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Best Nursing Schools in Kansas for 2023

WRITTEN BY
DATE

CATEGORIES Continuing Education
Nursing Schools

Nursing Degrees & Schools / Best Schools Kansas

Nursing is a diverse career with a lot of flexibility to practice different specialties almost anywhere. So, what better place to practice than in the Sunflower state? From the low cost of living to the countless opportunities for recreation, Kansas is the place to be for nurses. Join more than 60,000 other registered nurses in protecting, promoting, and improving health for all Kansans! 

With multiple options for entering and advancing in the nursing profession, it can be difficult to figure out the path that is best for you. But if you live in Kansas, your nursing career opportunities are right outside the front door. There really is no place like home!

Whether you are new to the profession or want to advance, check out five of the best nursing schools in Kansas. 

Kansas’s top nursing program:

  1. University of Kansas
  2. Fort Hays State University
  3. Pittsburg State University
  4. Washburn University
  5. Wichita State University

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1. University of Kansas – Score 67

NCLEX Pass Rate: 88.03%

In-state tuition: $10,092

Out-of-State tuition: $26,960

As the top nursing school in the state, KU School of Nursing is known for its stellar faculty and student-centered environment. Students entering the profession can complete their ADN and BSN at the same time through the Community College Nursing Partnership program. 

With most hospitals requiring nurses to have a BSN, this is an excellent opportunity for students starting at the community college level to achieve their BSN sooner. 

Programs offered:

  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • Community College Nursing Partnership
  • Online RN to BSN
  • Master of Science
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice
  • Doctor of Philosophy

2. Fort Hays State University – Score 65

NCLEX Pass Rate: 89.19%

    In-state tuition: $5,443.80

    Out-of-State tuition: $15,890.40

Hey Fort Hays! If you want to advance in your nursing career, top-notch faculty in the Department of Nursing at Fort Hays will guide the way. Especially if you’re interested in nursing administration or nursing education.

Class sizes are small allowing for a more personalized experience and programs are structured around flexibility.

Both programs are 100% online and designed to meet the needs of working nurses.

    Programs offered:

3. Pittsburg State University – Score 49

NCLEX Pass Rate: 92.94%

In-state tuition: $7,744

Out-of-State tuition: $19,088

Prospective students have a variety of programs to choose from at the Irene Ransom Bradley School of Nursing. Known as “The Midwest’s Premiere School of Nursing,” programs range from pre-licensure to doctoral level.   

For current nurses interested in career advancement, the RN to BSN program at Pittsburg State University is a notable option. Nurses can complete the program in about one year if taking full-time courses. 

Programs offered:

4. Washburn University – Score 48

NCLEX Pass Rate: 86.43%

In-state tuition: $5,767.50

Out-of-State tuition: $11,872.50

. If you’re interested in being a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, Washburn University is the place for you. Classes are entirely online and allow students to move through the program at their own pace. 

For the 540-hour required clinical experience, students can choose their own placements with approval from the Program Director. This gives students flexibility in finding what works best for them.  

Programs offered:

5. Wichita State University – Score 46

NCLEX Pass Rate: 86.43%

In-state tuition: $6,842.70

Out-of-State tuition: $16,208.10

The Guaranteed Placement Program is an excellent opportunity for prospective students who know they want to pursue nursing. 

The program is geared toward high school seniors who plan to attend Wichita State and applying guarantees them entry into the traditional BSN program. 

Wichita State also offers Kansas’ only accelerated BSN program, which can be completed in 13 months.

Programs offered:

How to choose the right nursing program

A career in nursing is full of opportunities! Knowing what area of nursing you want to specialize in is key in choosing the best program for you.

Location

Since many nursing programs offer 100% online options, you may not think that the location of the school is important. However, there are many things to consider other than just your classes, so being close to campus is always helpful. You may want to use the library, attend an event, or meet in-person with faculty or other students. 

Tuition

Money can be a sore spot so it’s important to do your research. Know what you can afford, compare costs among programs, and seek out resources that can help you pay for nursing school. 

Many hospitals offer tuition reimbursement to their employees. Most nursing schools offer scholarships. 

You can also apply for student loans through FAFSA. Graduate students also have the option to work as teaching or research assistants to cover some of their tuition.

NCLEX pass rate

Once you finish nursing school, the next step to becoming a nurse is to pass the NCLEX exam. When doing your research on how to choose the right nursing program, make sure to also look at their NCLEX pass rates. Schools should prepare students to pass the NCLEX. Knowing how well students do after graduating is important to consider. 

Programs offered

Choose a program that meets your nursing career goals. If you’re new to the nursing profession, the first step is to obtain an ADN or BSN degree. Working nurses need to decide on programs that will help them advance in their careers. 

Do you want to work in administration, or do you want to teach? Look for programs that focus on these areas.

Graduation rate

Much like NCLEX pass rates, graduation rates are also something you want to contemplate when choosing a nursing program. Typically, the school will report graduation rates on their website. 

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Methodology

In order to determine the best nursing schools in a state, Incredible Health compared the top schools among five categories: graduation rate, tuition, NCLEX pass rate, accreditation, and the number of nursing programs offered.

Each metric was scored on a 100-point scale with 100 representing the highest total for that category. Then we compiled the individual scores to get an overall score.

Sources we used data from:

Next Steps

The path toward a career in nursing is full of choices. Important things to consider when making decisions along your journey include the quality of the program, cost, location, and your nursing career goals. We hope this information on the top five nursing schools in Kansas will help you with some of these decisions.

Once you’ve decided on the right nursing program for you, do a thorough review of the program’s website. In addition to program details, you will have access to information about scholarships and other financial support, the faculty and staff directory, and student services. Most importantly, you will be able to submit your application for admission bringing you one step closer to becoming a nurse or advancing in your nursing career!  

Good luck! We look forward to you joining the nursing profession.

Sources

Kenneth Oja is a freelance writer specializing in nursing topics. Kenneth is a registered nurse with 18 years of combined experience in nursing clinical practice, education, and research. His clinical practice experience includes working in long-term, medical/surgical, and critical care settings. He is currently an assistant professor at the University of Colorado College of Nursing and a nurse research scientist at Denver Health. He graduated from Arizona State University with a bachelor’s in nursing, master’s in nursing education, and PhD in nursing and healthcare innovation.

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