University of Kentucky ABSN Program Cost: A Comprehensive Overview

For individuals holding a bachelor's degree in a non-nursing field, the University of Kentucky (UK) Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program offers a pathway to transition into a nursing career. This article provides a detailed overview of the program's cost, structure, and other essential factors to consider.

Accelerated Nursing: A Fast Track to a Nursing Career

The University of Kentucky’s ABSN program offers a curriculum that expands on previous education and prepares individuals for a role in nursing through academic success and clinical experience. The ABSN is designed for individuals who hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or already have medical experience as a medic in the military or as an LPN. These experiences allow the 16-month condensed curriculum to build on a foundation of prior knowledge. The program is created for individuals who are ready to commit full-time to a fast-paced environment and are passionate about healthcare.

Program Structure and Duration

The University of Kentucky’s ABSN program takes 16 months to complete with a total of 54-55 credits. The program is a fast-paced educational pathway focused on science and nursing. The program includes online lectures, face-to-face laboratories, and clinicals. All didactic (lecture-related) content will be online/distance learning. Some courses will have a weekly synchronous (all meet remotely at a certain time) lecture, while other courses will be entirely asynchronous (work completed independently on own time) in nature. The synchronous lecture times will be made available well ahead of each block, and students are expected to attend all lectures (remotely). If a student’s work schedule conflicts with synchronous lecture and is non-negotiable, the student will be required to provide a letter from their work manager, explaining the situation. Only then will a student absence be considered excused, and lecture recordings will be provided.

On the other hand, both lab and clinical are weekly “face-to-face” (in-person) experiences. The three-hour lab occurs weekly the first two blocks (16 weeks), while the eight-hour weekly clinicals occur all eight blocks (entire program). All weekly labs on the Lexington campus are in the College of Nursing and all weekly clinicals are in the Lexington area. All weekly labs and clinicals on the Ashland campus are in King’s Daughter’s hospital. Lexington-based LPNs have the option to take an LPN-only lab, which takes place once monthly on Sunday afternoon. Currently, there is no LPN-only option in Ashland. Lexington clinicals are scheduled both weekdays and weekends. In Ashland, clinicals are scheduled on weekdays only.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition Rates

The tuition rate for this program is listed at the top of this page. The applicable tuition and mandatory fee rates will be determined at the time charges are assessed based on the student’s primary academic program, including students concurrently pursuing multiple degrees and/or certificates.

Mandatory Fees

Mandatory fees will be assessed based on the student’s full-time or part-time status, program platform (UK Campus or UK Online), and program level. Full-time students enrolled in at least one non-distance learning class (i.e., on-campus class) will be assessed all mandatory fees. If a student wishes to participate in any activity supported by a mandatory fee that has not been assessed, the student must pay the total mandatory fees for the term, except to access University Health Service. Students enrolled in programs offered by the colleges of Dentistry, Health Sciences, Nursing, Pharmacy and Public Health will be assessed the rates shown in the tuition and mandatory fee schedule, including the Student Health and Student Wellness mandatory fees where applicable, based on their enrollment status (full-time or part-time), program platform (UK Campus or UK Online), program level and curriculum load (regular or reduced), regardless of class location or modality. No refunds for the Student Health Fee will be provided to full-time students who change their status to part-time on or after the first day of the semester. However, these students will maintain access to University Health Service while enrolled during the term. Refunds for the Student Health Fee will be processed for students who officially withdraw from the University through the Registrar’s Office.

Effective with the Fall 2025 semester, full-time graduate students enrolled in at least one non-distance learning class will be assessed $717.50 of mandatory fees per term. Full-time graduate students enrolled in all distance learning classes will be assessed $268.50 of mandatory fees per term. Part-time graduate students enrolled in at least one non-distance learning course will be assessed $66.00 per credit hour. Unless otherwise stated, graduate and professional students enrolled in programs which are classified as using Annual Full-Time Rates will be assessed mandatory fees totaling $1,616.00, effective in July 2025, for the full academic year. This also applies to the one-year Master of Science in Accounting and Master in Business Administration programs that are classified as using Full Program Rates. These mandatory fees will provide year-round access to services provided by University Health Service. For graduate programs which are classified as using Full Program Rates, the rates include tuition and estimated mandatory fees for all terms.

Additional Fees

Some courses require additional fees for lab, materials, etc.

Cost of Attendance (COA)

COA budgets help to define the parameters the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships (OSFAS) must use to determine a student’s financial need. The student’s COA budget and a student’s financial need affect how much aid, as well as what type of aid, a student may receive. Standard COA budgets have been developed as required by regulations for students in different fee categories and programs.

Direct and Indirect Costs

The amounts provided are averages and may or may not reflect the exact charges or expenses you may incur. The cost of attendance includes both the direct charges, and the indirect expenses. Direct charges are the actual charges for which you will receive a bill from the university, such as, tuition, mandatory fees, on-campus housing, and an on-campus meal plan. Indirect expenses include the average cost of books and supplies, transportation, an estimate of your personal expenses or incidentals. Housing, and food expenses may be included if you are living off-campus. COA calculations are typically based on costs for a full-time student for a full academic year. The below costs represent the average amounts paid by degree-seeking students who attend UK.

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Financial Aid and Scholarships

The Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships (OSFAS) determines a student’s financial need based on their COA budget. The student’s COA budget and a student’s financial need affect how much aid, as well as what type of aid, a student may receive. Are there scholarship options in which to apply (ask your advisor)?

Program Considerations

Program Difficulty

Yes, the ABSN program can be considered challenging because it condenses a traditional four-year nursing degree into a 16-month timeframe. The program requires students to be committed to balancing deadlines that include intensive coursework, hands-on clinical training, and dedicated study time. Despite its challenges, the ABSN program offers numerous fulfilling opportunities for individuals who remain focused, well-prepared, and actively engaged.

Work-Life Balance

While some ABSN programs do not allow students to work full time, we will simply state, we do not recommend working while in our program. Having said that, we recognize many students simply do not have that option. Ultimately, whether you work, or how much you work, is your call. Before starting the program, we ask at the very least you give this some thought & talk to the people in your life to consider your options. Is there any way to cut back to part-time? Or plan to save vacation days so that you can take a day off a week during peak study times? Keep in mind that the cutback would be temporary - only 16 months.

Online Learning

Yes. It's important to know how to approach learning in an online program. Online classes are not harder nor easier than in-person classes, but they are different due to their asynchronous modality. This means students should expect to:

Develop a routine: Login to your online class routinely (we recommend at least once daily) to receive updates and contribute meaningfully to any ongoing discussions.
Be good time managers: Determine when you have time to work on coursework throughout the week so you don't fall behind or put off assignments until the last minute.
Communicate: If you are having any trouble, message your peers and/or your instructor right away to ask for help or clarification.

Clinical Requirements

This program requires students to complete some portion of the program in-person. These are usually infrequent, and are pre-scheduled. This does not necessarily mean that students need to come to UK's campus. No, you are awarded the same diploma from UK as students who take classes in-person.

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Clinicals for Lexington-based students will be held in Lexington. The number of Saturday clinical spots is limited and cannot be guaranteed prior to being accepted to our program. Once accepted, we will work with students very early in the process to determine individual needs for certain clinical days. While we will do our very best to accommodate requests, we cannot “guarantee” a particular lab or clinical date/time. Most labs are scheduled on weekdays from 8-11 am or 1-4 pm. There may be one 4-7 pm weekday lab.

Licensure

Individuals are responsible for understanding and meeting the licensure requirements of the state they plan to practice in before completing the ABSN program. Students should consult with their licensure board to verify if this program will meet licensure requirements for the state in which they will practice. UK has assembled a database of licensure information for different states.

Location

Where you live matters when completing distance education activities. If you will live outside of Kentucky while completing your program, please check the Distance Learning Authorization & Licensure page to confirm that the program can be offered in your state or country, and if relevant, that it meets professional licensure requirements in your state. Please note: Admission and enrollment in a fully-online program can NOT lead to the issuance of a J-1 or F-1 student visa. University of Kentucky has been approved to participate in State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.

All distance education students should keep in mind that relocating during the course of a program to another state could impact whether that student can continue in the course and/or meet the eligibility requirements of that state.

Career Prospects and Salary

The average salary for nursing professionals with a BSN degree is $93,600 per year as of 2024 (Bureau of Labor Statistics). In comparison to the salary of licensed practical and vocational nurses with a median pay of $62,340 per year, nursing professionals with a bachelor’s degree earn significantly more, underlining the economic benefits of pursuing a higher level of education in the nursing field (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

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