Best Nursing Schools in Kansas City in 2024 (On-Campus & Online)

Looking for a nursing program in Missouri or a nursing program in Kansas? You’re in luck. Kansas City straddles both Missouri and Kansas, providing a rich history of art, music, and education to the communities of each state. As a central location for higher learning, there are also numerous nursing schools in Kansas City, Missouri that serve the communities in various healthcare settings. Students have options from BSN programs to nurse practitioner schools in Kansas city. Whether prospective students are seeking to earn their LPN certificate or a BSN degree Kansas City has multiple schools to choose from that will train them to be the next generation of compassionate, professional nurses in an occupation that is expected to grow another 18% in the next decade. Browse the schools below to find one that meets your needs.

Schools were ranked according to cost for the nursing program and the NCLEX-RN pass rate of the individual school. Institutions that offered multiple nursing programs ranked higher than those that only offered LPN or ADN degrees.

List of the Best Nursing Schools in the Kansas City Area

1. University of Missouri-Kansas City

UMKC is one of the best accredited nursing schools in Kansas city. As one of the four campuses in the University of Missouri System, UMKC, is also campus to a fully accredited medical school. The UMKC nursing program is among the tops programs in the country with graduates that practice nursing to the full extent of the education they receive and advance research and translating it into practice. With the on-campus medical school students are provided with many on-site clinical experiences in caring for patients. UMKC offers RN to BSN programs, BSN, MSN, DNP as well as Ph.D. programs in nursing.

At A Glance

• Tuition: $7,846
• Graduation Rate: 52.2%
• Teacher to Student Ratio: 15:1
• NCLEX Pass Rate: 90.8%

2. St. Luke’s College of Health Sciences

Associated with St. Luke’s Health System in Kansas City, St. Luke’s College of Health Sciences offers a long-standing program of successfully training nurses. With over 115 years of graduates, St. Luke’s offers quality education and training in compassionately caring for people of their communities. Students can earn their BSN in 4 semesters and begin a rewarding, high paying career upon graduation.

At A Glance

• Tuition: $11,070
• Graduation Rate: 100%
• Teacher to Student Ratio: 15:1
• NCLEX Pass Rate: 90%

3. Baker University

As one of the top nursing schools in Kansas City, MO, Baker University prepares students with critical thinking skills and expert knowledge that will guide them through their practical application. A diploma from Baker gives graduates a 99% guarantee for job placement upon graduation. Baker University offers rigorous educational curricula combined with early clinical experiences and more hours with hands-on practice with patients in various settings.

At A Glance

• Tuition: $18,500
• Graduation Rate: 57.7%
• Teacher to Student Ratio: 12:1
• NCLEX Pass Rate: 99.4%

4. Avila University

A private university sponsored by the sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet, Avila University stands as one of the oldest nursing schools in the state of Missouri. Avila has remained as one of the top ten nursing schools in Missouri for many years as students graduate prepared to lead as nursing professionals in the community. Students receive a promise to receive internships and research opportunities while they earn their BSN at Avila, giving them a stronger resume upon graduation.

At A Glance

• Tuition: $27,312
• Graduation Rate: 50.3%
• Teacher to Student Ratio: 12:1
• NCLEX Pass Rate: 97.37%

5. Research College of Nursing

With a very high graduation rate, students at the Research College of Nursing are guaranteed to receive a personalized education in nursing. With a dedication to professionalism, education in safe and quality caregiving and excellent nursing education, graduates are among the leaders in healthcare. Research offers a BSN and MSN program with three different graduate tracks to choose from to better meet the needs of the students.

At A Glance

• Tuition: $28,620
• Graduation Rate: 98%
• Teacher to Student Ratio: 13:1
• NCLEX Pass Rate: 96.8%

6. Rockhurst University

As a private, Jesuit university, Rockhurst was founded over 100 years ago and has a solid foundation as an institute for higher learning. In 2020 Rockhurst University and St. Luke’s College of Health Sciences will merge to become one premier 4-year BSN program for nursing. Students will have access to the best faculty and clinical experiences from St. Luke’s at the Rockhurst campus. This merge of two top nursing schools in Kansas will have a profound impact on the quality of nursing education for the Midwest.

At A Glance

• Tuition: $35,670
• Graduation Rate: 69.3%
• Teacher to Student Ratio: 14:1
• NCLEX Pass Rate: 96%

7. William Jewell College

Learning how to think critically is at the core of education at William Jewell College. Graduates are taught to be problem solvers and see insights that others may miss. As a nursing professional these are skills that separate a good nurse from a leader in the healthcare community. The nursing program at William Jewell provides students with analytical and ethical decision-making skills necessary or nurses in today’s world. They offer four nursing tracks: a traditional BSN 3-year plan and a 4-year plan, a Transfer Nursing (Spring and Fall entry points), and an Accelerated Track Nursing 12-month track (May start) or 16-month track (January start).

At A Glance

• Tuition: $33,500
• Graduation Rate: 65%
• Teacher to Student Ratio: 10:1
• NCLEX Pass Rate (first-time): 93% Accelerated Track, 100% 4-year BSN

8. Metropolitan Community College

As one of the multiple colleges included in the Community College System of Missouri, Metropolitan Community College offers students an LPN or ADN program to begin their careers in nursing. Currently, nursing is one of the top ten careers to be employed in with the need for qualified nurses increasing every year. Graduates can either begin their career upon graduation or use their degree as a springboard to earn their BSN at a university.

At A Glance

• Tuition: $5,520
• Graduation Rate: Information Not Available
• Teacher to Student Ratio: 31:1
• NCLEX Pass Rate: 87.2%

9. Johnson County Community College

Located in Kansas, Johnson County Community College is just a short 20-minute drive from Kansas City and provides another affordable opportunity for students to earn their RN degree. Unlike many other Community Colleges, JCCC offers small class sizes for nursing students and hands-on experiences that adequately prepare graduates to enter the health care field as RNs.

At A Glance

• Tuition: $3,300
• Graduation Rate: 28.1%
• Teacher to Student Ratio: 37:1
• NCLEX Pass Rate: 84.38%

10. Concorde Career College

A truly innovative college that prepares students in less time to enter the healthcare community as health care professionals. Concorde Career College focuses on educating and training students for their particular degree in less time than traditional colleges. With a student-centered approach to teaching and clinical experiences, Concorde has prepared numerous students to work in the healthcare field.

At A Glance

• Tuition: $31,593
• Graduation Rate: 83.1%
• Teacher to Student Ratio: 29:1
• NCLEX Pass Rate: 77%

11. Kansas City Kansas Community College

Kansas City Kansas Community College offers a two-year RN degree for students that complete the courses and pass the NCLEX-RN. Students are given opportunities to practice and show clinical competence and professional accountability. With two parts of the program, students will learn about nursing intervention and nursing outcome classifications.

At A Glance

• Tuition: $3,240
• Graduation Rate: 31.1%
• Teacher to Student Ratio: 25:1
• NCLEX Pass Rate: 75%

12. Donnelly College

Donelly College is one of the few minority-serving institutions as a private Catholic institution for higher learning. The mission of Donnelly College is to continue the mission of Jesus Christ by making the love of God tangible in our world, the nursing program is no exception and offers that education to those who might otherwise not have that opportunity for higher learning. Whether students are seeking an LPN certificate or an RN degree, Donnelly has a program for both.

At A Glance

• Tuition: $6,702
• Graduation Rate: 9%
• Teacher to Student Ratio: 15:1
• NCLEX Pass Rate: 56%

13. Ottawa University

One of the top private Christian Universities in the US, Ottawa University is a Baptist liberal arts institution founded in 1865. Ottawa is supportive of training nurses to be supported and empowered. Nursing is a collaborative effort with other healthcare professionals, graduates will learn how to work as a team member in this effort.

At A Glance

• Tuition: $27,096
• Graduation Rate: 31.3%
• Teacher to Student Ratio: 12:1
• NCLEX Pass Rate: Not Currently Available

Methodology

All the schools listed are accredited and in good standing. Most RNs earn an average of $70,000 per year in the Kansas City area. For those seeking a rewarding career with a high job placement rate and opportunities to grow, nursing is a great option. Browse the online nursing schools in Kansas City and apply them to a program that fits your needs today!