Best Trade Programs in Kentucky (2026)
Top 100 of 302 programs in Kentucky · Updated 2026
The best trade school programs in Kentucky, ranked by overall value. We scored 302 programs across Kentucky trade schools on earnings, AI resilience, job demand, and tuition ROI. The top programs average $51,511/yr in graduate earnings.
Programs in KY
302
Avg Earnings (Top 100)
$51,511/yr
Avg TSW Score
74/100
#1 Program
Ground Transportation
Hazard Community and Technical College
Top Trade Programs in Kentucky
Top 100 programs by TSW Score. Click any row for full analysis.
| # | Program | TSW Score | Earnings | AI-Proof | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Ground Transportation
Hazard Community and Technical College · Hazard, KY |
84
83–84 |
$43,818/yr | AI-Proof | 93.1x |
| 2 |
Nursing
Ashland Community and Technical College · Ashland, KY |
82
77–82 |
$64,909/yr | Moderate | 71.0x |
| 3 |
Electrical Installation
Bluegrass Community and Technical College · Lexington, KY |
83
81–84 |
$66,544/yr | AI-Proof | 140.4x |
| 4 |
Electrical Installation
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College · Elizabethtown, KY |
78
75–79 |
$64,748/yr | AI-Proof | 78.9x |
| 5 |
Nursing
Hazard Community and Technical College · Hazard, KY |
82
77–83 |
$65,822/yr | Moderate | 49.5x |
| 6 |
Nursing
Hopkinsville Community College · Hopkinsville, KY |
82
77–83 |
$65,979/yr | Moderate | 61.3x |
| 7 |
Nursing
Gateway Community and Technical College · Florence, KY |
83
78–84 |
$67,888/yr | Moderate | 79.3x |
| 8 |
Nursing
Big Sandy Community and Technical College · Prestonsburg, KY |
82
77–82 |
$65,735/yr | Moderate | 72.6x |
| 9 |
Precision Metalworking
Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College · Bowling Green, KY |
75
74–75 |
$58,996/yr | AI-Proof | 125.7x |
| 10 |
Nursing
Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College · Bowling Green, KY |
81
76–81 |
$62,552/yr | Moderate | 66.1x |
| 11 |
Criminal Justice
Bluegrass Community and Technical College · Lexington, KY |
82
78–84 |
$44,752/yr | Resilient | 94.1x |
| 12 |
Nursing
Bluegrass Community and Technical College · Lexington, KY |
81
76–81 |
$62,832/yr | Moderate | 69.5x |
| 13 |
Nursing
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College · Elizabethtown, KY |
81
76–81 |
$62,002/yr | Moderate | 62.2x |
| 14 |
Nursing
Jefferson Community and Technical College · Louisville, KY |
81
76–82 |
$63,784/yr | Moderate | 71.8x |
| 15 |
Nursing
Maysville Community and Technical College · Maysville, KY |
81
76–82 |
$64,217/yr | Moderate | 71.5x |
| 16 |
Nursing
Somerset Community College · Somerset, KY |
82
76–82 |
$62,747/yr | Moderate | 73.3x |
| 17 |
Nursing
Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College · Cumberland, KY |
80
75–81 |
$61,155/yr | Moderate | 67.9x |
| 18 |
Electrical Installation
Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College · Bowling Green, KY |
79
77–80 |
$52,553/yr | AI-Proof | 111.9x |
| 19 |
Electrical Installation
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College · Elizabethtown, KY |
80
77–81 |
$53,855/yr | AI-Proof | 114.7x |
| 20 |
Precision Metalworking
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College · Elizabethtown, KY |
73
72–74 |
$53,172/yr | AI-Proof | 113.2x |
| 21 |
Business Administration
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College · Elizabethtown, KY |
83
78–85 |
$40,956/yr | Moderate | 87.0x |
| 22 |
Nursing
Henderson Community College · Henderson, KY |
81
74–82 |
$58,754/yr | Moderate | 75.7x |
| 23 |
Nursing
Madisonville Community College · Madisonville, KY |
79
73–79 |
$55,532/yr | Moderate | 64.1x |
| 24 |
Business Administration
Gateway Community and Technical College · Florence, KY |
77
72–78 |
$43,658/yr | Moderate | 46.9x |
| 25 |
Nursing
West Kentucky Community and Technical College · Paducah, KY |
80
75–80 |
$58,951/yr | Moderate | 66.2x |
| 26 |
Electrical Installation
Owensboro Community and Technical College · Owensboro, KY |
77
72–78 |
$55,533/yr | AI-Proof | 81.7x |
| 27 |
Business Administration
Owensboro Community and Technical College · Owensboro, KY |
83
78–85 |
$41,251/yr | Moderate | 87.6x |
| 28 |
Precision Metalworking
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College · Elizabethtown, KY |
64
63–65 |
$48,709/yr | AI-Proof | 51.3x |
| 29 |
Business Administration
Gateway Community and Technical College · Florence, KY |
82
76–83 |
$39,306/yr | Moderate | 83.4x |
| 30 |
Electrical Installation
Owensboro Community and Technical College · Owensboro, KY |
78
76–79 |
$49,137/yr | AI-Proof | 104.5x |
| 31 |
Precision Metalworking
Bluegrass Community and Technical College · Lexington, KY |
70
69–71 |
$46,133/yr | AI-Proof | 97.0x |
| 32 |
Business Administration
Jefferson Community and Technical College · Louisville, KY |
81
76–83 |
$38,471/yr | Moderate | 80.7x |
| 33 |
Business Administration
Jefferson Community and Technical College · Louisville, KY |
76
68–78 |
$38,361/yr | Moderate | 53.8x |
| 34 |
Nursing
American National University-Pikeville · Pikeville, KY |
75
70–75 |
$75,979/yr | Moderate | 32.1x |
| 35 |
Nursing
Morehead State University · Morehead, KY |
75
70–75 |
$69,929/yr | Moderate | 33.4x |
| 36 |
Health Administration
Gateway Community and Technical College · Florence, KY |
77
72–79 |
$48,917/yr | Moderate | 39.6x |
| 37 |
Electrical Installation
Somerset Community College · Somerset, KY |
77
74–77 |
$46,259/yr | AI-Proof | 98.4x |
| 38 |
Practical Nursing
Beckfield College-Florence · Florence, KY |
70
69–70 |
$48,479/yr | AI-Proof | 39.4x |
| 39 |
Business Administration
Ashland Community and Technical College · Ashland, KY |
78
73–80 |
$35,588/yr | Moderate | 75.4x |
| 40 |
Heavy Equipment Technology
Bluegrass Community and Technical College · Lexington, KY |
75
74–75 |
$65,743/yr | AI-Proof | 138.7x |
| 41 |
Heavy Equipment Technology
Bluegrass Community and Technical College · Lexington, KY |
70
68–70 |
$64,355/yr | AI-Proof | 78.5x |
| 42 |
Nursing
Galen College of Nursing-Louisville · Louisville, KY |
73
67–73 |
$68,114/yr | Moderate | — |
| 43 |
Nursing
Eastern Kentucky University · Richmond, KY |
73
69–74 |
$66,512/yr | Moderate | 31.5x |
| 44 |
Heavy Equipment Technology
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College · Elizabethtown, KY |
71
69–72 |
$65,535/yr | AI-Proof | 87.9x |
| 45 |
Vehicle Repair Technology
Jefferson Community and Technical College · Louisville, KY |
73
72–74 |
$44,238/yr | AI-Proof | 94.0x |
| 46 |
Computer Science
Gateway Community and Technical College · Florence, KY |
77
67–80 |
$49,753/yr | Exposed | 64.0x |
| 47 |
Heavy Equipment Technology
Gateway Community and Technical College · Florence, KY |
76
75–76 |
$69,378/yr | AI-Proof | 148.0x |
| 48 |
Heavy Equipment Technology
Gateway Community and Technical College · Florence, KY |
69
69–69 |
$66,827/yr | AI-Proof | 70.8x |
| 49 |
Medical Assisting
Somerset Community College · Somerset, KY |
70
67–70 |
$46,829/yr | Resilient | 50.5x |
| 50 |
Precision Metalworking
Owensboro Community and Technical College · Owensboro, KY |
70
69–70 |
$45,366/yr | AI-Proof | 96.4x |
Methodology
This ranking includes the top 100 trade programs at Kentucky schools, drawn from 302 total programs with earnings data. Programs are ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score (0–100), which combines graduate earnings, AI automation resilience, job market demand, and tuition ROI.
Only in-state tuition is used for ROI calculations. Earnings data comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best trade program in Kentucky?
By TradeSchoolOutlook Score, Ground Transportation at Hazard Community and Technical College ranks #1 in Kentucky with a score of 84/100 and graduate earnings of $43,818/yr.
How many trade programs are in Kentucky?
Our database includes 302 trade programs across Kentucky schools with reported earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034
(employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE.
Last updated 2025.