With over 38,000 students, the University of Kentucky is Commonwealth's flagship institution of higher education. It is one of the nation's top research universities and also has an important land grant mission for a state where agriculture is a major economic sector. UK is one of only eight universities in the United States with schools of agriculture, engineering, law, medicine and pharmacy on a single campus. It also maintains professional programs in dentistry, architecture, business, economics, education and social professions.

The University campus is undergoing dramatic physical change. Over the last decade, UK has completed, initiated, or approved more than $4 billion in capital investment focused on living, learning, health care, research, and dining spaces.

In fiscal year 2024, UK invested $527.7 million in research and development, generating $937 million in economic activity across the state. Currently, the university has eight Research Priority Areas: Cancer, Cardiovascular Diseases, Diabetes and Obesity, Diversity and Inclusion, Energy, Materials Science, Neuroscience, and Substance Use Disorder.

Policy

The fiscal year 2026 Postsecondary Education Performance Fund distribution in the amount of $41,174,700 is added to UK's base General Fund appropriation in fiscal years 2027 and 2028.

Included in the base General Fund budget is $102,919,700 in each fiscal year for UK's Mandated Programs, which include the following:

  • $35,420,800 in each fiscal year for the College of Agriculture Cooperative Extension;
  • $31,434,100 in each fiscal year for the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station;
  • $10,750,900 in each fiscal year to support the Commonwealth's Property and Casualty Insurance Fund premium, which represents a $806,300 increase in each fiscal year;
  • $10,176,200 in each fiscal year for the Center for Applied Energy Research;
  • $4,076,300 in each fiscal year for the Kentucky Geological Survey;
  • $4,034,200 in each fiscal year for the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory;
  • $2,040,500 in each fiscal year for the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging;
  • $1,800,000 in each fiscal year for the College of Agriculture Division of Regulatory Services;
  • $600,000 in each fiscal year for the College of Agriculture Kentucky Small Business Development Center;
  • $586,300 in each fiscal year for the University Press of Kentucky;
  • $500,000 in each fiscal year from Lottery Funds for the Human Development Institute Supported Higher Education Project;
  • $450,200 in each fiscal year for the Center for Excellence in Rural Health;
  • $950,200 in each fiscal year for the Kentucky Cancer Registry; and
  • $100,000 in each fiscal year for the Sports Medicine Research Institute.