Police officers, fire investigators and safety managers across Kentucky often trace their training back to Eastern Kentucky University, whose College of Justice, Safety and Military Science is its signature. The campus is in Richmond, 25 miles south of Lexington. Occupational therapy, nursing, aviation and business round out a list of practical, job-focused programmes. Around 14,000 students attend.
Richmond, Kentucky, United States
Official website: eku.edu
1906
Public regional university
College of Justice, Safety and Military Science
Richmond, near Lexington
$20,000 – $25,000
International students, tuition and fees
$11,000 – $14,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on eku.edu before you apply.
BS Occupational Safety
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 61
BS Aviation
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 61
BS Computer Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 61
MS Safety, Security and Emergency Management
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MBA
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
Justice, safety and emergency management programmes.
An aviation programme with flight training at a nearby airport.
Occupational therapy and nursing.
Safety graduates work in manufacturing, construction and government agencies.
Graduates find jobs at central Kentucky employers, including the Toyota plant in Georgetown.
F-1 graduates in STEM fields can apply for extended OPT.
Undergrad
Rolling, by June
Postgrad
Varies by programme
Undergrad
Rolling, by November
Postgrad
Varies by programme
Richmond is a college town off I-75, with a small downtown on Main Street. Most first-year students live on campus.
Lexington, 25 miles north, has horse farms, the Kentucky Horse Park and more shops and flights. Rent in Richmond is cheap.
Form I-20 issued by EKU
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
EKU admits international students on a rolling basis. Apply by June for August and by November for January so the I-20 and visa can be processed.
Classes start in August and January. Some graduate programmes also admit in summer.
It's the F-1 student visa. Get your I-20 from EKU first (they need your deposit and bank documents), then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and attend the visa interview. Book the interview early in peak season.
Occupational safety, aviation, computer science, emergency management and the MBA are popular. Undergraduates need secondary school completion and TOEFL 61 or IELTS 6.0. Graduate programmes need a bachelor's degree.
EKU offers merit scholarships to international undergraduates based on grades. Graduate assistantships are available in some departments.
