2020 Best Online Colleges in Kentucky

The University of Kentucky (UK) offers more than 30 online certificate, undergraduate, and graduate programs across many academic areas, including liberal studies, science and technology, business and finance, communication, education, engineering, administration and leadership, healthcare, mapping, social and behavioral sciences, and statistics. Popular online degree fields at UK include education and nursing. Courses are accessed through the Canvas online learning platform. UK provides a broad range of support services to online learners, including access to the career center, counseling center, tech support, academic advising, and library services.

Kentucky Wesleyan College (KWC) offers online undergraduate degree programs across six academic areas: business administration, criminal justice and criminology, general studies, graphic design, psychology, and religion. One of the most popular online degrees at KWC is the Bachelor of Sciences in criminal justice & criminology. Online programs don't require any on-campus attendance and are delivered through the Brightspace learning management system. KWC offers student support resources that include career counseling, financial aid, and technical support.

The University of Louisville offers more than 30 online certificate, undergraduate, and graduate degree programs across several academic areas, including business, communication, criminal justice, data science, nursing, psychology, social work, sports administration, and sociology. Courses are accessed through the Blackboard online learning platform. UofL hosts its own virtual writing center and further supports online students by providing them access to the school's bookstore, library, tech support, disability resource center, and career center. Course-specific virtual tutoring is also available to assist online students. A free online course demo and orientation are available to prospective distance learners.

Brescia University offers online associate, bachelor's, and master's degree programs across several academic areas, including business, accounting, integrated studies, human services, theology, psychology, management, and social work. Brescia offers affordability, convenience, and flexibility, with online programs designed in an accelerated, eight-week format, enabling distance learners to earn their degree quickly and efficiently. The school also offers an online post-baccalaureate certificate in accounting. Courses are accessed through the Moodle online learning platform. A free online course demo and orientation are available to prospective distance learners. Remote students receive access to the school’s online bookstore, the Fr. Leonard Alvey Library, and disability services.

Northern Kentucky University offers more than 30 online undergraduate and graduate degree programs in several academic areas, including business, education, health, nursing, psychology, and sociology. The school also offers online certificates in the fields of nursing, business, cybersecurity, health, education, and emergency management. Courses are accessed through the Canvas online learning platform. Online student resources include access to the MyNKU student web portal, an IT help desk, and the Steely Library. One of the fastest-growing universities in Kentucky, NKU’s online academic programs can be taken in a traditional 16-week format or an accelerated seven-week format.

Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) offers more than 40 online undergraduate and graduate degree programs and certificates across many academic areas, including business, communication studies, criminal justice, education, fire protection, general studies, homeland security, justice, policy, and leadership, nursing, occupational safety, occupational therapy, paralegal science, paramedicine, police studies, political science, public accounting, social intelligence, social work, sport management, and veteran's studies. Courses are accessed through the Blackboard online learning platform. Student support resources include online career services, tutoring, library access, and technical support. A free online course demo and orientation is available to prospective undergraduate and graduate students. 

Murray State University offers more than 30 online certificate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs across several academic areas, including agriculture, business administration, general studies, computer information systems, human services, nursing, music education, nutrition, public administration, and logistics and supply chain management. Courses are accessed through the Canvas online learning platform. Murray State hosts its own dedicated online library and writing center. Distance learners have access to the RacerNet student web portal, a RacerMail student email account, the campus bookstore, tech support, tutoring, financial aid, the university libraries, and academic advising.

Western Kentucky University offers more than 100 online undergraduate and graduate degree programs and certificates covering a wide variety of academic areas, including management and business administration, criminology, sociology, history, interdisciplinary studies, engineering management, and health science. Courses are accessed through the Blackboard online learning platform. WKU hosts its own dedicated online labs for math and writing support services. Additional student support resources include online tutoring, career coaching, and technical support. Distance learners can also access a free Online Orientation and Library Tutorial through the Student Resource Portal. 

Spalding University offers online undergraduate and graduate degree programs across several academic areas, including accounting, business administration, business communication, nursing, occupational therapy, and psychology. Popular online degree fields at Spalding University include business and health. Courses are accessed through the Moodle online learning platform. Student support resources include access to the library, career development services, tech support, and access to enTech, which provides therapy, equipment rental, and other services to assist individuals of all ages who need alternative ways of participating in educational activities. Spalding University lets distance learners take one or two classes every six weeks and still be considered a full-time student.

Union College - KY offers online undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the academic areas of administration, business administration, education, general management, substance abuse counseling, law enforcement, general studies, general psychology, nursing, information systems management, athletic administration, and healthcare administration. The college, which hosts its own dedicated learning management system (uLearn), offers online courses in both fully online and hybrid formats. Remote student support resources include access to 24/7 tech support, financial aid, counseling and health services, the campus bookstore, the Weeks-Townsend Memorial Library, a career center, disability services, and a writing center.

Morehead State University (MSU) offers more than 25 online undergraduate and graduate degree programs and several certificates across academic areas, including business administration, information systems, general business, technology management, education, communication, counseling, sociology, and sport management. Courses are accessed through the Blackboard online learning platform. MSU hosts its own dedicated tutoring and learning center that can be accessed online, 24/7 through Blackboard. Additional student support resources include a math lab, academic advising, online library access, career services, and technical support.

Midway University offers a variety of online undergraduate and graduate degree programs in several academic areas, including business administration, criminal justice, education, health care administration, equine management, tourism and event management, nursing, psychology, and sport management. Courses are accessed through the Moodle online learning platform. Midway University offers accelerated, eight-week-long online courses with five start times each year. This accelerated format gives distance learners the chance to complete a degree quickly while balancing other responsibilities. Student support resources include access to career services, disability support services, financial aid, work-study programs, the campus bookstore, and the Little Memorial Library.

The University of Pikeville offers online undergraduate and graduate degree programs. These degree programs are offered in the fields of nursing, business, and education. Courses are accessed through the Canvas online learning platform. Through WebAdvisor, UPike gives students access to its databases. ​​​​​​UPike further supports distance learners through the Office of Spiritual Life and career development and counseling centers. Online students will also have access to a student email account, the IT help desk, the campus bookstore, and the university’s library databases.

Lindsey Wilson College offers several online undergraduate and graduate degree programs across many academic areas, including business administration, criminal justice, human services and counseling, nursing, and counseling and human development. Courses are accessed through the Blackboard online learning platform. LWC also relies on Google Apps, Tegrity, and other instructional technology platforms to deliver its educational content. Online students can access the school's writing center, an Academic Success Center, counseling services, tech support, seven campus ministry groups and teams, and the Katie Murrell Library. LWC is committed to high-impact educational practices and student-centered teaching.

Kentucky Christian University offers several online undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Their undergraduate degree program includes a bachelor's degree in nursing (RN-BSN), and graduate degrees are offered in nursing, biblical studies, Christian leadership, and religion. Courses are accessed through the Sakai educational software platform. Distance learners at KCU are able to access their grades, course schedules, transcripts, and billing through an online portal. Distance learners also have full access to the KCU library, allowing them to check out books and have them mailed to their home, use and check out electronic books, request photocopies of articles and have them emailed to them, and access online databases and catalogs.

The University of the Cumberlands offers more than 70 undergraduate and graduate degree programs across several academic areas, including business, counseling, criminal justice, health and human performance, health science, ministry, education, general studies, coaching, and information technology. Courses are accessed through the Blackboard iLearn online learning platform. Student support resources include access to the UC ONE student web portal, a student email account, financial aid, the campus bookstore, the Hagan Memorial Library’s databases and research guides, counseling services, and IT support. UC offers affordable academic programs designed with the flexibility to fit around busy schedules.

Campbellsville University offers over 50 online certificate, associate, bachelor's, and master's degree programs across several academic areas, including liberal arts and science, business administration, Christian studies, criminal justice, education, general studies, pastoral ministries, mass communication, social work, nursing, and sport management. The school is focused on offering an affordable education that fosters personal and professional growth. Courses are accessed through the Moodle online learning platform. Student support resources include access to the TigerNet student web portal, a student email account, technical support, career services, counseling services, the Tiger Health Clinic, campus ministry, the Barnes and Noble campus bookstore, and the Montgomery Library.