List of college athletic programs in Kentucky

This is a list of college athletics programs in the U.S. state of Kentucky.

NCAA[edit]

Bellarmine

Eastern Kentucky

Kentucky

Louisville

Morehead State

Murray State

Northern Kentucky

Western Kentucky

Full NCAA Division I member colleges in Kentucky.

– FBS Football,

– FCS Football,

– Non-football

Team	School	City	Conference	Sport sponsorship
				Foot- ball	Basketball		Base- ball	Soft- ball	Soccer
				Foot- ball	M	W	Base- ball	Soft- ball	M	W
Bellarmine Knights ^[a]	Bellarmine University	Louisville	ASUN	^[b]
Eastern Kentucky Colonels	Eastern Kentucky University	Richmond	ASUN	FCS^[c]
Kentucky Wildcats	University of Kentucky	Lexington	SEC	FBS					^[d]
Louisville Cardinals	University of Louisville	Louisville	ACC	FBS
Morehead State Eagles	Morehead State University	Morehead	OVC	FCS ^[e]
Murray State Racers	Murray State University	Murray	MVC	FCS ^[f]
Northern Kentucky Norse	Northern Kentucky University	Highland Heights	Horizon
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and Lady Toppers	Western Kentucky University	Bowling Green	C-USA	FBS

^ As of the 2023–24 academic year, Bellarmine is in the fourth year of a four-year transition to Division I and will become an active member in 2024–25.
^ Bellarmine began playing sprint football, a weight-restricted form of football not governed by the NCAA, in 2022 as a charter member of the Midwest Sprint Football League.
^ Eastern Kentucky's football program competes in the United Athletic Conference.
^ Kentucky's men's soccer team competes in the Sun Belt Conference.
^ Morehead State's football program competes in the Pioneer Football League.
^ Murray State's football team is a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference, a separate entity from the MVC.

Kentucky State

Kentucky Wesleyan

Thomas More

Full NCAA Division II member colleges in Kentucky.

Team	School	City	Conference	Sport sponsorship
				Foot- ball	Basketball		Base- ball	Soft- ball	Soccer
				Foot- ball	M	W	Base- ball	Soft- ball	M	W
Kentucky State Thorobreds and Thorobrettes	Kentucky State University	Frankfort	SIAC
Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers	Kentucky Wesleyan College	Owensboro	G-MAC
Thomas More Saints ^[a]	Thomas More University	Crestview Hills	G-MAC

^ As of the 2023–24 academic year, Thomas More is in the second year of a three-year transition to Division III and will become an active member in 2025–26.

^ As of the 2023–24 academic year, Asbury is in the third year of a three-year transition to Division III and will become an active member in 2024–25.

Team	School	City	Conference	Sport sponsorship
				Foot- ball	Basketball		Base- ball	Soft- ball	Soccer
				Foot- ball	M	W	Base- ball	Soft- ball	M	W
Alice Lloyd Eagles	Alice Lloyd College	Pippa Passes	River States
Brescia Bearcats	Brescia University	Owensboro	River States
Campbellsville Tigers	Campbellsville University	Campbellsville	Mid-South	^[a]
Cumberlands Patriots	University of the Cumberlands	Williamsburg	Mid-South
Georgetown Tigers	Georgetown College	Georgetown	Mid-South
Kentucky Christian Knights	Kentucky Christian University	Grayson	Appalachian					^[b]
Lindsey Wilson Blue Raiders	Lindsey Wilson College	Columbia	Mid-South
Midway Eagles	Midway University	Midway	River States	^[c]
Pikeville Bears	University of Pikeville	Pikeville	Mid-South
Union Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs	Union College	Barbourville	Appalachian

^ Campbellsville additionally sponsors flag football as a women's varsity sport.
^ Kentucky Christian's softball team competes in the Mid-South Conference.
^ Midway sponsors sprint football, a weight-restricted form of football not governed by the NCAA; it is a charter member of the Midwest Sprint Football League.

Team	School	City	Conference
Boyce Bulldogs	Boyce College	Louisville	Mid-East
Campbellsville Pioneers	Campbellsville University	Campbellsville	Mid-East
Simmons College Falcons	Simmons College of Kentucky	Louisville	Mid-East