Missouri Nursing Programs and Degrees Guide
The following guide will provide you with key information, including profiles of several undergraduate and graduate programs, on the many nursing programs available throughout the state of Missouri. Students often have the opportunity to choose from a range of specialties such as family nurse practitioner, nursing education, and leadership in nursing and healthcare systems. Online nursing programs provide a flexible, convenient alternative to earning a traditional nursing degree. The University of Central Missouri, for example, features a graduate nursing program that can be completed entirely online. In addition, many universities offer online programs leading to a bachelor’s or a master’s degree in nursing.
Quick Facts
- 68 schools with nursing programs in Missouri are in our database (see below).
- 45 colleges and universities offer associate’s degrees or certificates in nursing.1
- 31 colleges and universities offer bachelor’s degrees in nursing.1
- 17 colleges and universities offer master’s or advanced degrees in nursing.1
- 2 schools ranked in Kiplinger’s Best Values in Public Colleges in 2018.2
- 1 school ranked in the Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Nursing Majors in 2018.3
- 4 schools ranked in US News Best Nursing Schools: Master’s programs.4
- 4 schools ranked in US News Best Nursing Schools: Doctor of Nursing Practice programs.4
Top-Ranked Schools with Nursing Programs Missouri
Kiplinger’s Best Values in Public Colleges 2018*
- University of Missouri-Columbia (#74 in-state, #69 out-of-state)
- Truman State University (#19 in-state, #8 out-of-state)
*Institution-wide ranking.
Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Nursing Majors 2018
- Saint Louis University
US News Best Nursing Schools: Master’s
- Saint Louis University (#50 tie)
- University of Missouri-Columbia (#60 tie)
- University of Missouri-Kansas City (#74 tie)
- University of Missouri-St Louis (#82 tie)
US News Best Nursing Schools: Doctor of Nursing Practice
- University of Missouri-Columbia (#48 tie)
- University of Missouri-Kansas City (#54 tie)
- Saint Louis University (#66 tie)
- University of Missouri-St. Louis (#92 tie)
Keeping reading to learn more about the nursing programs available in Missouri.
NCLEX Pass Rate and Accreditation Information for Nursing Schools in Missouri
The following table allows you to easily compare not-for-profit Missouri nursing schools on a variety of factors. Click on the arrows in the top row to sort the table. In addition to seeking a program that leads to licensure in your desired area of nursing, it’s advisable to consider accreditation as a factor in your decision. If you are considering education beyond the associate’s level, know that a degree from a school that holds accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) is a common requirement for admission to master’s degree, ADN/LVN and RN to BSN, and specialized certificate programs. You should also check to ensure that the school you are considering is approved or accepted by the Missouri Board of Nursing (https://pr.mo.gov/nursing.asp).
| School | ADN or LVN Program | BSN Program | Graduate Nursing Program | ACEN/CCNE Accred.* | NCLEX-PN First Time Pass Rate** | # Taking | NCLEX-RN First Time Pass Rate^ | # Taking | Net Price^^ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avila University | No | Yes | No | CCNE | N/A | N/A | 100% | 41 | $19,539 |
| Bolivar Technical College | Yes | No | No | No | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Central Methodist University | No | Yes | Yes | CCNE | N/A | N/A | 86.27% | 51 | $19,910 |
| College of the Ozarks | No | Yes | No | CCNE | N/A | N/A | 76.19% | 21 | $13,567 |
| Columbia College-Columbia | Yes | Yes | No | CCNE | N/A | N/A | 95.35% | 43 | $10,685 |
| Columbia College-Lake Ozark | Yes | No | No | No | N/A | N/A | 100% | 13 | $10,685 |
| Cox College (BSN) | Yes | Yes | Yes | ACEN/CCNE | N/A | N/A | 79.57% | 93 | $22,218 |
| Cox College (ADN) | Yes | Yes | Yes | ACEN/CCNE | N/A | N/A | 87.10% | 62 | $22,218 |
| Crowder College-Cassville | Yes | No | No | ACEN | N/A | N/A | 83.33% | 18 | $4,911 |
| Crowder College-McDonald County | Yes | No | No | ACEN | N/A | N/A | 91.66% | 12 | $4,911 |
| Crowder College-Neosho | Yes | No | No | ACEN | N/A | N/A | 100% | 29 | $4,911 |
| Crowder College-Nevada | Yes | No | No | ACEN | N/A | N/A | 92.85% | 14 | $4,911 |
| East Central College-Rolla | Yes | No | No | No | N/A | N/A | 92.59% | 27 | $7,289 |
| East Central College-Union | Yes | No | No | No | N/A | N/A | 95.24% | 21 | $7,289 |
| Evangel University | No | Yes | No | No | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $20,664 |
| Goldfarb School of Nursing (Barnes-Jewish College) | No | Yes | Yes | CCNE | N/A | N/A | 87.05% | 394 | N/A |
| Graceland University | No | Yes | Yes | CCNE | N/A | N/A | 95.35% | 43 | N/A |
| Hannibal-LaGrange University | Yes | Yes | No | ACEN/CCNE | 95.65% | 23 | 93.33% | 30 | $18,367 |
| Jefferson College | Yes | No | No | No | 91.67% | 48 | 84.90% | 53 | $5,494 |
| Lincoln University-Fort Leonard | Yes | Yes | No | No | N/A | N/A | 87.50% | 24 | $9,950 |
| Lincoln University-Jefferson City (ADN) | Yes | Yes | No | ACEN | N/A | N/A | 100% | 15 | $9,950 |
| Lincoln University-Jefferson City (BSN) | Yes | Yes | No | ACEN | N/A | N/A | 100% | 2 | $9,950 |
| Lindenwood University | No | Yes | Yes | CCNE | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $21,906 |
| Maryville University of St. Louis | No | Yes | Yes | CCNE | N/A | N/A | 89.84% | 128 | $25,160 |
| Metropolitan Community College | Yes | No | No | ACEN | 78.33% | 60 | 84.17% | 139 | $7,347 |
| Mineral Area College | Yes | No | No | No | 93.75% | 16 | 81.03% | 58 | $8,146 |
| Missouri Southern State University | No | Yes | No | ACEN | N/A | N/A | 100.00% | 34 | $9,193 |
| Missouri State University (ADN) | Yes | Yes | Yes | ACEN/CCNE | N/A | N/A | 82.93% | 41 | $14,515 |
| Missouri State University (BSN) | Yes | Yes | Yes | ACEN/CCNE | N/A | N/A | 100.00% | 47 | $14,515 |
| Missouri Valley College | No | Yes | No | CCNE | N/A | N/A | 100.00% | 9 | $18,699 |
| Missouri Western State University | No | Yes | Yes | CCNE | N/A | N/A | 82.56% | 86 | $9,933 |
| Moberly Area Community College-Moberly | Yes | No | No | No | 86.67% | 15 | 83.33% | 42 | $7,707 |
| Moberly Area Community College-Mexico | Yes | No | No | No | 94.74% | 19 | 83.33% | 42 | $7,707 |
| North Central Missouri College-Bethany | Yes | No | No | No | 100% | 7 | N/A | N/A | $8,622 |
| North Central Missouri College-Kirksville | Yes | No | No | No | N/A | N/A | 83.33% | 42 | $8,622 |
| North Central Missouri College-Maryville | Yes | No | No | No | 94.11% | 17 | 89.65% | 29 | $8,622 |
| North Central Missouri College-Trenton | Yes | No | No | No | 100% | 32 | 93.33% | 45 | $8,622 |
| Ozarks Technical Community College-Lebanon | Yes | No | No | No | 72.73% | 22 | N/A | N/A | $6,223 |
| Ozarks Technical Community College-Table Rock | Yes | No | No | No | 100% | 23 | N/A | N/A | $6,223 |
| Ozarks Technical Community College-Springfield | Yes | No | No | ACEN | 100% | 51 | 76.79% | 56 | $6,223 |
| Park University | No | Yes | No | ACEN | N/A | N/A | 92.11% | 38 | $15,510 |
| Southeast Missouri State University | No | Yes | Yes | CCNE | N/A | N/A | 86.56% | 67 | $11,566 |
| Southwest Baptist University | Yes | Yes | Yes | ACEN | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $15,708 |
| St. Charles Community College | Yes | No | No | ACEN | 63.63% | 33 | 74.64% | 71 | $3,777 |
| St. Louis Community College-Florissant Valley | Yes | No | No | No | N/A | N/A | 95.24% | 21 | $7,453 |
| St. Louis Community College-Forest Park | Yes | No | No | No | N/A | N/A | 87.50% | 56 | $7,453 |
| St. Louis Community College-Meramec | Yes | No | No | No | N/A | N/A | 94.03% | 67 | $7,453 |
| St. Louis University | No | Yes | Yes | CCNE | N/A | N/A | 93% | 187 | $33,910 |
| St. Luke’s College of Health Sciences | No | Yes | Yes | CCNE | N/A | N/A | 83.52% | 176 | N/A |
| State Fair Community College | Yes | No | No | No | 100% | 48 | 96% | 50 | $4,577 |
| State Technical College of Missouri | Yes | No | No | No | 100% | 13 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Three Rivers College-Sikeston | Yes | No | No | ACEN | N/A | N/A | 84.21% | 19 | $6,637 |
| Three Rivers College-Poplar Bluff | Yes | No | No | ACEN | 100% | 18 | 91.11% | 45 | $6,637 |
| Truman State University | No | Yes | No | CCNE | N/A | N/A | 97.73% | 44 | $12,223 |
| University of Central Missouri | No | Yes | Yes | CCNE | N/A | N/A | 77.92% | 77 | $13,567 |
| University of Missouri-Columbia | No | Yes | Yes | CCNE | N/A | N/A | 94.19% | 155 | $16,026 |
| University of Missouri-Kansas City | No | Yes | Yes | CCNE | N/A | N/A | 85.26% | 95 | $14,197 |
| University of Missouri-St. Louis | No | Yes | Yes | CCNE | N/A | N/A | 84.40% | 186 | $8,158 |
| Webster University | No | Yes | Yes | ACEN | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $23,490 |
| William Jewell College | No | Yes | No | CCNE | N/A | N/A | 87.38% | 103 | $23,490 |
*The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) accredits ADN/ASN/BSN programs. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredits BSN/MSN/DNP programs.5,6
**NCLEX-PN pass rates reported are for first-time undergraduates testing between January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016.7 You can compare these pass rates to the national average through the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
^NCLEX-RN pass rates reported are for first-time undergraduates testing between January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016.7 You can compare these pass rates to the national average through the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
^^The National Center for Education Statistics calculates net price from the total estimated cost of attendance, including includes tuition, books, room and board, and other expenses, for in-state students minus the average financial aid award (such as grants and scholarships).
Schools in Missouri with Nursing Degrees
Associate’s in Nursing Programs
Columbia College
The Associate in Science in Nursing (ASN) degree at Columbia College accepts students who have prior nursing experience as well as those who are new to the field of nursing. Students can complete the program at either the main campus in Columbia or on the Lake of the Ozarks campus in Osage Beach. All applicants must undergo a competitive admissions test as space in the program is limited. The specialized nursing curriculum is sequenced and includes such courses as Medical/Surgical Nursing, Mental Health Nursing, and Pharmacology. Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam and earn registered nurse licensure in Missouri. Columbia College is also home to a traditional on-campus Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program and an RN to BSN program that can be completed entirely online.
Jefferson College
Jefferson College offers a unique bi-level nursing program that leads to registered nurse licensure. In the Level I program, students take courses designed to teach the fundamentals of practical nursing, after completion of which students may qualify for a practical nursing license. Once the LPN academic plan is complete, students move up to the Level II/RN course of study. Level I/PN courses are offered on a part-time basis on evenings and weekends. Level II/RN courses are offered in both day and evening/weekend formats. Completion of the program leads to the award of the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing. It is possible for students who are already LPNs to enter the program as RN bridge students, though space for this option is limited. For students interested in earning a four-year nursing degree, Jefferson College maintains a formal articulation agreement with Central Methodist University.
Bachelor’s in Nursing Programs
Southeast Missouri State University
Southeast Missouri State University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program takes four years to complete with students typically only permitted to study on a full-time basis. The first two years of the program are dedicated to completing prerequisite coursework, and students enter the nursing major in the third year. Nursing curriculum, which includes mandatory clinical rotations, covers adult health, pediatric nursing, health assessment, nursing of the elderly, and the American health care system. Nursing students can become involved with such campus organizations as the Student Nurses Association and Sigma Theta Tau International. Graduates of the program are prepared to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).
Missouri State University
Missouri State University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program combines both general college coursework and nursing curriculum, preparing graduates to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Students generally do not enter the nursing major until all prerequisite requirements have been fulfilled. In addition to completing an internship, nursing majors will study the mental health client, the adult client, health assessment, community health, and the childbearing family. Nursing majors may want to become involved on campus by joining the Student Nurse Organization, the Future Nurse Practitioner Student Association, or Sigma Theta Tau, the honor society for nursing students.
Master’s in Nursing Programs
University of Missouri
Graduate students in the University of Missouri’s Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program may choose to specialize as a nurse educator or in leadership in nursing and healthcare systems. Nursing educator students can choose between a two year, a three year, or a four-year path of study while the leadership in nursing and healthcare systems offers three- and four-year study plans. All graduate students are required to complete a master’s exam, which is an in-depth paper that illustrates the knowledge students have acquired during the graduate program. Successful applicants to the program must possess a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
University of Central Missouri
The University of Central Missouri’s Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), also referred to as the Master of Science in Rural Family Nursing, features concentrations in nurse education and family nurse practitioner. Graduate students fulfill all coursework through an online learning format; however, clinical practicums are mandatory for each concentration. Family nurse practitioner majors must complete their clinical practicum in the state of Missouri while students pursuing the nursing educator concentration can secure a clinical rotation anywhere in the country. Students are encouraged to pursue the MSN on a part-time basis. Successful applicants must already hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and possess a current registered nurse’s license.
Student Reviews
Note: Student Reviews are based on the experiences of a few individuals and it is unlikely that you will have similar results. Please review the “Data, Student Reviews and Other Information” section in our Terms of Use and Disclaimers.
Missouri State University
901 S National Ave
Springfield, MO 65897
(417) 836-5000
https://www.missouristate.edu/
Student Review: I really thoroughly enjoyed my experience in the undergraduate Nursing program at Missouri State University. I am from Missouri, so I did not want to go far from home to get a good, solid education. I really liked the campus culture and I felt that the coursework offered by Missouri State University really prepared me to be able to quickly get a decent job within the field of Nursing. I had to complete a lot of clinical hours (over 600) to get acute training in the field. I cannot tell you how valuable this sort of field training is to getting off to the right start in my career. I left Missouri State University feeling confident, prepared, knowledgeable and skilled. My advisors were always available to speak with me when I had any issues with my course load or my schedule. I felt like I received customized, one on one attention with my professors, which really made a difference for me. I would recommend that others look into this program if they are looking for a excellent preparation for a career in Nursing.” – Student at Missouri State University
Ozarks Technical Community College
1001 E Chestnut Expy
Springfield, MO 65802
(417) 447-7500
https://www.otc.edu/
Student Review: The nursing program at Ozarks Technical Community College is a comprehensive, intensive program meant to educate the next generation of nurses in our country and in our state. None of the courses that are required for the core of the program can be taken online. Pre-admission requirements, such as human nutrition, anatomy and physiology, and other general education courses can be taken online, but the remainder are seated courses. Although this is very beneficial to the students, giving them the hands-on experience that we’ll later need to interact with our patients, simply courses such as psychiatric and mental health nursing that should be able to be taken online due to their simplicity and textbook matter are required to be performed on-campus. The instructors truly care about teaching, and many of them are happy to go the extra mile to help their students as long are you’re willing to put in the work required of you. Pretty much anyone can excel at the program if they truly work at it. One of the only downsides is communicating with the instructors outside of class. Although there is an institution-wide requirement that instructors respond to emails in a timely manner, many of them go outside of these limits making it hard to contact them.” – Student at Ozarks Technical Community College
References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Kiplinger’s Best Values in Public Colleges: https://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-best-college-values-college-finder/index.php#Tile
3. The Princeton Review. The Best 382 Colleges, 2018 Edition. New York, Penguin Random House, 2018.
4. US News Top Graduate Nursing Schools: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-nursing-schools
5. Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN): http://www.acenursing.us/accreditedprograms/programSearch.htm
6. Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE): https://directory.ccnecommunity.org/reports/accprog.asp
7. Missouri Board of Nursing: http://pr.mo.gov/boards/nursing/passrates.pdf