Western Kentucky University nursing

Bowling Green, Kentucky · Public. Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's, Doctorate · first-time NCLEX 93.2% / 96.4% / 100% · ACEN and CCNE accredited.

Associate'sBachelor'sMaster'sDoctorateRN, associate degree NCLEX 93.2%RN, bachelor’s degree NCLEX 96.4%RN, entry-level master’s NCLEX 100%
Full institution profile Kentucky nursing schools

State board approval and NCLEX

ProgramCampusApprovalFirst-time NCLEX pass rate
RN, associate degreeBowling GreenApproved93.2% (2025, 103 first-time takers)
Board source
RN, bachelor’s degreeBowling GreenApproved96.4% (2025, 138 first-time takers)
Board source
RN, entry-level master’sBowling GreenApproved100% (2025, 12 first-time takers)
Board source

Nursing awards

2014: 3312015: 3362016: 3412017: 3252018: 3262019: 3472020: 3622021: 3472022: 3332023: 3122024: 29933120142992024
Nursing completions at Western Kentucky University by year, IPEDS. Down 10% from 2014 to 2024.
YearCompletions
2014331
2015336
2016341
2017325
2018326
2019347
2020362
2021347
2022333
2023312
2024299
Program (CIP)Award levelCompletions, 2023-24
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 51.3801Bachelor's degree146
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 51.3801Associate's degree114
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing 51.3810Post-master's certificate14
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 51.3801Master's degree13
Nursing Practice 51.3818Doctor's degree, professional practice11
Family Practice Nurse/Nursing 51.3805Post-master's certificate1

Source: IPEDS Completions, first majors only.

Accreditation

AccreditorProgramNext review
ACENAssociate
Accredited		Spring 2031
CCNEBaccalaureateSpring 2027
CCNEMaster'sSpring 2027
CCNEDoctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)Spring 2027
CCNEPost-Graduate APRN CertificateSpring 2027

Federal funding

3 federal awards under nursing assistance listings, fiscal year 2016 onward, totaling $1.7m. Awards are made to the institution; amounts are award values from USAspending.gov.

AmountProgramPeriodAgency
$1.1mAdvanced Nursing Education
93.247		2017-07-01 to 2023-06-30Health Resources and Services Administration
$655kAdvanced Nursing Education
93.247		2017-07-01 to 2019-06-30Health Resources and Services Administration
$0Nurse Faculty Loan Program
93.264		2012-07-01 to 2012-07-02Health Resources and Services Administration

Faculty

35 people listed on the school’s nursing faculty page, with the titles the school gives.

Source: school nursing faculty page

From Western Kentucky University’s nursing pages

Accreditation

“BSN or MSN from a CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education) or Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN, formerly NLNAC/National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission) accredited nursing program”

wku.edu

State board approval

“The Nursing programs at WKU are approved by the Kentucky Board of Nursing to offer”

wku.edu

Clinical placements

“Admission to the Post MSN Certificate is competitive and limited to available space, clinical sites, and clinical preceptors.”

wku.edu

Admission

“Prior to admission into the nursing program, students are required to meet the university Colonnade (general education) requirements and a set of prerequisite courses required of all nursing students.”

wku.edu

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