Detailed Tuition and Charges
Annually the KCTCS Office of Budget and Financial Planning will publish the list of allowable charges and rates that apply to all KCTCS colleges. The KCTCS Office of Budget and Financial Planning reserves the right to correct any errors, inaccuracies, or omissions, and to change or update this information at any time.
| Tuition Category | Cost Per Credit Hour |
|---|---|
| Resident Students | $189/credit hour |
| Dual Credit Students | $94.50/credit hour |
| Nonresident Students | $260/credit hour |
| Online-Only Courses+ (all students) | $189/credit hour |
| Mandatory Fee* (all students) | $8/credit hour |
| Distance Learner Fee** | $20/credit hour |
What's With the ***?
Great question!
The first * is the KCTCS BuildSmart Investment for Kentucky Competitiveness fee. This
fee does not apply to Dual Credit Students.
+For students who are enrolled in online-only courses, the tuition is the same regardless
of your residency. Other fees, such as the mandatory fee and a distance learning course
fee of $20/credit hour still apply.
A full list of charges and fees is available.
To view our third-party servicer contract for refund management, click here.
Cost of Attendance 2024-2025
| Category | Living with Parents1 | Living Off-Campus | Living on Military Base |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated Direct Costs | |||
| Estimated Tuition | $4,536 | $4,536 | $4,536 |
| Estimated Fees | $192 | $192 | $192 |
| Estimated Indirect Costs2 | |||
| Estimated Books/Supplies | $1,268 | $1,268 | $1,268 |
| Estimated Living Expenses (Food & Housing) | $5,294 | $8,814 | $3,526 |
| Estimated Personal Expenses | $1,012 | $1,012 | $1,012 |
| Estimated Transportation | $2,590 | $2,590 | $2,590 |
| Estimated Loan Fees | $54 | $54 | $54 |
| Estimated Licensure Expense3 | - | - | - |
| Total | $14,946 | $18,466 | $13,178 |
| Category | Living with Parents | Living Off-Campus | Living on Military Base |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated Direct Costs | |||
| Estimated Tuition | $6,240 | $6,240 | $6,240 |
| Estimated Fees | $192 | $192 | $192 |
| Estimated Indirect Costs2 | |||
| Estimated Books/Supplies | $1,268 | $1,268 | $1,268 |
| Estimated Living Expenses (Food & Housing) | $5,294 | $8,814 | $3,526 |
| Estimated Personal Expenses | $1,012 | $1,012 | $1,012 |
| Estimated Transportation | $2,590 | $2,590 | $2,590 |
| Estimated Loan Fees | $54 | $54 | $54 |
| Estimated Licensure Expense3 | - | - | - |
| Total | $16,650 | $20,170 | $14,882 |
1 Cost of attendance estimates are based upon student's expected living arrangements
and assume full-time enrollment (12 credit hours each semester).
2 Estimated Indirect Costs are NOT amounts that will be charged to the student's account
at the college, but are average amounts that a student could expect to incur during
periods of enrollment.
3 Some programs of study prepare students for work in a profession that requires licensure
to be employed in your state. The cost of obtaining licensure varies by profession
and by the state in which the license is obtained. You can find a list of academic
programs leading to state licensure at Licensure Disclosures.
These are estimated values used to calculate eligibility for financial aid funds and are updated annually.
Additional Charges
These charges are included in the standard costs and have a $0 fee for all students
- Adult Basic Learning Examination (ABLE)*
- Certificate Charge
- College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Test*
- Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills (CTBS) Test*
- Diploma Charge
- Graduation Charge
- ID Badge (Initial Issue)
- Lab Charge
- Library/Media Access Charge
- Locker Charge
- Music Charge
- Nelson Denny Reading Test*
- Proficiency Examination for Credit*
- TABE A Test*
- Technology Charge
- Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE)*
- Transcript (1st copy)
- Wonderlic Test*
- WorkKeys Test (For students admitted to a program)*
*If used for placement at the time of entrance/registration - between the first day of class through the last day to enter an organized class for that session. Credit is awarded via the test credit process and will not appear on the grade report for that session.
If applicable, student may also be charged these fees per term.
| Charge Type | Amount per Term |
|---|---|
| Security Charge - Bluegrass | $40 |
| Security Charge - Gateway | $40 |
| Security Charge - Jefferson | $40 |
| Parking Charge | $25 |
| Transcript Type | Cost Per Occurrence |
|---|---|
| Additional Copies | $5 |
| On Demand Transcript | $7 |
| Faxed | $10 |
| Training or Testing Category | Cost |
|---|---|
| Facility Sponsored Students | $200 Course Fee |
| KCTCS Non-Facility Sponsored Students | Regular Tuition Rate per Credit Hour |
| K-Nat Testing Online Payment Convenience Charge | 2.95% of total transaction |
| Medication Aide Testing | $50 |
| Medication Aide Training | Cost Recovery |
| Methods of Instruction Course for Nurse Aide Instructors | $250 |
| Nurse Aide Performance Test | $75 |
| Nurse AIde Written Test | $40 |
| Oral Nurse AIde-Written Test | $55 |
See section 7.9 of the Business Procedures for more information.
| Charge Type | Charge Amount |
|---|---|
| Damage Charge - for repair, rebinding, or replacement as appropriate | Cost Recovery |
| Library Book Late Charge | $0.10 per day, $10 Maximum |
| Library Video Late Charge | $1 per day |
| Lost Books/Video/Equipment/Devices/etc. Charge | Replacement Cost |
| Lost Library Card | $3 per occurrence |
| Parking Violation - Parking Permit Replacement | $10 per Occurrence |
| Reserved Item, Loan in Days | $1 per Day, $10 Maximum |
| Reserved Item, Loan in Hours | $0.25 per Hour, $10 Maximum |
| Smoking Ban Violation | $5 |
| Service Type | Cost |
|---|---|
| ABLE* | $10 Per Occurrence |
| ACT/SAT Course Charge | Cost Recovery |
| ACT/SAT Test Charge* | Cost Recovery |
| Application Charge, Student (International) | $25 |
| Childcare Services | Cost Recovery |
| College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Test Charge* | Cost Recovery |
| Consortium/Transfer Agreements where KCTCS students attend courses offered by other institutions but billed by KCTCS | Cost Recovery |
| Copier Services | Cost Recovery |
| Customized Course and/or Testing Charge+ | Cost Recovery |
| Customized Clinical or Lab Charge (for out of area clinical/lab sites)+ | Cost Recovery |
| Digital Content Charges | $25 - $1,750 |
| Diploma/Credential Replacement | $20 per Occurrence |
| Diploma/Credential Special Order | Up to $35 per Occurrence |
| NOCTI Exams and other graduation exams | Cost Recovery |
| High School Student Textbook Rental | 3 year cost recovery of book price |
| Hybrid Online Course Charge - Waived for FY 2020-21 | $10 per Credit Hour |
| ID Badge Replacement | $10 per Replacement |
| ID Bade Specialty Badge (for clinicals, etc) | Cost Recovery |
| Identity Verification for Online Courses | $0 |
| International Travel Insurance (for students studying abroad) | Cost Recovery |
| KCTCS Payment Plan Service charge | $25 per Term |
| Late Registration/Reinstatement Charge+ | $75 per Occurrence |
| Liability Insurance (Health and Personal Services students) | $11 per Term |
| Live Workshop Charge | $25 Per Project |
| National League of Nursing (NLN) Comprehensive Test for Graduation* | $30-$35 based on NLN Membership |
| National League of Nursing (NLN) Pre-admission Exam for RN Program* | Cost Recovery |
| Online Course Charge+ | $20 per Credit Hour |
| Pass-through charges+ | Cost Recovery |
| Personal Safety Equipment (Safety glasses, radiation badges, etc) | If not available through the bookstore, the college can make available at cost + 15% |
| Portfolio Review for Assessment of College Credit | $75 Per Course |
| Proctored Tests: KCTCS Classes+ | Tuition Sharing |
| Proctored Tests: KYVU and other proctored test for non-KCTCS classes (during regular scheduled hours of operation for the testing center)** | $25 Per Test |
| Required Licensure/Certification/Verification for a field of work+ | Cost Recovery |
| Returned Check Charge | $50 Per Occurrence or fee amount as assessed by external collection agency |
| SGA Voluntary Activity Charge | Cost Recovery |
| Special Examination for Credit - Practical Exam*** | $40 Per Occurrence |
| Special Examination for Credit - Written Exam*** | $20 Per Occurrence |
| Sylvan*** | Cost Recovery |
| TABE A (Not part of Entrance/Placement)* | $20 Per Occurrence |
| Testing - Retakes of any test | Cost Recovery |
| Tickets (Entertainment) | Face Value |
| Wonderlic (Not part of Entrance/Placement)* | $20 Per Occurrence |
| WorkKeys (Persons not admitted to a program)* | Cost Recovery |
*Testing Services such as ACT, SAT, CLEP, GED, etc must be coordinated through the college's business office to ensure presenters have appropriate authorization, college access and security, liability insurance and cash handling procedure training.
**KCTCS students are not charged for proctored exams if it is a KCTCS course. The KCTCS college providing the proctoring service should have an agreement with the offering college (who has the tuition revenue) to share in the tuition revenue. The revenue should be transferred via journal entry.
***Course credit awarded via the test credit process. e.g. no grade will appear on the grade report.
+See the additional Notes section below.
Fire Commission
| Charge Category | Cost |
|---|---|
| Legislated Fines/Fees/Charges | As prescribed |
| Firefighter Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) | $125 |
| International Fire Service Accreditation Congress Test (IFSAC) | $50 |
+Notes for Tuition and Charges, and Items Included in Standard Cost
The KCTCS Office of Budget and Financial Planning reserves the right to correct any errors, inaccuracies, or omissions, and to change or update this information at any time.
All charges listed in "Items Included in Standard Cost", but not limited to the list, are considered included in the single rate of cost of attendance listed in Tuition and Fees. There is no additional charge for these items beyond what is listed at the KCTCS BOR approved tuition & charge rate provided the item is the initial items, or required number of items, required for attendance classes at the selected college. For example: If a student is required to have a new ID each year, the initial issue of the ID each year must be provided at no charge. If a student losses her ID, a charge may be assessed for a replacement.Changes to charges for services to students are to be requested prior to implementation via the KCTCS Office of Budget & Financial Planning.
| Service | Notes |
|---|---|
| Childcare Services | Provided at market rate. |
| Customized Course Charge | Justification for a customized course charge may include customization of content, place, or delivery. The service charge will vary with the market for courses that are customized to specific needs. These courses may include but are not limited to courses for the North American Racing Academy (NARA), Microsoft Certified, and Customized Industry Training. Extraordinary cost in delivery of courses may also be considered for customized course charges. |
| Customized Clinical or Lab Charge (For out of area clinical/lab sites) |
Justification for a customized Clinical/Lab charge shall be that the clinical or lab location that is out of the normal service range of the college and requires a student/instructor ratio less than the normal ratio for that clinical or lab. The course charge shall recover up to the additional cost for the customized course. Example: A Learn on Demand nursing program is offered to students throughout the state but its only regularly arranged clinical sites are within the normal service range of the college. If the student elects to complete the clinical potion of the training in his/her location, the delivering college may make arrangements to offer a clinical site close to that student. The additional cost may be charged to the student for the customized lab. The student shall be given the option of completing the clinicals at one of the delivering college's standard clinical sites with no additional charge. |
| Digital Content Charges | Digital Content: Students may opt out of the Digital Content charge by submitting a written request to the college Bursar's Office. Student must opt out each term |
| Hybrid Online Course Charge |
A charge to cover technology, infrastructure, and additional costs associated with hybrid course offerings. Hybrid Courses are identified with the following instruction modes. HB – Partially Online and In Classroom, b – Partially Online and ITV Class, IB – Independent Studies with Online Content |
| Late Registration/Reinstatement Charge |
A charge for late registration, and/or for re-instatement after cancellation for nonpayment of tuition and fees. Under Testing Services |
| Liability Insurance |
$11 per term, requirement for health related programs, Human Services and Early Childhood Development programs. |
| Online Course Charge |
A charge to cover technology, infrastructure, and additional costs associated with online course offerings. Online Courses are identified with the following instruction modes. BW – Online & Open to All Students , LC – Online w/Set Meeting Time, VL (LoD) – Online-Self Select Start Date, BL – Online w/Possible Campus Visit |
| Pass-through Charges |
Each pass-through charge must be approved in advance by the KCTCS VP for Finance. Supporting documentation should be submitted with the request. This charge is for third party contracts, not for services provided directly by the college. The college may charge the student the direct cost plus a 10% administration charge. Example:
|
| Proctored Tests: KCTCS classes |
If a student takes a proctored test required by a KCTCS course at a KCTCS Assessment center, and if the test is taken during the normal operating hours (as posted) for that Assessment Center, the student may not be charged for that test. However, the Assessment Center may charge the Academic department requiring the proctored test through a journal process. |
| Returned Check/Stop Payment Charge |
Handling charge for checks returned to the college for insufficient funds. |
| Tickets (Entertainment) |
Face value of the event; including college theatrical productions, concerts, etc. |
| Testing Service | Notes |
|---|---|
| ACT and/or SAT Test Charge | Service charge for ACT/SAT test. The charge is at the standard rate published by ACT/SAT. |
| ACT/SAT Course Charge | Service charge for ACT/SAT test preparation courses. |
| Course Proficiency Examinations | If credit posted to term grade report, then tuition must be assessed. If posted to transcript only, then tuition is not to be assessed, e.g. treated like transfer credit using the test credit process. |
| WorkKeys |
Provided at the market rate. |
One transcript is provided free with graduation. Thereafter, charges for additional transcript copies are per occurrence. Faxed and on-demand transcripts are per occurrence.
Any miscellaneous student charges not listed above require prior approval of the KCTCS Office of Budget and financial Planning.
