Best Nursing Schools in Missouri for 2023

Nursing Degrees & Schools / Best Schools Missouri

If you’re considering attending nursing school in Missouri, you have a wealth of good options to choose from. Not only are all of the schools on our list of top nursing schools in Missouri also included on U.S. News & World Report’s list of Best BSN Schools in the Country, many of them have also been recognized for the quality of their graduate school programs.

Missouri boasts a wide range of arts, entertainment and recreation. The remarkable Lake of the Ozarks is right at its very center and  it also has metropolitan areas, including Kansas City and St. Louis. Though nursing salaries are a bit lower than the national average, Missouri has the 12^th lowest cost of living in the nation. Opportunities abound: the state has some of the best hospitals in the country, including Barnes-Jewish Hospital in Saint Louis, which is ranked No. 11 on U.S. News & World Reports’ Best Hospitals Honor Roll.

Students attending nursing school in Missouri have the opportunity to learn practical skills at the state’s many fine healthcare facilities, and after their graduation they are first in line for job openings. 

Missouri’s top nursing programs:

1. University of Missouri
2. Missouri State University
3. University of Missouri – Kansas City
4. Truman State University
5. University of Missouri – St. Louis
6. Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College
7. Southeast Missouri State University
8. Saint Louis University
9. Research College of Nursing
10. Columbia College of Missouri

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1.  University of Missouri – Score 71

NCLEX Pass Rate – 97.80%

Annual In-State Tuition: $24,792

Annual Out-of-State Tuition: $61,468

The Sinclair School of Nursing at the University of Missouri has been educating nurses since 1901. Its BSN program was ranked #58 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report and its DNP nursing program was ranked #35. It boasts a high NCLEX pass rate, and the school has a 100% certification pass rate among its Family Nurse Practitioner and Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialists, as well as a 98-100% placement rate for nursing graduates.

University of Missouri has a 68% graduation rate for its traditional BSN program, and also offers an accelerated BSN and an online RN-to-BSN. Those seeking graduate nursing degrees can choose from an online MSN, an online Master’s degree in Care Management, an online DNP program, and an online PhD program.

Students starting in 2022 will benefit from a new $30 million, state-of-the-art facility that will cement the partnership between the nursing school and the MU Healthcare facility.

CCNE-accredited programs offered:

• BSN
• Accelerated BSN
• RN-to-BSN (Online)
• MSN (Online)
• DNP (Online)
• PhD (Online)

2.  Missouri State University – Score 68 

NCLEX Pass Rate – 96.00%

Annual Tuition: $8,294

Missouri State University works to make nursing a possibility from the earliest stages through to the highest levels of the career. Starting with a two-year pre-nursing program that serves as a preparatory step towards applying to either Missouri State’s BSN program or another nursing school, the university offers a traditional four-year BSN program that has a 57% graduation rate and a fully online nursing completion course for registered nurses.

BSN-degreed nurses have the option of pursuing hybrid and online Master’s degree pathways to prepare for a career as a family nurse practitioner, nurse educator, or in population health leadership. The school also offers a hybrid BSN-to-DNP program and a fully online post-Master’s DNP degree, as well as several certifications.

CCNE-accredited programs offered:

• BSN
• MSN
• DNP
• PhD

3.  University of Missouri – Kansas City – Score 62 

NCLEX Pass Rate – 94.70%

Annual In-State Tuition: $21,592

Annual Out-of-State Tuition: $53,488 

Housed inside the University of Missouri Kansas City’s Health Sciences Building, the School of Nursing and Health Studies stresses interprofessional development as it educates both undergraduate and graduate students to improve health outcomes. U.S. News & World Report ranked it among the nation’s best online graduate nursing programs and #58 among the nation’s BSN programs.

The school offers two bachelor’s degree programs: a traditional pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a five-semester Accelerated BSN program. They also offer a fully online RN-to-BSN program and a dual enrollment program with Metropolitan Community college that allows students to earn both their ADN and BSN degrees. The RN-to-BSN program is noted for its integration of rural, urban, and suburban nurses.

The graduate school offers multiple online MSN options, onsite and online DNP options, and a PhD.

CCNE-accredited program offered:

• BSN
• RN-BSN (Online)
• Accelerated BSN
• MSN (Online)
• DNP (In person and online)
• PhD

4.  Truman State University – Score 59 

 

NCLEX Pass Rate – 94.40%

Annual In-State Tuition: $17,380

Annual Out-of-State Tuition: $33,424

Truman State University has been U.S. News & World Report’s number one public school in the Midwest region for 25 years in a row, and one of the top ten public schools named as a “Best Buy” by Fiske Guide to Colleges. The nursing department also made it into U.S. News & World Reports’ list, ranking in the top 200 BSN programs in the nation. 

Its Bachelor of Science in Nursing program has a 71% graduation rate and a 100% employment rate for its graduates. The school also offers an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing for students who have earned their bachelor’s degrees in areas of study outside of nursing. The accelerated program takes 15 months to complete and prepares graduates to pass the NCLEX-RN exam. Truman has multiple resources for nursing students who need financial assistance, as well as a robust job placement program.

 CCNE-accredited programs offered:

• BSN
• Accelerated BSN 

5.  University of Missouri – St. Louis – Score 55 

 

NCLEX Pass Rate – N/A

Annual In-State Tuition: $11,883

Annual Out-of-State Tuition: $32,100

The University of Missouri at St. Louis’ nursing program has established clinical partnerships with over 100 facilities in Acute Care, Primary Care and Community Care to provide its students with exposure to best practices and cutting-edge technologies. Ranked #120 on U.S. News & World Report’s list of Best BSN programs in the country, the school offers both a traditional BSN program, and  an Accelerated BSN degree program that takes just 12 months. They also offer an RN-to-BSN program.

The school’s DNP program offers multiple nurse practitioner pathways for students who start with a BSN degree, while students who enter the program with MSN degrees do not select a population of focus. Instead, they have the option of adding a certification if they choose to do so. The school also offers a PhD program.

CCNE-accredited programs offered:

• BSN
• RN-to-BSN
• Accelerated BSN
• BSN-DNP
• MSN-DNP
• Post-Graduate Certifications
• PhD

6.  Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College – Score 53 

 

NCLEX Pass Rate – 91.46%

Annual Tuition: $23,100

Affiliated with one of the top hospitals in the country, the Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College has top-rated undergraduate and graduate nursing programs. The school has world-class simulation labs and faculty, and a unique approach that emphasizes collaborative learning and engagement with other professions. The Master of Science program offers advanced nursing practice, nurse education, and management and leadership paths, and also offers DNP programs in Nurse Anesthesia, Health Systems and Population Leadership, and a PhD.

The undergraduate school offers the one-year Accelerated Option for students who already have a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing, an upper division option for students who have completed their first two years of education at an accredited institution of higher learning, and a three-year evening and weekend program. The school has a 92% graduation rate.

CCNE-accredited programs offered:

• BSN
• Accelerated BSN
• MSN
• DNP
• PhD 

7.  Southeast Missouri State University – Score 52 

NCLEX Pass Rate – 94.00%

Annual In-State Tuition: $7,761

Annual Out-of-State Tuition: $14,331

Southeast Missouri State University’s Department of Nursing has been educating nurses since 1958. Its MSN program was the first to be offered in the area, and today is nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best in the country. The school reports that 98% of its graduates are either employed or furthering their education six months after completing the program.

The school offers a traditional four-year BSN program as well as an online RN-to-BSN program for students who are registered nurses with Associate’s degrees. The MSN degree prepares students for advanced practice nursing as a family nurse practitioner. Graduates of the MSN program have a 25-year average of 97.4% first time pass rate on the American Nurse Credentialing Center’s Family Nurse Practitioner Certification Exam, and in the last five years the pass rates have been 100%. 

CCNE-accredited programs offered:

• BSN
• RN-to-BSN (Online)
• MSN

8.  Saint Louis University – Score 50 

 

NCLEX Pass Rate – 94.00%

Annual Tuition: $49,800

Ranked the 68^th best MSN program and 43^rd Best BSN program in the country by U.S. News & World Report, the Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing at Saint Louis University has been offering top-notch nursing education since 1928. It was  the first school in the country to offer an Accelerated BSN program and comprehensive online MSN programs.

The school offers three routes to a BSN degree: a traditional, direct-entry, four-year program, an intensive three-semester, 12-month Accelerated BSN degree for students who already have a bachelor’s degree in another area of study,and an online RN-to-BSN program. Saint Louis University also offers a 21-month, 5-semester Master of Science in Nursing program for those who have earned a bachelor’s degree in another field and wish to become nurses.

The graduate nursing degree program at Saint Louis University includes online and onsite MSN degree paths, online DNP programs available to both BSN- and MSN-degreed nurses, and a hybrid PhD program that is available to BSN and MSN-degreed nurses on full- or part-time schedules.

CCNE-accredited programs offered:

• BSN
• Accelerated BSN
• RN-to-BSN (Online)
• Direct-entry MSN
• MSN (Online and onsite)
• DNP (Hybrid)
• PhD (Hybrid)

9.  Research College of Nursing – Score 47 

NCLEX Pass Rate – 87.00%

Annual Tuition: $39,500

Unlike nursing programs housed within a larger university or college, the Research College of Nursing is strictly dedicated to nursing education. Located in Kansas City and affiliated with HCA Midwest Health, the school offers multiple paths to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing as well as a Master of Science in Nursing.

Undergraduate BSN candidates are able to access Research College of Nursing’s program via an accelerated one-year track offered to students who have earned bachelor’s degrees in a non-nursing field and by completing two years of prerequisites at an accredited college or university and then transferring in. The school also offers a unique Early Admission program for qualified high school students and freshman at accredited schools that allows them to secure their admission.

CCNE-accredited programs offered:

• BSN
• Accelerated BSN
• MSN (Currently suspended)

10.   Columbia College of Missouri – Score 33 

NCLEX Pass Rate – 92.30%

Annual Tuition: $24,806

Columbia College of Missouri offers programs for working nurses as well as for those who are just entering the nursing field. The school offers a robust pre-nursing science program to prepare students for either the Associate in Science in Nursing or Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. The ACEN-accredited Associate in Nursing degree program has an 84% retention rate and 95% job placement success, while the traditional four-year BSN program achieved a 100% job placement rate in 2021.

The school also offers an online RN-to-BSN program that students can work towards while also pursuing their ASN at Columbia College. Students can apply to Columbia College at no cost, and tuition for main campus classes are offered at a rate that remains fixed for five years.

CCNE-accredited programs offered:

• BSN
• RN-to-BSN (Online)

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How to choose the right nursing program

Now that you’ve decided on a nursing career, you need to choose the best path to get you there. With so many great options available, start by eliminating schools that don’t offer the program that you need. From there you can explore how each school matches your personal priorities, including reputation, location, tuition, and graduate success rate. There is no single right choice: rather, it’s a matter of finding the one that works best for you.   

Location 

Missouri has metropolitan areas like Saint Louis and Kansas City, as well as rural areas and wooded highlands. Determine what type of campus you want to live on if you’re pursuing a BSN, or where and how far you want to commute if that fits your schedule and needs better. Students pursuing an online education may still need to attend periodic onsite classes, so choose a location that is accessible to you.

Tuition 

With student loans ranking second on the list of consumer debt behind mortgages, the cost of education is a big consideration. Be smart when assessing your options: every accredited nursing school provides a quality education and much of the value you receive is based on what you put into it. Still, if a school’s tuition seems out of reach, be sure to explore the availability of scholarships, as well as federal, state, and local student aid. 

NCLEX pass rate

Passing the NCLEX exam is a key benchmark for every graduate of a nursing program, and the percentage of graduates that achieve this milestone is an important way of gauging how thoroughly a school prepares its students. 

Programs offered 

Not every school offers every available nursing program. There are some that focus on undergraduates and others that have prioritized graduate education. Before setting your hopes on a school based on its reputation or campus, check to make sure that it offers the nursing program and degree that you need.

Graduation rate  

Graduation rate is a metric that indicates how many of a school’s entering freshman graduate within a six-year period. It is a reflection of a particular segment of the school’s attendees and does not include students who have transferred in or graduate students. It is best used when assessing traditional four-year programs.

Next steps

Applying to the nursing school that you’ve chosen requires organization and a high degree of attention to detail. The effort that you put into this task will have a direct impact on whether you are accepted into the program that’s your top choice. Make a list of all of the documents that need to be submitted and where they need to come from, as well as by what date they need to be sent. Check off each item as you accomplish it, taking special care to follow up on transcripts and letters of recommendation that will be sent by others. The earlier you have your materials in, the sooner you are likely to hear back from the school.

Once accepted, you’ll be on your way to a rewarding career, and your educational journey will be over before you know it. Graduation from one of Missouri’s top nursing schools will put you first in line for jobs at one of the region’s fine medical facilities. As you begin your career it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the state’s licensing requirements, as well as other aspects of working there. If you have questions about continuing education or any other career-oriented issues, our Missouri nursing community is always happy to help.

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.

We used data from: 

• University of Missouri
• Missouri State University
• University of Missouri – Kansas City
• Truman State University
• University of Missouri – St. Louis
• Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College
• Southeast Missouri State University
• Saint Louis University
• Research College of Nursing
• Columbia College of Missouri
• Federal Student Aid
• HCA Midwest Health
• Missouri Division of Professional Registration
• U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard
• American Association of Colleges of Nursing
• Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
• U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings