The Best Bachelor's in Marketing Programs in Kentucky for 2027
Key Points: Best Marketing Bachelor's Programs in Kentucky
- Asbury University ranks #1 in Kentucky on an 81.6 Program Score, with a 65% graduation rate.
- Public and private schools split this list evenly.
- Cost and quality are not opposites here: the lowest-tuition program on the list, Eastern Kentucky University, ranks #4.
- Programs analyzed
- 6
- In-state tuition range
- $10,020-$47,180
- Average graduation rate
- 58%
- Median salary (BLS)
- $125,470
We analyzed 6 business programs in Kentucky on graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes to rank where a bachelor's in marketing actually pays off. In-state tuition among the 6 ranked programs in Kentucky runs from $10,020 to $47,180 a year, a $37,160 spread for the same credential.
Asbury University tops the list with an 81.6 Program Score on a 65% graduation rate, at $33,072 a year in-state. Across all 6 ranked schools, the average graduation rate is 58%, ranging from 49% to 65%. The national median pay in the field is $125,470 a year per the BLS, the same benchmark every ranked school here feeds into regardless of tuition paid.
The Top Marketing Bachelor's Programs in Kentucky at a Glance
Asbury leads at 81.6, and Georgetown College closes the chart at 60.8. Longer bars rank higher.
How the Marketing 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 6 Best Marketing Bachelor's Programs in Kentucky, Ranked for 2027
The 6 best Marketing Bachelor's Programs in Kentucky, ranked by outcomes.
Asbury University
Wilmore, KY · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 65%
- Admit rate
- 63%
- In-state
- $33,072
- Out-of-state
- $33,072
Asbury University's on-campus Marketing B.A. pairs a 12-credit marketing core with an accelerated +Grad MBA that lets students start up to 25 percent of master's work at no added cost.
- 65% graduation rate
- Program Score 81.6
- 63% admit rate
- +Grad accelerated MBA option
Asbury University offers a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing on campus through its Dayton School of Business. The curriculum is described as customizable and centers on consumer value, creative strategy, data-informed decisions and professional written and verbal communication. Requirements listed are 39 credits in the business core, 12 credits in the marketing core, three student-selected business and marketing courses, and 53 credits of general education. The four marketing core courses are Consumer Behavior and Decision-Making, Fundamentals of Professional Selling, Marketing Research and International Marketing. Electives can include Brand Management, Social Media Marketing, Public Relations Theory and Practice, and Advanced Professional Selling. Marketing majors who keep a 3.0 GPA and complete at least 90 credits may enter the +Grad accelerated MBA, starting up to 25 percent of the master's work without added cost.
Asbury in Wilmore admits about 63% of applicants, and about 65% of students graduate. Tuition is $33,072 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The Program Score of 81.6 out of 100 is the basis for the ranking. The program suits students who want a small-class, faculty-mentored marketing major and may want to add an MBA quickly after the bachelor's.
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY · Public
- Grad rate
- 61%
- Admit rate
- 79%
- In-state
- $12,940
- Out-of-state
- $29,286
University of Louisville's Marketing BSBA is a 120-hour degree whose admission to the College of Business carries automatic admission to the major.
- 61% graduation rate
- Program Score 78.7
- $12,940 in-state tuition
- 120-hour BSBA
The University of Louisville offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Marketing through its College of Business and Department of Marketing. The catalog page says the major is designed to prepare students for several marketing career options and for success in the global marketplace. The minimum total is 120 hours, made up of general education, 53 hours of college requirements, 27 to 30 hours of major requirements and 12 to 15 hours of supporting courses. New and transfer students admitted to the College of Business are admitted to the marketing major. Current students need a 2.8 cumulative GPA and completion of college algebra or elements of calculus to move into it. The department describes teaching, research and service that serve students, employers and professional marketing groups.
Louisville admits about 79% of applicants, and about 61% of students graduate. In-state tuition is $12,940 and out-of-state tuition is $29,286. The program's Program Score of 78.7 out of 100 is the basis for its ranking. It suits students who want a large public university's business college, a clear set of entry requirements and a marketing major built into a standard business administration degree.
Bellarmine University
Louisville, KY · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 64%
- Admit rate
- 86%
- In-state
- $47,180
- Out-of-state
- $47,180
Bellarmine University's Marketing B.A. lists a guaranteed internship opportunity and a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
- 64% graduation rate
- Program Score 71.8
- 86% admit rate
- Guaranteed internship opportunity
Bellarmine University offers a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing through the W. Fielding Rubel School of Business, delivered on campus and totaling 120 credit hours. Beyond the business administration courses, marketing majors take classes in marketing research, digital marketing, professional selling, consumer behavior and marketing strategy. The page says the degree prepares students for sales, product management, marketing research, retailing, advertising, business-to-business marketing and international marketing. It highlights a guaranteed internship opportunity, more than 50 study abroad options and a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Students work with faculty mentors on course choices, internships and career preparation, and can join the American Marketing Association and attend professional conferences with faculty. The school reports AACSB accreditation.
Bellarmine in Louisville admits about 86% of applicants, and about 64% of students graduate. In-state and out-of-state tuition are the same at $47,180. The Program Score of 71.8 out of 100 is the basis for the ranking. The program fits students who want a campus-based marketing major with built-in internship expectations, close faculty contact and the option to study abroad.
Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond, KY · Public
- Grad rate
- 50%
- Admit rate
- 78%
- In-state
- $10,020
- Out-of-state
- $20,930
Eastern Kentucky University's Marketing BBA is offered on campus and online with four concentrations, including Marketing Research and Analytics and PGA Golf Management.
- 50% graduation rate
- Program Score 67.9
- $10,020 in-state tuition
- Four concentrations, online option
Eastern Kentucky University offers a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing through its College of Business, with on-campus and online options and 120 credit hours to graduate. Students choose from four concentrations: General Marketing, Marketing Research and Analytics, Music Marketing, and PGA Golf Management. The last two are on campus only. The page describes hands-on learning, including work with small businesses on real problems, a generous credit transfer policy, and fast-track opportunities for students with 80 or more credit hours. Listed job titles include sales representative, account executive, buyer, digital marketing coordinator and marketing specialist. The college reports AACSB accreditation, and students can join a marketing club.
EKU in Richmond admits about 78% of applicants, and about 50% of students graduate. In-state tuition is $10,020 and out-of-state tuition is $20,930. The program's Program Score of 67.9 out of 100 is the basis for its ranking. It fits students who want a choice between campus and online study, or who want a specialty track such as analytics, music or golf management.
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, KY · Public
- Grad rate
- 56%
- Admit rate
- 94%
- In-state
- $11,652
- Out-of-state
- $27,000
Western Kentucky University's Marketing B.S. offers concentrations in Strategic Marketing, Sales and Social Media Marketing, supported by a Center for Professional Selling.
- 56% graduation rate
- Program Score 66.8
- $11,652 in-state tuition
- Sales and social media tracks
Western Kentucky University's Department of Marketing offers a Bachelor of Science in Marketing through the Gordon Ford College of Business. The page describes a flexible, industry-relevant program with concentrations in Strategic Marketing, Sales and Social Media Marketing. Students complete a shared Business and Career Preparation Core and gain experience through career mentoring, mock interviews, networking, field trips, internships, student organizations and the Center for Professional Selling. Upper-level marketing classes are described as small. Listed skills include consumer behavior and market research, digital and social media marketing, personal selling, data analysis and integrated marketing communications. The department also offers marketing and sales minors and a sales certificate.
WKU in Bowling Green admits about 94% of applicants, and about 56% of students graduate. In-state tuition is $11,652 and out-of-state tuition is $27,000. The program's Program Score of 66.8 out of 100 is the basis for its ranking. It fits students who want a sales-oriented or digital marketing path at a public university in Kentucky and who value hands-on professional development alongside the coursework.
Georgetown College
Georgetown, KY · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 49%
- Admit rate
- 91%
- In-state
- $41,840
- Out-of-state
- $41,840
Georgetown College's Marketing B.S. is a 51-credit-hour major that studies how consumers make decisions in a global market.
- 49% graduation rate
- Program Score 60.8
- 51-credit-hour major
- 91% admit rate
Georgetown College offers a Bachelor of Science in Marketing, a major of 51 total credit hours. The department page frames the field around how consumers make decisions and how marketers discover needs and wants in an increasingly complex global environment. It notes that past graduates have worked or studied on six continents. The program is listed under the career areas of business and marketing, human behavior, political and legal systems, and visual and performing arts. Marketing students are taught and mentored by business and economics faculty whose listed specialties include marketing, consumer behavior and market research. Business Administration, Management and Communication and Media Studies appear as related programs. The page does not describe formats such as online or evening study.
Georgetown is a small college in Georgetown, Kentucky, that admits about 91% of applicants, and about 49% of students graduate. Tuition is $41,840 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The Program Score of 60.8 out of 100 is the basis for its ranking. The program fits students who want a compact, consumer-behavior-focused marketing major at a small liberal arts college and who are comfortable with the school's moderate completion rate.
Graduation Rates at the Ranked Marketing Bachelor's Programs in Kentucky
The median school on this list graduates 59% of its students. The highest rates belong to Asbury University (65%) and Bellarmine University (64%). The school with the highest rate is also ranked #1.
- #1 Asbury University65% graduation rate
- #3 Bellarmine University64% graduation rate
- #2 University of Louisville61% graduation rate
Institution-wide graduation rates reported to IPEDS. They describe the whole school, not this program alone.
How Selective Are the Marketing Bachelor's Programs in Kentucky?
Every school here that reports an admit rate takes at least half of its applicants; the median is 83%.
- #1 Asbury University63% admitted
- #4 Eastern Kentucky University78% admitted
- #2 University of Louisville79% admitted
Institution-wide admit rates for first-time applicants, reported to IPEDS. Open-admission schools do not report one.
Public and Private Marketing Bachelor's Programs in Kentucky
This list holds 3 public and 3 private nonprofit schools. Their median Program Scores: 67.9 public and 71.8 private nonprofit.
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 Marketing Bachelor's Programs in Kentucky Are
The 6 ranked schools are spread across 5 cities. Louisville (2) is the only one with more than one ranked school.
Main campus city as reported to IPEDS.
Campus Size Across the Marketing Bachelor's Programs in Kentucky
Enrollment on this list runs from 1,345 at Georgetown College to 23,065 at University of Louisville. Of the 6, 1 enrolls 20,000 students or more and 3 enroll fewer than 5,000.
Total institution enrollment reported to IPEDS, all levels and programs.
What Graduates of the Marketing Bachelor's Programs in Kentucky Earn
| Rank | School | Median earnings, 4 years outEarnings, 4 yrs | Average net priceNet price |
|---|---|---|---|
| #2 | University of LouisvilleLouisville | $68,074 | $14,960 |
| #4 | Eastern Kentucky UniversityEastern Kentucky | $53,559 | $11,925 |
| #5 | Western Kentucky UniversityWestern Kentucky | $60,222 | $11,789 |
Four years out, medians on this list run from $53,559 at Eastern Kentucky to $68,074 at Louisville.
Louisville leads on both counts: the top rank among these schools and the highest graduate pay.
After grants, the average undergraduate pays least at Western Kentucky, $11,789 a year, and most at Louisville, $14,960.
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's in Marketing Costs in Kentucky
In-state tuition among the 6 ranked marketing programs in Kentucky runs from $10,020 to $47,180 a year. Eastern Kentucky University anchors the low end at $10,020, 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 $40,080 in tuition at the low end against roughly $188,720 at the high end for the same bachelor's in marketing. Against the national median of $125,470 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 Marketing Options in Kentucky
None of the 6 ranked Kentucky programs lists a confirmed online or distance-education option, so working students who cannot relocate should check each school directly. An accredited online marketing degree from elsewhere carries the same standing as an on-campus one, since accreditation attaches to the program and school, not the delivery format.
Marketing 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 $125,470 a year, a figure that applies across the profession rather than to any single school here, and it holds whether a graduate paid $8,604 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.
Keep Exploring
Marketing Bachelor's Programs in Kentucky: Your Questions, Answered
What is the best marketing bachelor's degree in Kentucky?
By Program Score, Asbury University ranks first among the 6 marketing programs in Kentucky we analyzed, with an 81.6 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 a marketing bachelor's degree cost in Kentucky?
In-state tuition among the ranked Kentucky programs runs from $8,604 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 marketing 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 $125,470 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.
Data Sources
- U.S. Dept. of Education (IPEDS)
- BLS Occupational Outlook: Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers
- BLS Occupational Outlook: Market Research Analysts
- BLS wage data (OEWS)
- AACSB Accreditation
- American Marketing Association
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (earnings by field of study; net price)