University of Kentucky

Lexington, KY | Public SchoolSchool’s Website
DEAN’S LIST UNIVERSITY SCORE:
D-

Overview:

Check out why the University of Kentucky received a D- grade in our Report Card below. 

The University of Kentucky is a public university located in Lexington, Kentucky. It is the largest university in the state with over 30,000 students enrolled across 16 colleges.

With university members referred to as the “Wildcats,” the university boasts over 200,000 graduates nationally, which include two Nobel Prize winners, actress Ashley Judd, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. The university is further known for its basketball teams, having become the first NCAA program to reach 1,000 and 2,000 total wins. The University of Kentucky’s basketball team has won 8 national titles and the athletics department has won over 30 championships across all sports.

 

Fast Facts:

Acceptance
Acceptance% Rate96%
Student to
Student toFaculty Ratio16:1
Enrollment Size
Enrollment Size(Undergrad number)22,227
In-State
In-StateTuition/Fees$12,610
Out-of-State
Out-of-StateTuition/Fees$31,608
Average Room
Average RoomAnd Board$14,186
Endowment
Endowment $1,312,971,000
4-Year
4-YearGraduation Rate51%
Professors on
Professors onProfessor Watchlist1

REPORT CARD:

The University of Kentucky receives a “D” grade by What Will They Learn? which takes into account the university’s educational prowess. Factors include composition, literature, foreign language, U.S. government or history, economics, mathematics, and natural science.

The University of Kentucky receives a “C” grade for the Average Salary of Recent Graduates. As of 2021, alumni with 0-5 years of experience after graduating from the University of Kentucky with a bachelor’s degree make $56,000 on average according to Payscale.

The University of Kentucky receives a “C” grade for the Average Salary of Graduates Mid-Career. As of 2021, alumni with 10+ years of experience after graduating from the University of Kentucky with a bachelor’s degree make $100,000 on average according to Payscale.

The University of Kentucky receives a “C+” grade for the Average Debt of Graduates (Federal and Private). In 2020, 53% of graduates accumulated student debt from federal and/or private sources according to The Institute for College Access & Success.

The University of Kentucky receives a “C-” grade for the Average Debt of Graduates (Federal and Private). In 2020, graduates accumulated $35,005 of debt on average from federal and/or private sources according to The Institute for College Access & Success.

The University of Kentucky receives an “F” grade for Mandated Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity Training for Staff. The university requires all supervisors to undergo training on 15 topics within 180 days of assuming their new roles. Courses include

  • Compensation
  • Diversity
  • Performance evaluation
  • Safe workplace
  • Managing teams
  • Hiring and interviewing
  • Delegation
  • Personality differences
  • Americans with Disabilities Act
  • Discrimination and harassment
  • Corrective action
  • Coaching and development
  • Policies and procedures
  • University Overview
  • Supervisor Toolkit

The University of Kentucky receives a “C” grade for having a Bias Reporting System but not a Bias Response Team.

Bias Reporting Systems and Response Teams are systems or teams of faculty, staff, and sometimes law enforcement. According to SpeechFirst, students are “encouraged to report ‘bias incidents’ to these boards (or teams) in the name of inclusion and tolerance, but it’s often unclear what the school considers ‘bias’ in the first place. Overly broad or vague definitions of bias put all kinds of speech at risk of being reported – even unpopular speech which is protected by the First Amendment.”

The University of Kentucky receives an “A+” grade for the Ratio of Right-Leaning Clubs to Left-Leaning Clubs. Out of a list of 20 clubs (10 from each side), the university has four right-leaning clubs and three left-leaning clubs. Turning Point USA, Young Americans for Freedom, the Federalist Society, and Prolife Wildcats are the four right-leaning clubs. Young Democratic Socialists of America, the Gender-Sexuality Alliance, and If/When/Now are the three left-leaning clubs.

The University of Kentucky receives an “A” grade due to having an active and thriving Turning Point USA chapter. Unfortunately, universities and Student Governments around the country often use their power to prevent certain clubs from operating on campus.

The University of Kentucky receives a “D” grade for In-State Tuition for Illegal Immigrants. Kentucky’s Residency Regulatory 13 KAR 2:045 allows undocumented students in Kentucky to receive in-state tuition rates.

The University of Kentucky receives a “D+” grade for the Amount of Foreign Funding Received. According to College Foreign Gift Reporting, the total amount of foreign funding the university has received is $4,207.41 per current undergraduate student. Oftentimes, foreign parties will convey their influence by funding certain courses, activities, professors, and organizations on campus. In certain cases, universities must abide by restrictions dictated by foreign parties to receive funding. In addition, there have been reports that claim that universities underreport foreign funding. The figure above only takes into account reported foreign funding.

The University of Kentucky receives a “C” grade for Required Equity, Diversity, or Inclusion Courses for Students. The College of Arts & Sciences requires all students to take a “Race and Ethnicity” class.

“Starting in the Fall 2021 semester, the University of Kentucky’s College of Arts & Sciences will implement a one-course Race and Ethnicity requirement for all majors, starting with incoming freshmen.”

The University of Kentucky receives an “A” grade for Segregated Dormitories, Graduations, and Classes. The University has no segregated dormitories, graduations, or classes on campus.

The University of Kentucky receives an “A” grade for Protests and Canceling Speakers. Since 2021, no conservative groups, events, or speakers were interrupted or protested.

The University of Kentucky receives a “C” grade for Mask and Vaccine Mandates. Vaccines and masks are optional for students on campus, but the university strongly encourages both.

The University of Kentucky receives a “C-” grade for the Percent of Students Graduating with STEM Degrees. According to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data Center (IPEDS), as of 2020, 5.87% of the current undergraduate student population graduate with a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) degree. Across the United States, students who graduate with STEM degrees tend to earn more on average than their other student counterparts.

The University of Kentucky receives a “B” grade for Crime Rates in University City or Town. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Lexington, Kentucky violent crime rate was 301.62 per 100,000 people in 2018, lower than the 2018 national average of 380.56 per 100,000 people. While campus safety is of utmost importance, it is also pertinent to consider the crime rates of the surrounding town or city as students often tend to venture off campus, especially after their freshman year.

The University of Kentucky receives a “C” grade for Required Western Civilization Courses for Students.

Each student is required to complete at least one course under the “Community, Culture, and Citizenship in the USA” category, which includes courses like “HIS 108 History of the United States Through 1876.” Courses on Greek and Western history are also offered, but not required.

Our Mission

educate

educate

Students & Parents Around The World

restore

restore

Common Sense In Our Institutions

motivate

motivate

Students & Parents To Take Action

Support Dean's List

DonateDonate

Sign up for our weekly watchlist newsletter.

Dean’s List is a project of Turning Point USA, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

2022 - Turning Point USA. All Rights Reserved.