2027 Best Nursing Schools in Kentucky
Nursing degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their nursing programs.
College Factual analyzed 42 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best nursing schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Nursing in Kentucky
If you are not 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.
Top Schools in Nursing
Leading the list is University Of Kentucky, our #1 school for nursing. Set in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. About 414 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Kentucky in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from University Of Kentucky earn around $102,363 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Galen College Of Nursing Louisville is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in nursing, ranking #2. This moderately-sized private for-profit university is located in the city of Louisville. About 23% of students finish within six years. About 1,608 nursing degrees were awarded at Galen College Of Nursing Louisville in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of Galen College Of Nursing Louisville earn a median of $72,174 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $40,317 to complete this degree.
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University Of Louisville is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in nursing, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Louisville is a very large public school located in the city of Louisville. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. University Of Louisville awarded about 361 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from University Of Louisville earn around $68,762 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Louisville graduates carry a median of $23,205 in student loans.
See the full nursing program report for University Of Louisville
Students looking for a strong nursing program will find one at University Of The Cumberlands, which ranked #4. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Williamsburg. University Of The Cumberlands graduates 50% of students within six years. There were roughly 164 nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of The Cumberlands in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $89,456 in their early career. University Of The Cumberlands graduates carry a median of $29,400 in student loans.
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Gateway Community And Technical College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Florence. There were roughly 116 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Gateway Community And Technical College in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Gateway Community And Technical College earn a median of $67,888 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,376.
See the full nursing program report for Gateway Community And Technical College
Sullivan University placed #6 among the best nursing schools. This mid-sized private for-profit university is located in the city of Louisville. Sullivan University awarded about 141 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Sullivan University generally make around $68,824. Sullivan University graduates carry a median of $47,035 in student loans.
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Western Kentucky University placed #7 among the best nursing schools. Western Kentucky University is a large public school located in the city of Bowling Green. About 58% of students finish within six years. Western Kentucky University awarded about 310 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $84,066 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,665.
See the full nursing program report for Western Kentucky University
West Kentucky Community And Technical College placed #8 among the best nursing schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Paducah. West Kentucky Community And Technical College awarded about 106 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $58,951 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,000.
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Pikeville College earned the #9 position for nursing this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Pikeville. About 42% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 72 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Pikeville College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Pikeville College earn around $79,724 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,379.
Read more about the nursing program at Pikeville College
Northern Kentucky University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Northern Kentucky University is a large public school located in the suburb of Highland Heights. Northern Kentucky University graduates 54% of students within six years. Northern Kentucky University awarded about 985 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Northern Kentucky University generally make around $102,793. Northern Kentucky University graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans.
See the full nursing program report for Northern Kentucky University
Elizabethtown Community And Technical College came in at #11 for nursing this year. Set in the city of Elizabethtown, Elizabethtown Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 71 nursing degrees were awarded at Elizabethtown Community And Technical College in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Elizabethtown Community And Technical College earn around $62,002 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,137 to complete this degree.
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Jefferson Community And Technical College landed the #12 spot for nursing this year. Set in the city of Louisville, Jefferson Community And Technical College is a large public institution. Jefferson Community And Technical College awarded about 86 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Jefferson Community And Technical College earn a median of $63,784 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,271.
See the full nursing program report for Jefferson Community And Technical College
Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Bowling Green. About 58 nursing degrees were awarded at Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College earn a median of $62,552 early in their careers. Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College graduates carry a median of $18,523 in student loans.
More information about a degree in nursing from Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College
Frontier Nursing University came in at #14 for nursing this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Versailles. About 1,084 nursing degrees were awarded at Frontier Nursing University in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of Frontier Nursing University earn a median of $114,085 early in their careers.
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Murray State University earned the #15 position for nursing this year. Murray State University is a large public school located in the town of Murray. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. Murray State University awarded about 126 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $127,240 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,082.
More information about a degree in nursing from Murray State University
Somerset Community College earned the #16 position for nursing this year. Set in the town of Somerset, Somerset Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 91 nursing degrees were awarded at Somerset Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $62,747 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,842 to complete this degree.
See the full nursing program report for Somerset Community College
Eastern Kentucky University came in at #17 for nursing this year. Located in the town of Richmond, Eastern Kentucky University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. There were roughly 281 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Eastern Kentucky University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Eastern Kentucky University generally make around $79,966. Eastern Kentucky University graduates carry a median of $25,685 in student loans.
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Berea College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Berea College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Berea. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. About 12 nursing degrees were awarded at Berea College in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of Berea College earn a median of $67,510 early in their careers. Berea College graduates carry a median of $5,801 in student loans.
More information about a degree in nursing from Berea College
Bellarmine University placed #19 among the best nursing schools. Set in the city of Louisville, Bellarmine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Bellarmine University graduates 64% of students within six years. There were roughly 107 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Bellarmine University in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Bellarmine University earn a median of $81,384 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $30,800 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nursing from Bellarmine University
Ashland Community And Technical College earned the #20 position for nursing this year. Located in the city of Ashland, Ashland Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. About 49 nursing degrees were awarded at Ashland Community And Technical College in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $64,909 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,756 to complete this degree.
See the full nursing program report for Ashland Community And Technical College
Thomas More College earned the #21 position for nursing this year. Located in the suburb of Crestview Hills, Thomas More College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 40% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 17 nursing degrees were awarded at Thomas More College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Thomas More College generally make around $70,955. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nursing from Thomas More College
Bluegrass Community And Technical College came in at #22 for nursing this year. Located in the city of Lexington, Bluegrass Community And Technical College is a large public university. There were roughly 183 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Bluegrass Community And Technical College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Bluegrass Community And Technical College generally make around $62,832. Students borrow a median of $24,755 to complete this degree.
Read more about the nursing program at Bluegrass Community And Technical College
Madisonville Community College ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Located in the town of Madisonville, Madisonville Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Madisonville Community College awarded about 71 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Madisonville Community College generally make around $55,532. Students borrow a median of $16,999 to complete this degree.
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Owensboro Community And Technical College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Set in the rural area of Owensboro, Owensboro Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 65 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Owensboro Community And Technical College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Owensboro Community And Technical College earn around $40,462 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,624 to complete this degree.
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Galen College Of Nursing Arh placed #25 among the best nursing schools. This small private for-profit university is located in the town of Hazard. About 89 nursing degrees were awarded at Galen College Of Nursing Arh in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Galen College Of Nursing Arh generally make around $68,114. Galen College Of Nursing Arh graduates carry a median of $34,859 in student loans.
Read more about the nursing program at Galen College Of Nursing Arh
Rest of the Top 42 Nursing Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s nursing ranking:
View All Nursing Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 42 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
