2026 Best Nursing Schools in Kentucky
Looking for the best Nursing degree programs in Kentucky? We have ranked 88 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Nursing Degree Search analyzed 70 schools to produce this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Nursing Degree Schools in Kentucky
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Leading the list is Jefferson Community And Technical College, our #1 Nursing school in Kentucky. Set in Louisville, KY, Jefferson Community And Technical College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,808, while out-of-state students pay about $6,512. Typical Nursing student debt is $13,917. See the full Jefferson Community And Technical College profile
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Bellarmine University came in at #2 on this year's Nursing ranking in Kentucky. Based in Louisville, KY, Bellarmine University is a private not-for-profit institution. Bellarmine University graduates 64% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $48,770 in tuition and fees. Bellarmine University Nursing students take on a median of $26,766 in debt. Read more about Bellarmine University
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Bluegrass Community And Technical College came in at #3 on this year's Nursing ranking in Kentucky. Based in Lexington, KY, Bluegrass Community And Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,808, compared with $6,512 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $13,366 in student loans. Get the full Bluegrass Community And Technical College report
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University Of Kentucky came in at #4 on this year's Nursing ranking in Kentucky. Based in Lexington, KY, University Of Kentucky is a public institution. About 71% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,502, while out-of-state students pay about $34,140. Graduates carry a median of $24,094 in student loans. Read the full report on University Of Kentucky
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Out of the 70 schools in Kentucky in this year's ranking, Sullivan University landed the #5 spot. This private for-profit school is set in Louisville, KY. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,480. Sullivan University Nursing students take on a median of $28,394 in debt. Get the full Sullivan University report
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Northern Kentucky University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. This public school is set in Highland Heights, KY. About 54% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $11,088 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,912. The median Nursing program debt is $25,572. See the full Northern Kentucky University profile
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Gateway Community And Technical College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. This public school is set in Florence, KY. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Typical Nursing student debt is $11,611. Get the full Gateway Community And Technical College report
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Kentucky Christian University came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Kentucky Christian University is a private not-for-profit school based in Grayson, KY. The six-year graduation rate is 37%. Students from in state pay about $26,300 in tuition and fees. The median Nursing program debt is $27,500. More on Kentucky Christian University
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University Of Louisville came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Set in Louisville, KY, University Of Louisville is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. In-state tuition and fees average $13,136, compared with $29,482 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $21,910 in student loans. See the full University Of Louisville profile
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Midway College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Located in Midway, KY, Midway College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $19,110. Midway College Nursing students take on a median of $26,723 in debt. Read the full report on Midway College
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Western Kentucky University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Located in Bowling Green, KY, Western Kentucky University is a public institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,652, while out-of-state students pay about $27,000. Students borrow a median of $24,499 to complete their Nursing program here. Read more about Western Kentucky University
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Spalding University landed the #12 spot in Kentucky this year. Set in Louisville, KY, Spalding University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $29,000 in tuition and fees. Spalding University Nursing students take on a median of $29,862 in debt. See the full Spalding University profile
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Madisonville Community College placed #13 among Nursing schools in Kentucky. This public school is set in Madisonville, KY. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Graduates carry a median of $10,985 in student loans. Get the full Madisonville Community College report
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West Kentucky Community And Technical College did well this year, earning the #14 position. Set in Paducah, KY, West Kentucky Community And Technical College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. West Kentucky Community And Technical College Nursing students take on a median of $10,778 in debt. Read the full report on West Kentucky Community And Technical College
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Pikeville College came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Based in Pikeville, KY, Pikeville College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 42% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $24,850 in tuition and fees. Pikeville College Nursing students take on a median of $22,966 in debt. See the full Pikeville College profile
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Union College Kentucky did well this year, earning the #16 position. Located in Barbourville, KY, Union College Kentucky is a private not-for-profit institution. Union College Kentucky posts a six-year graduation rate of 32%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,946. Students borrow a median of $27,852 to complete their Nursing program here. More on Union College Kentucky
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Beckfield College Florence came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Based in Florence, KY, Beckfield College Florence is a private for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 2%. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,295. Graduates carry a median of $32,450 in student loans. Get the full Beckfield College Florence report
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Eastern Kentucky University came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Located in Richmond, KY, Eastern Kentucky University is a public institution. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,320, with out-of-state students paying around $21,230. The median Nursing program debt is $25,122. See the full Eastern Kentucky University profile
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University Of The Cumberlands did well this year, earning the #19 position. Located in Williamsburg, KY, University Of The Cumberlands is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,875. Typical Nursing student debt is $22,868. Get the full University Of The Cumberlands report
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Murray State University placed #20 among Nursing schools in Kentucky. Based in Murray, KY, Murray State University is a public institution. Murray State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 64%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,900, compared with $19,836 for out-of-state students. Typical Nursing student debt is $23,420. Get the full Murray State University report
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Kentucky State University came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Kentucky State University is a public school based in Frankfort, KY. Kentucky State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 35%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,387, with out-of-state students paying around $13,578. Students borrow a median of $29,774 to complete their Nursing program here. See the full Kentucky State University profile
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Big Sandy Community And Technical College placed #22 among Nursing schools in Kentucky. Located in Prestonsburg, KY, Big Sandy Community And Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. The median Nursing program debt is $11,588. Get the full Big Sandy Community And Technical College report
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Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Located in Bowling Green, KY, Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. The median Nursing program debt is $12,068. More on Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College
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Maysville Community And Technical College did well this year, earning the #24 position. Located in Maysville, KY, Maysville Community And Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $13,031 in student loans. See the full Maysville Community And Technical College profile
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Hopkinsville Community College landed the #25 spot in Kentucky this year. Set in Hopkinsville, KY, Hopkinsville Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. The median Nursing program debt is $13,269. See the full Hopkinsville Community College profile
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These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Henderson Community College placed #26 among Nursing schools in Kentucky. This public school is set in Henderson, KY. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. The median Nursing program debt is $13,528. Get the full Henderson Community College report
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Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College came in at #27 in this year's ranking. Set in Cumberland, KY, Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. The median Nursing program debt is $9,687. Read more about Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College
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Campbellsville University landed the #28 spot in Kentucky this year. Campbellsville University is a private not-for-profit school based in Campbellsville, KY. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. In-state tuition and fees average $27,998. The median Nursing program debt is $24,148. More on Campbellsville University
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Somerset Community College ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Somerset Community College is a public school based in Somerset, KY. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. The median Nursing program debt is $13,722. Read more about Somerset Community College
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Elizabethtown Community And Technical College ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Set in Elizabethtown, KY, Elizabethtown Community And Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Elizabethtown Community And Technical College Nursing students take on a median of $12,245 in debt. Read the full report on Elizabethtown Community And Technical College
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Morehead State University did well this year, earning the #31 position. Based in Morehead, KY, Morehead State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. Students from in state pay about $10,024 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,980 for out-of-state students. The median Nursing program debt is $25,896. Read the full report on Morehead State University
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Ashland Community And Technical College ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Based in Ashland, KY, Ashland Community And Technical College is a 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 $13,485 to complete their Nursing program here. More on Ashland Community And Technical College
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Hazard Community And Technical College ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Based in Hazard, KY, Hazard Community And Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Hazard Community And Technical College Nursing students take on a median of $12,212 in debt. See the full Hazard Community And Technical College profile
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Owensboro Community And Technical College ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. This public school is set in Owensboro, KY. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Typical Nursing student debt is $9,098. See the full Owensboro Community And Technical College profile
Request InformationThomas More College did well this year, earning the #35 position. See the full Thomas More College profile
Request InformationTransylvania University came in at #36 in this year's ranking. Read more about Transylvania University
Request InformationLouisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Read the full report on Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
Request InformationInteractive College Of Technology Newport did well this year, earning the #38 position. More on Interactive College Of Technology Newport
Request InformationBerea Beauty Academy did well this year, earning the #39 position. More on Berea Beauty Academy
Request InformationMedical Career And Technical College landed the #40 spot in Kentucky this year. Read the full report on Medical Career And Technical College
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Centre College
Centre College placed #41 among Nursing schools in Kentucky. Read more about Centre College
Request InformationEmpire Beauty School Dixie ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Get the full Empire Beauty School Dixie report
Request InformationEmpire Beauty School Chenoweth did well this year, earning the #43 position. Read the full report on Empire Beauty School Chenoweth
Request InformationAmerican College Of Barbering came in at #44 in this year's ranking. More on American College Of Barbering
Request InformationKentucky Horseshoeing School placed #45 among Nursing schools in Kentucky. Get the full Kentucky Horseshoeing School report
Request InformationLexington Healing Arts Academy placed #46 among Nursing schools in Kentucky. Read more about Lexington Healing Arts Academy
Request InformationPjs College Of Cosmetology Glasgow landed the #47 spot in Kentucky this year. Read the full report on Pjs College Of Cosmetology Glasgow
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Berea College
Berea College ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Read more about Berea College
Request InformationGalen Health Institutes Pikeville came in at #49 in this year's ranking. See the full Galen Health Institutes Pikeville profile
Request InformationClear Creek Baptist Bible College ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Get the full Clear Creek Baptist Bible College report
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Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Nursing Degree Search (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: State · 70 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 88 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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