Higher Education

Anchored by the state’s flagship university, the University of Kentucky, the Bluegrass boasts 10 colleges and universities within 40 miles of Lexington. In addition, Lexington has five other professional and technical colleges. In total, over 75,000 students are enrolled in institutions of higher learning in the Bluegrass, graduating close to 13,000 annually. In downtown Lexington specifically, an emphasis on Town & Gown has strengthened the links between downtown and the two institutions that sit next door, Transylvania University to the north and the University of Kentucky to the south. Joining this pair is a new campus for Bluegrass Community & Technical College, which will bring a triangle of higher education to surround the revitalized downtown area. 

University of Kentucky

The University of Kentucky is the Commonwealth's flagship university and its principal research institution. The Carnegie Foundation ranks UK as a Research I University, the only such institution in Kentucky and one of only 59 public universities in the nation so ranked. As part of UK's service mission to Kentucky, several programs have been established to aid in economic development. Among these are: The industrial extension program, operating out of the Center for Manufacturing Systems, serving manufacturers with education and technology transfer in areas such as computer-aided manufacturing, high productivity machining, materials handling and rapid prototyping.

The Kentucky Small Business Development Center, offering a wide range of consulting, seminars and technical assistance for businesses, operates a downtown Lexington training and resource center.

A joint MBA/BS degree program between the College of Business and Economics and the College of Engineering was established in 1994. This innovative five-year program is aimed at creating future leaders in high technology industry.

An emphasis on developing a worldclass College of Engineering, with degree programs in biomedical, chemical, civil, electrical, mechanical and mining engineering, materials science, computer science, and engineering mechanics.

The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship – an initiative of the Gatton School of Business and Economics – is a new resource at UK to help launch and grow new businesses. The Von Allmen Center is part of a statewide program and is one of six Innovation and Commercialization Centers in Kentucky.

Eastern Kentucky University

Eastern Kentucky University is a regional, coeducational, public institution of higher education offering general and liberal arts programs, pre-professional and professional training in education and various other fields at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Located in Richmond, Madison County, Kentucky, Eastern has a distinguished record of more than a century of educational service to the Commonwealth.

Bluegrass Community Technical College

Bluegrass Community Technical College is a post-secondary vocational institution located on the northwest side of Lexington. It offers career training in the areas of Business, Allied Health, and Technical Education. Services include: Evening Programs, Assessment Services and Customized Business and Industry Classes.

Strong business and industry support provides for relevant curricula, cooperative training sites and job placement opportunities. Students earning diplomas successfully complete exit competency exams. Employers are guaranteed that the students are competent in the skills for which they have been trained.

Articulation agreements in several programs allow graduates of Bluegrass Community Technical College to receive college credit toward an associate degree in their program continuum at select colleges and universities. The Southern Association of Schools accredits all schools.

Kentucky State University

A four-year institution of higher learning, located in Frankfort, Kentucky, Kentucky State University is a historically black university which desegregated in 1954. It is also a 1890 Land Grant university which serves the citizens of Kentucky through its cooperative extension program. More than half of the student body is African-American today. It is listed as "A Best Southeastern College" by the Princeton Review. The University is divided into three major colleges: College of Arts, Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies, College of Mathematics, Sciences, Technology and Health and the College of Professional Studies.

Georgetown College

Georgetown College is a Christian, liberal arts college combining historical Baptist tradition, quality academic programs, freedom of inquiry and encouragement to its students as global citizens to live, learn and believe with balance and respect.

Asbury University

With a commitment to academic excellence and spiritual vitality, Asbury University encourages more than 1,300 students to study, worship and serve together on a campus located 20 minutes southwest of Lexington in Wilmore, Kentucky. Primarily a four-year, multi-denominational institution, the University provides many opportunities for student involvement both on and off campus.

Berea College

Berea College was founded in 1855 as the first interracial and co-educational college in the South, Berea charges no tuition, and admits only academically promising students, primarily from Appalachia, who have limited economic resources. Berea’s cost of educating a student exceeds $23,000 per year. Berea offers rigorous undergraduate academic programs leading to Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in 28 fields.

Midway College

Midway College, Kentucky's women's college, seeks to serve the larger community by educating women intellectually, ethically, and spiritually to be productive participants in society, responsible citizens in a democracy, and conservators and reformers of the best elements of their culture.

Centre College

Founded in 1819, Centre College, located in Danville, Kentucky is a U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts college. Centre's promise to its students is "personal education, extraordinary success." The College delivers on this pledge from day one with small classes taught exclusively by challenging, dedicated professors and an all-learning, all-the-time campus environment that provides abundant opportunities for social interaction and leadership development.

Transylvania University

Recently ranked as one of nation's best colleges by The Princeton Review, Transylvania is the oldest college west of the Allegheny Mountains and the 16th oldest in the nation. Transylvania is a private, four year liberal arts college with a strong academic reputation. "Transy" has been consistently recognized in the top five of its category by U.S. News and World Report. Enrollment at Transylvania is over 1,100. Small classes offer students the opportunity for individual attention from the faculty.