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Most Popular Nursing Master's Degree Schools in Kentucky

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2023 Most Popular Nursing Master's Degree Schools in Kentucky

13 Schools Ranked
$36,090 Avg Student Debt

It's not easy to decide which nursing program to enroll in when you have so many options available. 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. Also, there are a number of trade schools and bootcamps with offerings that you might find attractive.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Nursing Degree Search has developed this Most Popular Nursing Master's Degree Schools in Kentucky ranking. This report analyzed 13 schools in Kentucky to see which ones were the most popular master's degree programs for nursing students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school on the list.

Learn more about these popular schools below:

#1

Frontier Nursing University

Versailles, Kentucky
707 Total Awards
$18,073 Average Tuition & Fees
$65,523 Avg Student Debt

Our analysis found Frontier Nursing University to be the most popular school for nursing students who want to pursue a master’s degree in Kentucky. Located in Versailles, Kentucky, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 707 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2021-2022.

Master’s Degree recipients from Frontier Nursing University accumulate an average of $65,523 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 95% were women.

Since the graduate programs at Frontier Nursing University are online, the school is an excellent choice for graduate students who need more flexibility than what is offered at some other schools.

Full Frontier Nursing University Report

#2

Northern Kentucky University

Highland Heights, Kentucky
1,279 Total Awards
$10,284 Average Tuition & Fees
$42,656 Avg Student Debt

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northern Kentucky University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Popular Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Kentucky list. NKU is located in Highland Heights, Kentucky and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,279 master’s degrees to qualified students.

Master’s Degree recipients from NKU accumulate an average of $42,656 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 72% of those degree recipients were women.

One thing to take note of is that NKU does offer online graduate classes in some areas. In fact, around 90% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

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#3

Eastern Kentucky University

Richmond, Kentucky
745 Total Awards
$10,308 Average Tuition & Fees
$35,729 Avg Student Debt

The excellent master’s degree programs at Eastern Kentucky University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular nursing schools in Kentucky. This fairly large public school is located in Richmond, Kentucky, and it awarded 745 master’s degrees in 2021-2022.

On average, master’s degree students take out $35,729 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 69% were women.

Online graduate courses are available at Eastern, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 80% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

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#4

Spalding University

Louisville, Kentucky
215 Total Awards
$13,225 Average Tuition & Fees
$46,853 Avg Student Debt

Out of the 13 schools in Kentucky that were part of this year’s ranking, Spalding University landed the # 4 spot on the list. Spalding is a private not-for-profit institution located in Louisville, Kentucky. The school has a small population, and it awarded 215 master’s degrees in 2021-2022.

By the time they get their master’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $46,853 in student loans. Around 80% of those degree recipients were women.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Spalding. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 43% of graduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Full Spalding University Report

#5

Bellarmine University

Louisville, Kentucky
216 Total Awards
$34,122 Avg Student Debt

You’ll be in good company if you attend Bellarmine University. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Kentucky list. Bellarmine University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Louisville, Kentucky that handed out 216 master’s degrees in 2021-2022.

On average, master’s degree students take out $34,122 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 68% of those degree recipients were women.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Bellarmine U. During the 2020-2021 year, about 27% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Full Bellarmine University Report

#6

University of the Cumberlands

Williamsburg, Kentucky
4,987 Total Awards
$4,582 Average Tuition & Fees
$32,827 Avg Student Debt

University of the Cumberlands did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #6 on the list. Located in Williamsburg, Kentucky, the fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 4,987 master’s degree awards in 2021-2022.

On average, master’s degree students take out $32,827 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 48% of those degree recipients were women.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Cumberlands. During the 2020-2021 year, about 99% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on University of the Cumberlands

#6

University of Louisville

Louisville, Kentucky
1,687 Total Awards
$14,145 Average Tuition & Fees
$40,294 Avg Student Debt

With a ranking of #6, University of Louisville did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their master’s degree. Louisville, Kentucky is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 1,687 students in 2021-2022.

By the time they get their master’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $40,294 in student loans. Around 54% of those degree recipients were women.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since UofL does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 52% of graduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Read full report on University of Louisville

#8

Kentucky Christian University

Grayson, Kentucky
27 Total Awards
$5,200 Average Tuition & Fees
$37,458 Avg Student Debt

Kentucky Christian University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Kentucky ranking. Located in Grayson, Kentucky, the very small private not-for-profit school handed out 27 master’s degree awards in 2021-2022.

On average, master’s degree students take out $37,458 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 70% of those degree recipients were women.

Kentucky Christian University is one of the schools on our list that is primarily online. Each graduate student at the school took at least one class online.

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#9

Western Kentucky University

Bowling Green, Kentucky
715 Total Awards
$32,686 Avg Student Debt

Western Kentucky University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, the fairly large public school awarded 715 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2021-2022.

On average, master’s degree students take out $32,686 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 64% were women.

Online graduate courses are available at WKU, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2020-2021 year, about 69% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#10

Morehead State University

Morehead, Kentucky
207 Total Awards
$10,512 Average Tuition & Fees
$36,391 Avg Student Debt

With a ranking of #10, Morehead State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their master’s degree. This medium-sized public school is located in Morehead, Kentucky, and it awarded 207 master’s degrees in 2021-2022.

On average, master’s degree students take out $36,391 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Morehead State University. During the 2020-2021 year, about 96% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Morehead State University

#11

Midway University

Midway, Kentucky
90 Total Awards
$7,350 Average Tuition & Fees
$20,454 Avg Student Debt

Midway University ranked #11 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Kentucky list. Located in Midway, Kentucky, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 90 master’s degree awards in 2021-2022.

Master’s Degree recipients from Midway accumulate an average of $20,454 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 70% were women.

If you are interested in distance education, Midway is an excellent choice, since graduate classes are offered online.

Read More…

#12

University of Kentucky

Lexington, Kentucky
1,571 Total Awards
$13,946 Average Tuition & Fees
$37,347 Avg Student Debt

University of Kentucky ranked #12 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Kentucky list. University of Kentucky is a large public school located in Lexington, Kentucky that handed out 1,571 master’s degrees in 2021-2022.

Master’s Degree recipients from UK accumulate an average of $37,347 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 65% were women.

UK does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 44% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on University of Kentucky

#12

Campbellsville University

Campbellsville, Kentucky
2,431 Total Awards
$9,204 Average Tuition & Fees
$28,594 Avg Student Debt

With a ranking of #12, Campbellsville University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their master’s degree. Campbellsville University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Campbellsville, Kentucky. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,431 master’s degrees in 2021-2022.

Master’s Degree recipients from Campbellsville University accumulate an average of $28,594 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 40% were women.

One thing to take note of is that Campbellsville University does offer online graduate classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 94% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

View Most Popular Nursing Master’s Degree Schools Nationwide >

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 13 schools only.

References

  • 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.

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