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Best Community Colleges in Louisville: Transfer, Tuition & Programs for 2026

GradeToGrad Editorial Team

January 29, 2026

Compare Louisville community colleges with real tuition, earnings, and program data.

Why Community College in Louisville?

Louisville's community colleges offer an affordable launchpad for higher education and career training. With tuition well below four-year university rates and transfer agreements with state universities, the 2+2 path (2 years at CC, 2 at university) can save thousands while putting you on the same career trajectory.

Community Colleges in Louisville

Bluegrass Community and Technical College (Lexington)

Tuition: $4,706/year | Enrollment: 7,713 | 6-year earnings: $32,081

Nursing ADN graduates earn $52,109/year.

Jefferson Community and Technical College (Louisville)

Tuition: $4,706/year | Enrollment: 7,105 | 6-year earnings: $32,950

Nursing ADN graduates earn $52,537/year.

Elizabethtown Community and Technical College (Elizabethtown)

Tuition: $4,656/year | Enrollment: 3,775 | 6-year earnings: $32,562

Nursing ADN graduates earn $49,701/year.

Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (Bowling Green)

Tuition: $4,656/year | Enrollment: 2,952 | 6-year earnings: $32,195

Nursing ADN graduates earn $53,345/year.

Gateway Community and Technical College (Florence)

Tuition: $4,656/year | Enrollment: 2,824 | 6-year earnings: $34,492

Nursing ADN graduates earn $59,138/year.

Owensboro Community and Technical College (Owensboro)

Tuition: $4,656/year | Enrollment: 2,579 | 6-year earnings: $31,283

Nursing ADN graduates earn $46,851/year.

ATA College (Louisville)

Tuition: $13,930/year | Enrollment: 337 | 6-year earnings: $29,724

Nursing ADN graduates earn $54,382/year.

PJ's College of Cosmetology-Bowling Green (Bowling Green)

Tuition: N/A/year | Enrollment: 285 | 6-year earnings: $19,150

How to Choose

Priority	Best Fit
Lowest tuition	Elizabethtown Community and Technical College ($4,656/yr)
Best earnings outcome	Gateway Community and Technical College ($34,492 at 6yrs)
Nursing	Check which schools offer ADN programs with clinical rotations
Transfer	Look for schools with articulation agreements to your target university

Transfer Pathways

Check with your target university for specific transfer agreements. Most Kentucky public universities accept credits from in-state community colleges through statewide articulation agreements. Complete your general education core at a CC and transfer as a junior to save significantly on your bachelor's degree.

Financial Aid

Federal Pell Grant — up to $7,395/year, often exceeds full CC tuition
Kentucky state grants — check your state's financial aid office for resident programs
Institutional scholarships — many CCs offer merit and need-based scholarships
Workforce development grants — available for high-demand programs like nursing and skilled trades

Next Steps

Compare Louisville community colleges on GradeToGrad — see tuition, programs, and transfer rates.