Overview
For Students
Teaching and Research
profile logo default

University of Kentucky

Ranked
Lexington, United States
401–500th in World University Rankings 2025
  • About
  • Rankings
  • Impact Rankings
  • Key stats
  • Jobs
  • Subjects
  • Downloads
  • FAQs
  • Suggested universities
chevron up

About the University of Kentucky

Basic information and contact details for the University of Kentucky

institution

The University of Kentucky (UK) is a public university founded in the city of Lexington in 1865 which grew out of pre-existing institutions in the area. KU was established under a Morrill Land Grant – a scheme whereby land owned by the United States Federal Government was gifted to states so that they could sell it to raise money for university endowments. Today UK is a major public university with around 30,000 students and a commitment to becoming one of the USA’s top 20 public research institutions by 2020.

UK is the largest university in the state of Kentucky with 16 colleges (most of which were founded in the first half of the 20th century) and a graduate school. These offer around 90 undergraduate programs, nearly 100 masters programs and 66 doctoral programs. UK is rapidly growing its population of international students with around 120 countries represented in its student body.

The university has a proud athletic record and UK’s sporting teams, ‘The Wildcats’ are represented in men’s and women’s basketball, American football and baseball. In 2009 the Kentucky Wildcats became the first college basketball team to win 2000 games.

UK is spread over three campuses, north, south and central comprising student accommodation, academic and administration buildings and sporting facilities. The university also boasts 15 libraries  across its campuses and an art museum, football stadium and botanical gardens.

Famous UK alumni include many former state governors, as well as being home to Dr. Thomas Hunt Morgan, winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, and William Lipscomb, winner of the  Nobel Prize for Chemistry.

chevron up

Rankings

Select the type of rankings below to see stats

Discover similar universities

Find out more about studying, research and jobs at these universities

the colour logo

suggested

chevron down

Key Student Statistics

A breakdown of student statistics at the University of Kentucky

gender ratio
Student gender ratio
59 F : 41 M (1)
globe fill
International student percentage
3% (1)
student per staff
Students per staff
11 (1)
student
Student total
27322 (1)

Based on data collected for the (1) World University Rankings 2025

lightbulb up

Do you work for this institution?

Build your profile to connect with students and professionals around the world

chevron down
chevron down

Subjects Taught at the University of Kentucky

See below for a range of subjects taught at the University of Kentucky

Arts and Humanities

  • Architecture
  • Art, Performing Art and Design
  • History, Philosophy and Theology
  • Languages, Literature and Linguistics

Business and Economics

  • Accounting and Finance
  • Business and Management
  • Economics and Econometrics

Computer Science

  • Computer Science

Education Studies

  • Education

Engineering

  • Chemical Engineering
  • Civil Engineering
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • General Engineering
  • Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Law

  • Law

Life Sciences

  • Agriculture and Forestry
  • Biological Sciences
  • Sport Science
  • Veterinary Science

Medical and Health

  • Medicine and Dentistry
  • Other Health

Physical Sciences

  • Chemistry
  • Geology, Environmental, Earth and Marine Sciences
  • Mathematics and Statistics
  • Physics and Astronomy

Psychology

  • Psychology

Social Sciences

  • Communication and Media Studies
  • Geography
  • Politics and International Studies
  • Sociology