2023 Best Online Community Colleges in Kentucky

As a campus in the Kentucky Community & Technical College System (KCTCS), Jefferson Community and Technical College (JCTC) is a public, two-year institution in Louisville offering online associate degrees. A little over a third of JCTC students participate exclusively in online-only education. Popular fields of study include business, education, social work, engineering, pre-nursing, criminal justice, and computer and information technologies. Programs are traditional in length, taking an average of two years of full-time study. JCTC has an open admission policy and accepts all students. It has a 21% graduation rate.

Campuses in the state community college system, including JCTC, use Blackboard for online program delivery. JCTC has a 23:1 student-to-faculty ratio. JCTC offers several scholarship opportunities for prospective and current students to help make attending college more affordable. Awards vary by scholarship; a financial aid officer can help determine availability and eligibility.

Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC) is a public institution where prospective students can pursue several online associate degree programs. BCTC offers programs in graphic design, office administration, human services, and many more. BCTC aims to provide degree programs that help students land in-demand jobs.

BCTC facilitates asynchronous and synchronous online learning through the learning management system (LMS) Blackboard. Some examples of associate degree programs at BCTC include administrative office technology, business administration, computer and information technologies, and criminal justice. Online student support includes a virtual bookstore, advising, and tutoring services.

At Elizabethtown Community and Technical College (ECTC), a public institution, future students can discover several online, two-year associate programs. For students looking to transfer to a four-year university after graduation, ECTC also offers pre-baccalaureate/transfer programs to help them successfully integrate into a bachelor’s program later on. In addition, ECTC offers certificate programs to advance students' skills and career readiness further.

ECTC's online students complete coursework in asynchronous and synchronous formats through the LMS Blackboard. Some of ECTC’s online degree programs are medical information technology, criminal justice, business administration, human services, and more. Remote student resources include mental health counseling, a virtual library, tutoring, and career services.

West Kentucky Community and Technical College (WKCTC) is a public institution offering several online associate degree programs for prospective students looking to further their education. WKCTC has been delivering online degree programs for over 20 years. Future students can choose associate degrees or certificate programs.

At WKCTC, distance learners complete coursework asynchronously and synchronously via Blackboard. Some examples of programs offered through this LMS include business administration systems, computer and information systems, marine technology, and logistics and operations management. Online student support services include a virtual bookstore, counseling, tutoring, and advising.

Big Sandy Community and Technical College (BSCTC) is a public institution offering various online associate degrees. BSCTC’s online programs allow students to complete coursework from anywhere, and the credits are easily transferable to baccalaureate programs at other schools. This community college also offers online certificate programs as well.

BSCTC facilitates asynchronous and synchronous online learning through Blackboard. A few examples of BSCTC’s online associate degree programs are education, medical information technology, and visual communications. Some of BSCTC’s remote student resources include tutoring, an online library, and advising services.

Hazard Community and Technical College (HCTC) is a public institution that aims to make online learning affordable and accessible for its students. Future students can explore a variety of online associate and certificate programs in specialties like science, the arts, human services, and more.

HCTC students complete online coursework through Blackboard, which is delivered in asynchronous and synchronous formats. Some of HCTC’s online associate degree programs focus on computer information technologies, unmanned systems technology, interdisciplinary early childhood education, and medical information technologies — to name a few subjects. Online students at HCTC can access resources like tutoring, advising, therapy assistance, and career services.

Maysville Community and Technical College (MCTC) is a branch of KCTCS offering online associate degrees in areas of study such as administrative office technology, early childhood education, and computer and information technology that includes several tracks. Of all MCTMS students, 36% enroll in distance-only education. While most online associate degree programs at MCTC take two years of full-time study, the online computer and information technology program may only take around 16 months. As with all KCTCS campuses, MCTC has a 100% acceptance rate. On average, 36% of those who enroll graduate with degrees.

MCTC students use Blackboard to access their online classes and instruction. Its student-to-faculty ratio is 17:1. MCTC is known for its affordability. It costs about $4,700 annually, nearly four times less than comparable schools. While it offers a limited number of scholarships each year, students are always encouraged to apply. Applying for all MCTC Foundation scholarships requires completing only one application.

KCTCS’ Madisonville Community College (MCC) offers online associate degrees in fields such as agriculture, paralegal technology, human services, and medical information technology with several concentrations. In alignment with other KCTCS schools, MCC enrolls about a third of its students in distance-only education. Most of MCC’s online associate degrees take two years of full-time study. However, MCC offers many certificate programs in fields such as agriculture and medical information technology that can be completed in as few as two terms. It accepts all applicants since it has an open admission policy, and 44% of students graduate.

MCC gives distance learners access to Blackboard to participate asynchronously in classes. It has a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio and small class sizes, allowing individualized instruction. Distance learners can access MCC’s online Career Coach to take career assessments, build resumes, and start thinking about life after college.

Owensboro Community and Technical College (OCTC) in rural Kentucky is a KCTCS campus offering online associate degrees in areas such as communications, psychology, biology, and mathematics. A quarter of OCTC students participate in distance-only learning. It generally takes full-time students two years to complete 60 credits to graduate with an associate degree from OCTC and begin pursuing the job market at the entry-level or prepare to transfer to a four-year institution. OCTC accepts all applicants through its open admission policy. It has a 37% graduation rate.

OCTC distance learners rely on Blackboard for online coursework and instruction. Its student-to-faculty ratio is 20:1. Remote learners receive access to student services such as Blackboard learning guides, online student training materials, and the Training & Learning Center.

Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKCTC) in Cumberland offers online associate degrees focusing on elementary education, pre-med, pre-vet, engineering, business administration with a management track, and psychology. About a third of students enroll exclusively online. Online degree courses generally take two years of full-time study. SKCTC accepts all applicants and has a 37% graduation rate.

As with other schools in the KCTCS system, SKCTC online students use Blackboard for distance learning. SKCTC has a 17:1 student-to-faculty ratio. In addition to an online associate degree in business, SKCTC offers a robust curriculum of non-degree business certificates in specialties — such as accounting, human resources management, real estate, social media marketing, and team leadership.

Ashland Community and Technical College (ACTC) offers fewer online associate degrees than other KCTCS schools. Areas of study include biology, pre-physical therapy, psychology, and engineering. As with other KCTCS schools, 30% of ACTC students enroll in online-only education. Students taking more than 15 credits per semester can finish these online degree programs in less than two years. ACTC has a 100% acceptance rate; approximately one-third of students graduate with degrees.

ACTC online students participate in class via Blackboard. It’s a small college with a 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio. ACTC boasts the lowest tuition in the state, averaging just over $4,700. This is about a quarter of what it costs to attend comparable two-year colleges. ACTC also offers dozens of scholarships for new and current students to help lower the burden of student debt.