Top Nursing Schools in Kentucky
This page lists 45 schools in Kentucky that reported awards in licensed nursing education to the U.S. Department of Education for 2023-24 — including 23 practical/vocational nursing (LPN/LVN), 30 associate degree (ADN), 21 bachelor's (BSN), 13 master's and 8 Doctor of Nursing Practice award levels. By ownership, 24 public, 12 private nonprofit and 9 private for-profit. 37 appear in the CCNE or ACEN accreditor directories for at least one nursing program level. The largest concentrations are in Louisville (8), Pikeville (3), Bowling Green (2) and Florence (2).
Data last reviewed: October 6, 2026
Sources: IPEDS (U.S. Dept. of Education) / CCNE directory / ACEN directory
Listing does not certify educational quality or guarantee licensure eligibility. Verify details with the school before applying.
Listed alphabetically. Inclusion is editorial selection, not a ranking — see our methodology. How schools are selected
Schools (45)
| School | Location | Ownership | Nursing awards / programs | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American National University-Pikeville | Pikeville, KY | Private for-profit | ADN | — |
| Ashland Community and Technical College | Ashland, KY | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| ATA College | Louisville, KY | Private for-profit | LPN/LVN | — |
| Beckfield College-Florence | Florence, KY | Private for-profit | LPN/LVN, ADN, BSN | CCNE |
| Bellarmine University | Louisville, KY | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN, Post-Master's-FNP, DNP | CCNE |
| Berea College | Berea, KY | Private nonprofit | BSN | CCNE |
| Big Sandy Community and Technical College | Prestonsburg, KY | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN (candidate) |
| Bluegrass Community and Technical College | Lexington, KY | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Campbellsville University | Campbellsville, KY | Private nonprofit | ADN, BSN, MSN | ACEN |
| Eastern Kentucky University | Richmond, KY | Public | ADN, BSN, MSN, Post-Master's-FNP, Post-Master's-PMHNP, DNP | CCNE, ACEN |
| Elizabethtown Community and Technical College | Elizabethtown, KY | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Frontier Nursing University | Versailles, KY | Private nonprofit | MSN-CNM, MSN-FNP, MSN-PMHNP, MSN-WHNP, Post-Master's-CNM, Post-Master's-FNP, Post-Master's-PMHNP, Post-Master's-WHNP, DNP | ACEN |
| Galen College of Nursing-ARH | Hazard, KY | Private for-profit | ADN | — |
| Galen College of Nursing-Louisville | Louisville, KY | Private for-profit | LPN/LVN, ADN, BSN | CCNE, ACEN |
| Galen Health Institutes-Pikeville | Pikeville, KY | Private for-profit | LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| Gateway Community and Technical College | Florence, KY | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Hazard Community and Technical College | Hazard, KY | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN (candidate) |
| Henderson Community College | Henderson, KY | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Hopkinsville Community College | Hopkinsville, KY | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Jefferson Community and Technical College | Louisville, KY | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN (candidate) |
Before you apply in Kentucky
- Prelicensure nursing programs must be approved by the state's board of nursing. Check the board's current list for the campus you will attend.
- Program accreditation (CCNE, ACEN or CNEA) is separate from state approval and from the institution's own accreditation. Each school page shows which records we found and where.
- Online programs based in another state may not accept residents of Kentucky. See online coursework and clinical requirements.