RICHMOND, Ky. — Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) once again made the list of “Best Bang for the Buck Rankings: South” by Washington Monthly magazine. According to Washington Monthly, schools in this category were “ranked according to how well they help non-wealthy students attain marketable degrees at affordable prices.”
EKU, which has an enrollment of nearly 15,000, ranked 109 out of the 228 schools in the South category for 2023. Among the Kentucky schools on the list, EKU ranked No. 11 out of 27, finishing above the University of Louisville, Northern Kentucky University, Morehead State University and Western Kentucky University.
In Washington Monthly’s National Universities category, EKU ranked 263 out of 442. According to Washington Monthly, the National Universities ranking is based on “contribution to the public good in three broad categories: social mobility, research, and promoting public service.”
EKU President David McFaddin said, “Rankings like these from the Washington Monthly further prove what all EKU Colonels know: Eastern is a place where any student can kickstart a successful career. We are proud to offer an affordable, high-quality education for students across the Commonwealth and beyond.”
Of EKU’s fall 2023 graduating class, 42% were Pell recipients or Pell eligible, and 43% became the first in their families to attain a higher education degree. EKU graduates go on to serve Kentucky communities, with 67% employed in Kentucky one year after graduation — the highest among the state’s public institutions.
In recent years, EKU has elevated commitments to students with innovative programs like EKU BookSmart, which helps to lower the barriers to higher education by providing free textbooks to all degree-seeking students.
The university has received additional recent accolades for its mission as a School of Opportunity, including 2024 Best Colleges by U.S. News and World Report, America’s Best Colleges for 2024 by the Wall Street Journal, and 2023 Best for Vets: Colleges by Military Times.
—By Ethan Sirles, EKU News
