Nursing in Kentucky
Kentucky has 46 nursing schools running 99 board-approved programs, and the median RN program’s first-time NCLEX pass rate was 90%. Registered nurses here earn a median of $81,040; nurse practitioners, $122,870. Kentucky is a compact state, so a license here can be a multistate license. Every figure below names its source and the period it covers.
Nursing Schools in Kentucky
92 of Kentucky’s 99 programs have a published 2025 first-time pass rate. RN programs averaged 85.6% — 0.9 points below the 86.5% national average. Practical nursing programs averaged 90.5%.
| Degree | Programs | Median pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| Associate (ADN) | 47 | 86.7% (46 rated) |
| Bachelor’s (BSN) | 21 | 93.8% (19 rated) |
Both degrees lead to the same RN license. ADN vs BSN, compared nationally →
Highest first-time pass rates (2025)
In-state RN programs. 11 programs tied at 100% — the five with the most nursing graduates are shown. A single year’s rate swings widely for small programs; check the trend before you choose.
- Northern Kentucky UniversityHighland Heights · Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN)100%
- Jefferson Community and Technical CollegeShelbyville · Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)100%
- Morehead State UniversityMt. Sterling · Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)100%
- Hazard Community and Technical CollegeJackson · Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)100%
- Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical CollegeBowling Green · Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN)100%
What Nurses Earn in Kentucky
Federal wage survey data (BLS OEWS, May 2025) — employer-reported, not job-board estimates. The RN median in Kentucky is $16,510 below the $97,550 national median; the NP median is $9,430 below the $132,300 national NP median.
| Kentucky | Registered nurse | Nurse practitioner |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $81,040 | $122,870 |
| Median hourly | $38.96 | $59.07 |
| Starting range (10th pct.) | $64,170 | $95,710 |
| Top earners (90th pct.) | $111,750 | $162,960 |
| Employed in state | 50,300 | 4,770 |
Licensing in Kentucky
Kentucky is a Nurse Licensure Compact state (implemented January 19, 2018). A nurse whose primary residence is Kentucky can hold one multistate license and practice in every other compact state without applying for another license.
Either way the license starts the same: graduate from a board-approved program and pass the NCLEX. Fees, processing times, and continuing-education rules are set by the Kentucky board of nursing and change — confirm them with the board directly. The board documents these pass rates came from: 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.
Sources
- First-time NCLEX pass rates by programEach state board of nursing — the exact board documents are linked on every state page · Data: 2025 first-time test takers · Checked
- Program cost, completion, and graduate earningsU.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · Checked
- Registered nurse wages and employment (SOC 29-1141)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics · Data: May 2025 · Checked
- Nurse practitioner wages and employment (SOC 29-1171)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics · Data: May 2025 · Checked
- Nurse Licensure Compact member states and implementation datesNational Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) · Checked
Frequently Asked Questions
How many nursing schools are in Kentucky?
Kentucky has 46 nursing schools running 99 board-approved programs — 70 RN programs and 29 practical nursing programs (state board of nursing list, 2025 pass-rate year).
What is the NCLEX pass rate in Kentucky?
The median Kentucky RN program's first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate was 90%, and the average across programs was 85.6% — 0.9 points below the 86.5% national average (2025 first-time test takers, from the state board of nursing).
How much do nurses make in Kentucky?
Registered nurses in Kentucky earn a median of $81,040 a year ($38.96 an hour), $16,510 below the national RN median. Nurse practitioners earn a median of $122,870 (BLS, May 2025).
Is Kentucky a compact nursing state?
Kentucky is a Nurse Licensure Compact state (implemented January 19, 2018). A nurse whose primary residence is Kentucky can hold one multistate license and practice in every other compact state without applying for another license. Source: NCSBN compact map, checked September 17, 2026.
Nursing in other states
Keep going
- Degree pathwayADN vs BSNBoth degrees lead to the same RN license. Here is how associate and bachelor’s programs actually compare on NCLEX pass rates, graduate debt, and earnings.
- GuideADN vs BSN: Which Nursing Program Should You Choose?Compare ADN and prelicensure BSN pathways by time, total cost, admission, clinical logistics, employer expectations, and bridge options—not prestige alone.
- FinderCheapest RN programs in the U.S.The lowest-cost RN programs nationally, with their NCLEX pass rates alongside.
- FinderCompare nursing schoolsPut any nursing programs side by side on pass rate, cost, and outcomes.
- GuideHow Competitive Is Nursing School Admission?Estimate nursing-school competitiveness using seats, qualified applicants, point rubrics, recent cutoffs, attrition, and the parts of your application you can still change.
- Degree pathwayLPN to RNThe pay difference between a practical nurse and a registered nurse, and how practical-nursing and RN programs compare on pass rates, debt, and graduate earnings.