- Acceptance rate: 93% for fall 2024
- Average high school GPA: 3.58, as reported by the college for 2025–26
- SAT, middle 50%: 540–650 reading and writing, 530–640 math
- ACT, middle 50%: 21–28 composite
- Average net price: $19,838 a year (2022–23)
University of Kentucky GPA calculator
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How does your GPA compare?
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Where you standEnter your GPA
Type your GPA to compare it with what University of Kentucky reported: an average GPA of 3.58 (2025–26), an acceptance rate of 93% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 21–28.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. University of Kentucky reviews each application.
University of Kentucky average GPA
University of Kentucky reported an average high school GPA of 3.58 for its first-year students who submitted one (100% did), in its 2025–26 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether it's weighted or unweighted.
An average, not a cutoffColleges calculate GPA in different ways, so this figure can't be compared directly with your own GPA.
University of Kentucky acceptance rate
University of Kentucky admitted 29,293 of 31,517 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 93%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
University of Kentucky is a public 4-year university in Lexington, Kentucky, with 25,534 undergraduates.
SAT and ACT scores
Scores of the first-year students who entered University of Kentucky in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:
| Test | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading and Writing | 540 | 600 | 650 |
| SAT Math | 530 | 580 | 640 |
| ACT Composite | 21 | 25 | 28 |
| ACT English | 21 | 25 | 30 |
| ACT Math | 20 | 24 | 27 |
The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1215 for admitted students.
Admission requirements
What University of Kentucky looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Required |
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Required |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Required |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Required |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Considered if submitted |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Not considered |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Not considered |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Not considered |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Not considered |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Not considered |
AP credit
University of Kentucky awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It also awards credit for life experience, such as work or military service.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $19,838 a year at University of Kentucky in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
Can a 3.0 GPA get you into the University of Kentucky?
GPA alone can't tell you here. University of Kentucky admitted 93% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It requires a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.0 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.
What is the University of Kentucky's acceptance rate?
University of Kentucky's acceptance rate was 93% for fall 2024: it admitted 29,293 of 31,517 first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
How selective is the University of Kentucky?
Not very selective: at least 3 in 4 applicants got in. University of Kentucky admitted 93% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
Do you need SAT or ACT scores to apply to the University of Kentucky?
Check University of Kentucky's admissions website for the current rule: testing policies change from year to year. University of Kentucky was test optional: it considered SAT or ACT scores if you sent them, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education (fall 2024). Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 7% sent SAT scores and 50% sent ACT scores.
What SAT and ACT scores do the University of Kentucky students have?
The middle 50% of University of Kentucky's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 540–650 in reading and writing and 530–640 in math; ACT composite 21–28, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.
Is there a minimum GPA for the University of Kentucky?
University of Kentucky doesn't set a minimum GPA we could verify. Its first-year students averaged 3.58, as reported by the college in its 2025–26 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether that average is weighted or unweighted.
How important is GPA for getting into the University of Kentucky?
A lot: University of Kentucky requires high school GPA, high school record, college preparatory program and essay or personal statement. It considers test scores if you send them. It doesn't consider high school class rank, recommendations, other tests, demonstration of competencies, work experience and legacy status. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Does it matter at the University of Kentucky if a parent went there?
No. University of Kentucky doesn't consider whether a parent or other relative attended, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Does the University of Kentucky accept AP credit?
Yes. University of Kentucky awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
What is the average net price at the University of Kentucky?
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $19,838 a year at University of Kentucky in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Before you apply, check the University of Kentucky's official website: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: University of KentuckyU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
- University of Kentucky Common Data Set 2025–26University of Kentucky: average high school GPA of first-year students.
- College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).
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