2027 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in Kentucky
[Registered Nursing](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/registered-nursing/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 41 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for registered nursing students.
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2027 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in Kentucky
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in registered nursing, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Registered Nursing Schools
For return on investment in registered nursing, no school beat Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College this year. Set in the city of Bowling Green, Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Typical student debt for registered nursing graduates is $18,523. Registered Nursing graduates of Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College earn a median of $62,552 early in their careers. Set against $18,523 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hazard Community And Technical College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value registered nursing schools. Located in the town of Hazard, Hazard Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Registered Nursing graduates carry a median of $17,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Hazard Community And Technical College generally make around $65,822. That is a strong return on a $17,750 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in registered nursing will find it at Somerset Community College, which ranked #3. Somerset Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Somerset. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Registered Nursing graduates carry a median of $15,842 in student loans. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Somerset Community College generally make around $62,747. Set against $15,842 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value registered nursing schools. Set in the rural area of Cumberland, Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Students borrow a median of $11,729 to complete the registered nursing program here. Registered Nursing graduates of Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College earn a median of $61,155 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Big Sandy Community And Technical College one of the best values for registered nursing. Big Sandy Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Prestonsburg. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Students borrow a median of $17,550 to complete the registered nursing program here. Registered Nursing graduates of Big Sandy Community And Technical College earn a median of $65,735 early in their careers. Set against $17,550 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Elizabethtown Community And Technical College landed the #6 spot for registered nursing value this year. Set in the city of Elizabethtown, Elizabethtown Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Students borrow a median of $13,137 to complete the registered nursing program here. Early-career registered nursing graduates make about $62,002. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
West Kentucky Community And Technical College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value registered nursing schools. Set in the city of Paducah, West Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Typical student debt for registered nursing graduates is $13,000. Registered Nursing graduates of West Kentucky Community And Technical College earn a median of $58,951 early in their careers. Set against $13,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Henderson Community College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value registered nursing schools. Henderson Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Henderson. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Typical student debt for registered nursing graduates is $22,750. Early-career registered nursing graduates make about $58,754. Set against $22,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Gateway Community And Technical College came in at #9 for value in registered nursing this year. Set in the suburb of Florence, Gateway Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Registered Nursing graduates carry a median of $23,376 in student loans. Early-career registered nursing graduates make about $67,888. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Madisonville Community College landed the #10 spot for registered nursing value this year. Located in the town of Madisonville, Madisonville Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for registered nursing graduates is $16,999. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Madisonville Community College generally make around $55,532. That is a strong return on a $16,999 median debt.
Maysville Community And Technical College placed #11 among the best values for registered nursing. Set in the rural area of Maysville, Maysville Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Registered Nursing graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Early-career registered nursing graduates make about $64,217. That is a strong return on a $24,000 median debt.
Ashland Community And Technical College landed the #12 spot for registered nursing value this year. Located in the city of Ashland, Ashland Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,756 to complete the registered nursing program here. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Ashland Community And Technical College generally make around $64,909. That is a strong return on a $18,756 median debt.
Owensboro Community And Technical College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value registered nursing schools. Set in the rural area of Owensboro, Owensboro Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Typical student debt for registered nursing graduates is $13,624. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Owensboro Community And Technical College generally make around $40,462. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Berea College came in at #14 for value in registered nursing this year. Located in the town of Berea, Berea College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,658. Typical student debt for registered nursing graduates is $5,801. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Berea College generally make around $67,510. Set against $5,801 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 19%.
Hopkinsville Community College came in at #15 for value in registered nursing this year. Set in the town of Hopkinsville, Hopkinsville Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Registered Nursing graduates carry a median of $19,409 in student loans. Registered Nursing graduates of Hopkinsville Community College earn a median of $65,979 early in their careers. Set against $19,409 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Jefferson Community And Technical College placed #16 among the best values for registered nursing. Located in the city of Louisville, Jefferson Community And Technical College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,808, compared with $6,512 for out-of-state students. Registered Nursing graduates carry a median of $23,271 in student loans. Registered Nursing graduates of Jefferson Community And Technical College earn a median of $63,784 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bluegrass Community And Technical College earned the #17 position for value in registered nursing this year. Bluegrass Community And Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Lexington. In-state tuition and fees average $4,808, while out-of-state students pay about $6,512. Registered Nursing graduates carry a median of $24,755 in student loans. Early-career registered nursing graduates make about $62,832. Set against $24,755 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northern Kentucky University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value registered nursing schools. Located in the suburb of Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,088 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,912 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for registered nursing graduates is $31,000. Early-career registered nursing graduates make about $102,793. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Kentucky State University placed #19 among the best values for registered nursing. Located in the town of Frankfort, Kentucky State University is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,387, compared with $13,578 for out-of-state students. Registered Nursing graduates carry a median of $29,774 in student loans. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Kentucky State University generally make around $28,497. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Murray State University earned the #20 position for value in registered nursing this year. Located in the town of Murray, Murray State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,900, while out-of-state students pay about $19,836. Typical student debt for registered nursing graduates is $25,082. Early-career registered nursing graduates make about $127,240. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Western Kentucky University placed #21 among the best values for registered nursing. Set in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,652, while out-of-state students pay about $27,000. Typical student debt for registered nursing graduates is $23,665. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Western Kentucky University generally make around $84,066. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Western Kentucky University admits about 94% of applicants.
University Of The Cumberlands placed #22 among the best values for registered nursing. University Of The Cumberlands is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Williamsburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,875. Typical student debt for registered nursing graduates is $29,400. Early-career registered nursing graduates make about $89,456. Set against $29,400 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of The Cumberlands admits about 99% of applicants.
Morehead State University landed the #23 spot for registered nursing value this year. Morehead State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Morehead. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,024, with out-of-state students paying around $14,980. Students borrow a median of $29,500 to complete the registered nursing program here. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Morehead State University generally make around $70,226. That is a strong return on a $29,500 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern Kentucky University came in at #24 for value in registered nursing this year. Set in the town of Richmond, Eastern Kentucky University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,320, with out-of-state students paying around $21,230. Registered Nursing graduates carry a median of $25,685 in student loans. Early-career registered nursing graduates make about $79,966. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Louisville came in at #25 for value in registered nursing this year. Set in the city of Louisville, University Of Louisville is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,136, while out-of-state students pay about $29,482. Typical student debt for registered nursing graduates is $23,205. Registered Nursing graduates of University Of Louisville earn a median of $68,762 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,205 median debt. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Rest of the Top 41 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s registered nursing value ranking:
More Registered Nursing Rankings
View All Registered Nursing Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 41 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 41 ranked schools only.
- 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.
