Nursing Schools in Kentucky: All 99 Approved Programs & NCLEX Pass Rates
Kentucky has 46 schools running 99 board-approved nursing programs — 70 RN-track and 29 PN/LPN-track. The average 2025 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate across Kentucky programs is 85.6%, 0.9 points below the national average of 86.5%. Every row below comes straight from the state board of nursing's published approved-program list — not self-reported school marketing.
99
Approved programs
46
Schools
85.6%
Avg RN pass rate (2025)
86.5%
National RN average
Best Nursing Schools in Kentucky by NCLEX Pass Rate
Top RN programs ranked by 2025 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate, among programs with a published 2025 rate. Rates are one year of data — check multi-year trends before deciding. 11 programs are tied at 100% — the first 10 are shown alphabetically.
- 1100%Campbellsville UniversityCampbellsville · Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)
- 2100%Hazard Community and Technical CollegeJackson · Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)
- 3100%Jefferson Community and Technical CollegeShelbyville · Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)
- 4100%Kentucky Christian UniversityGrayson · Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN)
- 5100%Lindsey Wilson UniversityColumbia · Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN)
- 6100%Maysville Community and Technical CollegeMaysville · Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)
- 7100%Midway UniversityMidway · Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN)
- 8100%Morehead State UniversityMt. Sterling · Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)
- 9100%Northern Kentucky UniversityHighland Heights · Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN)
- 10100%Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical CollegeBowling Green · Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)
Every Approved Nursing Program in Kentucky
Sort by any column, filter RN vs PN/LPN, or search a school or city.
99 of 99 programs · “—” = no 2025 first-time pass rate published by the board
| American National University | Pikeville | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 34.9% |
| Asbury University | Wilmore | Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN)RN | — |
| Ashland Community and Technical College | Ashland | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 92% |
| Ashland Community and Technical College | Ashland | Practical Nursing (PN)PN | 90.9% |
| ATA College | Louisville | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 94.4% |
| ATA College | Louisville | Practical Nursing (PN)PN | 89.5% |
| Beckfield College | Florence | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 82.4% |
| Beckfield College | Florence | Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN)RN | 73.1% |
| Beckfield College | Florence | Practical Nursing (PN)PN | 93% |
| Bellarmine University | Louisville | Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN)RN | 95.3% |
| Berea College | Berea | Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN)RN | 91.7% |
| Big Sandy Commmunity and Technical College | Prestonsburg | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 88.5% |
| Big Sandy Community and Technical CollegeNew/provisional | Pikeville | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 91.7% |
| Big Sandy Community and Technical CollegeNew/provisional | Pikeville | Practical Nursing (PN)PN | — |
| Bluegrass Community and Technical Colleege | Lexington | Practical Nursing (PN)PN | 85.7% |
| Bluegrass Community and Technical College | Lawrenceburg | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 86.3% |
| Bluegrass Community and Technical College | Lexington | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 77.2% |
| Bluegrass Community and Technical College | Winchester | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 80.6% |
| Bluegrass Community and Technical College | Danville | Practical Nursing (PN)PN | 100% |
| Campbellsville University | Campbellsville | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 100% |
| Campbellsville University | Harrodsburg | Associate Degree Nursing (ASN)RN | 84.6% |
| Campbellsville University | Campbellsville | Practical Nursing (PN)PN | 100% |
| Campbellsville University | Harrodsburg | Practical Nursing (PN)PN | — |
| Eastern Kentucky University | Richmond | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 94.3% |
| Eastern Kentucky University | Richmond | Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN)RN | 98% |
| Elizabethtown Community and Technical College | Elizabethtown | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 76.2% |
| Elizabethtown Community and Technical CollegeNew/provisional | Leitchfield | Practical Nursing (PN)PN | — |
| Galen College | Hazard | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 71.4% |
| Galen College | Louisville | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 90.7% |
| Galen College | Pikeville | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 87.1% |
| Galen College | Louisville | Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN)RN | 90.2% |
| Galen College | Louisville | Practical Nursing (PN)PN | 97.9% |
| Galen College | Pikeville | Practical Nursing (PN)PN | 100% |
| Gateway Community and Technical College | Edgewood | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 77.6% |
| Hazard Community and Technical College | Hazard | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 86.7% |
| Hazard Community and Technical College | Jackson | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 100% |
| Hazard Community and Technical College | Hazard | Practical Nursing (PN)PN | 100% |
| Henderson Community College | Henderson | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 60% |
| Hopkinsville Community College | Hopkinsville | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 95.2% |
| Hopkinsville Community College | Hopkinsville | Practical Nursing (PN)PN | 100% |
| Jefferson Community and Technical College | Louisville | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 96.2% |
| Jefferson Community and Technical College | Shelbyville | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 100% |
| Jefferson Community and Technical College | Carrollton | Practical Nursing (PN)PN | 84.6% |
| Jefferson Community and Technical College | Louisville | Practical Nursing (PN)PN | 78.6% |
| Kentucky Christian University | Grayson | Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN)RN | 100% |
| Kentucky State University | Frankfort | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 50% |
| Kentucky State University | Frankfort | Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN)RN | 88.2% |
| Lincoln Memorial University | Corbin | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 91.7% |
| Lincoln Memorial University | Lexington | Baccalaureate Degree Nursing (BSN)RN | — |
| Lindsey Wilson University | Columbia | Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN)RN | 100% |
| Madisonville Community College | Madisonville | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 90% |
| Madisonville Community College | Madisonville | Practical Nursing (PN)PN | 90% |
| Maysville Community and Technical College | Cynthiana | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 83.3% |
| Maysville Community and Technical College | Maysville | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 100% |
| Maysville Community and Technical College | Mt. Sterling | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | — |
| Maysville Community and Technical College | Maysville | Practical Nursing (PN)PN | — |
| Maysville Community and Technical College | Morehead | Practical Nursing (PN)PN | 100% |
| Medical Career and Technical College | Richmond | Practical Nursing (PN)PN | 70.7% |
| MedQuest College | Lexington | Practical Nursing (PN)PN | 100% |
| MedQuest College | Louisville | Practical Nursing (PN)PN | 83.3% |
| Midway University | Midway | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 69.6% |
| Midway University | Midway | Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN)RN | 100% |
| Morehead State University | Morehead | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 64.9% |
| Morehead State University | Mt. Sterling | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 100% |
| Morehead State University | Morehead | Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN)RN | 95.7% |
| Murray State University | Murray | Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN)RN | 92.1% |
| Northern Kentucky University | Highland Heights | Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN)RN | 100% |
| Owensboro Community and Technical College | Owensboro | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 86.9% |
| Somerset Community College | London | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 94.7% |
| Somerset Community College | Manchester | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 85.7% |
| Somerset Community College | Somerset | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 93.8% |
| Somerset Community College | Whitley City | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 91.7% |
| Somerset Community College | Albany | Practical Nursing (PN)PN | 80% |
| Somerset Community College | London | Practical Nursing (PN)PN | 100% |
| Somerset Community College | Somerset | Practical Nursing (PN)PN | 95.2% |
| Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College | Bowling Green | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 100% |
| Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College | Glasgow | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 86.7% |
| Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College | Bowling Green | Practical Nursing (PN)PN | 100% |
| Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College | Glasgow | Practical Nursing (PN)PN | 98% |
| Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College | Cumberland | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 80% |
| Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College | Middlesboro | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 73% |
| Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College | Cumberland | Practical Nursing (PN)PN | 70.8% |
| Spalding University | Louisville | Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN)RN | 92.9% |
| Sullivan University | Lexington | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 51.4% |
| Sullivan University | Louisville | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 51.5% |
| Sullivan University | Louisville | Practical Nursing (PN)PN | 53.3% |
| Thomas More University | Edgewood | Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN)RN | 93.8% |
| Union Commonwealth University | Barbourville | Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN)RN | 81.8% |
| University of Kentucky | Lexington | Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN)RN | 94.7% |
| University of Louisville | Louisville | Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN)RN | 78.7% |
| University of Louisville | Owensboro | Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN)RN | 89.1% |
| University of Louisville | Louisville | Master's Entry Program of Nursing (MEPN)RN | 75% |
| University of Pikeville | Pikeville | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 66.7% |
| University of the CumberlandsNew/provisional | Williamsburg | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 68.6% |
| West Kentucky Community and Technical College | Paducah | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 86.7% |
| West Kentucky Community and Technical College | Paducah | Practical Nursing (PN)PN | 100% |
| Western Kentucky University | Bowling Green | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)RN | 93.2% |
| Western Kentucky University | Bowling Green | Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN)RN | 96.4% |
| Western Kentucky University | Bowling Green | Master's Entry into Professional Nursing (MEPN)RN | 100% |
Whichever school you choose, the NCLEX is the finish line
The pass rates above are made by students, not buildings. Students who do well start NCLEX-style practice in their first semester — studying for class exams and the boards at the same time. NurseSavvy turns your own course materials into matched NCLEX practice questions from day one, for $19/mo after a free 14-day trial.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best nursing school in Kentucky by NCLEX pass rate?
11 RN programs in Kentucky tied for the highest 2025 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate at 100%, including Campbellsville University in Campbellsville — see the full ranked list above, among programs with a published 2025 rate on the state board's list.
How many nursing schools are in Kentucky?
Kentucky has 46 schools offering 99 board-approved nursing programs: 70 RN-track (ADN/BSN and similar) and 29 PN/LPN-track programs, per the state board of nursing's current approved-program list.
What is the average NCLEX pass rate in Kentucky?
Across Kentucky RN programs with a published 2025 rate, the average first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate is 85.6% — 0.9 points below the national average of 86.5%.
What does a first-time NCLEX pass rate tell me about a school?
It is the share of a program’s graduates who passed the NCLEX on their first attempt — the single most comparable public outcome number nursing programs report. Boards of nursing track it for program approval, and consistently low rates can put a program on conditional status. Compare it alongside cost, location, and program length, not in isolation.
About this data
Program list and 2025 first-time NCLEX pass rates are taken directly from the Kentucky board of nursing's published approved-program materials. “—” means the board did not publish a 2025 rate for that program (new programs, small cohorts, or PN lists without rate tables). Pass rates refresh annually; this page is rebuilt from the board lists when they update.
- kbn.ky.gov — list: Approved-programs live directory accessed July 12, 2026 (page prints no revision date); pass rate = CY2025 (Jan 1-Dec 31) first-time, tested within 1 yr of completion, per KBN NCLEX Pass Rate report dated March 2026
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