Kentucky's Best Nursing Schools for 2020

Eastern Kentucky University is located in Richmond, Kentucky.  EKU offers a traditional BSN program, an RN to BSN program and a second degree BSN program.  They also have a wide variety of post-graduate options for those who want to continue their education after graduating with their BSN degree.

Hopkinsville Community College is located in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.  They offer an RN program, but do not offer an LPN to RN program at this time, although they do offer an LPN program.  Hopkinsville Community College is primarily attended by students residing in western Kentucky and also northern Tennessee.

Owensboro Community and Technical College is located in Owensboro, Kentucky.  They have an ADN and an LPN to ADN program.  They are proud to boast that their pass rate of the NCLEX-RN has been above 95% for the past 4 years.

Elizabethtown Community and Technical College is located in Elizabethtown, Kentucky.  They offer an ASN program.  At this time they do not offer an LPN to RN program.  As a whole, Elizabethtown Community and Technical College graduates approximately 500 students annually.

Henderson Community College is located in Henderson, Kentucky.  They offer an traditional ADN program and an LPN to ADN Bridge Program.  However, an LPN can also enroll in the traditional ADN program and enter in semester III.  The Bridge Program is a nontraditional program, with weekend and evening courses, whereas the traditional program has courses at traditional times.  Both options allow the LPN to select a program that works best for their schedule.

West Kentucky Community and Technical College is located in Paducah, Kentucky.  They offer an ADN program and an LPN to RN accelerated program.  They also accept transfer nursing students if there is space available in their programs.

Somerset Community College is located in Somerset, Kentucky.  They offer an ADN program and an LPN to ADN program.  Their LPN to ADN program is designed for the working nurse – it is specifically set in an evening/weekend format.

Morehead State University is located in Morehead, Kentucky.  They have a variety of nursing option.  They have an ADN degree, a paramedic to ADN option, a post-licensure program (this allows an RN to become a BSN) and a pre-licensure program (this allows a traditional student to become a BSN).

Western Kentucky University is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky. WKU offers a BSN program, an RN to BSN program and a second degree BSN program.  The second degree BSN program allows students with a prior bachelor’s degree to become an RN in 4 semesters.  This program is separate from the RN to BSN program..

Eastern Kentucky University is located in Richmond, Kentucky.  EKU offers a traditional BSN program, an RN to BSN program and a second degree BSN program.  They also have a wide variety of post-graduate options for those who want to continue their education after graduating with their BSN degree.

University of Kentucky is located in Lexington, Kentucky.  Their College of Nursing had over 1,500 students enrolled in 2015.  They offer a traditional BSN, an LPN to BSN program and a second degree BSN program.  The mission of the University of Kentucky College of Nursing is to promote health and well-being through excellence in nursing education, research, practice and service while fostering diversity and inclusion.

Morehead State University is located in Morehead, Kentucky.  They have a variety of nursing option.  They have an ADN degree, a paramedic to ADN option, a post-licensure program (this allows an RN to become a BSN) and a pre-licensure program (this allows a traditional student to become a BSN).

Western Kentucky University is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky. WKU offers a BSN program, an RN to BSN program and a second degree BSN program.  The second degree BSN program allows students with a prior bachelor’s degree to become an RN in 4 semesters.  This program is separate from the RN to BSN program..

Bellarmine University is located in Louiseville, Kentucky.  The Donna and Allan Lansing School of Nursing offer a traditional BSN program, an accelerated 2nd degree option and an RN to BSN option.  They also offer various master’s level and doctoral programs for students who desire to further their education after graduating with their BSN degree.

Northern Kentucky University is located in Highland Heights, Kentucky.  They offer a BSN program and an accelerated BSN program.  The accelerated BSN program is strictly for second degree students; at this time, they do not offer an RN to BSN program.

University of Louisville is located in Louisville, Kentucky.  They have BSN degree options in various campuses.  Their RN to BSN degree option is offered online.  Their graduate options are unique; for example, they have a DNP that is offered for the BSN student; the BSN student can pursue it after graduation, rather than pursuing an MSN first.