 39% of the first-year class, so non-residents have a real place at UK rather than facing a residency penalty at admission.
What GPA do you need to get into the University of Kentucky?＋
Enrolled first-years averaged a 3.58 high school GPA, and academic GPA and the rigor of your course load are weighed as very important factors. There is no hard cutoff, but a solid B average in a college-prep schedule (UK requires 24 academic units, including 4 of English and 3 each of math, science, and social studies) keeps you competitive.
Is the University of Kentucky test-optional?＋
Yes. UK is test-optional through the 2028-29 academic year, so you can apply without SAT or ACT scores. Among enrolled first-years who submitted, the middle 50% scored 1070–1270 on the SAT and 21–28 on the ACT. Scores are weighed as a considered factor, and UK applies a no-harm policy, so submitting strong scores can only help your scholarship review.
Is a 1200 SAT good enough for the University of Kentucky?＋
Yes, a 1200 is at or above the typical admitted student. The middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1070–1270 on the SAT (21–28 ACT), so a 1200 sits comfortably in the upper half. With an acceptance rate near 93%, a score in that band makes admission very likely and strengthens your case for merit scholarships.
How much does the University of Kentucky cost in-state vs. out-of-state?＋
Annual tuition and required fees run about $13,502 for Kentucky residents and $34,140 for out-of-state students, among the lower in-state prices in the SEC. Roughly 25% of first-years receive need-based aid, with an average need-based package near $17,506, and UK meets about 59% of demonstrated need on average.
What are the most popular majors at the University of Kentucky?＋
Business and marketing is the largest field at about 26% of bachelor's degrees, followed by the health professions at roughly 12% and education at about 8%. Communication and journalism, the life sciences, and psychology round out the most-conferred areas at this land-grant flagship.
Does the application essay matter at the University of Kentucky?＋
Yes. UK rates the application essay as a very important factor, on par with GPA and course rigor and above test scores, which are only considered. In a large, holistic-review pool, a specific and well-revised essay is a real chance to add context to your record and stand out for admission and scholarships.
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).