“What is an independent college or university, and why should I choose one?”

Independent colleges and universities are often referred to as private. This means that they are not funded by the state of Kentucky. Each institution determines its own focus and mission. Kentucky’s independents provide all the benefits of your large state institutions – a wide variety of degree programs, varied and extensive extracurricular activities, championship caliber athletics, great preparation for employment or graduate school – with advantages that you just won’t find at public university campuses. Advantages like small class sizes; personal interaction with tenured professors, even in first-year courses; extensive opportunities for study abroad; safe campus communities; leadership and service opportunities; and well-developed internship and career development programs. Most importantly, the small size of these institutions fosters community and allows them to focus on the success of each individual student. You won’t get lost in the crowd at one of Kentucky’s private colleges, and you’re always more than just a number.

“What kinds of students attend Kentucky ’s private colleges and universities?”

All kinds! One common misperception that people have about private colleges is that the student bodies are homogenous. Although the majority of students are Kentucky residents, many students come from across the United States and around the world to study on our campuses. Students represent a variety of social and economic backgrounds and bring a wide range of talents and interests to our campuses.

Around one-fourth of Kentucky’s private college students are non-traditional students, meaning they don’t fall into the traditional 18-24 age bracket. Many of these non-traditional students take advantage of special evening degree completion programs that allow them to complete an undergraduate or graduate degree while continuing to work full time.

“Where can I find specific information about Kentucky’s independent colleges?”

Visit GoHigherKY.org, the one-stop shop for information about all of Kentucky’s colleges and universities, both independents and publics.