Accredited nursing programs in Kentucky
39 schools in Kentucky have at least one nursing program accredited by ACEN or CCNE: 21 BSN, 24 ADN, 12 LPN, 13 MSN programs. 5 hold both accreditors across their programs. For the bachelor’s degree, 16 of 21 listings are CCNE and 5 are ACEN.
- Bachelor's programs
- 21
- 5 ACEN, 16 CCNE
- Associate programs
- 24
- 24 ACEN, 0 CCNE
- Practical programs
- 12
- 12 ACEN, 0 CCNE
- Master's programs
- 13
- 3 ACEN, 10 CCNE
Accredited schools in Kentucky
| School | City | Type | BSN | ADN | LPN | MSN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland Community and Technical College | Ashland | Public | – | ACEN | ACEN | – |
| Beckfield College-Florence | Florence | For-profit | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Bellarmine University | Louisville | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Berea College | Berea | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Bluegrass Community and Technical College | Lexington | Public | – | ACEN | ACEN | – |
| Campbellsville University | Campbellsville | Private | ACEN | ACEN | – | ACEN |
| Eastern Kentucky University | Richmond | Public | CCNE | ACEN | – | CCNE |
| Elizabethtown Community and Technical College | Elizabethtown | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Frontier Nursing University | Versailles | Private | – | – | – | ACEN |
| Galen College of Nursing-Louisville | Louisville | For-profit | CCNE | ACEN | ACEN | – |
| Gateway Community and Technical College | Florence | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Hazard Community and Technical College | Hazard | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Henderson Community College | Henderson | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Hopkinsville Community College | Hopkinsville | Public | – | ACEN | ACEN | – |
| Jefferson Community and Technical College | Louisville | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Kentucky Christian University | Grayson | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Kentucky State University | Frankfort | Public | ACEN | ACEN | – | – |
| Lindsey Wilson University | Columbia | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Madisonville Community College | Madisonville | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Maysville Community and Technical College | Maysville | Public | – | ACEN | ACEN | – |
| Medical Career & Technical College | Richmond | For-profit | – | – | ACEN | – |
| MedQuest College | Louisville | For-profit | – | – | ACEN | – |
| Midway University | Midway | Private | ACEN | ACEN | – | ACEN |
| Morehead State University | Morehead | Public | CCNE | ACEN | – | CCNE |
| Murray State University | Murray | Public | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Northern Kentucky University | Highland Heights | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Somerset Community College | Somerset | Public | – | ACEN | ACEN | – |
| Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College | Bowling Green | Public | – | ACEN | ACEN | – |
| Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College | Cumberland | Public | – | ACEN | ACEN | – |
| Spalding University | Louisville | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Sullivan University | Louisville | For-profit | – | ACEN | ACEN | – |
| Thomas More University | Crestview Hills | Private | ACEN | – | – | – |
| Union Commonwealth University | Barbourville | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| University of Kentucky | Lexington | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| University of Louisville | Louisville | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| University of Pikeville | Pikeville | Private | ACEN | ACEN | – | – |
| University of the Cumberlands | Williamsburg | Private | CCNE | ACEN | – | CCNE |
| West Kentucky Community and Technical College | Paducah | Public | – | ACEN | ACEN | – |
| Western Kentucky University | Bowling Green | Public | CCNE | ACEN | – | CCNE |
Programs listed as accredited in the ACEN directory (opens in a new tab) and the CCNE directory (opens in a new tab), collected November 2026 and matched to schools by name and city. Programs in candidacy are not counted. A dash means no accredited program at that level was matched.
Programs with an ACEN note
ACEN publishes a note beside some listings. The wording below is ACEN’s own; open the listing for what it means for the program.
- Elizabethtown Community and Technical College, ADN: Conditions. ACEN listing (opens in a new tab)
What accreditation means in Kentucky
Two separate approvals apply to a nursing program. The Kentucky board of nursing approves programs so their graduates can sit the NCLEX. Programmatic accreditation from ACEN or CCNE is voluntary and is judged by a national peer body.
Associate programs are the most common accredited level here, with 24. For bachelor’s degrees, 21 of 21 schools reporting graduates to the federal government matched an accredited program (100%). Compare Kentucky BSN programs by NCLEX pass rate, cost and pay.
Common questions
How many nursing schools in Kentucky are accredited?
We matched 39 Kentucky schools to at least one accredited nursing program in the ACEN and CCNE directories: 21 BSN, 24 ADN, 12 LPN, 13 MSN. Schools with several programs appear once.
What is the difference between ACEN and CCNE?
ACEN accredits nursing programs at every level, from practical nursing to doctorates. CCNE accredits bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs. Both are recognized by the US Department of Education.
Do I need an accredited program to become a nurse in Kentucky?
Not always. The state board of nursing approves programs for licensure, and that is a separate approval from ACEN or CCNE accreditation. Accreditation still matters for transferring credits, federal and employer tuition benefits, and entry to graduate programs.
Are all Kentucky bachelor’s programs accredited?
21 of the 21 Kentucky schools that report nursing bachelor’s graduates to the federal government matched an accredited listing. A school that does not match may be new, may be listed under another name, or may lack accreditation, so check the accreditor’s own directory before you apply.