14 Best MSN Programs in Kentucky – 2025


Written By: Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH

What are the benefits of MSN programs in Kentucky? A higher salary, job security, the chance to specialize professionally, and flexible learning opportunities. RNs with nursing master’s in the Blue Grass State can count on averaging $107,560 annually, and the employment opportunities available to them will jump 45 percent over the coming decade. Kentucky’s MSN programs offer a range of nursing specializations that can prepare you to become an executive healthcare manager, an advanced practice clinician, or a nursing instructor. Most of these programs are offered online so that you can adapt your educational aspirations to the demands of your busy life. Learn more with this guide to the 14 best MSN programs in Kentucky.


WHAT ARE THE BEST MSN PROGRAMS IN KENTUCKY (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2025?

Based on our Ranking Methodology, listed below are the 14 Best Master of Science in Nursing Programs in Kentucky (Online & Campus) for 2025.


1. Frontier Nursing University - Versailles


Programs Offered: MSN

MSN Specialties Offered: Certified Nurse-Midwife, Family Nurse Practitioner, Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

MSN Program Details: Frontier Nursing University’s reputation as one of the best MSN programs in Kentucky is as strong today as it was in 1990 when the university became the very first graduate nursing school in the nation to offer a nurse-midwifery program as a distance learning option. Master’s level nursing students at FNU have their choice of four options: a 55-credit Certified Nurse-Midwife track, a 52-credit Family Nurse Practitioner track, a 49-credit Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner track, and a 48-credit Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track. All four APRN pathways involve 750 clinical hours.

FNU is known for its focus on rural and medically underserved populations. You’ll take core nursing master’s courses like “Advanced Physical Assessment, Clinical Reasoning & Documentation for APRNs,” “Advanced Pathophysiology,” and “Foundations of Equitable Care and Health Promotion.” Apart from two campus immersion experiences and clinical rotations, Frontier Nursing University’s MSN program is 100 percent online. You’ll complete your clinical rotations at healthcare facilities in your own community.

FNU has a rolling admissions policy and accepts new cohorts in the spring, summer, fall, and winter terms. Full-time students can attain their degrees in eight terms (24 months), while part-time students can graduate in 12 (36 months.)


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students

U.S. News & World Report ranks Frontier Nursing University’s FNP program the fourth-best in the nation.
• Forty percent of the nation’s midwives are Frontier Nursing University graduates.


2. Eastern Kentucky University - Richmond


Programs Offered: MSN

MSN Specialties Offered: Rural Health Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

MSN Program Details: Eastern Kentucky University’s innovative 47-credit Family Nurse Practitioner pathway emphasizes serving the needs of rural populations. The university also offers a 49-credit Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track. Both NP courses share a common core curriculum that includes classes like “Advanced Health Assessment,” “Theoretical Foundation for Evidence-Based Practice,” and “Advanced Practice Role.” You must complete 750 clinical hours if you enroll in the FNP pathway and 720 hours if you enroll in the PMHNP track. EKU will assist you in identifying and securing preceptors and sites close to your home. Aside from clinical rotations, the rest of your coursework will be delivered entirely online.

Core MSN courses are taught over eight-week terms, but specialty classes in your chosen concentration stretch over 16 weeks. This MSN program in Kentucky accepts new cohorts into its MSN program in the spring, summer, and fall.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students

U.S. News & World Report calls Eastern Kentucky University’s online nursing degree the tenth-best in the nation for veterans.
• EKU’s FNP graduates have a 100 percent first-time pass rate on their certification exams, while PMHNP graduates have a 99 percent first-time pass rate.


3. University of Louisville - Louisville


Programs Offered: MSN

MSN Specialties Offered: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and Nursing Leadership

MSN Program Details: The University of Louisville offers students an exceptionally customizable nursing education experience with six APRN concentrations and one non-clinical concentration, full-time and part-time enrollment options, and start dates in the summer, fall, and spring.

The FNP and PACNP specialties involve 51 credits, while the AGACNP pathway requires 49 credits, the AGPCNP pathway 48 credits, and the PMHNP pathway 50. These five APRN tracks each entail a minimum of 672 hours of direct patient care. The 62-credit NNP track comprises 756 direct patient hours. For RNs interested in executive nursing, UofL also offers a 26-credit (84 clinical hours) Leadership track with two subspecialties: Nursing Practice and Nursing Education.

The MSN curriculum for the APRN track and the non-clinical tracks both include a course called “Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in Culturally Diverse and Vulnerable Populations” but otherwise diverge. The Leadership track is offered online and allows you to participate in clinical experiences in your own community. The APRN pathways, however, are taught at UofL’s campus in Louisville, and your preceptor experiences will be scheduled at healthcare facilities like the University of Louisville Health–Medical Center East and Baptist Health Louisville, which means you’ll need an RN license from Kentucky or a compact state prior to beginning clinicals.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students

• The University of Louisville is the beneficiary of $6.5 million in Health Resources and Services Administration grants, which it is investing in expanding its NP programs in an effort to help resolve Kentucky’s nursing shortage.
• UofL uses a holistic MSN admissions process that evaluates criteria like work experience and professional goals in addition to academic performance.


4. Western Kentucky University - Bowling Green


Programs Offered: MSN

MSN Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

MSN Program Details: Western Kentucky University has addressed the Blue Grass State’s severe primary care shortage by offering two MSN nurse practitioner programs: a 41-credit Family Nurse Practitioner track and a 43-credit Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track. Each NP concentration requires 750 clinical hours.

Both NP pathways share a common core MSN curriculum that includes courses like “Advanced Health Assessment,” “Nursing Research,” and “Nursing Theory.” The FNP track is offered full-time and part-time and accepts new cohorts in the spring and fall. The PMHNP track accepts new students in the spring and summer, and you can only enroll in it full-time. Except for practicums, both WKU MSN concentrations are taught entirely online, providing optimal flexibility for the working RN. You’ll be able to schedule your clinical rotations at healthcare facilities close to where you live.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students

• Western Kentucky University also has an accelerated Master's Entry Program in Nursing designed for baccalaureates whose degree is in a non-nursing field and who are interested in entering the nursing profession in an advanced role.
• WKU MSN students have the opportunity to input into what’s taught in their nursing curriculum.


5. University of Kentucky - Lexington


Programs Offered: MSN

MSN Specialties Offered: Healthcare Systems Leadership

MSN Program Details: Like several other MSN programs in Kentucky, the University of Kentucky’s APRN programs are now solely part of its Doctor of Nursing Process (DNP) track; this follows the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s recommendation that advanced nursing preparation move from a master’s to a doctoral degree. The university still offers one online non-clinical concentration: Healthcare Systems Leadership.

You’ll be able to complete the 38-credit program in four semesters (two years) as a full-time student or six semesters (three years) as a part-time student. In addition to courses like “Research Methods in Advanced Practice Nursing,” “Population Health Assessment, Planning & Policy,” and “Economic & Financial Aspects of Clinical & Population Based Health Care Delivery Systems,” you’ll complete 540 practicum hours at a healthcare facility in your own geographic region. This program accepts new students each fall.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students

• The University of Kentucky’s MSN curriculum includes a 180-hour capstone project, which you may be able to complete at the healthcare facility where you’re employed.
• U of K’s Healthcare Systems Leadership MSN focuses upon the importance of interprofessional collaboration.


6. Bellarmine University - Louisville


Programs Offered: MSN

MSN Specialties Offered: Nursing Administration, Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Nursing Education, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

MSN Program Details: Bellarmine University offers five graduate programs in nursing in conjunction with its nursing master’s degree: a 45-credit AGACNP track, a 42-credit FNP track, a 47-credit PMHNP track, plus two non-clinical pathways in Nursing Administration and nursing education. All five concentrations are offered online, though the APRN tracks require one visit to Bellarmine’s campus in Louisville as well as 720 clinical hours, which must be completed in person at a healthcare facility. The university will arrange clinical placements for students who reside in Kentucky, but out-of-state students must identify and secure practicums on their own.

This MSN program in Kentucky is designed to be pursued part-time and can be completed in two years of study. Core nursing master’s courses include “Transition to Advanced Practice,” “Clinical Prevention and Population Health,” and “Advanced Physical Assessment and Clinical Reasoning.” Bellarmine University maintains a rolling admissions policy and accepts new MSN cohorts in the spring, summer, and fall.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students

Forbes Magazine ranks Bellarmine University’s nurse practitioner programs the eighth-best in the U.S.
• While Bellarmine University is a Catholic institution of higher learning, it admits qualified students of all faiths and is committed to academic freedom.


7. Morehead State University - Morehead


Programs Offered: MSN

MSN Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner

MSN Program Details: Want to become a Family Nurse Practitioner in just two years? It will only take you four semesters to complete Morehead State University’s 49-credit FNP MSN track if you accelerate through the program’s core MSN coursework. Otherwise, it will take you five semesters (two and a half years) if you enroll full-time and eight semesters (four years) if you’re a part-time student. Morehead State University’s MSN degree is offered mostly online, but you will have to attend an intensive two-day lab for advanced clinical procedures at the university’s campus in Morehead and participate in 600 hours of practicums at a healthcare facility in your home vicinity.

Your curriculum will include courses like “Health Assessment for Advanced Practice,” “Roles and Issues for Advanced Practice,” and “Common Alterations in Primary Care.” Morehead State University accepts new students into its MSN program in the fall and spring.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students

• Are you an RN with an associate degree or a hospital diploma? Morehead State University offers an RN-to-MSN track.
• Morehead State University’s average 14:1 student-faculty ratio means that you can count on receiving the individualized attention you need from your nursing instructors.


8. University of the Cumberlands - Williamsburg


Programs Offered: MSN

MSN Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner

MSN Program Details: The University of the Cumberlands offers a 48-credit FNP track as its MSN concentration. In addition to coursework like “Theoretical Basis for Advanced Nursing Practice,” “Healthcare Technologies and Informatics in Advanced Nursing Practice,” and “Advanced Nursing Assessment,” you’ll also be responsible for completing 720 clinical hours, which will be scheduled at a hospital, clinic, or community agency close to your home. Apart from practicums, this FNP pathway is a fully online program.

Didactic courses are taught over eight-week terms, but courses with a clinical component stretch out over 16 weeks. Full-time students should be able to graduate from this MSN program in Kentucky in two years. Classes begin in August.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students

• The University of the Cumberlands FNP program has been hailed as the most affordable nursing master’s degree in Kentucky.
• The University of the Cumberlands is a Christian school and has received exemptions from Title IX admissions mandates, allowing it to be selective when it comes to matters like sex outside marriage and sexual orientation.


9. Galen College of Nursing - Louisville


Programs Offered: MSN

MSN Specialties Offered: Nursing & Healthcare Leadership and Nurse Educator

MSN Program Details: At Galen College of Nursing, all MSN coursework is presented online using an asynchronous platform. The curriculum is taught in eight-week modules so that you can complete two classes each 16-week semester. This MSN program in Kentucky offers two 36-credit specializations: Nursing & Healthcare Leadership and Nurse Educator. Full-time students typically graduate in six semesters (24 months.) This program also accepts part-time students.

Galen’s two MSN concentrations share a core curriculum that includes courses like “Advanced Role Identity, Development, and Transition,” “Transforming Nursing through Collaboration and Innovation,” and “Leadership in Complex Systems.” You’ll also participate in hands-on patient care experiences, which you are expected to arrange at a healthcare facility near your home. You can begin Galen College of Nursing’s MSN program in the spring, summer, or fall.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students

• Galen College of Nursing’s distance education nursing master’s meets Board of Nursing guidelines in every state in the nation except Washington.
• Galen College of Nursing has deep ties with both the Humana and HCA Healthcare systems, and many MSN graduates go on to find jobs with those companies' healthcare facilities.


10. Northern Kentucky University - Highland Heights


Programs Offered: MSN

MSN Specialties Offered: Adult-Gero Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Executive Leadership, Nursing Education, and Psych-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

MSN Program Details: Northern Kentucky University’s nursing master’s is another one of the MSN programs in Kentucky specifically designed for working RNs. NKU’s program is offered 100 percent online except for clinical practicums. You can graduate from the 33-credit Nurse Executive Leadership and Nursing Education tracks in as few as 12 months, from the 47-credit AGACNP and PMHNP tracks in 22 months, and from the 48-credit FNP pathway in 24 months. Northern Kentucky University accepts new students into its MSN track four times a year: twice during the summer semester and twice during the spring semester.

All five of NKU’s MSN pathways share a foundational core that includes coursework like “Health Care Policy and Economics in Population Health,” “Analysis and Application of Health Data for Advanced Nursing Practice,” and “Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Practice and Research.” The three APRN concentrations each involve 750 clinical hours; the Nurse Executive Leader track entails 100 clinical hours, and the Nurse Educator track entails 200. You’ll be able to schedule your clinical rotations at a local medical center, hospital, or clinic.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students

• Northern Kentucky University will allow you to fulfill your clinical rotation commitment at the healthcare facility where you work as long as you’re not doing your preceptorships on the unit where you’re employed.
• Students pursuing the PMHNP concentration will spend a minimum of 170 hours working with pediatric clients, 165 hours working with adult clients, and 165 hours working with geriatric clients.


11. Kentucky Christian University - Grayson


Programs Offered: MSN

MSN Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner

MSN Program Details: Kentucky Christian University’s MSN/Family Nurse Practitioner program has convenient starting dates in the spring and fall. This online MSN program in Kentucky comprises 47 credits and 528 clinical hours, which you can complete at a healthcare facility in close proximity to where you live or work. You’ll take courses like “Advanced Health Assessment & Diagnostic Reason,” “Advanced Nursing Research,” and “Advanced Nursing Care of Adults I & II.” All courses use asynchronous technology so that you can incorporate them easily into your work and personal commitments. The program is designed to be completed in seven semesters (approximately two years.)


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students

• This may be one of the best MSN programs in Kentucky for students who are looking for a way to integrate their Christian faith into their nursing practice because the curriculum emphasizes Christ-centered education.
• Kentucky Christian University does offer one on-campus skills intensive, but it is optional and you can participate virtually if you don’t want to visit the campus in Grayson.


12. Spalding University - Louisville


Programs Offered: RN-to-MSN and MSN

RN-to-MSN Specialties Offered: Nurse Educator and Nursing & Healthcare Leadership

MSN Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Educator, and Nursing & Healthcare Leadership

RN-to-MSN Program Details: If you’re an ADN- or hospital diploma-educated RN who’s interested in advancing your professional career quickly, Spalding University’s two RN-to-MSN programs can help you expedite your ambitions. The RN-to-MSN pathway is designed for students who don’t have a bachelor’s degree, while the RN-to-MSN bridge pathway was created for RNs who have a baccalaureate degree in a non-nursing field.

These programs offer the same four concentrations as Spalding University’s traditional MSN program: Nurse Educator and Healthcare Leadership tracks, which are offered 100 percent online, and hybrid Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner pathways. When you complete the RN-to-MSN track, you will have two degrees: a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and a Master’s of Science in Nursing.


MSN Program Details: Spalding University’s traditional MSN program features four specializations: a 45-credit FNP track, a 44-credit PMHNP track, a 36-credit Nurse Educator track, and a 36-credit Nursing & Healthcare Leadership track. The two APRN concentrations both involve 750 clinical hours as well as 20 targeted hours of skills-building intensives. The two non-clinical concentrations are offered entirely online, while the APRN specialties are offered in both online and hybrid formats.

The APRN pathways and non-clinical tracks have different foundational MSN coursework. If you’re pursuing the FNP or PMHNP pathways, you’ll take classes like “Evidence Based Practice I & II” and “Advanced Health Assessment;” if you’re enrolled in the non-clinical tracks, you’ll take “Research/Principles of Evidence Based Practice” and “Graduate Nursing Informatics.” If you’re pursuing your NP certification online, you’ll be able to schedule your clinical experiences at a healthcare facility in your own area; if you’re enrolled in the hybrid NP cohort, you’ll fulfill your clinical requirement at a healthcare facility in the Louisville metro area, and you must have a Kentucky RN license.

Spalding University offers rolling admissions into the Nurse Educator and Nursing & Healthcare tracks with start dates every six to eight weeks. The hybrid APRN classes begin in the summer semester of each year, while the online APRN tracks accept new cohorts in the spring and fall semesters. If you’re a full-time student, you should be able to complete the hybrid APRN pathways in two years and the non-clinical tracks in as few as 18 months.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students

• More than 96 percent of Spalding University’s MSN graduates pass their national board certification exams on the very first attempt.
• Spalding University assigns all MSN students a dedicated nursing success coach who will work with them until graduation.


13. McKendree University - Louisville


Programs Offered: MSN

MSN Specialties Offered: Nursing Education, Nursing Management/Administration, Population Health, and School Nurse Endorsement

MSN Program Details: McKendree University, which sits right on the Kentucky/Illinois border and maintains a campus in Louisville, offers a Nursing Education track, a Nursing Management/Administration track, and a Population Health track in conjunction with its online nursing master’s degree program. Each of these MSN concentrations comprises 33 credits, including MSN foundational classes such as “Evidence-based Practice in Healthcare,” “Ethics, Social Justice, Diversity, and Health Equity,” and “Health Policy and Legal Aspects in Healthcare.” Each of these MSN concentrations also requires 150 practicum hours and the completion of a scholarly project. Core MSN classes are taught over eight weeks, but some concentration courses take 16 weeks to complete.

Additionally, this MSN program in Kentucky features a 10-credit School Nurse Endorsement pathway that prepares RNs to work in the Illinois public school system.

Full-time students can complete McKendree’s MSN concentrations in as few as five semesters (two years.) Part-time students can complete this nursing master’s in 10 semesters (four years.) You’ll be able to complete the school nurse certification track in two semesters. McKendree University accepts new cohorts into its MSN program in the fall and spring.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students

• McKendree University’s MSN graduates have a 100 percent employment rate in their chosen fields within one year of earning their degree.
• McKendree University is affiliated with the United Methodist Church, and its educational philosophy emphasizes Methodist values of social responsibility.


14. Campbellsville University - Campbellsville


Programs Offered: MSN

MSN Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Educator

MSN Program Details: Campbellsville University’s MSN program simplifies career advancement for working RNs by offering two online nursing master’s concentrations: a 45-credit FNP track and a 38-credit Nurse Educator pathway. The FNP track includes 780 clinical hours, and the Nurse Educator pathway includes 240 practicum hours. You’ll be able to complete your experiential learning requirements at a healthcare facility or community agency in your own geographic locale.

Whether you choose family nurse practice or nursing education as your specialization, you’ll take the same foundational coursework, which includes classes like “Leadership and Role Development for Advanced Nursing Practice,” “Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning,” and “Healthcare Informatics and Clinical Decision Making.” Courses are taught over eight-week terms.

This MSN program in Kentucky has five start dates per year: two in the fall, two in the spring, and one in the summer. If you pursue the FNP track full-time, you’ll graduate in two years; if you’re a part-time student, you’ll graduate in three. Full-time students pursuing the Nurse Educator track will earn their degree in five semesters (two years.)


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students

• Campbellsville University’s MSN graduates have a 100 percent success rate in landing employment in their chosen field of nursing.
• Campbellsville University is affiliated with American Baptist Churches USA and aims to deliver faith-based education.


VIEW OUR RANKING METHODOLOGY



FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ANSWERED


1. Who Accredits MSN Programs In Kentucky?




2. How Many Schools Offer Accredited MSN Programs In Kentucky?


16


3. What Is The Average MSN Salary In Kentucky?


Hourly$51.71
Weekly$2,068
Monthly$8,960
Annual$107,560


4. On Average, How Much Do Entry-Level MSN Graduates Make In Kentucky?


Hourly$38.04
Weekly$1,522
Monthly$6,590
Annual$79,130


5. On Average, How Much Do Experienced MSN Graduates Make In Kentucky?


Level of ExperienceHourlyWeeklyMonthlyAnnual
1-4 Years of Experience$43.05$1,722$7,460$89,540
5-9 Years of Experience$50.81$2,033$8,810$105,690
10-19 Years of Experience$56.59$2,264$9,810$117,710
20 Years or More Experience$67.63$2,705$11,720$140,660


6. What Is The Average MSN Salary In Kentucky By Metro?


MetroHourlyWeeklyMonthlyAnnual
Bowling Green$50.00$2,000$8,670$104,000
Elizabethtown-Fort Knox$52.87$2,115$9,160$109,970
Lexington-Fayette$53.99$2,159$9,360$112,290
Louisville/Jefferson County$53.97$2,159$9,350$112,250
Owensboro$52.99$2,120$9,190$110,220


7. Average MSN Salary In Kentucky Vs. Average Salaries Of Other Closely Related Occupations In Kentucky


Job TitleAverage
Annual Salary
Difference
Number%
Dentist$186,480-$78,920-42.32%
Optometrist$161,300-$53,740-33.32%
Pharmacist$131,020-$23,460-17.91%
Nurse With MSN$107,560$00.00%
Veterinarian$104,380$3,1803.05%
Physician Assistant$99,290$8,2708.33%
Radiation Therapist$95,720$11,84012.37%
Physical Therapist$87,480$20,08022.95%
Occupational Therapist$86,860$20,70023.83%
Speech-Language Pathologist$83,310$24,25029.11%
Chiropractor$82,040$25,52031.11%
Audiologist$76,370$31,19040.84%
Dental Hygienist$73,850$33,71045.65%


Notes:

• Bellarmine: Forbes Magazine is one of the leading business magazines in the U.S.


Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH
Pattie Trumble is a nurse who worked in both California and New York for many years as an emergency room nurse. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and an Associate Degree in Nursing from the Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing. After 10 years of providing direct care, she went back to school and earned concurrent Master’s degrees in both public policy and public health from the University of California, Berkeley. Thereafter, she worked for various public health agencies in California at both the community and state levels providing economic and legislative analysis.



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