2026 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.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 43 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for nursing students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Nursing in Kentucky
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall nursing education in Kentucky.
Top Schools in Nursing
No school ranked higher than University Of Kentucky this year for nursing. University Of Kentucky is a very large public school located in the city of Lexington. University Of Kentucky graduates 71% of students within six years. University Of Kentucky awarded about 396 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of University Of Kentucky earn a median of $102,363 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Galen College Of Nursing Louisville is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in nursing, landing the #2 spot this year. This moderately-sized private for-profit university is located in the city of Louisville. About 23% of students finish within six years. About 1,491 nursing degrees were awarded at Galen College Of Nursing Louisville in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $72,174 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $40,317 to complete this degree.
See the full nursing program report for Galen College Of Nursing Louisville
University Of The Cumberlands came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. 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. About 167 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of The Cumberlands in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from University Of The Cumberlands generally make around $89,456. Students borrow a median of $29,400 to complete this degree.
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University Of Louisville is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in nursing, landing the #4 spot this year. University Of Louisville is a very large public school located in the city of Louisville. About 61% of students finish within six years. About 363 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Louisville in the most recent 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.
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Students looking for a strong nursing program will find one at Sullivan University, which ranked #5. Sullivan University is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the city of Louisville. About 165 nursing degrees were awarded at Sullivan University in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Sullivan University earn around $68,824 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $47,035 to complete this degree.
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Gateway Community And Technical College landed the #6 spot for nursing this year. Gateway Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Florence. About 98 nursing degrees were awarded at Gateway Community And Technical College in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Gateway Community And Technical College earn around $67,888 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,376.
More information about a degree in nursing from Gateway Community And Technical College
Western Kentucky University placed #7 among the best nursing schools. This large public university is located in the city of Bowling Green. Western Kentucky University graduates 58% of students within six years. Western Kentucky University awarded about 299 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.
More information about a degree in nursing from Western Kentucky University
Pikeville College placed #8 among the best nursing schools. Located in the town of Pikeville, Pikeville College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Pikeville College graduates 42% of students within six years. About 81 nursing degrees were awarded at Pikeville College in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of Pikeville College earn a median of $79,724 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,379.
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West Kentucky Community And Technical College placed #9 among the best nursing schools. West Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Paducah. There were roughly 93 nursing students who graduated with this degree at West Kentucky Community And Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $58,951 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,000 to complete this degree.
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Murray State University placed #10 among the best nursing schools. This large public university is located in the town of Murray. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. Murray State University awarded about 133 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $127,240 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,082 to complete this degree.
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Somerset Community College placed #11 among the best nursing schools. Set in the town of Somerset, Somerset Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 83 nursing degrees were awarded at Somerset Community College in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of Somerset Community College earn a median of $62,747 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,842 to complete this degree.
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Northern Kentucky University earned the #12 position for nursing this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Highland Heights. About 54% of students finish within six years. Northern Kentucky University awarded about 1,035 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $102,793 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $31,000.
See the full nursing program report for Northern Kentucky University
Jefferson Community And Technical College landed the #13 spot for nursing this year. Set in the city of Louisville, Jefferson Community And Technical College is a large public institution. There were roughly 86 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Jefferson Community And Technical College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Jefferson Community And Technical College generally make around $63,784. Jefferson Community And Technical College graduates carry a median of $23,271 in student loans.
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Frontier Nursing University came in at #14 for nursing this year. Frontier Nursing University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Versailles. About 1,021 nursing degrees were awarded at Frontier Nursing University in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $114,085 in their early career.
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Berea College came in at #15 for nursing this year. Located in the town of Berea, Berea College is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. There were roughly 17 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Berea College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $67,510 in their early career. Berea College graduates carry a median of $5,801 in student loans.
See the full nursing program report for Berea College
Bellarmine University landed the #16 spot for nursing this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Louisville. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 153 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Bellarmine University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Bellarmine University earn around $81,384 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $30,800 to complete this degree.
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Elizabethtown Community And Technical College earned the #17 position for nursing this year. Set in the city of Elizabethtown, Elizabethtown Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 59 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Elizabethtown Community And Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $62,002 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,137 to complete this degree.
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Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College earned the #18 position for nursing this year. Located in the city of Bowling Green, Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College awarded about 53 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College earn around $62,552 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,523.
More information about a degree in nursing from Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College
Eastern Kentucky University earned the #19 position for nursing this year. This large public university is located in the town of Richmond. About 55% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 232 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Eastern Kentucky University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Eastern Kentucky University earn around $79,966 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,685 to complete this degree.
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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 75 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.
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Galen College Of Nursing Arh earned the #21 position for nursing this year. Galen College Of Nursing Arh is a small private for-profit school located in the town of Hazard. Galen College Of Nursing Arh awarded about 161 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Galen College Of Nursing Arh earn a median of $68,114 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $34,859 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nursing from Galen College Of Nursing Arh
Thomas More College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. Thomas More College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Crestview Hills. Roughly 40% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 26 nursing degrees were awarded at Thomas More College in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Thomas More College earn around $70,955 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,000.
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Lindsey Wilson College came in at #23 for nursing this year. Lindsey Wilson College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Columbia. Lindsey Wilson College graduates 44% of students within six years. About 19 nursing degrees were awarded at Lindsey Wilson College in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of Lindsey Wilson College earn a median of $66,800 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,000.
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Bluegrass Community And Technical College earned the #24 position for nursing this year. This large public university is located in the city of Lexington. Bluegrass Community And Technical College awarded about 147 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Bluegrass Community And Technical College earn a median of $62,832 early in their careers. Bluegrass Community And Technical College graduates carry a median of $24,755 in student loans.
More information about a degree in nursing from Bluegrass Community And Technical College
Hazard Community And Technical College earned the #25 position for nursing this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Hazard. There were roughly 61 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Hazard Community And Technical College in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Hazard Community And Technical College earn a median of $65,822 early in their careers. Hazard Community And Technical College graduates carry a median of $17,750 in student loans.
More information about a degree in nursing from Hazard Community And Technical College
Rest of the Top 41 Nursing Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong nursing education:
View All Nursing Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 43 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.
