Best colleges for nursing in Kentucky
Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in nursing, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for nursing in Kentucky20 schools
20 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in Kentucky.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Offers a bachelor’s program in nursing, from the College Scorecard field-of-study data (credential level 3).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Berea College
Berea, KY · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Kentucky
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade A · Top 8%
- 2
Galen College of Nursing-Louisville
Louisville, KY · Private for-profit#4 in Kentucky
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B+ · Top 33%
- 3
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY · Public#5 in Kentucky
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B+ · Top 34%
- 4
Bellarmine University
Louisville, KY · Private nonprofit#7 in Kentucky
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B · Top 45%
- 5
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY · Public#8 in Kentucky
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B+ · Top 35%
- 6
Murray State University
Murray, KY · PublicTop 12% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B+ · Top 26%
- 7
Northern Kentucky University
Highland Heights, KY · PublicTop 10% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B+ · Top 21%
- 8
Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond, KY · PublicTop 18% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B+ · Top 33%
- 9
Kentucky Christian University
Grayson, KY · Private nonprofit#14 in Kentucky
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade C+
- 10
University of the Cumberlands
Williamsburg, KY · Private nonprofitTop 19% for low debt
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B+ · Top 25%
- 11
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, KY · PublicTop 18% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B+ · Top 35%
- 12
Lindsey Wilson College
Columbia, KY · Private nonprofitTop 24% for low debt
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B · Top 42%
- 13
University of Pikeville
Pikeville, KY · Private nonprofit#19 in Kentucky
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B
- 14
Morehead State University
Morehead, KY · PublicTop 14% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B+ · Top 34%
- 15
Thomas More University
Crestview Hills, KY · Private nonprofit#21 in Kentucky
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B
- 16
Spalding University
Louisville, KY · Private nonprofit#23 in Kentucky
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade C+
- 17
Midway University
Midway, KY · Private nonprofit#24 in Kentucky
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade C+
- 18
Campbellsville University
Campbellsville, KY · Private nonprofitTop 24% for low debt
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B-
- 19
Union Commonwealth University
Barbourville, KY · Private nonprofit#26 in Kentucky
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade C+
- 20
Kentucky State University
Frankfort, KY · PublicTop 10% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B-
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berea College | About $6,000 | $3,591 | $43,150 | 58% |
| Galen College of Nursing-Louisville | About $19,000 | $24,166 | $61,480 | 61% |
| University of Kentucky | About $19,000 | $22,500 | $59,025 | 71% |
| Bellarmine University | About $21,000 | $25,000 | $62,069 | 64% |
| University of Louisville | About $18,000 | $20,500 | $53,899 | 61% |
| Murray State University | About $9,000 | $20,500 | $44,737 | 61% |
| Northern Kentucky University | About $8,000 | $23,000 | $50,220 | 52% |
| Eastern Kentucky University | About $11,000 | $22,500 | $45,795 | 50% |
| Kentucky Christian University | About $24,000 | $22,250 | $42,375 | 37% |
| University of the Cumberlands | About $14,000 | $14,911 | $45,036 | 50% |
| Western Kentucky University | About $11,000 | $22,095 | $43,889 | 56% |
| Lindsey Wilson College | About $15,000 | $16,784 | $41,129 | 44% |
| University of Pikeville | About $20,000 | $20,679 | $48,231 | 42% |
| Morehead State University | About $10,000 | $22,250 | $43,197 | 52% |
| Thomas More University | About $22,000 | $26,236 | $59,384 | 41% |
| Spalding University | About $25,000 | $25,250 | $49,438 | 52% |
| Midway University | About $30,000 | $21,301 | $44,246 | 41% |
| Campbellsville University | About $19,000 | $17,156 | $41,583 | 42% |
| Union Commonwealth University | About $21,000 | $24,250 | $42,002 | 32% |
| Kentucky State University | About $8,000 | $25,938 | $36,382 | 32% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 16
- Arizona 10
- Arkansas 14
- California 53
- Colorado 16
- Connecticut 17
- Delaware 3
- District of Columbia 6
- Florida 35
- Georgia 37
- Hawaii 4
- Idaho 5
- Illinois 33
- Indiana 30
- Iowa 19
- Kansas 18
- Louisiana 17
- Maine 9
- Maryland 12
- Massachusetts 24
- Michigan 28
- Minnesota 25
- Mississippi 8
- Missouri 36
- Montana 7
- Nebraska 10
- Nevada 6
- New Hampshire 9
- New Jersey 23
- New Mexico 7
- New York 58
- North Carolina 33
- North Dakota 7
- Ohio 64
- Oklahoma 17
- Oregon 6
- Pennsylvania 68
- Puerto Rico 33
- Rhode Island 5
- South Carolina 20
- South Dakota 7
- Tennessee 31
- Texas 52
- Utah 14
- Vermont 3
- Virginia 33
- Washington 16
- West Virginia 15
- Wisconsin 24