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2025 Best Registered Nursing Schools in Kentucky

37 Colleges in Kentucky
5,198 Registered Nursing Degrees Awarded
Ranked #3 in popularity, registered nursing is one of the most sought-after degree programs in the nation. So, there are lots of possibilities to explore when you're trying to determine where you want to get your degree.

College Factual looked at 37 colleges and universities when compiling its 2025 Best Registered Nursing Schools in Kentucky ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 5,198 degrees in registered nursing annually.

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

Choosing a Great Registered Nursing School

Best Registered Nursing Schools in Kentucky The registered nursing program you select can have a big impact on your future. That's why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Registered Nursing rankings. For our Best Overall Registered 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.

Pick Your Registered Nursing Degree Level

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

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we've developed a number of rankings, including this Best Registered Nursing Schools in Kentucky list, to help you choose the best school for you. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.

To further help you make the college decision, we've developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Read more about College Factual's methodology.

Best Schools for Registered Nursing in Kentucky

Although we recommend filtering by degree level first, you can view the list below to see which schools give the educational experience for the registered nursing degree levels they offer.

10 Top Kentucky Schools in Registered Nursing

1
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
1st Most Popular In KY
1,042 Registered Nursing Degrees Awarded

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

There were roughly 1042 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Galen College of Nursing - Louisville in the most recent data year.

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

2
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
6th Most Popular In KY
281 Registered Nursing Degrees Awarded

University of Louisville is a great decision for students pursuing a degree in registered nursing. UofL is a very large public university located in the large city of Louisville. A Best Colleges rank of #421 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means UofL is a great university overall.

There were roughly 281 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at UofL in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in registered 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
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
4th Most Popular In KY
314 Registered Nursing Degrees Awarded

It is difficult to beat University of Kentucky if you wish to pursue a degree in registered nursing. 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 approximately 314 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at UK in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in registered nursing from University of Kentucky

4
Bellarmine U crest
Bellarmine University
Louisville, KY
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
7th Most Popular In KY
143 Registered Nursing Degrees Awarded

It is difficult to beat Bellarmine University if you want to pursue a degree in registered 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 roughly 143 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Bellarmine U in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in registered nursing from Bellarmine University

5
WKU crest
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, KY
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
3rd Most Popular In KY
297 Registered Nursing Degrees Awarded

WKU is a fairly 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 approximately 297 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at WKU in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in registered nursing from Western Kentucky University

6
NKU crest
Northern Kentucky University
Highland Heights, KY
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
2nd Most Popular In KY
936 Registered Nursing Degrees Awarded

Located in the large suburb of Highland Heights, NKU is a public university with a fairly 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 936 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at NKU in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in registered nursing from Northern Kentucky University

7
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
5th Most Popular In KY
315 Registered Nursing Degrees Awarded

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 colleges nationwide means Eastern is a great university overall.

There were roughly 315 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Eastern in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in registered 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
11th Most Popular In KY
120 Registered Nursing Degrees Awarded

Located in the 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 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Sullivan University in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in registered nursing from Sullivan University

9
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
16th Most Popular In KY
90 Registered Nursing Degrees Awarded

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

There were approximately 90 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Jefferson Community and Technical College in the most recent data year.

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

10
Spalding crest
Spalding University
Louisville, KY
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
8th Most Popular In KY
70 Registered Nursing Degrees Awarded

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 colleges for overall quality in the state of Kentucky.

There were approximately 70 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Spalding in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in registered nursing from Spalding University

Best Registered Nursing Colleges in the Southeast Region

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

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Florida 715 18,780
North Carolina 710 6,188
Georgia 690 5,702
Virginia 630 5,839
Tennessee 624 4,957
South Carolina 530 2,828
Mississippi 501 2,590
Alabama 500 6,786
Louisiana 489 3,152
Arkansas 466 2,673
West Virginia 410 1,666

View All Rankings >

One of 23 majors within the Nursing area of study, Registered Nursing has other similar majors worth exploring.

Related Major Annual Graduates
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
Critical Care Nursing 2

View All Registered Nursing Related Majors >

Notes and References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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