Karia Kiritbhai Study Abroad Course Expert
Study Abroad Course Expert
The University of Kentucky, located in Lexington, is a large public research university with approximately 36,000 students. Admissions are moderately competitive, with an acceptance rate of around 92%. Its strongest programs include Pharmacy, Engineering, Business, and Health Sciences. The graduation rate is around 65–68%, and graduates report early career salaries of approximately INR 34–38 lakhs per annum ($41,000–46,000).
Based in Athens, the University of Georgia is a standout public research university about 40,000 students. More selective, they have an acceptance rate of around 37%. Flagship programs include Business, Law, Journalism, and Public Affairs. Their graduation rate is good, around 84-86%, and graduates earn early career wages of INR 36-40 lakhs ($43,000-$48,000).
| University of Kentucky | University of Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 4.3 Out of 10 | 4.7 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 401 Times Higher Education 2026 # 781 QS World University 2026 # 321 Center for World University Rankings 2025 | # 351 Times Higher Education 2026 # 525 QS World University 2026 # 55 Financial Times 2025 |
| Subject Strength | # 97 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 401 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 # 68 for Law by US News 2025 | # 111 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 351 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 # 22 for Law by US News 2025 |
| Programs | UG Programs -83 PG Programs -59 Doctorate Programs -19 | UG Programs -116 PG Programs -92 Doctorate Programs -114 |
| Acceptance Rate | 92.4 % | 37.2 % |
| Exam Score | IELTS-6 SAT-1080 TOEFL-71 | GMAT-550 IELTS-6.5 SAT-1200 TOEFL-80 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 29050 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 30126.25 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 54608 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 31120 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 24724 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 21866 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | Some of the programs and the average salary are as follows: Bachelor of Science: $77,000 Bachelor (Other): $65,000 Bachelor of Arts: $58,000 Some of the top employers of the university graduates are: PwC, Ernst & Young, Fidelity Investments, University of Kentucky, Amazon, Dell Technologies, Arrive Logistics, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co, Kroger, UK HealthCare etc. | The average salary that undergraduate students receive after their graduation is around $59,769. The programs and their average salary are as follows: Doctorate: $113,000 BBA: $96,000 Bachelor of Arts: $76,000 Master (Other): $73,000 Bachelor of Science: $70,000 Bachelor (Other): $64,000 |
| application requirements | Submit official transcripts, Submit English language requirements, Check program specific requirements | Standardized test scores and counselor recommendations are required for all the applicants. |
| Campuses and B-Schools | NA | University of Georgia College of Engineering |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 8.4/10 Read 4 reviews | 8.2/10 Read 7 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 61 for Business by US News 2025 # 501 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 # 551 for Business by QS World University 2024 | # 111 for Business by QS World University 2026 # 29 for Business by US News 2025 # 126 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 |
| exam scores | GMAT - 630/800GRE - 311/340IELTS - 6.5/9TOEFL - 79/120 | GMAT - 698/800GRE - 314/340IELTS - 7/9TOEFL - 100/120 |
| cost to study | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -47679 | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) - |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| application dates | Jan 15, 2026 (Application Deadline For Summer 2026 Intake) | Oct 10, 2025 (Round 1 Application Deadline For 2026 Intake) Jan 10, 2026 (Round 2 Application Deadline For 2026 Intake) Mar 10, 2026 (Round 3 Application Deadline For 2026 Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | University of Kentucky | University of Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1865 | 1785 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 11:1 |
| Male:Female | 45% Male, 55% Female | 43% Male, 57% Female |
| Location Facts | The University of Kentucky is located in the city of Lexington, which is about 80 miles south of Cincinnati and 200 miles northeast of Nashville. | The University of Georgia's main campus is made up of 465 buildings covering an area of about 762 acres (308 hectares). The university owns an additional 39,743 acres (160.83 km2) of land in 31 counties across Georgia. The campus is divided into north campus, south campus, east campus, west campus and central campus. |
| Library | UK Libraries’ mission is to ignite the human drive to discover, create, and connect by facilitating access to information, empowering learners, and collaborating with the communities to advance knowledge, enhance scholarship, and preserve the history and culture of the Commonwealth. | The university has 14 libraries and it also has various special collections. Georgia Capitol Museum is a part of university libraries. There are three remote site libraries- Gwinnett, Griffin, and Tifton Campus libraries. |
| Campus Life | The University of Kentucky provides you with a world-class education, filled with the possibility of new ideas and learning experiences that will prepare you for the future. But life on campus also offers plenty of other experiences beyond what takes place solely in a classroom. With more than 500 student organizations, there's an activity for you at the University of Kentucky. Join an intramural athletic team, even if you’re not an athlete. Give back through the Center for Community Outreach and its programs like DanceBlue, a 24 hour no-sitting, no-sleeping dance marathon to raise money for the DanceBlue Kentucky Children’s Hospital Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinic and cancer research. UK's Living Learning Program allows you to live and study subjects and topics with other students right in your residence hall. Outside your room, you can explore dozens of great dining options ranging from home-cooking to international fare. And you can stay in shape at one of the two state-of-the-art student fitness centers – Alumni Gym, located in the Gatton Student Center, or the Johnson Center; both feature the latest workout equipment, group fitness classes, and more all within walking distance of your residence hall. | University of Georgia has more than hunderds of student clubs that provide various services to the students. There are also various other engagement sources for the students to keep them engaged. International students also have their society that takes care of their well being. University provides various sports facilities to the students that include hockey, rugby, basketball, football etc. Accommodations and dining facilities are also available for the students on campus. |
| Hostel | #Housing & Food (with dependents) - $13070 #Housing & Food - $15912 #Housing & Food (without dependents) - $16016 #Housing & Food (with Parents) - $9610 | #Housing - $5750 #Housing - $7228 |
| Famous Alumni | Don Ball, Founder of Ball Homes Wendell Cherry, Founder of Humana Joe Craft, CEO of Alliance Resource Partners, a large coal producer, and philanthropist Carol Martin "Bill" Gatton, Businessman and major contributor to the university Rodney McMullen, CEO of The Kroger Company Chris T. Sullivan, Founder of Outback Steakhouse | Alton Brown (TV personality), Michael Stipe (singer-songwriter), Ryan Seacrest (radio personality), Zell Miller (former Senator), Paul Broun (US representative), Sonny Perdue (US Secretary for Agriculture), Stuart Woods (novelist), Sally Yates (Former US Attorney General), Parvati Shallow (TV personality), etc. |
| City Life | Lexington blends influences from the South and Midwest to create a cultural identity all its own. A college town, Lexington is home to the University of Kentucky, which is the city's largest school and employer. The university plays an important role in the city by providing a constant influx of young, educated people into the culture and economy. Lexington is serious about college basketball. Residents support the University of Kentucky Wildcats with a fervor that surpasses the fan base of some professional teams. Kentucky fans camp out for tickets to "Big Blue Madness," the official kickoff to the season, which features an exhibition-style team scrimmage. When UK is playing, streets and restaurants are deserted, and when they win a national championship, the downtown streets look like New Orleans during Mardi Gras. Lexington's population is growing, which has contributed to a slow increase in the cost of living. Despite this, Lexington is still very affordable compared with other metro areas around the country. Due to the city's large college population, rental housing is abundant and inexpensive. Whether renting or purchasing a home, your dollar will go further in Lexington than in many other U.S. cities. However, like with many other metro areas in the country, housing prices in Lexington have seen an increase in recent years. | Athens is a city in Georgia with a population of 126,118. Athens is in Clarke County and is one of the best places to live in Georgia. Living in Athens offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents rent their homes. In Athens there are a lot of bars, restaurants, and parks. Many young professionals live in Athens and residents tend to lean liberal. Located about 1.5 hours northeast of Atlanta, Athens Georgia is just far enough away from the fast-paced lifestyle of Atlanta yet laid back and culturally infused with exciting events year round. Surrounding the Athens gated communities, you will find culture, arts, lifelong learning, quality medical care, and plenty of dining and shopping. The University of Georgia’s location here makes this small town one of the best college towns in Georgia. Gated Georgia golf communities are popular with the school faculty. |
| Weather |
University of Kentucky vs University of Georgia
Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
The University of Georgia (UGA) is frequently ranked in the global 400-500 range and is known for its strengths in the areas of Business (Terry College of Business), Law, Journalism, Agriculture, and Public Affairs. The University of Kentucky (UK) is usually ranked in the global 500-600 range, is strong in Pharmacy, Medicine, Agriculture, and Engineering. Georgia has relatively broader acceptance, especially in Business and Law, while Kentucky has more acceptance in healthcare and pharmacy areas.
General Information
UGA was founded in 1785 and is one of the oldest public universities in the U.S. It is located in Athens, Georgia with about 41,000 students. UGA had a more traditional campus experience, and is affiliated with the state (government and industry). UK was founded in 1865 in Lexington, and has about 32,000 students, and is the state's flagship research institution with a strong emphasis on its medical center and agricultural research.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
UGA is only moderately selective and has an acceptance rate at about 37% most years, and the competive areas would be Business, Honors and
Law-related tracks. UK has a higher acceptance rate of 92%, but the competive areas are Nursing and Pharmacy. UGA is more academically selective, while Kentucky is more open access, but has program-based selectivity.
Research Impact & Facilities
Both institutions are classified as R1 research institutions. The UGA has built a reputation in agricultural sciences, public policy, business and life sciences with a historic emphasis in public service and impact at the state level. The UK has established itself in medical research, pharmacy, cancer care, and engineering with one of the largest university medical centers in the surrounding region. Both institutions value applied research, albeit with differing disciplinary strengths.
Cost & Financial Aid
The average tuition for international students is around $31,000-33,000 for one academic year at UGA and $32,000–35,000 for one academic year at UK. The cost of living is affordable in both Athens and Lexington; both towns are about 5% less expensive than comparable coastal cities in the U.S. Each school offers merit scholarships and has additional scholarships for qualified students; UGA has a strong advantage with business and honors scholarships and UK has notable scholarships for students who pursue degrees in STEM or healthcare.
Career Destinations & Graduates' Success
UGA graduates will leverage their degrees in many careers in business, public affairs, journalism, and law, and it has an advantage with the state's and corporate networks particularly in the Atlanta area. UK graduates enjoy success in healthcare, pharmacy, agriculture, and engineering with the support of the university's medical center or connections to a regional industry. UGA graduates find national recognition in their field or disciplines whereas UK seems to focus on graduating professionals in the health sciences and technical fields.
