In the healthcare field, employers tend to favor their most educated applicants in the hiring process. That means your best chance of getting hired as a registered nurse (RN) is to pursue a bachelor’s degree. Although you can become an RN with just an associate’s degree, a bachelor’s degree will help you stand out in a field of other highly qualified applicants.

There are two different routes to attaining a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree. The first option is for those who seek to begin their nursing careers without any prior nursing education. In this case, you would enter a four-year degree program that would prepare you for the national licensing exam, the NCLEX-RN. The other option is an RN-to-BSN program, which is reserved for those who are already licensed RNs with associate’s degrees who wish to pursue bachelor’s degrees. Many RNs choose to do this because it provides them with more training and experience, making them more compelling candidates in the job market.

In Kentucky, you could expect to make around $56,700 annually as an RN. However, with a bachelor’s degree, you may be able to negotiate your way to the upper end of the pay scale, sometimes earning $66,900 or more.

If you’re interested in either starting a new career or enhancing your prospects as an existing RN, please peruse our list below of Kentucky schools offering BSN programs.

Cincinnati suburbs

Beckfield College
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Northern Kentucky University
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Thomas More University
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
School Program NCLEX score Time period
Beckfield College
RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Northern Kentucky University
Accelerated Second Degree BSN
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Thomas More University
Accelerated Second Degree BSN
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
RN-to-BSN Degree Completion

Lexington

Midway University
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
University of Kentucky
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
School Program NCLEX score Time period
Midway University
RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
University of Kentucky
Accelerated Second Degree BSN
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
RN-to-BSN Degree Completion

Louisville

Spalding University
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing: 83.6% NCLEX pass rate (2009 through 2018)
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Bellarmine University
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Galen College of Nursing
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
  • Three-Year Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Sullivan University
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
University of Louisville
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
School Program NCLEX score Time period
Spalding University
Bachelor of Science in Nursing 83.6% 2009 to 2018
Accelerated Second Degree BSN
RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Bellarmine University
Accelerated Second Degree BSN
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Galen College of Nursing
RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Three-Year Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Sullivan University
RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
University of Louisville
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
RN-to-BSN Degree Completion

Other Kentucky cities

Eastern Kentucky University
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing: 98.5% NCLEX pass rate (2009 through 2018)
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Western Kentucky University
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing: 96.5% NCLEX pass rate (2009 through 2018)
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Murray State University
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing: 87.6% NCLEX pass rate (2009 through 2018)
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Berea College
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Campbellsville University
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Daymar College
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Kentucky Christian University
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Kentucky State University
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Lindsey Wilson College
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Morehead State University
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Union College
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
University of Louisville - Owensboro
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
University of Pikeville
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
University of the Cumberlands
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
School Program NCLEX score Time period
Eastern Kentucky University
Bachelor of Science in Nursing 98.5% 2009 to 2018
Accelerated Second Degree BSN
RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Western Kentucky University
Bachelor of Science in Nursing 96.5% 2009 to 2018
Accelerated Second Degree BSN
RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Murray State University
Bachelor of Science in Nursing 87.6% 2009 to 2018
RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Berea College
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Campbellsville University
RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Daymar College
RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Kentucky Christian University
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Kentucky State University
RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Lindsey Wilson College
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Morehead State University
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Union College
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
University of Louisville - Owensboro
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
University of Pikeville
RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
University of the Cumberlands
RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Category: 
Kentucky