Kentucky vs. Miami

Deciding between University of Kentucky and Miami University Oxford? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of Kentucky
Miami University Oxford

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Kentucky Lexington, KY
  • Miami Oxford, OH
  • Setting
  • Kentucky Large City
  • Miami Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Kentucky 34,709
  • Miami 18,838
  • Type
  • Kentucky Public 4 Year
  • Miami Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Kentucky #437
  • Miami #280
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Kentucky -
  • Miami -
  • Status
  • Kentucky Non-profit
  • Miami Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Kentucky
  • Miami
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Kentucky $13,502
  • Miami $18,161
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Kentucky $34,140
  • Miami $41,221
  • Room & Board
  • Kentucky $16,016
  • Miami $16,750
  • Average Net Price
  • Kentucky $21,958
  • Miami $28,229
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Kentucky $12,898
  • Miami $13,937
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Kentucky 95%
  • Miami 93%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Kentucky 31,517
  • Miami 39,580
  • Admitted
  • Kentucky 29,293
  • Miami 29,843
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Kentucky 92.9%
  • Miami 75.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Kentucky 22.2%
  • Miami 14%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Kentucky 1180
  • Miami 1310
  • Typical ACT score
  • Kentucky 24
  • Miami 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Kentucky 3.59
  • Miami 3.85
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Kentucky A-
  • Miami A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Kentucky Challenging
  • Miami Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Kentucky
  • Miami
  • ACT Range
  • Kentucky 21/28
  • Miami 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • Kentucky 1070/1290
  • Miami 1220/1390
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Kentucky Test optional
  • Miami Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Kentucky Feb 15, 2027
  • Miami Feb 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Kentucky 18:1
  • Miami 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Kentucky
    • Business (19%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Miami
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Biology (6%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Kentucky 59%
  • Miami 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Kentucky $51,000
  • Miami $54,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Kentucky 62%
  • Miami 57%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Kentucky $22,750
  • Miami $24,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Kentucky $235
  • Miami $255
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Kentucky 40%
  • Miami 46%
  • % Women
  • Kentucky 60%
  • Miami 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Kentucky Low
  • Miami Low
  • HBCU
  • Kentucky No
  • Miami No
  • % White
  • Kentucky 76%
  • Miami 77%
  • % Asian
  • Kentucky 2%
  • Miami 2%
  • % Black
  • Kentucky 8%
  • Miami 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Kentucky 4%
  • Miami 4%
  • % Native American
  • Kentucky 0%
  • Miami 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Kentucky 0%
  • Miami 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Kentucky 3%
  • Miami 3%
  • % International
  • Kentucky 3%
  • Miami 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Kentucky 3%
  • Miami 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Kentucky 58%
  • Miami 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Kentucky 41%
  • Miami 35%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Kentucky Yes
  • Miami Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Kentucky No
  • Miami No
  • Meal Plan
  • Kentucky Yes
  • Miami Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Kentucky No
  • Miami No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Kentucky No
  • Miami Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY with Miami University Oxford in Oxford, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Kentucky is larger than Miami based on total student enrollment (34,709 students vs. 18,838 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Kentucky is located in Lexington, KY (Large City setting); Miami University Oxford is in Oxford, OH (Distant Town setting).
  • University of Kentucky is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Miami University Oxford is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Kentucky 18:1; Miami University Oxford 16:1.

Kentucky vs. Miami Cost Comparison

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

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Kentucky than Miami ($21,958 vs. $28,229).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Kentucky are 4.4% lower than at Miami University Oxford ($16,016 vs. $16,750).
  • Miami University Oxford is 34.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Kentucky (about $4,659 more per year; $18,161.00 vs. $13,502.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 20.7% higher at Miami than at University of Kentucky (about $7,081 more per year; $41,221.00 vs. $34,140.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Kentucky than at Miami University Oxford (95% vs. 93%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Miami University Oxford students is 8.1% larger than aid received by University of Kentucky students ($13,937 vs. $12,898).

Kentucky vs. Miami Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Kentucky or Miami? 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 Miami and Kentucky.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Miami University Oxford (1310) is 130 points higher than at Kentucky (1180).
  • Incoming Miami students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 24 at Kentucky).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Kentucky 1070/1290; Miami University Oxford 1220/1390.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Kentucky 21/28; Miami University Oxford 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Kentucky - Test optional; Miami - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Kentucky Feb 15, 2027; Miami Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Miami students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.85) than students at Kentucky (3.59).
  • Kentucky has a higher acceptance rate (92.9%) than Miami (75.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.2% at Kentucky vs. 14% at Miami.

Kentucky vs. Miami Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Kentucky and Miami? 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).

  • Miami University Oxford's six-year graduation rate (81%) is higher than University of Kentucky's (59%).
  • Graduates from Miami University Oxford earn a median of about $3,300 more per year than Kentucky graduates about ten years after starting college ($54,300 vs. $51,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Kentucky graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Miami graduates ($22,750 vs. $24,750).
  • Among borrowers, Kentucky graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Miami graduates ($235 vs. $255).
  • More Kentucky graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Miami students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 57%)

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.