Nursing Schools in Kentucky (2026)
50 accredited nursing programs found
Kentucky has 50 nursing-relevant schools in this directory, with 24 public and 26 private institutions. Average in-state tuition is $15,942, with public schools averaging $6,744 and private schools averaging $26,979. The 25th-to-75th-percentile tuition band runs from $4,656 to $26,080. The cheapest tracked program is Ashland Community and Technical College at $4,656 per year, and the largest by undergraduate enrollment is the University of Kentucky at approximately 23,189.
Across Kentucky programs the average graduation rate is 48.5 percent and the average retention rate is 69.8 percent. Median post-graduation earnings average $39,372 and median federal debt at graduation averages $16,842. The Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) supplies a large portion of the licensure pipeline, while the University of Kentucky and Bellarmine University anchor the BSN tier; together they feed into a healthcare market dominated by Baptist Health, Norton Healthcare, and the UK HealthCare academic medical center network.
Registered Nurse Market in Kentucky
BLS wage and employment data for registered nurses
Registered Nurse Salary in Kentucky
Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024
Matches the Kentucky average of $15,942.
Matches the Kentucky average of 48.5%.
Matches the Kentucky median of $39,372.
Tuition Overview
| Avg Public Tuition | $6,744 |
| Lowest Tuition | $4,656 |
| Highest Tuition | $49,326 |
| Avg Private Tuition | $26,979 |
Student Outcomes
| Avg Graduation Rate | 48.5% |
| Avg Earnings After Grad | $40,617 |
| Avg Student Debt | $16,842 |
| Total Enrollment | 160,389 |
Most Affordable Nursing Schools in Kentucky
All Nursing Schools in Kentucky
| Institution | City | Type | Tuition (In-State) | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Kentucky | Lexington | Public | $13,212 | 23,189 |
| University of Louisville | Louisville | Public | $12,828 | 14,187 |
| Western Kentucky University | Bowling Green | Public | $11,436 | 12,267 |
| Eastern Kentucky University | Richmond | Public | $10,130 | 11,674 |
| Northern Kentucky University | Highland Heights | Public | $10,896 | 8,065 |
| Bluegrass Community and Technical College | Lexington | Public | $4,706 | 7,713 |
| Jefferson Community and Technical College | Louisville | Public | $4,706 | 7,105 |
| Murray State University | Murray | Public | $9,708 | 6,646 |
| University of the Cumberlands | Williamsburg | Private | $9,875 | 5,468 |
| Morehead State University | Morehead | Public | $9,838 | 4,689 |
| Galen College of Nursing-Louisville | Louisville | For-Profit | N/A | 4,184 |
| Somerset Community College | Somerset | Public | $4,656 | 3,899 |
| Elizabethtown Community and Technical College | Elizabethtown | Public | $4,656 | 3,775 |
| Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College | Bowling Green | Public | $4,656 | 2,952 |
| Gateway Community and Technical College | Florence | Public | $4,656 | 2,824 |
| West Kentucky Community and Technical College | Paducah | Public | $4,656 | 2,810 |
| Campbellsville University | Campbellsville | Private | $26,990 | 2,641 |
| Owensboro Community and Technical College | Owensboro | Public | $4,656 | 2,579 |
| Sullivan University | Louisville | For-Profit | $14,220 | 2,498 |
| Bellarmine University | Louisville | Private | $47,180 | 2,286 |
| Maysville Community and Technical College | Maysville | Public | $4,656 | 2,207 |
| Madisonville Community College | Madisonville | Public | $4,656 | 1,797 |
| Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College | Cumberland | Public | $4,656 | 1,680 |
| Lindsey Wilson College | Columbia | Private | $27,274 | 1,649 |
| Big Sandy Community and Technical College | Prestonsburg | Public | $4,656 | 1,590 |
| Ashland Community and Technical College | Ashland | Public | $4,656 | 1,566 |
| Hopkinsville Community College | Hopkinsville | Public | $4,656 | 1,498 |
| Berea College | Berea | Private | $49,326 | 1,472 |
| Hazard Community and Technical College | Hazard | Public | $4,656 | 1,404 |
| Asbury University | Wilmore | Private | $33,640 | 1,369 |
| Kentucky State University | Frankfort | Public | $9,214 | 1,317 |
| Thomas More University | Crestview Hills | Private | $38,400 | 1,305 |
| Midway University | Midway | Private | $26,080 | 1,250 |
| Georgetown College | Georgetown | Private | $42,010 | 1,180 |
| University of Pikeville | Pikeville | Private | $24,150 | 1,140 |
| Henderson Community College | Henderson | Public | $4,656 | 876 |
| Kentucky Wesleyan College | Owensboro | Private | $33,393 | 794 |
| Union College | Barbourville | Private | $30,946 | 736 |
| Beckfield College-Florence | Florence | For-Profit | $13,295 | 612 |
| Spalding University | Louisville | Private | $27,850 | 597 |
| Brescia University | Owensboro | Private | $30,450 | 538 |
| Alice Lloyd College | Pippa Passes | Private | $14,080 | 528 |
| Kentucky Christian University | Grayson | Private | $25,000 | 438 |
| ATA College | Louisville | For-Profit | $13,930 | 337 |
| MedQuest College | Louisville | For-Profit | N/A | 273 |
| American National University-Pikeville | Pikeville | For-Profit | $11,484 | 229 |
| Employment Solutions-College for Technical Education | Lexington | Private | N/A | 200 |
| Medical Career & Technical College | Richmond | For-Profit | N/A | 199 |
| Lexington Healing Arts Academy | Lexington | For-Profit | N/A | 89 |
| Brighton Center's Center for Employment Training | Newport | Private | N/A | 68 |
Nursing Schools by City in Kentucky
Nursing Guides & Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How many nursing schools are in Kentucky?
What is the average nursing school tuition in Kentucky?
What is the average graduation rate for nursing schools in Kentucky?
What is the average retention rate in Kentucky?
What do graduates from nursing schools in Kentucky earn?
What is the average student debt at nursing schools in Kentucky?
How much do registered nurses earn in Kentucky?
What is the RN job outlook for Kentucky?
Kentucky Nursing Market Context
BLS data for Kentucky shows an RN median annual wage of $68,190 and a mean of $70,350. The 10th to 90th percentile range runs from $51,260 to $91,740. Statewide RN employment is approximately 40,790 and the projected growth rate is 6 percent — in line with the national figure.
Median program debt of $16,842 against a $68,190 RN median wage produces a tight payback ratio. Graduates of the KCTCS pipeline carry meaningfully less debt and can reach licensure for substantially below the state average; that route improves the math considerably. The 90th-percentile figure of $91,740 sits below the national RN median, indicating limited RN-tier wage expansion within the state. Experienced Kentucky nurses often pursue advanced-practice routes or relocate to neighboring Tennessee, Indiana, or Ohio markets for higher figures, although the state's low cost of living offsets a portion of the wage gap.