Tuition, fees will increase soon for University of Kentucky students

The University of Kentucky Board of Trustees approved Friday new tuition and fees that will cost students more per semester.

Costs will rise by 1.94% for most students in the 2026-27 academic year. This is the maximum increase allowed by the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, which must approve the board’s decision.

Tuition and fees for a full-time resident undergraduate students will increase by $135, totaling $7,088.50 per semester. Full-time nonresident undergraduates will pay $341 more, totaling $17,923.

The previous academic year had a greater rise in prices, when rates increased by 3%.

The increase includes a $14 increase to the campus recreation fee, from $95 to $109 per semester. The board said this will help fund the expansion of sports and recreation facilities at the Johnson Student Recreation Center.

It also includes 13 fees that fund student services, including the Student Government Association, student health, and technology, according to the board Finance Committee’s agenda.

Statewide budget caused uncertainty

University presidents sounded the alarm about cuts in higher education funding earlier this year, especially after the initial executive branch budget bill proposed major cuts to Kentucky’s universities.

The first version of House Bill 400, the state budget bill, passed through the House with a proposed a 1.9% cut to the general fund in fiscal year 2026-27 for the state’s universities and Kentucky Community and Technical College System. It also proposed a 3.7% cut in 2027-28. Kentucky State University, Morehead State University and Murray State University would have been exempt from the university general fund cuts.

However, the final version of the budget bill restored state support for its public colleges.

“I am very grateful to legislators, who ultimately restored nearly all the proposed reductions to our operating budget,” Capilouto said. “This outcome is significant and welcomed, as we had been facing substantial reductions that would have posed real challenges to our mission and momentum.”

UK administrators spoke about the uncertainty surrounding last year’s budget before it was approved, saying there were many unknown factors as higher education undergoes significant changes, including state and federal policies.

“This budget was actually very difficult, very challenging, to put together because of so many unknowns,” Angie Martin, UK’s chief budget officer and vice president for financial planning, said last year.

This story was originally published April 24, 2026 at 12:05 PM.