Best colleges for Registered Nursing in Kentucky
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of the Cumberlands, Galen College of Nursing - Louisville and Union Commonwealth University are the top bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Kentucky by graduate earnings. University of the Cumberlands leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $81,012, College Scorecard. Galen College of Nursing - Louisville, Northern Kentucky University and University of Kentucky award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Kentucky: 1,608, 985 and 414 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 43 Kentucky colleges offer Registered Nursing and award 7,511 degrees and certificates a year in all.
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…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of the Cumberlands Williamsburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $81,012 | 164 | 50% | $11,672 | $29,400 |
| 2 | Galen College of Nursing - Louisville Louisville Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $76,234 | 1,608 | 61% | — | $34,859 |
| 3 | Union Commonwealth University Barbourville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $72,614 | 51 | 32% | $28,386 | $27,830 |
| 4 | University of Kentucky Lexington Public · Bachelor's degree | $71,461 | 414 | 71% | — | $27,000 |
| 5 | Bellarmine University Louisville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $70,544 | 107 | 64% | $22,542 | $30,800 |
| 6 | Morehead State University Morehead Public · Bachelor's degree | $70,523 | 103 | 52% | — | $29,000 |
| 7 | University of Louisville Louisville Public · Bachelor's degree | $69,027 | 361 | 61% | — | $23,205 |
| 8 | Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights Public · Bachelor's degree | $68,649 | 985 | 52% | — | $31,000 |
| 9 | Eastern Kentucky University Richmond Public · Bachelor's degree | $68,633 | 281 | 50% | — | $27,370 |
| 10 | Murray State University Murray Public · Bachelor's degree | $68,608 | 126 | 61% | — | $25,082 |
Top 10 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Pikeville Pikeville Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $76,570 | 72 | 42% | $13,886 | $17,140 |
| 2 | American National University - Louisville Louisville Private for-profit · Associate degree | $75,979 | 52 | 50% | $17,427 | $30,205 |
| 3 | Sullivan University Louisville Private for-profit · Associate degree | $68,824 | 141 | 71% | $29,703 | $47,035 |
| 4 | Galen College of Nursing - ARH Hazard Private for-profit · Associate degree | $68,114 | 89 | 63% | $24,202 | $34,859 |
| 5 | Gateway Community and Technical College Florence Public · Associate degree | $67,888 | 116 | 59% | — | $23,376 |
| 6 | Hopkinsville Community College Hopkinsville Public · Associate degree | $65,979 | 37 | 45% | — | $19,409 |
| 7 | Hazard Community and Technical College Hazard Public · Associate degree | $65,822 | 56 | 48% | — | $17,750 |
| 8 | Big Sandy Community and Technical College Prestonsburg Public · Associate degree | $65,735 | 39 | 38% | — | $17,550 |
| 9 | Beckfield College - Florence Florence Private for-profit · Associate degree | $65,659 | 103 | 32% | $28,312 | $36,983 |
| 10 | Ashland Community and Technical College Ashland Public · Associate degree | $64,909 | 49 | 51% | — | $18,756 |
Colleges awarding the most Registered Nursing degrees in Kentucky
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Galen College of Nursing - Louisville Louisville Private for-profit | 1,608 | $76,234 |
| 2 | Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights Public | 985 | $68,649 |
| 3 | University of Kentucky Lexington Public | 414 | $71,461 |
| 4 | University of Louisville Louisville Public | 361 | $69,027 |
| 5 | Western Kentucky University Bowling Green Public | 310 | $68,294 |
| 6 | Eastern Kentucky University Richmond Public | 281 | $68,633 |
| 7 | University of the Cumberlands Williamsburg Private not-for-profit | 164 | $81,012 |
| 8 | Murray State University Murray Public | 126 | $68,608 |
| 9 | Bellarmine University Louisville Private not-for-profit | 107 | $70,544 |
| 10 | Morehead State University Morehead Public | 103 | $70,523 |
ShowHide the other 33 Kentucky colleges offering Registered Nursing
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Top skills
What Registered Nurses earn in Kentucky
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Registered Nursing programs in Kentucky.
Which Kentucky colleges award the most Registered Nursing degrees?+
Galen College of Nursing - Louisville (1,608 graduates a year), Northern Kentucky University (985 graduates a year) and University of Kentucky (414 graduates a year) award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Kentucky, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 43 Kentucky colleges offer Registered Nursing.
What is the best college for Registered Nursing in Kentucky?+
By graduate earnings, University of the Cumberlands leads among bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Kentucky, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $81,012, College Scorecard. Galen College of Nursing - Louisville and Union Commonwealth University follow. By degrees awarded, Galen College of Nursing - Louisville is the largest, with 1,608 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Registered Nursing program in Kentucky has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of the Cumberlands tops the list at $81,012. Compare it against graduates a year, 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 $86,140 (median $81,040), across about 50,300 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
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).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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