Eastern Kentucky University
Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) is known for training students in high-demand fields like nursing, emergency medical care, occupational therapy, and fire protection and safety engineering technology. The nursing program emphasizes hands-on clinical experience and utilizes a state-of-the-art Clinical Simulation Center with high-fidelity patient simulators. EKU also offers various online career training programs in trades such as HVAC/R, residential electrician, plumbing, and welding, some of which include tools or certification vouchers. The university focuses on workforce development, with many programs designed to address critical shortages in Kentucky and strong employment outcomes for graduates within the state.
Programs Analyzed
Avg Grad Earnings
Avg TradeSchoolOutlook Score
Tuition (In-State)
All Programs at Eastern Kentucky University
2 trade programs at Eastern Kentucky University, ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score (combines earnings, ROI, AI resilience, and job market size). Use the “compare” links to see how this school’s programs stack up against others nationally.
| Program | Score | Earnings | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Nursing
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Compare nationwide → Compare in KY → |
73 | $66,512/yr | $21,464 |
|
Liberal Arts & Humanities
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Compare nationwide → Compare in KY → |
36 | $26,504/yr | $12,000 |
Reading the table: Score combines earnings, ROI, AI resilience, and job market size on a 0–100 scale. Earnings = median first-year salary from College Scorecard. Debt = median federal debt at graduation (blank where Scorecard suppresses small samples). 10yr ROI = projected 10-year earnings ÷ in-state tuition. AI Risk reflects task-level AI exposure across mapped occupations. Job Market = annual openings nationwide for connected occupations.
More Trade Schools in Kentucky
Top-scored trade schools elsewhere in Kentucky, ranked by average TradeSchoolOutlook Score across their programs.
Apprenticeship Pathways in Kentucky
Earn-while-you-learn alternatives in Kentucky. Registered apprenticeships skip tuition and pay you during training, though training periods are typically longer.
Trade Schools Near Richmond
Other cities in Kentucky with multiple trade schools, sorted by distance from Richmond.
About This Data
TradeSchoolOutlook analyzes 2 trade and vocational programs at Eastern Kentucky University using earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and employment projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024–2034).
The TradeSchoolOutlook Score (0–100) combines graduate earnings, return on investment, AI resilience, and job market size. AI Risk reflects task-level exposure for the occupations each program feeds into. Job Market shows the size of the national hiring pool. Programs without published debt figures had small reporting samples that the College Scorecard suppresses for privacy.