Question 1

How many accredited nursing programs are in Missouri?

Accepted Answer

Missouri has dozens of accredited nursing programs across community colleges and four-year universities, listed in full on this page. Every school on this page is verified in the federal IPEDS database and carries either CCNE or ACEN accreditation. The map above plots each program's location and the sortable table below shows in-state tuition, program length, and completion rate for direct comparison.

Question 2

Which Missouri nursing program has the highest NCLEX-RN pass rate?

Accepted Answer

The Missouri State Board of Nursing publishes annual first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates for every approved program in the state. Rates fluctuate year to year. Our NCLEX pass rates guide compiles the most recent state-level and top-program data for Missouri and every other state, updated after each board release. Check the current annual report from Missouri State Board of Nursing before your final enrollment decision.

Question 3

What is the average cost of nursing school in Missouri?

Accepted Answer

Public community college ADN programs in Missouri typically cost between $3,000 and $8,000 per year for state residents. Public university BSN programs run $8,000 to $15,000 per year in-state and $22,000 to $35,000 per year out-of-state. Private university BSN programs charge $28,000 to $45,000 per year regardless of residency. Institutional aid, state grants, and federal Pell grants substantially reduce out-of-pocket cost for most students.

Question 4

Do Missouri hospitals hire ADN-prepared nurses or require a BSN?

Accepted Answer

Most Missouri hospitals hire ADN registered nurses for medical-surgical, long-term care, and outpatient settings. Larger urban systems and magnet-status facilities increasingly prefer or require a BSN for hospital positions, especially in specialty units like ICU, ER, and OR. If you start at ADN level, plan for an online RN-to-BSN completion within three years of your first job. Most hospitals offer tuition reimbursement for this bridge.

Question 5

How does Missouri RN licensure work?

Accepted Answer

After graduating from a Missouri State Board of Nursing approved program, apply for RN licensure through Missouri State Board of Nursing, complete a criminal background check, and register for the NCLEX-RN through Pearson VUE. Once approved to test, you have 90 days to schedule your exam. See the how-to-become-a-nurse guide for the complete step-by-step process, including timing, fees, and endorsement rules for nurses moving to Missouri from other states.

Question 6

Is Missouri part of the Nurse Licensure Compact?

Accepted Answer

Compact membership varies by state and changes as legislatures act. Once you hold a compact-state RN license, you can practice in any of the 41 other compact states without additional licensure. Check the current status of Missouri in the Nurse Licensure Compact through Missouri State Board of Nursing before assuming multi-state privileges. Non-compact states require endorsement application and fees for each additional state you plan to practice in.

Question 7

What is the RN salary in Missouri?

Accepted Answer

Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows RN median wages in Missouri vary significantly by metro area, hospital type, and specialty. Statewide medians typically fall between $65,000 and $90,000 per year. Urban acute care and specialty units pay above the state median. Rural and long-term care settings pay below. Travel nursing contracts in Missouri commonly pay $2,000 to $2,800 per week. Full salary breakdown by specialty and years of experience is on the nurse salary guide.

Question 8

Are there online nursing programs available to Missouri residents?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Missouri residents can enroll in any CCNE-accredited online BSN, RN-to-BSN, or MSN program that accepts out-of-state students. Six commonly-available accredited online programs are compared on the online nursing programs page, including options that place students at local Missouri hospitals for clinical rotations. Online programs are particularly popular for working nurses in Missouri who need scheduling flexibility around 12-hour shift work.

Question 9

What prerequisite classes do I need before applying to a Missouri nursing program?

Accepted Answer

Nursing programs in Missouri typically require the same core prerequisites: Anatomy and Physiology I and II with lab, Microbiology with lab, General Chemistry, Nutrition, English Composition, College Algebra or Statistics, Introduction to Psychology, Developmental Psychology, and Sociology. Community colleges in Missouri offer these prerequisites at low cost and credits transfer directly to state university BSN programs. Plan for two full semesters to complete prerequisites before applying to your first-choice program.

Question 10

How long does nursing school take in Missouri?

Accepted Answer

Timing depends on the program type. Practical nurse (LPN) diploma programs run 12 to 18 months. Associate degree (ADN) programs at community colleges run two years. Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs at four-year universities take four years. Accelerated BSN options for students who already hold a bachelor's degree in another field can finish in 12 to 16 months. RN-to-BSN and RN-to-MSN bridge programs for working nurses typically take 12 to 24 months of part-time study.


A T Still University of Health Sciences	Kirksville, MO	Not reported	Private non-profit	Not reported
Avila University	Kansas City, MO	$42,000	Private non-profit	52%
Barnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing	Saint Louis, MO	Not reported	Private non-profit	Not reported
Bolivar Technical College	Bolivar, MO	$28,390	Private non-profit	92%
Central Methodist University-College of Graduate and Extended Studies	Fayette, MO	$7,440	Private non-profit	0%
Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences	Fayette, MO	$28,260	Private non-profit	51%
Chamberlain University-Missouri	St. Louis, MO	$19,975	Private for-profit	100%
College of the Ozarks	Point Lookout, MO	$22,320	Private non-profit	64%
Columbia College	Columbia, MO	$25,826	Private non-profit	42%
Concorde Career College-Kansas City	Kansas City, MO	Not reported	Private for-profit	53%
Cox College	Springfield, MO	$14,822	Private non-profit	100%
Crowder College	Neosho, MO	$6,180	Public	49%
Culver-Stockton College	Canton, MO	$30,875	Private non-profit	39%
East Central College	Union, MO	$4,272	Public	48%
Evangel University	Springfield, MO	$28,548	Private non-profit	65%
Hannibal-LaGrange University	Hannibal, MO	$26,880	Private non-profit	50%
Jefferson College	Hillsboro, MO	$5,250	Public	38%
Lincoln University	Jefferson City, MO	$9,796	Public	21%
Lindenwood University	Saint Charles, MO	$21,600	Private non-profit	49%
Maryville University of Saint Louis	Saint Louis, MO	$27,166	Private non-profit	66%
Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City	Kansas City, MO	$3,630	Public	34%
Mineral Area College	Park Hills, MO	$5,660	Public	49%
Missouri Baptist University	Saint Louis, MO	$34,612	Private non-profit	48%
Missouri Southern State University	Joplin, MO	$8,960	Public	42%
Missouri State University-Springfield	Springfield, MO	$9,502	Public	58%
Missouri State University-West Plains	West Plains, MO	$5,936	Public	41%
Missouri Valley College	Marshall, MO	$23,700	Private non-profit	22%
Missouri Western State University	Saint Joseph, MO	$10,306	Public	39%
Moberly Area Community College	Moberly, MO	$4,110	Public	44%
North Central Missouri College	Trenton, MO	$5,370	Public	58%
Northwest Missouri State University	Maryville, MO	$10,611	Public	54%
Ozarks Technical Community College	Springfield, MO	$4,512	Public	33%
Park University	Parkville, MO	$17,500	Private non-profit	38%
Research College of Nursing	Kansas City, MO	Not reported	Private for-profit	Not reported
Rockhurst University	Kansas City, MO	$44,966	Private non-profit	75%
Saint Louis Community College	Bridgeton, MO	$3,660	Public	21%
Saint Louis University	Saint Louis, MO	$55,760	Private non-profit	80%
Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences	Cape Girardeau, MO	$11,064	Private non-profit	75%
Southeast Missouri State University	Cape Girardeau, MO	$9,903	Public	58%
Southwest Baptist University	Bolivar, MO	$30,566	Private non-profit	55%
St Charles Community College	Cottleville, MO	$3,048	Public	25%
St Louis College of Health Careers-Fenton	Fenton, MO	Not reported	Private for-profit	59%
State Fair Community College	Sedalia, MO	$4,176	Public	44%
State Technical College of Missouri	Linn, MO	$8,160	Public	84%
Stephens College	Columbia, MO	$28,300	Private non-profit	43%
Texas County Technical College	Houston, MO	$19,025	Private for-profit	25%
Three Rivers College	Poplar Bluff, MO	$4,950	Public	33%
Truman State University	Kirksville, MO	$9,838	Public	69%
University of Central Missouri	Warrensburg, MO	$10,050	Public	54%
University of Missouri-Columbia	Columbia, MO	$14,837	Public	75%
University of Missouri-Kansas City	Kansas City, MO	$12,587	Public	55%
University of Missouri-St Louis	Saint Louis, MO	$14,112	Public	57%
Washington University in St Louis	St. Louis, MO	$65,790	Private non-profit	94%
Webster University	Saint Louis, MO	$31,750	Private non-profit	64%
William Jewell College	Liberty, MO	$20,610	Private non-profit	68%
William Woods University	Fulton, MO	$30,340	Private non-profit	47%

Nursing Programs in Missouri

All accredited programs in Missouri

Top-completion nursing programs in Missouri

Cox College

Chamberlain University-Missouri

Washington University in St Louis

Bolivar Technical College

State Technical College of Missouri

Becoming an RN in Missouri

Paying for nursing school in Missouri

Prefer to start online this month? Missouri residents qualify for these programs.

Questions about nursing school in Missouri

Compare programs in nearby states

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