Tuition and Other Costs

As a private institution of higher education, UPIKE does not receive a fixed amount of state or federal funding. Student tuition covers approximately one-third of the educational cost. Therefore, to support its academic programs, UPIKE solicits and accepts funding from foundations, corporations, endowments, alumni, parents and friends. Additionally, UPIKE administers an extensive federal, state and institutional financial aid program to continue providing students with excellent instruction and a pleasant living condition at a modest expense.


Cost of Attendance (COA) 

These fees are subject to annual revision. All students, including those with financial limitations, are urged to seek financial assistance early from the Office of Financial Aid.

Tuition is just one part of the cost to attend college.  There are other costs a student may incur to come to school.  This is called the Cost of Attendance.  These other costs may be on-campus living expenses, off-campus rent, transportation back and forth to school/home, supplies, and other miscellaneous expenses.

Direct Costs – These are charges that are assessed by the University directly such as tuition, on-campus living expenses, graduation fee.  There are NO book costs to students.

Indirect Costs – These are all the other costs mentioned above but are not charged by the University directly.


Below are estimated 2024-2025 academic year COA attendance budgets for students by the academic program.

Ƶ COA

Cost of Attendance:

2024-25On CampusOff Campus/Indp.W/Parent
Tuition$24,700.00 $24,700$24,700
Living Expenses$9,000
Student Activity Fee$150$150$150
Direct Inst. Cost*$33,850$24,850$24,850
Living Expenses$13,995$9,369
Transportation$1,944$2,907$2,907
Supplies$190$190$190
Personal/Misc$9,495$9,495$9,495
Loan Fees$70$70$70
Indirect cost**$11,699$26,657$22,031
Overall Budget$45,549$51,507$46,881

*Institutional Cost – these are the charges applied to a standard ungraduated student attending between 12-18 credits.
*Graduation Fee – $100.  Will be added to Direct Cost in student’s final year.
**Parent Plus Loan fee of $486 will be included to any PLUS loan

OTHER FEES:

  • Part time tuition (1-11 credit) – $1025/Credit hour
  • Overload Tuition (>18 credit) – $330/credit hour
  • Summer Tuition – $300/Credit hour

TUITION AND AID

The UPIKE RN-BSN is priced affordably to allow students with a busy schedule to complete their degree.

2024-25 (year)*RN-BSN YR1 (Fall/SP)RN-BSN YR2 (summer)
14cr/semester8 cr
Tuition$10,080$2,880
Student Activity Fee$150
Graduation fee$100.00
Direct Inst. Cost$10,230$2,980
Living Expenses$13,995$3,110
Transportation$1,944$432
Supplies$190$120
Personal/Misc$9,495$2,110
Loan Fees$69$69
Indirect cost$25,693$5,841
Overall Budget$35,923$8,821

*This is an average budget for students in the RN-BSN program. Actual tuition will vary if not taking same number of credits.

**Parent Plus Loan fee of $486 will be included to any PLUS loan

2024-25(year) -1st On Campus Off Campus/Indp W/Parent
Tuition24,700.0024,700.0024,700.00
Living Expenses9,000.00
Student Activity Fee150150150
Class Fee540540540
Direct Inst. Cost*34,390.00 25,390.0025,390.00
Living Expenses13,995.009,369.00
Transportation1,944.002,907.002,907.00
Supplies190190190
Personal/Misc9,495.009,495.009,495.00
Loan Fees707070
Indirect cost**11,699.00 26,657.00 22,031.00
Overall Budget46,089.00 52,047.00 47,421.00
2024-25 (year) -2nd year On Campus Off Campus/Indp W/Parent
Tuition $24,700$24,700$24,700
Living Expenses $9,000
Student Activity Fee $150$150$150
Class Fee $900$900$900
Graduation Fee $100$100$100
Direct Inst. Cost $34,850 $25,850 $25,850
Living Expenses $13,996$9,370
Transportation $1,944$2,908$2,908
Supplies $190$190$190
Personal/Misc $9,496$9,496$9,496
Loan Fees $70$70$70
Profession Cert *$393$393$393
Indirect cost**$12,093 $27,053 $22,427
Overall Budget $46,943$52,903$48,277

*If students require multiple attempts at the NCLEX, they may request an increase in their COA for a total of three attempts as long as the cost of the exam is prior to the student leaving school.

**Parent Plus Loan fee of $486 will be included to any PLUS loan

  • American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers – $20 (certification is good x 2 years)
  • Criminal Background Check (CastleBranch) – $35
  • CastleBranch Compliance Tracker (document upload of clinical requirements) – $35
  • Urine Drug Screen – $5 annually
  • Medical History & Physical Exam – variable
  • TB skin test & Immunization Costs – variable (TB and flu required annually)
  • Professional Liability Insurance – ~ $43.00 (annual)
  • Uniforms – $35.00 – $45.00
  • University Activity Fee – $150 annually
  • University Graduation Fee – $100
  • UPIKE logo for uniform – $5
  • Stethoscope – $55 (required MDF model)
  • Some NUR courses have course fees.  These course fees cover the following:
    • Skills lab/Equipment fees/Test software – $100 – 150/semester
  • Assessment Technologies, Inc (ATI) Resources – $980 (paid over four semesters)
  • NCLE-RN Test preparation ( covered by course fees)

Costs for licensing after graduation:

  • License application fee (Kentucky Board of Nursing) – $125
  • NCLEX-RN Registration ($200 to Pearson Vue)
2024-25 (year) -1st – 3rd On Campus Off Campus/Indp W/Parent
Tuition$24,700$24,700$24,700
Living Expenses$9,000.00
Student Activity Fee$150$150$150
Class Fee$540$540$540
Direct Inst. Cost $34,390.00 $25,390$24,850
Living Expenses$13,996$9,370.00
Transportation$1,944$2,908$2,908
Supplies$190$190$190
Personal/Misc$9,496$9,496$9,496
Loan Fees$70$70$70
Indirect cost**$11,700$26,982 $22,034
Overall Budget$46,090$52,050$47,424.
2024-25 (year) 4th year On Campus Off Campus/Indp W/Parent
Tuition 24,700.0024,700.0024,700.00
Living Expenses 9,000.00
Student Activity Fee 150150150
Class Fee 200200200
Graduation Fee 100100100
Direct Inst. Cost 34,150.00 25,150.00 25,150.00
Living Expenses 13,995.009,369.00
Transportation 1,944.002,907.002,907.00
Supplies 190190190
Personal/Misc 9,495.009,495.009,495.00
Loan Fees 707070
Profession Cert*415415415
Indirect cost** 12,114.00 0 27,072.00 22,446.00
Overall Budget 46,264.00 52,222.00 47,596.00

*If students require multiple attempts at any of their exams, they may request an increase in their COA for a total of three attempts as long as the cost of the exam is prior to the student leaving school.
**Parent Plus Loan fee of $486 will be included to any PLUS loan.

2024-25 (year) -1st/2nd On Campus Off Campus/Indp W/Parent
Tuition24,700.0024,700.0024,700.00
Living Expenses9,000.00
Student Activity Fee150150150
Direct Inst. Cost 33,850.00 24,850.00 24,850.00
Living Expenses13,995.009,369.00
Transportation1,944.002,907.002,907.00
Supplies190190190
Personal/Misc9,495.009,495.009,495.00
Loan Fees707070
Indirect cost** 11,699.00 26,657.00 22,031.00
Overall Budget 45,549.00 51,507.00 46,881.00
2024-25 (year) -3rd On Campus Off Campus/Indp W/Parent
Tuition24,700.0024,700.0024,700.00
Living Expenses9,000.00
Student Activity Fee150150150
Class Fee540540540
Direct Inst. Cost 34,390.00 25,390.00 25,390.00
Living Expenses 13,995.00 9,369.00
Transportation1,944.002,907.002,907.00
Supplies190190190
Personal/Misc9,495.009,495.009,495.00
Loan Fees707070
Profession Cert*500500500
Indirect cost** 12,199.00 27,157.00 22,531.00
Overall Budget 46,589.00 52,547.00 47,921.00
2024-25 (year) 4th year On Campus Off Campus/Indp W/Parent
Tuition 24,700.0024,700.0024,700.00
Living Expenses 9,000.00
Student Activity Fee 150150150
Class Fee 400400400
Graduation Fee 100100100
Direct Inst. Cost 34,350.00 25,350.00 25,350.00
Living Expenses 13,995.00 9,369.00
Transportation 1,944.002,907.002,907.00
Supplies 190190190
Personal/Misc 9,495.009,495.009,495.00
Loan Fees 707070
Indirect cost** 11,699.00 26,657.00 22,031.00
Overall Budget 46,049.00 52,007.00 47,381.00

*If students require multiple attempts at any of their exams, they may request an increase in their COA for a total of three attempts as long as the cost of the exam is prior to the student leaving school.
**Parent Plus Loan fee of $486 will be included to any PLUS loan.


Master's Programs

2024-25 (year)MBATLPMSW
Off CampusOn CampusOff CampusOn CampusOff CampusOn Campus
Tuition490/cr490/cr355/cr355/cr540/cr540/cr
Credit per semester*8cr8cr6cr6cr9cr9cr
Semester Tuition$3,920 $3,920 $2,130 $2,130 $4,860 $4,860
On-Campus Housing$1,600 $1,600 $1,600
Food$1,400$1,400$1,400
Living Expenses$4,665$4,665$4,665
Supplies$130$130$130$130$130$130
Transportation$618$618$618$618$618$618
Personal/Misc$3,165$3,165$3,165$3,165$3,165$3,165
Loan Fees$142$142$142$142$142$142
Total/Semester**$12,670$11,005$10,880$9,215$13,610$11,945
2 Semesters$24,530 $24,530 $21,760$18,430$27,220$23,890
3 Semesters$38,010$33,015$32,640$27,645$40,830$35,835

*average number of credits taken by students
**This is the total cost of attendance, which includes indirect costs that are not charged by the University but may be incurred by the student to attend classes


Professional Programs

Tuition Refund Policy

A request for a tuition fee refund requires written notification to David Faletta, the assistant Dean of Student Affairs, KYCOM or Joshua Justice, the assistant Dean of Student Affairs, KYCO . This request must be received before the close of business during the week in which the refund is requested. A request for a tuition fee refund requires prior written notification of withdrawal from KYCOM/KYCO. The tuition fee refund shall be prorated as follows:

  • 100 percent during the first week of an academic semester
  • 75 percent during the second week of an academic semester
  • 50 percent during the third week of an academic semester
  • 25 percent during the fourth week of an academic semester
  • 0 percent after the fourth week of an academic semester

No course, clerkship or rotation will be credited toward promotion, graduation or subsequent credit if a student has not paid the required tuition and fees, including any additional tuition incurred by repeating any portion of the regular program. UPIKE’s Board of Trustees reserves the right to change the schedule of tuition and fees, without advance notice, and to make such changes applicable to present as well as future students of KYCOM/KYCO, and to establish additional fees or charges for special services whenever, in their opinion, such actions are deemed advisable.

All inquiries concerning the above policies and all requests for refunds should be directed to the Assistant Dean(s) of Student Affairs.

Tuition for the 2024-2025 Academic Year

KYCOM tuition for the 2024-2025 academic year is $55,380.00.  All KYCOM students must have medical insurance and submit proof of that to the University.  Insurance Cost is $4,400.00 per year. You will see the charge split for the medical insurance on your UPIKE account between the Fall semester and Spring semesters, but you can have the charge removed by demonstrating that you have insurance in place. The cost of attending a four-year doctor of osteopathic medicine program varies from school to school. At KYCOM, the cost of attending is inclusive of many benefits not provided at other institutions, including:


KYCOM Student Advantage Program

The vision of KYCOM’s founding dean was that our students enter on a level playing field, where those who are admitted with few financial resources have the same educational opportunities as those with greater resources. In order to achieve this goal, KYCOM provides all students with the following:

  • OPP table
  • White coat and scrub suit
  • Diagnostic equipment (stethoscope, ophthalmoscope, etc.)
  • Use of an iPad with Apple Care and all required textbooks
  • Membership dues paid to the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA)
  • Fees paid for the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners COMLEX-USA Level 1 and Level 2-CE board exams (for first attempts only)
  • COMLEX-USA Level 1 examination preparation program

Cost of Attendance – Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine

KYCOM – Off CampusFirst YearSecond YearThird YearFourth Year
months in AY10101010
Tuition$55,380$55,380$55,380$55,380
Insurance$4,214$4,382$4,382$4,382
Inst cost$59,594 $59,762$59,762$59,762
Living Expenses$15,550$15,550$15,550$15,550
Transportation$3,230$3,230$3,230$3,230
Misc*$6,910$6,910$6,910$6,910
Supplies$300$300$300$450
Loan Fees$435$435$435$435
Professional Cert**
Total$86,019$86,187$86,187$86,337
KYCOM-On CampusFirst YearSecond YearThird YearFourth Year
months in AY10101010
Tuition$55,380$55,380$55,380$55,380
Insurance$4,214$4,382$4,382$4,382
Housing$3,200$3,200$3,200$3,200
Inst cost$62,794 $62,962$62,962$62,962
Food$4,665$4,665$4,665$4,665
Transportation$3,230$3,230$3,230$3,230
Misc*$6,910$6,910$6,910$6,910
Supplies$300$300$300$450
Loan Fees$435$435$435$435
Professional Cert***
Total$78,334$78,502$78,502$78,652

*Misc fee used to include an amount for personal health insurance.  Health insurance is now an institutional charge so MISC cost has been reduced by actual cost

**KYCOM pays for 1st attempt at COMLEX level 1 and level 2.  If students require multiple attempts at COMPLEX 1 or 2, they may request an increase in their COA for a total of three attempts as long as the cost of the exam is prior to the student leaving school.

This standard student budget is a conservative estimate of the cost to attend KYCOM and maintain a modest, but adequate, standard of living.

Note: Disbursements are usually processed within two weeks of the term starting. Please budget your personal and household costs in accordance with these payment dates.


Tuition for the 2024-2025 Academic Year

KYCO tuition for the 2024-2025 academic year is $47,650. All KYCO students must have medical insurance and submit proof of that to the University.  Insurance Cost is $4,382 per year. You will see the charge split for the medical insurance on your UPIKE account between the Fall semester and Spring semesters, but you can have the charge removed by demonstrating that you have insurance in place.  The cost of attending a four-year doctor of optometry program varies from school to school.

Student Advantage program

The Ƶ-Kentucky College of Optometry Student Advantage program allows all our students to enter on a level playing field where those with limited financial resources have the same educational opportunities as those with greater resources. At no additional cost, entering students are provided the following – a value of approximately $15,000

  • All required ophthalmic and medical equipment
  • An iPad & Apple Care
  • All required texts
  • Membership dues paid to the American Optometric Student Association (AOSA) and the Kentucky Optometric Student Association (KOSA)
  • NBEO preparation program
  • Verified Credentials-Maintenance of health records and immunizations

Cost of Attendance – Kentucky College of Optometry

KYCO – Off CampusFirst YearSecond YearThird YearFourth Year
months in AY9101212
Tuition$47,650$47,650$47,650$47,650
Insurance$3,855$4,382$4,382$4,382
Inst cost$51,505 $52,032$52,032$52,032
Living Expenses$13,995$15,550$18,660$18,660
Transportation$2,907$3,230$3,876$3,876
Misc*$6,219$6,910$8,292$8,292
Supplies$300$450$450$450
Loan Fees$435$435$435$435
Professional Cert***$4,610
Total$75,361$78,607$83,745$88,355
KYCO-On CampusFirst YearSecond YearThird YearFourth Year
months in AY9101212
Tuition$47,650$47,650$47,650$47,650
Insurance$3,855$4,382$4,382$4,382
Housing$3,200$3,200$4,800$4,800
Inst cost$54,705 $55,232$56,832$56,832
Food$4,199$4,665$5,598$5,598
Transportation$2,907$3,230$3,876$3,876
Misc*$6,219$6,910$8,292$8,292
Supplies$300$450$450$450
Loan Fees$435$435$435$435
Professional Cert**$4,610
Total$68,765$70,922$75,483$80,093

*Misc fee used to include an amount for personal health insurance.  Health insurance is now an institutional charge so MISC cost has been reduced by actual cost

**KYCO will reimburse students for NBEO level 1 if they pass on their first attempt. Level 1 reimbursement will happen during your 4th year.  this is based on when the results of exams are received.

If students require multiple attempts at NBEO level 1, 2, 3 or Injection Skill Exam, they may request an increase in their COA for a total of three attempts as long as the cost of the exam is prior to the student leaving school.


This standard student budget is a conservative estimate of the cost to attend KYCO and maintain a modest, but adequate, standard of living.

Note: Disbursements are usually processed within two weeks of the term starting. Please budget your personal and household costs in accordance with these payment dates.