Kentucky · Registered Nursing

Best Registered Nursing institutions in Kentucky, ranked by earnings

The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…

Institutions
42
offering CIP 51.38
States offered
9
with a program page
Degrees / yr
7,366
IPEDS completions 2026
Median grad earnings
$72,614
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
38
College Scorecard
Median net price
$22,542
IPEDS 2026
Avg graduation rate
50%
IPEDS 2026
State pay · Registered Nurses
$83,900
BLS OEWS 2024

Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1University of the Cumberlands
Williamsburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$81,01216750%$11,672$29,400
2Kentucky Christian University
Grayson Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$76,9702237%$21,713$27,750
3University of Pikeville
Pikeville Private not-for-profit · Associate degree
$76,5708142%$13,886$17,140
4Galen College of Nursing - Louisville
Louisville Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$76,2341,49161%$45,775
5American National University - Pikeville
Pikeville Private for-profit · Associate degree
$75,9792350%$17,427$30,205
6Union Commonwealth University
Barbourville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$72,6142932%$28,386$27,830
7University of Kentucky
Lexington Public · Bachelor's degree
$71,46139671%$27,000
8Thomas More University
Crestview Hills Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$70,9552640%$18,902$28,000
9Bellarmine University
Louisville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$70,54415364%$22,542$30,800
10Morehead State University
Morehead Public · Bachelor's degree
$70,52312652%$29,000

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+4.9%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~189,100
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$93,600
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

Critical ThinkingActive ListeningSpeakingReading ComprehensionMonitoringWriting

What Registered Nurses earn in Kentucky

Jobs in Kentucky
48,170
BLS OEWS May 2024
State average pay
$83,900
median $79,910
Best-paying metro
$87,480
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN

Related careers

Registered Nurses
$83,900 avg · 48,170 jobs
Medical and Health Services Managers
$115,790 avg · 8,000 jobs
Nurse Practitioners
$116,930 avg · 4,710 jobs
Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary
$76,450 avg · 1,260 jobs
Nurse Anesthetists
$224,920 avg · 1,050 jobs
Nurse Midwives

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Registered Nursing programs in Kentucky.

Which Registered Nursing program in Kentucky has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), University of the Cumberlands tops the list at $81,012. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Registered Nurses earn in Kentucky?+

The average annual wage for Registered Nurses in Kentucky is $83,900 (median $79,910), across about 48,170 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

What is the focus of the Registered Nursing program?+

The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop critical thinking, active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Registered Nurses?+

The national job outlook is about +4.9% growth with around 189,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

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