Question 1

How many accredited nursing programs are in Kentucky?

Accepted Answer

Kentucky has dozens of accredited nursing programs across community colleges and four-year universities, listed in full on this page. Every school on this page is verified in the federal IPEDS database and carries either CCNE or ACEN accreditation. The map above plots each program's location and the sortable table below shows in-state tuition, program length, and completion rate for direct comparison.

Question 2

Which Kentucky nursing program has the highest NCLEX-RN pass rate?

Accepted Answer

The Kentucky Board of Nursing publishes annual first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates for every approved program in the state. Rates fluctuate year to year. Our NCLEX pass rates guide compiles the most recent state-level and top-program data for Kentucky and every other state, updated after each board release. Check the current annual report from Kentucky Board of Nursing before your final enrollment decision.

Question 3

What is the average cost of nursing school in Kentucky?

Accepted Answer

Public community college ADN programs in Kentucky typically cost between $3,000 and $8,000 per year for state residents. Public university BSN programs run $8,000 to $15,000 per year in-state and $22,000 to $35,000 per year out-of-state. Private university BSN programs charge $28,000 to $45,000 per year regardless of residency. Institutional aid, state grants, and federal Pell grants substantially reduce out-of-pocket cost for most students.

Question 4

Do Kentucky hospitals hire ADN-prepared nurses or require a BSN?

Accepted Answer

Most Kentucky hospitals hire ADN registered nurses for medical-surgical, long-term care, and outpatient settings. Larger urban systems and magnet-status facilities increasingly prefer or require a BSN for hospital positions, especially in specialty units like ICU, ER, and OR. If you start at ADN level, plan for an online RN-to-BSN completion within three years of your first job. Most hospitals offer tuition reimbursement for this bridge.

Question 5

How does Kentucky RN licensure work?

Accepted Answer

After graduating from a Kentucky Board of Nursing approved program, apply for RN licensure through Kentucky Board of Nursing, complete a criminal background check, and register for the NCLEX-RN through Pearson VUE. Once approved to test, you have 90 days to schedule your exam. See the how-to-become-a-nurse guide for the complete step-by-step process, including timing, fees, and endorsement rules for nurses moving to Kentucky from other states.

Question 6

Is Kentucky part of the Nurse Licensure Compact?

Accepted Answer

Compact membership varies by state and changes as legislatures act. Once you hold a compact-state RN license, you can practice in any of the 41 other compact states without additional licensure. Check the current status of Kentucky in the Nurse Licensure Compact through Kentucky Board of Nursing before assuming multi-state privileges. Non-compact states require endorsement application and fees for each additional state you plan to practice in.

Question 7

What is the RN salary in Kentucky?

Accepted Answer

Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows RN median wages in Kentucky vary significantly by metro area, hospital type, and specialty. Statewide medians typically fall between $65,000 and $90,000 per year. Urban acute care and specialty units pay above the state median. Rural and long-term care settings pay below. Travel nursing contracts in Kentucky commonly pay $2,000 to $2,800 per week. Full salary breakdown by specialty and years of experience is on the nurse salary guide.

Question 8

Are there online nursing programs available to Kentucky residents?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Kentucky residents can enroll in any CCNE-accredited online BSN, RN-to-BSN, or MSN program that accepts out-of-state students. Six commonly-available accredited online programs are compared on the online nursing programs page, including options that place students at local Kentucky hospitals for clinical rotations. Online programs are particularly popular for working nurses in Kentucky who need scheduling flexibility around 12-hour shift work.

Question 9

What prerequisite classes do I need before applying to a Kentucky nursing program?

Accepted Answer

Nursing programs in Kentucky typically require the same core prerequisites: Anatomy and Physiology I and II with lab, Microbiology with lab, General Chemistry, Nutrition, English Composition, College Algebra or Statistics, Introduction to Psychology, Developmental Psychology, and Sociology. Community colleges in Kentucky offer these prerequisites at low cost and credits transfer directly to state university BSN programs. Plan for two full semesters to complete prerequisites before applying to your first-choice program.

Question 10

How long does nursing school take in Kentucky?

Accepted Answer

Timing depends on the program type. Practical nurse (LPN) diploma programs run 12 to 18 months. Associate degree (ADN) programs at community colleges run two years. Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs at four-year universities take four years. Accelerated BSN options for students who already hold a bachelor's degree in another field can finish in 12 to 16 months. RN-to-BSN and RN-to-MSN bridge programs for working nurses typically take 12 to 24 months of part-time study.


American National University-Louisville	Louisville, KY	$12,456	Private for-profit	50%
Ashland Community and Technical College	Ashland, KY	$4,728	Public	51%
ATA College	Louisville, KY	$14,200	Private for-profit	46%
Beckfield College-Florence	Florence, KY	$13,295	Private for-profit	32%
Bellarmine University	Louisville, KY	$48,770	Private non-profit	64%
Berea College	Berea, KY	$51,658	Private non-profit	58%
Big Sandy Community and Technical College	Prestonsburg, KY	$4,728	Public	38%
Bluegrass Community and Technical College	Lexington, KY	$4,808	Public	43%
Campbellsville University	Campbellsville, KY	$27,998	Private non-profit	42%
Eastern Kentucky University	Richmond, KY	$10,320	Public	50%
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College	Elizabethtown, KY	$4,728	Public	59%
Frontier Nursing University	Versailles, KY	Not reported	Private non-profit	Not reported
Galen College of Nursing-ARH	Hazard, KY	$16,364	Private for-profit	63%
Galen College of Nursing-Louisville	Louisville, KY	Not reported	Private for-profit	61%
Galen Health Institutes-Pikeville	Pikeville, KY	$16,364	Private for-profit	Not reported
Gateway Community and Technical College	Florence, KY	$4,728	Public	59%
Hazard Community and Technical College	Hazard, KY	$4,728	Public	48%
Henderson Community College	Henderson, KY	$4,728	Public	35%
Hopkinsville Community College	Hopkinsville, KY	$4,728	Public	45%
Jefferson Community and Technical College	Louisville, KY	$4,808	Public	35%
Kentucky Christian University	Grayson, KY	$26,625	Private non-profit	37%
Kentucky State University	Frankfort, KY	$9,387	Public	32%
Lindsey Wilson University	Columbia, KY	$27,808	Private non-profit	44%
Madisonville Community College	Madisonville, KY	$4,728	Public	49%
Maysville Community and Technical College	Maysville, KY	$4,728	Public	56%
Midway University	Midway, KY	$27,220	Private non-profit	41%
Morehead State University	Morehead, KY	$10,024	Public	52%
Murray State University	Murray, KY	$9,900	Public	61%
Northern Kentucky University	Highland Heights, KY	$11,088	Public	52%
Owensboro Community and Technical College	Owensboro, KY	$4,728	Public	54%
Somerset Community College	Somerset, KY	$4,728	Public	43%
Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College	Bowling Green, KY	$4,728	Public	58%
Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College	Cumberland, KY	$4,728	Public	47%
Spalding University	Louisville, KY	$29,200	Private non-profit	52%
Sullivan University	Louisville, KY	$15,480	Private for-profit	71%
Thomas More University	Crestview Hills, KY	$39,800	Private non-profit	41%
Union Commonwealth University	Barbourville, KY	$30,946	Private non-profit	32%
University of Kentucky	Lexington, KY	$13,502	Public	71%
University of Louisville	Louisville, KY	$13,136	Public	61%
University of Pikeville	Pikeville, KY	$24,850	Private non-profit	42%
University of the Cumberlands	Williamsburg, KY	$9,875	Private non-profit	50%
West Kentucky Community and Technical College	Paducah, KY	$4,728	Public	50%
Western Kentucky University	Bowling Green, KY	$11,652	Public	56%

Nursing Programs in Kentucky

All accredited programs in Kentucky

Top-completion nursing programs in Kentucky

University of Kentucky

Sullivan University

Bellarmine University

Galen College of Nursing-ARH

Galen College of Nursing-Louisville

Becoming an RN in Kentucky

Paying for nursing school in Kentucky

Prefer to start online this month? Kentucky residents qualify for these programs.

Questions about nursing school in Kentucky

Compare programs in nearby states

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