The Best Bachelor's in Accounting Programs in Kentucky for 2027
Key Points: Best Accounting Bachelor's Programs in Kentucky
- Asbury University ranks #1 in Kentucky on an 82.8 Program Score, with a 65% graduation rate.
- University of Kentucky graduates the most students on this list (71%), from #2.
- The hardest to get into is Brescia University (#3), which admits 35% of applicants.
- Private schools hold most of the places on this list.
- Cost and quality are not opposites here: the lowest-tuition program on the list, Western Kentucky University, ranks #7.
- Programs analyzed
- 8
- In-state tuition range
- $11,652-$47,180
- Average graduation rate
- 62%
- Median salary (BLS)
- $87,660
We analyzed 8 business programs in Kentucky on graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes to rank where a bachelor of accounting actually pays off. In-state tuition among the 8 ranked programs in Kentucky runs from $11,652 to $47,180 a year, a $35,528 spread for the same credential.
Asbury University tops the list with an 82.8 Program Score on a 65% graduation rate, at $33,072 a year in-state. Across all 8 ranked schools, the average graduation rate is 62%, ranging from 47% to 71%. The national median pay in the field is $87,660 a year per the BLS, the same benchmark every ranked school here feeds into regardless of tuition paid.
The Top Accounting Bachelor's Programs in Kentucky at a Glance
Asbury leads at 82.8, and Kentucky Wesleyan College closes the chart at 66.1. Longer bars rank higher.
How the Accounting Bachelor's Programs in Kentucky Are Scored
Each Program Score runs from 0 to 100: outcomes count for 44%, selectivity and academics for 38%, and scale and value for 18%, all from federal data. See how the weights work.
The 8 Best Accounting Bachelor's Programs in Kentucky, Ranked for 2027
The 8 best Accounting Bachelor's Programs in Kentucky, ranked by outcomes.
Asbury University
Wilmore, KY · Nonprofit · online option
- Grad rate
- 65%
- Admit rate
- 63%
- In-state
- $33,072
- Out-of-state
- $33,072
Asbury University's accounting B.A. totals 124 credits, with 60 in the major, and ties into +Grad MBA and MSAC programs for the 150 hours many states require for the CPA.
- 65% graduation rate
- Program Score 82.8
- $33,072 tuition for all students
- 124-credit B.A. with +Grad option
Asbury University offers a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting through its Dayton School of Business, listed as an on-campus program. The degree totals 124 credits: 60 in the major (39 business core and 21 accounting core), 47 in general education and 17 electives. Students cover fundamental and advanced accounting, business law and taxes, and learn to prepare federal tax returns and evaluate statements for risk and fraud. The program approaches the work through a Christian, liberal arts lens, and students can take an Accounting in Nonprofits course. Because many state boards require 150 credit hours for the CPA, the school recommends adding its +Grad MBA or MSAC, which it says offers an accelerated master's with time and cost savings.
Asbury reports a 65% graduation rate and admits about 63% of applicants. Tuition is $33,072 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program has a Program Score of 82.8 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a faith-centered campus in Wilmore and a clear plan for reaching CPA eligibility through a combined master's.
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY · Public
- Grad rate
- 71%
- Admit rate
- 93%
- In-state
- $12,109
- Out-of-state
- $32,747
A 120-credit Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the Von Allmen School of Accountancy, which the school reports has held AACSB accounting accreditation since 1988.
- 71% graduation rate
- Program Score 81.2
- $12,109 in-state tuition
- 120-credit BSA with Pre-Accounting entry
The University of Kentucky offers a Bachelor of Science in Accounting (BSA) through the Von Allmen School of Accountancy in the Gatton College of Business and Economics. The degree takes 120 credit hours and covers financial reporting, managerial accounting, taxation and auditing. Students enter as Pre-Accounting majors and are fully admitted once they finish the pre-major requirements. The school reports that its accounting programs have held AACSB accreditation since 1988 and that its students are regularly recruited by Deloitte, EY, KPMG, PwC and other CPA firms. The page also points graduates toward the CPA and notes that licensure rules outside Kentucky should be checked.
Federal data show a 71% graduation rate at Kentucky and an admit rate of 93%, so the school is accessible to most applicants. In-state tuition is $12,109 against $32,747 for out-of-state students. The program earns a Program Score of 81.2 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a conventional on-campus accounting degree at a large public university, with a direct path toward public accounting, corporate finance or government work, and who are comfortable applying first as a pre-major.
Brescia University
Owensboro, KY · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 54%
- Admit rate
- 35%
- In-state
- $30,500
- Out-of-state
- $30,500
Brescia University's accounting curriculum runs eleven accounting courses, from intermediate accounting to auditing and separate individual and entity taxation.
- 54% graduation rate
- Program Score 79.6
- $30,500 tuition for all students
- Separate individual and entity tax courses
Brescia University's accounting page lists the course sequence rather than a program overview. It includes Principles of Accounting I and II, Intermediate Accounting I and II, Advanced Managerial Accounting, Advanced Accounting, Governmental and Nonprofit Accounting, Federal Individual Taxation, Federal Entity Taxation and Auditing, each three credit hours, plus an independent study option. Auditing carries some coverage of internal auditing. Business support courses include business law, business statistics and management information systems, and a senior capstone business policy course integrates the functional areas of business using cases. The listing shows a conventional accounting major that covers financial reporting, managerial accounting, tax and audit.
Brescia reports a 54% graduation rate and admits about 35% of applicants. Tuition is $30,500 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program has a Program Score of 79.6 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a small campus in Owensboro and a major with dedicated tax and governmental accounting coursework. The page does not state credit-hour totals, formats or accreditation, so confirm those details with the school.
Transylvania University
Lexington, KY · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 71%
- Admit rate
- 87%
- In-state
- $44,880
- Out-of-state
- $44,880
Graduates can sit for the CPA exam on completing the undergraduate degree, according to the program page, without first earning a graduate degree.
- 71% graduation rate
- Program Score 75.3
- $44,880 tuition
- CPA exam eligibility at graduation
Transylvania University's accounting major in Lexington is built on a broad curriculum meant to teach students to collect complex financial data, analyze it and communicate it. Students take field trips to local businesses to discuss accounting procedures, can assist professors with research, take part in Vita Tax Aid community service and pursue internships with area firms. Courses of special interest include partnership accounting, governmental accounting, income taxation, forensic accounting and equine accounting. The program says its graduates may sit for the CPA exam upon completing the undergraduate degree, despite the 150-semester-hour rule elsewhere in the profession. Study abroad options are also listed.
Federal data show a 71% graduation rate at Transylvania and an admit rate of 87%. Tuition is $44,880 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program has a Program Score of 75.3 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a small private liberal arts setting with internships, faculty attention and a stated route to the CPA exam, and who are prepared for the higher sticker price of a private nonprofit college in exchange for a school of about 1,000 students.
Sullivan University
Louisville, KY · For-profit · online option
- Grad rate
- 71%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- In-state
- $15,480
- Out-of-state
- $15,480
A bachelor's in accounting that takes an estimated 36 to 48 months and can be completed on campus or online, built around CMA preparation.
- 71% graduation rate
- Program Score 74.7
- $15,480 tuition
- On campus or online
Sullivan University's B.S. in Accounting blends accounting, business and IT skills and prepares students for roles in public accounting, management accounting and tax. The page lists an estimated time to completion of 36 to 48 months and says the degree can be taken on campus or online, at the Louisville campus, the Lexington location or through online learning. The curriculum includes computerized accounting, payroll accounting, federal taxation, intermediate accounting, auditing and a bachelor's capstone, and students complete a full accounting cycle through a practice set. The school says the degree prepares students to pursue the CMA (Certified Management Accountant) certification.
Federal data show a 71% graduation rate, and Sullivan is an open admission school, so there is no selective admit rate to clear. Tuition is $15,480 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program has a Program Score of 74.7 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It suits working adults and career changers who want flexibility between campus and online study and a hands-on, small-class format, particularly those aiming at management accounting and the CMA rather than a traditional large-university route.
Bellarmine University
Louisville, KY · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 64%
- Admit rate
- 86%
- In-state
- $47,180
- Out-of-state
- $47,180
Bellarmine University juniors can complete full-time spring "busy season" audit or tax internships, and the program plans a route to the 150 CPA credit hours.
- 64% graduation rate
- Program Score 74.3
- 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio
- Spring busy season internships
Bellarmine University offers a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting through the W. Fielding Rubel School of Business. It is an on-campus, 120-hour degree. The page describes preparation in technical accounting, business insight, communication and ethics for public accounting, corporate finance and nonprofit leadership. Students can reach the 150 credit hours required for the CPA exam through a minor, a dual major or an accelerated BA/MBA, and people who already hold a degree can pursue a Certificate in Professional Accounting. Juniors can take full-time busy season audit or tax internships in the spring semester, and other students hold part-time roles at corporations and CPA firms. The page lists a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
Bellarmine reports a 64% graduation rate and admits about 86% of applicants. Tuition is $47,180 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program has a Program Score of 74.3 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It suits students who want a private campus in Louisville with early professional experience and flexible ways to add the extra credit hours for licensure. Prospective students should ask about financial aid.
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, KY · Public
- Grad rate
- 56%
- Admit rate
- 94%
- In-state
- $11,652
- Out-of-state
- $27,000
A 75-hour accounting major inside a 120-hour degree, with a JUMP option to finish a bachelor's and the Master of Accountancy and Data Analysis in as little as five years.
- 56% graduation rate
- Program Score 69
- $11,652 in-state tuition
- JUMP bachelor's plus master's in five years
Western Kentucky University's Bachelor of Science in Accounting sits in the Gordon Ford College of Business. The major requires 75 hours of professional and elective coursework within the 120 hours needed for a bachelor's degree: a 27-hour business core, a 6-hour career preparation curriculum and 42 hours of accounting coursework spanning financial reporting, cost and managerial accounting, information systems, taxation and auditing. It is a single track, with final electives in taxation, auditing and assurance, data analytics, or governmental and not-for-profit accounting. The Joint Undergraduate Master's Program (JUMP) lets students complete both the bachelor's and the Master of Accountancy and Data Analysis in as little as five years.
Federal data show a 56% graduation rate and a 94% admit rate at WKU. In-state tuition is $11,652 and out-of-state tuition is $27,000. The program has a Program Score of 69 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want an affordable in-state public option with career coaching and a clear plan for the extra coursework toward CPA licensure, especially those interested in combining accounting with data analytics through the accelerated master's pathway.
Kentucky Wesleyan College
Owensboro, KY · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 47%
- Admit rate
- 72%
- In-state
- $33,180
- Out-of-state
- $33,180
Kentucky Wesleyan College prepares accounting students for the CPA exam with a 66 to 67 semester hour major and internships with firms, corporations and nonprofits.
- 47% graduation rate
- Program Score 66.1
- $33,180 tuition for all students
- CPA track at 150 hours
Kentucky Wesleyan College offers accounting as a major with B.A. and B.S. options, listed for both on-campus and online study. Students complete 66 to 67 semester hours within the major, covering Principles of Accounting I and II, Intermediate and Advanced Accounting, Cost Accounting, Auditing and Federal Taxation, along with business courses in management, marketing and business strategy. The Bachelor of Arts requires foreign language proficiency, and the CPA track completes 150 hours with added coursework in economics, business, computer information systems and English. The page describes small classes, faculty mentoring, internships with firms, corporations and nonprofits, and case studies and simulations. The school reports IACBE accreditation for its business programs.
Kentucky Wesleyan reports a 47% graduation rate and admits about 72% of applicants. Tuition is $33,180 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program has a Program Score of 66.1 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a small campus in Owensboro, hands-on internships and a defined route to the 150 hours for CPA licensure.
Open admission: the school admits every qualified applicant, so it reports no admit rate.
Graduation Rates at the Ranked Accounting Bachelor's Programs in Kentucky
The median school on this list graduates 65% of its students. The highest rates belong to University of Kentucky (71%) and Transylvania University (71%). The top graduation rate is not at the #1 school, because the score also weighs selectivity, cost, and earnings.
- #2 University of Kentucky71% graduation rate
- #4 Transylvania University71% graduation rate
- #5 Sullivan University71% graduation rate
Institution-wide graduation rates reported to IPEDS. They describe the whole school, not this program alone.
How Selective Are the Accounting Bachelor's Programs in Kentucky?
On this list, 1 of 8 schools is open-admission, taking every qualified applicant. Of the rest, 1 school admits fewer than half of applicants, the most selective being Brescia University at 35%.
- #3 Brescia University35% admitted
- #1 Asbury University63% admitted
- #8 Kentucky Wesleyan College72% admitted
Institution-wide admit rates for first-time applicants, reported to IPEDS. Open-admission schools do not report one.
Public and Private Accounting Bachelor's Programs in Kentucky
This list holds 2 public, 5 private nonprofit, and 1 for-profit schools.
Control (public, private nonprofit, for-profit) as reported to IPEDS. Public schools usually charge residents less; private schools charge everyone the same rate.
Where the Accounting Bachelor's Programs in Kentucky Are
The 8 ranked schools are spread across 5 cities. Lexington (2), Louisville (2), and Owensboro (2) are the only ones with more than one ranked school.
Main campus city as reported to IPEDS.
Campus Size Across the Accounting Bachelor's Programs in Kentucky
Enrollment on this list runs from 690 at Brescia University to 34,709 at University of Kentucky. Of the 8, 1 enrolls 20,000 students or more and 6 enroll fewer than 5,000.
Total institution enrollment reported to IPEDS, all levels and programs.
What Graduates of the Accounting Bachelor's Programs in Kentucky Earn
| Rank | School | Median earnings, 4 years outEarnings, 4 yrs | Average net priceNet price |
|---|---|---|---|
| #2 | University of KentuckyKentucky | $85,777 | $18,868 |
| #4 | Transylvania UniversityTransylvania | $70,822 | $21,954 |
| #5 | Sullivan UniversitySullivan | $60,916 | $28,420 |
| #7 | Western Kentucky UniversityWestern Kentucky | $71,274 | $11,789 |
Graduates of Kentucky earn the most four years after finishing, a median of $85,777; the lowest figure here is $60,916 at Sullivan.
Kentucky leads on both counts: the top rank among these schools and the highest graduate pay.
Net price, what the average aided undergraduate pays after grants, ranges from $11,789 a year at Western Kentucky to $28,420 at Sullivan.
College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Earnings cover each school's programs in this field at this degree level; net price is for full-time first-time undergraduates receiving aid.
What a Bachelor of Accounting Costs in Kentucky
In-state tuition among the 8 ranked accounting programs in Kentucky runs from $11,652 to $47,180 a year. Western Kentucky University anchors the low end at $11,652, while Bellarmine University sits at the top at $47,180. At public schools that in-state figure is the resident rate; out-of-state students routinely pay two to three times as much, which can reorder this list entirely for anyone moving in from elsewhere.
Run the four-year math and the gap widens: about $46,608 in tuition at the low end against roughly $188,720 at the high end for the same bachelor of accounting. Against the national median of $87,660 a year, the cheaper degree pays its tuition back far faster.
Published annual tuition and required fees reported to IPEDS. Private schools charge one rate regardless of residency; public schools charge non-residents the out-of-state rate shown on each card.
Online Accounting Options in Kentucky
2 of the 8 ranked Kentucky programs offer a confirmed online or distance-education option, which widens access for working students who cannot relocate. An accredited online accounting degree carries the same standing as its on-campus version, since accreditation attaches to the program and school, not the delivery format.
- #1 Asbury UniversityWilmore, KY
- #5 Sullivan UniversityLouisville, KY
Based on each school reporting distance-education offerings to IPEDS. Whether this specific degree is fully online varies, so confirm the format with the school.
Accounting Careers and Pay After a Kentucky Program
Every degree on this list points toward the same national labor market. The Bureau of Labor Statistics puts national median pay in the field at $87,660 a year, a figure that applies across the profession rather than to any single school here, and it holds whether a graduate paid $11,652 or $47,180 a year in tuition. That is the core tradeoff this ranking is built to expose: a higher price does not buy a higher starting salary in the federal wage data.
How to Become a CPA in Kentucky
Kentucky's HB 45 of 2026 added a bachelor's-plus-two-years route on July 15, 2026, beside the bachelor's plus 30 hours with one year (2,000 hours). Kentucky also sets a clock: the experience must be earned within five years of passing the last exam section.
| Education | Experience | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's with an accounting concentration | 2 years | Available since July 2026 |
| A bachelor's plus 30 semester hours | 1 year | Available |
To sit for the exam: a completed bachelor's degree with an accounting major or concentration. Every route also requires passing all four sections of the Uniform CPA Examination.
A bachelor's in accounting from this list can now lead to a license in Kentucky with no fifth year of coursework, by way of the two-year route. Taking the extra 30 credits now buys a shorter apprenticeship instead, one year of experience rather than two.
Checked against the Kentucky State Board of Accountancy and the law behind it in October 2026. These rules are changing state by state, so confirm them with the board before you plan a course schedule around them.
Keep Exploring
Accounting Bachelor's Programs in Kentucky: Your Questions, Answered
What is the best accounting bachelor's degree in Kentucky?
By Program Score, Asbury University ranks first among the 8 accounting programs in Kentucky we analyzed, with an 82.8 score and a 65% graduation rate. The score weighs graduation rate, selectivity, in-state cost, and outcomes, so the top school balances all four rather than winning on any one.
How much does an accounting bachelor's degree cost in Kentucky?
In-state tuition among the ranked Kentucky programs runs from $11,652 to $47,180 a year. These are resident rates at public schools; out-of-state students pay more, so confirm your residency status and check the out-of-state column before comparing.
Is an online accounting bachelor's degree respected by employers?
Yes, when the school is accredited. An accredited online degree lists the same on a transcript as the on-campus version, and accreditation, not delivery format, is what protects the credential. Every program ranked here is accredited and reporting to the federal IPEDS system.
What salary can graduates expect?
The BLS reports a national median of $87,660 a year for the field. That is a national benchmark, not an Kentucky-specific figure or a promised outcome for any single school, but it is the number every tuition dollar on this page should be measured against.