College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2025 Best Nursing Master's Degree Schools in Kentucky

8 Colleges in Kentucky
1,722 Master's Degrees
$97,103 Avg Early-Career Salary
If you pursue a master's degree in nursing, you won't be alone. The field of study is the #2 most popular program in the country. This makes choosing the right school a hard decision.

In 2025, College Factual analyzed 8 schools in order to identify the top ones for its Best Nursing Master's Degree Schools in Kentucky ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 1,722 master's degrees in nursing to qualified students.

What's on this page: * Our Methodology

Choosing a Great Nursing School for Your Master's Degree

Best Nursing Master's Degree Schools in Kentucky Your choice of nursing for getting your master's degree school matters. This section explores some of the factors we include in our ranking and how much they vary depending on the school you select. When choosing a school we recommend considering some of the following factors:

Quality Overall Is Important

The overall quality of a master's degree school is important to ensure a quality education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To account for this we consider a college's overall Best Colleges for a Master's Degree ranking which itself looks at a collection of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.

Average Earnings

To determine the overall quality of a graduate school, one factor we look at is the average early-career salary of those receiving their master's degree from the school. This is because one of the main reasons people pursue their master's degree is to enable themselves to find better-paying positions.

Other Factors We Consider

The metrics below are just some of the other metrics that we use to determine our rankings.

Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for nursing students working on their master's degree.

More Ways to Rank Nursing Schools

Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Nursing Rankings Other Ranking Categories

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we've developed a number of rankings, including this Best Nursing Master's Degree Schools in Kentucky list, to help you choose the best school for you.

Best Schools for Master’s Students to Study Nursing in Kentucky

Below you'll see a list of the best colleges and universities for pursuing a master's degree in nursing.

Top Kentucky Schools for a Master's in Nursing

1

Any student who is interested in a master's degree in nursing has to take a look at University of Louisville. UofL is a fairly large public university located in the city of Louisville.

Students who graduate with their master's from the nursing program report average early career earnings of $68,497.

More information about a master’s in nursing from University of Louisville

2
NKU crest
Northern Kentucky University
Highland Heights, KY

It is difficult to beat Northern Kentucky University if you wish to pursue a master's degree in nursing. Located in the suburb of Highland Heights, NKU is a public university with a fairly large student population.

Nursing master's degree recipients from Northern Kentucky University get an earnings boost of about $4,362 over the average income of nursing majors.

More information about a master’s in nursing from Northern Kentucky University

3

Eastern Kentucky University is a wonderful decision for individuals pursuing a master's degree in nursing. Located in the town of Richmond, Eastern is a public university with a fairly large student population.

Master's recipients from the nursing degree program at Eastern Kentucky University get $7,651 more than the average college grad in this field when they enter the workforce.

More information about a master’s in nursing from Eastern Kentucky University

4
WKU crest
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, KY

Western Kentucky University is one of the best schools in the country for getting a master's degree in nursing. WKU is a large public university located in the small city of Bowling Green.

Master's recipients from the nursing degree program at Western Kentucky University earn $5,920 more than the typical college graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.

More information about a master’s in nursing from Western Kentucky University

5
Bellarmine U crest
Bellarmine University
Louisville, KY

Located in the city of Louisville, Bellarmine U is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population.

Students who graduate with their master's from the nursing program state that they receive average early career income of $92,224.

More information about a master’s in nursing from Bellarmine University

6
Spalding crest
Spalding University
Louisville, KY

Located in the city of Louisville, Spalding is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population.

Master's students who receive their degree from the nursing program earn around $98,154 in the first couple years of their career.

More information about a master’s in nursing from Spalding University

7

Located in the remote town of Williamsburg, Cumberlands is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population.

Master's graduates who receive their degree from the nursing program make around $97,899 in their early career salary.

More information about a master’s in nursing from University of the Cumberlands

8

Located in the town of Grayson, Kentucky Christian University is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population.

Those nursing students who get their master's degree from Kentucky Christian University earn $7,934 more than the average nursing grad.

More information about a master’s in nursing from Kentucky Christian University

Best Nursing Colleges in the Southeast Region

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

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Florida 208 2,300
Georgia 190 1,353
Virginia 182 728
North Carolina 178 931
Tennessee 166 1,147
Alabama 151 1,997
Louisiana 147 340
South Carolina 146 369
Mississippi 145 175
Arkansas 121 229
West Virginia 112 145

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 886
Family Practice Nurse/Nursing 316
Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery 294
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing 126
Women’s Health Nurse/Nursing 51
Nursing Administration 49

Related Major Annual Graduates
Allied Health Professions 191
Communication Sciences 174
Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions 123
Public Health 110
Health Sciences & Services 73
Bioethics/Medical Ethics 48
Health & Medical Administrative Services 44
Mental & Social Health Services 34
Advanced Dentistry & Oral Sciences 22
Dietetics & Clinical Nutrition Services 12

Notes and References

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options