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2025 Best Nursing Schools in Kentucky

39 Colleges in Kentucky
6,822 Nursing Degrees Awarded
$84,107 Avg Early-Career Salary
Nursing is of the hottest degree programs in the United States, coming in as the #3 most popular major in the country. This makes choosing the right school a hard decision.

College Factual reviewed 39 schools in Kentucky to determine which ones were the best for degree seekers in the field of nursing. Combined, these schools handed out 6,822 degrees in nursing to qualified students.

What's on this page: * Degree-Level Rankings

Choosing a Great Nursing School

Best Nursing Schools in Kentucky The nursing program you select can have a big impact on your future. That's why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Nursing rankings. For our Best Overall Nursing School rankings, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.

In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.

Nursing Rankings by Degree Level

Associate Degrees in Nursing
Bachelor's Degrees in Nursing
Master's Degrees in Nursing
Doctor's Degrees in Nursing

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we've developed the Best Nursing Schools in Kentucky ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision. You can also filter this list by location to find schools closer to you.

In addition to College Factual's rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don't forget it.

More information on how we come up with our rankings can be found here: College Factual's Data Methodology.

Best Schools for Nursing in Kentucky

If you aren't interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the nursing degrees they offer, see the list below.

10 Top Kentucky Schools in Nursing

1
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
1,042 Nursing Degrees Awarded
14.9% Growth in Graduates

Galen College of Nursing - Louisville is one of the finest schools in the United States for getting a degree in nursing. Galen College of Nursing - Louisville is a small private for-profit college located in the large city of Louisville.

There were about 1042 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Galen College of Nursing - Louisville in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients generally make around $70,026 in their early careers.

More information about a degree in nursing from Galen College of Nursing - Louisville

2
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
353 Nursing Degrees Awarded
5.4% Growth in Graduates

Every student pursuing a degree in nursing has to look into University of Louisville. UofL is a very large public university located in the city of Louisville. A Best Colleges rank of #421 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means UofL is a great university overall.

There were approximately 353 nursing students who graduated with this degree at UofL in the most recent year we have data available. Soon after graduating, nursing degree recipients usually earn an average of $68,956 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a degree in nursing from University of Louisville

Sponsored
Bachelors Degree Type
BS in Nursing - RN to BSN Program Name

With the affordable and transfer-friendly online RN to BSN program at Southern New Hampshire University, you can build upon your prior educational journey and enhance your professional experience in a program designed to fit around your schedule.

More information about a degree in BS in Nursing - RN to BSN from Southern New Hampshire University

Related Programs

3
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
366 Nursing Degrees Awarded
7.4% Growth in Graduates

Every student pursuing a degree in nursing needs to take a look at University of Kentucky. Located in the large city of Lexington, UK is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #220 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means UK is a great university overall.

There were roughly 366 nursing students who graduated with this degree at UK in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the nursing program state that they receive average early career wages of $84,825.

More information about a degree in nursing from University of Kentucky

4
Bellarmine U crest
Bellarmine University
Louisville, KY
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
153 Nursing Degrees Awarded
$74,577 Median Starting Salary

Bellarmine University is a wonderful decision for students interested in a degree in nursing. Located in the city of Louisville, Bellarmine U is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population. A Best Colleges rank of #873 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Bellarmine U is a great university overall.

There were about 153 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Bellarmine U in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the nursing program state that they receive average early career earnings of $74,577.

More information about a degree in nursing from Bellarmine University

5
WKU crest
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, KY
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
333 Nursing Degrees Awarded
$71,101 Median Starting Salary

WKU is a large public university located in the small city of Bowling Green. A Best Colleges rank of #851 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means WKU is a great university overall.

There were roughly 333 nursing students who graduated with this degree at WKU in the most recent year we have data available. Graduates who receive their degree from the nursing program make around $71,101 in the first couple years of working.

More information about a degree in nursing from Western Kentucky University

6
NKU crest
Northern Kentucky University
Highland Heights, KY
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
1,113 Nursing Degrees Awarded
21.8% Growth in Graduates

Located in the large suburb of Highland Heights, NKU is a public university with a large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #842 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means NKU is a great university overall.

There were roughly 1113 nursing students who graduated with this degree at NKU in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients generally make an average of $76,825 in their early careers.

More information about a degree in nursing from Northern Kentucky University

7
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
338 Nursing Degrees Awarded
7.7% Growth in Graduates

Located in the distant town of Richmond, Eastern is a public university with a large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #1198 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Eastern is a great university overall.

There were roughly 338 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Eastern in the most recent data year. Students who receive their degree from the nursing program earn around $81,624 in their early career salary.

More information about a degree in nursing from Eastern Kentucky University

Sponsored
Bachelors Degree Type
BS in Nursing - RN to BSN - Accelerated RN to MSN Program Name

At Southern New Hampshire University, we understand the demands placed on today's nursing professionals. When it comes to your education, consider saving money and time by electing the RN to MSN pathway. Eligible students will complete graduate courses within their undergraduate program. This pathway allows you to gain a BSN along the way and ultimately shorten your time within the MSN Nursing Education or Population Healthcare tracks.

More information about a degree in BS in Nursing - RN to BSN - Accelerated RN to MSN from Southern New Hampshire University

Related Programs

8
Sullivan University crest
Sullivan University
Louisville, KY
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
120 Nursing Degrees Awarded
6.7% Growth in Graduates

Located in the large city of Louisville, Sullivan University is a private for-profit university with a small student population. A Best Colleges rank of #727 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Sullivan University is a great university overall.

There were approximately 120 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Sullivan University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their degree from the nursing program make around $68,824 for their early career.

More information about a degree in nursing from Sullivan University

9
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
90 Nursing Degrees Awarded
4.4% Growth in Graduates

Jefferson Community and Technical College is a fairly large public college located in the city of Louisville. A Best Colleges rank of #1213 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Jefferson Community and Technical College is a great college overall.

There were about 90 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Jefferson Community and Technical College in the most recent year we have data available. Graduates who receive their degree from the nursing program make an average of $63,784 in their early career salary.

More information about a degree in nursing from Jefferson Community and Technical College

10
Spalding crest
Spalding University
Louisville, KY
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
95 Nursing Degrees Awarded
$76,294 Median Starting Salary

Located in the large city of Louisville, Spalding is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population. This university ranks 17th out of 39 schools for overall quality in the state of Kentucky.

There were approximately 95 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Spalding in the most recent year we have data available. After graduation, nursing degree recipients usually earn around $76,294 at the beginning of their careers.

More information about a degree in nursing from Spalding University

Best Nursing Colleges in the Southeast Region

Explore all the Best Nursing Schools in the Southeast Area or other specific states within that region.

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Georgia 287 7,016
Florida 282 21,034
North Carolina 279 7,329
Virginia 274 6,630
Tennessee 269 5,906
South Carolina 248 3,276
Louisiana 242 3,416
Mississippi 234 2,801
Arkansas 234 2,878
Alabama 233 7,210
West Virginia 207 1,768

View All Rankings >

One of 34 majors within the Health Professions area of study, Nursing has other similar majors worth exploring.

Nursing Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
Registered Nursing 5,198
Family Practice Nurse/Nursing 328
Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery 312
Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing 303
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing 239
Nursing Practice 226
Adult Health Nurse/Nursing 102
Nursing Administration 51
Women’s Health Nurse/Nursing 51
Nursing Science 8

View All Nursing Focus Areas >

Related Major Annual Graduates
Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants 3,834
Health & Medical Administrative Services 2,049
Allied Health Professions 1,352
Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services 1,118
Health Sciences & Services 459
Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions 449
Medicine 440
Public Health 423
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science 416
Mental & Social Health Services 378

View All Nursing Related Majors >

Notes and References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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