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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Value General Economics Schools in Kentucky

3 Colleges in the United States
$22,784 Avg Student Debt
$52,271 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value General Economics Badge [General Economics](/majors/social-sciences/economics/economics-general/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 10 schools to find the best return on investment for general economics students.

What’s on this page:

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2026 Best Value General Economics Schools in Kentucky

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general economics, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value General Economics Schools

1
Western Kentucky University crest
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, KY

Western Kentucky University tops our 2026 list of the best value general economics schools in Kentucky. Set in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,652, while out-of-state students pay about $27,000. Typical student debt for general economics graduates is $19,500. General Economics graduates of Western Kentucky University earn a median of $53,857 early in their careers. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.

2

University Of Kentucky came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value general economics schools. Located in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,502, compared with $34,140 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general economics graduates is $26,942. Soon after graduation, general economics degree recipients from University Of Kentucky generally make around $41,713. Set against $26,942 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.

3

Students looking for strong value in general economics will find it at University Of Louisville, which ranked #3. University Of Louisville is a very large public school located in the city of Louisville. Students from in state pay about $13,136 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,482 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general economics graduates is $21,910. General Economics graduates of University Of Louisville earn a median of $58,534 early in their careers. Set against $21,910 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 10 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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