University of Kentucky vs Spalding University: which has better ROI?
University of Kentucky has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $75,404 in 7.1 years versus 94.6 years at Spalding University, on median earnings of $59,025 vs $49,438 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Kentucky | Spalding University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,851 | $25,491 |
| Total net cost | $75,404 | $101,964 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $59,025 | $49,438 |
| Median debt | $22,500 | $25,250 |
| Payback | 7.1 yrs | 94.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $137,896 | -$80,404 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, University of Kentucky or Spalding University?
University of Kentucky, at $18,851 a year after aid versus $25,491 — a gap of $6,640 a year, or $26,560 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do University of Kentucky or Spalding University graduates earn more?
University of Kentucky graduates report a median $59,025 ten years after entry, $9,587 more than the $49,438 at Spalding University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, University of Kentucky or Spalding University?
University of Kentucky: its completers carry a median $22,500 in federal loans versus $25,250 at Spalding University, a difference of $2,750. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
71% of students finish at University of Kentucky, against 52% at Spalding University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.