KY State vs. Centra College

Comparable Facts

Compare Kentucky State University in Frankfort, KY with Centra College in Lynchburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Kentucky State University is larger than Centra College based on total student enrollment (2,020 students vs. 219 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Kentucky State University is located in Frankfort, KY (Distant Town setting); Centra College is in Lynchburg, VA (Small City setting).
• Kentucky State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Centra College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Kentucky State University 10:1; Centra College 3:1.

KY State vs. Centra College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, KY State or Centra College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kentucky State University are 30.1% lower than at Centra College ($8,686 vs. $12,424).
• Centra College is 38.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than KY State (about $3,596 more per year; $12,983.00 vs. $9,387.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.2% higher at KY State than at Centra College (about $675 more per year; $13,658.00 vs. $12,983.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kentucky State University than at Centra College (94% vs. 0%).

KY State vs. Centra College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, KY State or Centra College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Centra College and KY State.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kentucky State University 820/1010.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kentucky State University 14/20.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: KY State - Test optional; Centra College - Test-free.
• Centra College has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than KY State (96.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27% at KY State vs. 0% at Centra College.

KY State vs. Centra College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for KY State and Centra College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Centra College earn a median of about $13,800 more per year than KY State graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $31,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Centra College graduates have a $16,958 lower median loan debt than KY State graduates ($12,042 vs. $29,000).
• Among borrowers, Centra College graduates have an estimated $175 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than KY State graduates ($124 vs. $299).
• More Centra College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former KY State students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 24%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.