2023 Best Nursing Schools in Kentucky
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which nursing program is right for you. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools and bootcamp that offer fast-track entry to many fields.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Nursing Degree Search has created its Best Nursing Schools in Kentucky ranking. This report analyzed 34 schools in Kentucky to see which ones offered the best programs for nursing students.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Nursing Schools in Kentucky
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Jefferson Community and Technical College the best school in Kentucky for nursing students working on their degree.
On average, students take out $18,344 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Jefferson Community and Technical College graduates make an average of $38,170 annually.
Read full report on Jefferson Community and Technical College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bellarmine University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Nursing Schools in Kentucky list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $28,396 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $272. Once they receive their degree, Bellarmine U graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $46,915 during the early year of their career.
The excellent programs at Bluegrass Community and Technical College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in Kentucky.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,647 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Bluegrass Community and Technical College graduates make an average of $39,280 annually.
Read full report on Bluegrass Community and Technical College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of Kentucky. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Kentucky list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,598 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $389, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, UK graduates make an average of $43,675 annually.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Sullivan University. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Kentucky list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $28,500 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $262, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Sullivan University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $44,464 during the early year of their career.
Northern Kentucky University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Kentucky list.
On average, students take out $26,681 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $199 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, NKU graduates make an average of $42,837 annually.
With a ranking of #7, Gateway Community and Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,491 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Gateway graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $38,770 during the early year of their career.
With a ranking of #8, Kentucky Christian University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
On average, students take out $29,035 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Kentucky Christian University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $47,296 during the early year of their career.
University of Louisville ranked #9 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Kentucky list.
On average, students take out $22,775 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $239. During the early years of their career, UofL graduates make an average of $49,447 annually.
Midway University landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
On average, students take out $26,421 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Midway, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $44,638 during the early years of their career.
Western Kentucky University landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $25,012 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $220 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, WKU graduates make an average of $37,898 annually.
Spalding University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #12 on the list.
Degree recipients from Spalding accumulate an average of $33,730 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Spalding, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $48,695 during the early years of their career.
Madisonville Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #13 on the list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,634 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Madisonville Community College graduates make an average of $41,288 annually.
West Kentucky Community and Technical College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
Degree recipients from West Kentucky Community and Technical College accumulate an average of $13,740 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, West Kentucky Community and Technical College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $29,988 during the early year of their career.
University of Pikeville came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Kentucky ranking.
Degree recipients from UPIKE accumulate an average of $26,584 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, UPIKE graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $39,949 during the early year of their career.
Union College Kentucky landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
Degree recipients from Union College accumulate an average of $29,216 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Union College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $44,511 during the early year of their career.
Beckfield College - Florence ranked #17 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Kentucky list.
On average, students take out $35,073 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Beckfield College - Florence graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $32,658 during the early year of their career.
Eastern Kentucky University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Kentucky ranking.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $26,284 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $185, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Eastern, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $37,738 during the early years of their career.
University of the Cumberlands came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Kentucky ranking.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,361 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $86. Once they receive their degree, Cumberlands graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $43,758 during the early year of their career.
Murray State University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Kentucky list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,713 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $228. Once they receive their degree, Murray State graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $41,161 during the early year of their career.
Kentucky State University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Kentucky list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $33,472 in student loans.After graduating from KY State, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,321 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #22, Big Sandy Community and Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,051 in student loans.After graduating from Big Sandy Community and Technical College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,262 during the early years of their career.
Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #23 on the list.
Degree recipients from SKYCTC accumulate an average of $18,216 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from SKYCTC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $32,998 during the early years of their career.
Maysville Community and Technical College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Kentucky list.
Degree recipients from Maysville Community and Technical College accumulate an average of $18,110 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Maysville Community and Technical College graduates make an average of $30,391 annually.
Hopkinsville Community College landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
On average, students take out $18,459 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Hopkinsville Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,124 during the early year of their career.
Best Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.