Kentucky's flagship public research university, educating leaders across 16 colleges since 1865.
The University of Kentucky comprises 16 colleges offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs across diverse disciplines including agriculture, engineering, medicine, law, pharmacy, and business. The university operates seven libraries, with the William T. Young Library serving as a federal depository for social sciences, humanities, and life sciences collections. UK is classified as an R1 Doctoral University with very high research spending and doctorate production, spending $476.5 million on research and development in 2022. Graduate programs rank highly nationally, including the College of Pharmacy (6th) and Martin School of Public Policy and Administration (4th in public finance and budgeting).
The main campus spans 784 acres in Lexington, with additional regional centers in Bowling Green, Hazard, Highland Heights, and Morehead. The university houses the Gatton Student Center (opened 2018), a 378,000-square-foot facility with dining, cinema, and recreational spaces. UK Athletics competes at NCAA Division I FBS level in the SEC with 22 varsity sports and nearly 500 student-athletes. The student body represents over 100 countries and all 120 Kentucky counties, with more than 450 student organizations and clubs.
Following a 1997 compact with the Kentucky General Assembly, UK committed to becoming a Top 20 public research institution. The university operates over 75 centers and institutes supporting collaborative, cross-disciplinary research. In FY24, UK's $527.7 million R&D spending generated over $937 million in economic activity across Kentucky and supported more than 4,700 jobs statewide. Two alumni have won Nobel Prizes.
UK HealthCare, established in 1957, operates the 724-bed Albert B. Chandler Hospital and Kentucky Children's Hospital, plus 221 beds at UK Good Samaritan Hospital. The medical center includes the only Level 1 Trauma Center for both adult and pediatric patients in Central and Eastern Kentucky. The College of Medicine (founded 1954), College of Nursing (1956), and College of Dentistry (1962) train healthcare professionals.