Missouri's Best Nursing Schools for 2020

East Central College is a comprehensive community college with three campus locations. East Central College offers two different programs that result in an ADN degree. The main campus in Union and the one in Rolla offer a pre-licensure program. An LPN to RN Bridge program is offered at the Rolla location as well.

Both education sites have the approval of the Missouri State Board of Nursing, and are well-equipped with clinical simulation labs. This exposes students to technology and allows them to apply knowledge and skills to high-fidelity human patient simulators. The program places great importance on access and flexibility, allowing students to pave their way to a nursing career while balancing other aspects of their lives. Some courses are offered online. Students will be prepared for their future roles as nurses through the combined classroom and clinical components of the program, which cultivate strong, competent, and caring professionals. Enrollment is once annually, in the fall.

State Fair Community College is a public community college in Sedalia, Missouri. The nursing division offers a bi-level program that allows students to become LPNs after year 1, or to complete a second year with an ADN diploma and NCLEX preparedness.

At SFCC, the focus is on a blend of modern technology and traditional nursing theory. Classrooms are equipped with SMART board technology, and students will spend time in a dedicated health computer lab. This cultivates their familiarity with information processes, nursing technology, and analytical techniques.

SFCC also has human patient simulators, which enhance students’ critical decision-making skills in a hands-on manner. SFCC places great importance on personal growth, development, teamwork, and the ability to apply the knowledge in various healthcare settings. SFCC also has an active Nursing Club, which fosters a community of like-minded individuals who are focusing on similar goals. Applicants can enroll once a year in the fall.

North Central Missouri College is a public community college in Trenton, Missouri that first opened its doors in 1925. The school’s nursing division offers a PN program as well as an on-campus and online ADN program. Both of these programs are offered at the main campus in Trenton, as well as at NCMC’s Maryville Outreach Site. For those seeking night and weekend courses, the Bethany Outreach Site offers a night and weekend PN program.

The mission of the Nursing Department at NCMC is to prepare students for the ever-changing healthcare needs of various populations. The curriculum has a progressive lens, with a focus on competency and care. Students will be familiarized with technology and analysis skills, as well as communication techniques and leadership development. The nursing department is dedicated to providing excellent nursing education that allows graduates to enter the workforce confidently in any healthcare setting.

Park University opened its doors in 1875, and is a private university in Parkville, MO. Park University offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree with two CCNE accredited program options. Their pre-licensure program is designed for students who are new to nursing and want to earn a bachelor’s degree. Students will benefit from small teacher-to-student ratios and a state-of-the-art lab on campus. The second option is the RN-BSN program, designed for RNs to earn a bachelor’s degree online. Students in PU’s pre-licensure BSN program, will attend classes, laboratory, and simulation practicums face-to-face at the Parkville campus. Clinical rotations take place in the Greater Kansas City Area. The RN-BSN program is mostly online, and clinical experiences are selected based on the student’s location.

Park University’s program uses advanced technology and innovative strategies to educate future nurses. They offer a flexible schedule and affordable tuition. The program has multiple affiliations with hospitals and medical facilities throughout the Greater Kansas City area. Many graduates are recruited by hospitals and health care facilities and a majority have job offers prior to graduation.

Columbia College was founded in 1851, and is a private liberal arts college based in Columbia, Missouri. CC offers an ADN program, a BSN program, and an online RN to BSN program.

The BSN program at Columbia College is CCNE accredited and designed to prepare students for a successful career in the nursing field and prepares them for leadership roles. Students learn skills in various specialties and community care, as well as in basic medical surgical nursing. Patient safety and quality care stand at the forefront of CC’s program. Students will develop clinical reasoning and decision-making skills, as well as collaboration techniques that prepares them for interdisciplinary teamwork in diverse healthcare settings.The BSN program is a great fit for those with no previous nursing education and to LPNs. The online RN to BSN program is a good option for busy individuals balancing a nursing job who wish to advance their careers. As the program is online, students are granted a lot of flexibility in pacing the coursework.

Those interested in the ADN program can apply to either the main campus or the Lake of the Ozarks program, though they may always apply for both. The Columbia, MO program accepts applications on a bi-annual basis, whereas the Lake of the Ozarks program enrolls students annually.

Hannibal-LaGrange University is a private, Christian liberal arts college located in Hannibal, Missouri. They offer a Practical Nursing program, as well as an ACEN accredited ADN and RN to BSN online program. Hannibal-LaGrange has a tight-knit, faith-based community that fosters academic and hands-on learning. The ADN program has a low faculty-to-student ratio, allowing for personalized attention. The nursing division has partnerships with Hannibal-Regional Hospital and Blessing Hospital, which are high quality facilities that provide students with real world experience before entering their careers. Students will be guaranteed clinical placement at one of the aforementioned hospitals, as well as in area nursing homes, clinics, and health agencies.

The online RN to BSN bridge program is tailored to those with tricky schedules. Students have plenty of flexibility, as all courses are offered online. The program can be completed in 12 months, and those enrolled will have an advisor at hand who will help them along the way.

Ozarks Technical Community College was founded in 1990, and is located in Springfield, Missouri. They offer an LPN to ADN program, and students can enroll at 4 different points throughout the year. The program is uniquely designed as a bridge curriculum that lasts 36 weeks and has ACEN accreditation. This fast-paced program aims to enhance students’ ability in providing high quality, caring, and competent care. There’s a focus on critical thinking, and interdisciplinary teamwork dynamics that nurses will likely operate in.

The program further equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to be a successful care provider and care manager. The specialized LPN to ADN focus of the program is a great strength, as it prepares those with similar foundations in the nursing field for the NCLEX exam and makes them capable of working through the challenges prominently experienced in nursing roles.

They also offer a Hybrid Cohort track, which is an online and face-to-face combination format. However, it does require clinical time on the Springfield or Table Rock campuses.

Moberly Area Community College is located in Moberly, Missouri.  They offer an ADN program and a virtual accelerated ADN program.  The virtual program is designed for LPNs to earn their ADN degree in 12 months.

St. Charles Community College is a public institution situated in Cottleville, Missouri, and first opened its doors in 1986. St. Charles offers a Missouri State Board of Nursing approved and ACEN accredited ADN program in addition to an LPN to RN bridge program. Students may enroll in either program in both the fall and spring semester.

SCC’s program focuses on a core curriculum comprised of three parts: a liberal arts foundation, nursing theory, and clinical experiences. The program has local partnerships, allowing students to have these clinical experiences in health care settings in their immediate environment. There’s an on-campus Center for Healthy Living, in which nursing students will hone their skills in the practice lab. Their program is designed to jumpstart clinical experiences as soon as possible. SCC’s nursing division places a strong importance on hands-on experience. In addition to the two-year ADN program, the LPN to RN bridge program provides those with some experience in the field with an accelerated pathway towards completion of an ADN degree. Students may apply in the fall and in the spring.

Three Rivers College is a community college that was founded in 1966, and is situated in Poplar Bluff, MO. Three Rivers offers an ADN program and an LPN-RN bridge program, which are both ACEN accredited. Students may enroll into the ADN program annually, starting in the fall.

Three Rivers’ nursing program places great importance on effective communication strategies that suit various contexts that nurses will find themselves in. Whether that be as a member of a healthcare team, collaborating with a patient, or lending support to family members, nurses must be prepared to articulate themselves effectively and appropriately. Another focal point is critical thinking and decision making, as well as the application of evidence-based practice. The program aims to prepare students for various healthcare settings and arms them with the tools necessary to be successful in a nursing role. Three Rivers works with local healthcare providers, allowing students to receive hands-on experiences alongside their rigorous preparation for the NCLEX exam.

Cox College is located in Springfield, Missouri.  They offer ASN, BSN and an RN to BSN degree options.  The nursing program began in 1907 as the Burge Deaconess Training School for Nurses, with three nursing students.

The Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing & Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit school in Cape Girardeau, MO. What is unique to this institution is its narrow focus on health care education and career preparation. They offer an ACEN accredited ADN program, which has four different tracks to suit various student needs and accommodating those who want to balance a career with further education. The four options offered are an accelerated and a part-time LPN to RN Bridge track, a full-time basic track, and a part-time Paramedic to RN track offered Mondays and Thursdays.

For those who already hold an ADN degree and are RNs, the school offers an RN to BSN program. Within this program, there are further options: students may enroll for a two-year full time, part time, or accelerated course of study. Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing & Health Sciences has a dedication to accommodating student needs. Beyond these generous program offerings, they provide robust educational resources, small class sizes, knowledgeable faculty, as well as clinical hands-on learning at Southeast Hospital. Their nursing programs focus on enhancing communication skills, use of technology and informatics, critical thinking, leadership and management, integration of research findings and the ability to interpret statistics.

Avila University is a  private university in Kansas City, Missouri that offers a CCNE accredited BSN program. This four-year baccalaureate track is designed around four pillars: discover, understand, participate, and assume. “Discover” entails the understanding and appreciation of the human responses and varied perceptions of life experiences; “Understand” focuses on the comprehension of the nursing role in socially and globally responsible health care; “Participate” encourages teamwork to achieve optimal patient-centered care, and “Assume” addresses and prepares students for the prospective nursing roles that graduates will assume.

Avila’s BSN program includes preparation in the liberal arts, behavioral, biological, and natural sciences, communication, technology, and inquiry based thinking. Furthermore, the program emphasizes the the values of caring and continuous professional development, and recognition of varied perceptions of and responses to life experiences that people encounter. Senior Avila Nursing Students complete a trauma simulation using the school’s high fidelity simulators. Students may enroll in the program in the fall.

Lincoln University is a public university in Jefferson City, Missouri. Founded in 1866 as an institution for black Americans, Lincoln University continues to uphold its traditions as a historically black college. They offer an AAS, BSN, and RN to BSN bridge program. All three nursing degree programs are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), in addition to full approval from the Missouri State Board of Nursing.

The AAS nursing program has a part-time evening curriculum. Having classes during these timeframes is specifically designed for active duty military personnel who don’t have conventional schedules. Each fall, Lincoln University enrolls a class of 40 students into its AAS program, comprising of 50% military, or military affiliated students, as well as 50% civilian students. Licensed practical nurses may be eligible to enroll with advanced standing.

The BSN degree prepares students in a multitude of ways for their roles in diverse healthcare settings. Lincoln University’s program focuses on leadership, community, and excellence within the nursing field. The program offers on campus classes, in addition to online courses.

The RN-BSN track is a hybrid program that offers online general education courses and nursing courses on-campus. For those who hold an ADN and wish to further their education, Lincoln’s hybrid program may be a good fit. Those enrolled in the hybrid program must participate in on campus activities, projects, and presentations.

Missouri State University is located in Springfield, Missouri. The division of nursing offers two BSN tracks: a two-year BSN and a four-year BSN. The four-year BSN is akin to most traditional BSN programs. The two-year option is a transfer-friendly program, tailored to those who wish to complete their college career at Missouri State if they’ve already completed college credits. This also applies for those who have already earned an ADN degree or a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. Students can enroll into the nursing program twice a year for full-time study.

During the four-year BSN programs, students will be immersed in a traditional college environment whilst still engaging with clinical programs. MSU’s program is community-based, giving students exposure to different local environments in which nurses practice. This provides a valuable overview of the possibilities a nurse’s future may hold. The program is selective, but student-centered, allowing students to receive an education from dedicated faculty members who take a student-centered approach.

MSU’s mission is to prepare graduates who are equipped with the skillset to provide excellent care with a deliberate approach in a multitude of settings. Additionally, there’s an emphasis on communication, critical thinking, and therapeutic nursing intervention skills, as well as the incorporation of a liberal arts core.

Truman State University is a public university located in Kirksville, Missouri, United States. They offer two tracks toward completion of their BSN program. In addition to a traditional 4 year curriculum, they have designed an accelerated BSN program, ideal for students with college credits or a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. Students can enroll into either program annually in the fall.

Truman’s nursing department offers high-tech nursing simulation in their Nursing Simulation Center. This simulation-heavy focus aims to enhance the students’ critical-thinking and decision-making skills by practicing on life-sized anatomical models. As students continue on the BSN path, their knowledge and simulation-based practice will be enhanced by field experience in various clinical settings. This allows students to gain a greater understanding of applying their knowledge when dealing with real patients. There are also ample research opportunities, as well as study abroad offerings for BSN students.

Nursing majors at Truman State University also benefit from an active community. There are many clubs and organizations for nursing majors that foster a community of people with an interest in the nursing field.

The University of Missouri is a public research university in Columbia, Missouri. The Sinclair School of Nursing offers a traditional BSN program, an accelerated BSN program, and an RN to BSN online program. The traditional BSN track is a four year program tailored for those who recently graduated high school. The curriculum balances theoretical and liberal arts coursework, as well as professional development.

The accelerated BSN option is only 15 months long, and on-campus. Students who are eligible for this program must have at minimum a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing from an accredited college or university. The RN to BSN online option is designed for ADN-holding registered nurses who want to advance their career without compromising their current nursing role. This is why the program is entirely online.

The University of Missouri’s undergraduate program offerings emphasize the diversity of skills that a successful nurse must master. This includes being capable of providing excellent care for many population groups and communities.

Missouri Southern State University was founded in 1937, and is located in Joplin, MO. MSSU offers a BSN program, and students may enroll bi-annually, in the fall and in the spring. They also offer an RN to BSN track, which caters to the busy nurses with a desire to advance their knowledge and careers.

Admissions are competitive, as the program has a good reputation. Students who graduate with a BSN from MSSU will be prepared for work in any healthcare setting, as well as an understanding of the needs of various patient populations. The program places a focus on empathy, cultivating knowledge of cross-cultural perspectives, and how those different value-systems may necessitate other approaches to patient care. The mission of the department of nursing is to: “Improve healthcare in culturally diverse local and global communities through excellence in nursing education, practice, and service.”

The campus has a simulation center which provides students with an avenue to cultivate their skills in a well-equipped and supportive environment.

Missouri Valley College is a private, Presbyterian college that is located in Marshall, Missouri. MVC offers a BSN program that has a strong bi-focal design around academic knowledge and clinical experience. The program strives to prepare students for compassionate, evidence-based, and high quality care for diverse patient populations in a variety of health care settings. Students will gain clinical experience in settings such as community health centers, local community hospitals, as well as tertiary care centers. This is a four year program, designed as a 2+2 structure. The first two years consist of core curriculum requirements, and the final two years consist of nursing courses and clinical experience. MVC’s BSN program is CCNE accredited, and students may enroll once annually in the fall. However, there is an LPN to BSN online program, who have more flexibility in enrollment times.

At MVC there’s a vibrant student community, and nursing majors can become part of the Student Nurses Association, which aims to offer opportunities for the growth of its members in intellectual, personal, professional, and social capacities.

Saint Louis University is a private Roman Catholic school, located in St. Louis, Missouri. SLU offers a traditional BSN program, as well as an accelerated one-year BSN track, RN-BSN track, in addition to graduate opportunities. All programs are CCNE accredited.

Saint Louis University has a long history in nursing education, and has been preparing students for roles in the healthcare industry since 1928. Their program takes a three pillared approach: strength, spirit, and compassion. These three qualities are developed and enhanced in each nursing student, as SLU’s philosophy harps on the necessity of possessing them to be an effective, competent nurse. SLU’s campus has well equipped facilities and clinical laboratories, as well as various study abroad experiences, and a low student-to-faculty ratio. SLU nursing students receive one-on-one attention and guidance from academic advisors and faculty members. Students are also given opportunities to take on internships and fellowship programs in local hospitals.

The University of Missouri-Kansas City is a public research university. They offer a traditional BSN track, an accelerated BSN track, and an RN-BSN track. Their curriculum is designed to prepare nurses who are responsible, accountable, and critical thinkers. The 4 year track is for students who do not hold another bachelor’s degree or RN license. For those who do have a bachelor’s degree, but do not have an RN license, the accelerated track is ideal. RNs who want to obtain their BSN may enroll into the program full or part-time. The bridge program is fully online, tailored to working registered nurses.

Students who enroll into the accelerated BSN program will complete 1,200 clinical hours in under two years, as well as spend significant time in the nursing skills laboratory and high-fidelity simulation center. Those embarking on the 4-year track will have the same opportunities, but at a slower pace. Unique to these nursing programs is the incredible importance that is placed on applying knowledge. Students will spend 300 hours at an internship in various healthcare settings, and will interact with patients in urban and suburban settings.

Research College of Nursing is located in Kansas City, MO. This specialized school is small, private, and fully-accredited. RCN offers a BSN program, as well as various graduate opportunities. The BSN program has several options. There is a 1-year accelerated track, where applicants must hold a non-nursing Bachelor’s degree, there’s a 2-year transfer track for those with pre-requisite credits from another institution. Important to note is that there is not a 4-year track offered here. All students that enroll have completed prerequisite coursework elsewhere or obtained a non-nursing bachelor degree.

RCN offers nursing-only coursework and clinical preparation, designed to be intensive and in-depth. The college’s mission is to prepare students who are ready to take on nursing roles with professionalism and skill, with an infallible ability to provide safe and high quality care. Students attending Research College of Nursing will do scholarly work and research, while simultaneously developing leadership and critical thinking skills. There’s a small student-to-faculty ratio, providing for a close-knit community of like-minded individuals who are paving their way towards a satisfying career as a nurse.

Southeast Missouri State University is located in Cape Girardeau, MO. They offer two programs, a BSN program and an RN to BSN online program. Both of them are CCNE accredited. Unique to SMSU is that there’s no such thing as in-state or out-of-state tuition rates; instead, all students pay the same price.

SMSU boasts a highly educated nursing faculty, who all hold a minimum of a master’s degree in nursing. The program has a small faculty-to-student ratio, allowing for more personalized attention. Furthermore, students are well prepared for the NCLEX as the program includes a full semester of preparation for the exam. After completion of the first two years of the program, students will gain hands-on experience in various healthcare settings, including schools, long-term care facilities, and major hospitals.

The RN to BSN program is designed for licensed registered nurses, allowing them to combine work with further education. The online program is very flexible in terms of scheduling, which is ideal for those with busy schedules, and also allows students to schedule field experiences that are in their local area.

Maryville University offers a BSN program that focuses on in-depth knowledge of nursing theory and practical experience. MU has well equipped practice labs, as well as a supportive community of faculty and students who have similar goals. MU’s BSN program prepares students who are confident, capable, and knowledgeable with the ability to provide high quality care in various healthcare settings.

Students may choose one of three tracks: the on-campus undergraduate program, the on-campus fast track program, or the on-campus evening and weekend program. Each track is tailored to accommodate student schedules. The fast track program is ideal for those who have completed 65 hours of general education courses, and the evening and weekend program is designed for adult-learners seeking to incorporate a nursing education into their busy lives. There is also an online RN to BSN program, which accommodates registered nurses who seek to advance their career and professional development.

MU’s program combines advanced technology, critical thinking and analysis, and clinical experience to cultivate a comprehensive preparation for careers in the nursing field.

Central Methodist University is a private college in Fayette, MO. CMU offers a BSN program that places a focus on honesty, integrity, and personal responsibility. Student skills are honed through a two-part approach, combining rigorous academic coursework with diverse clinical experience. CMU’s Thogmorton Center for Allied Health is where most of the nursing program is taught. This facility is well-equipped with advance technology and simulators, allowing students to gain hands-on experience. Coursework covers many arenas of the nursing profession, including human anatomy, management, family nursing, and pharmacology.

There is also an accelerated BSN program as well as an RN to BSN program. The accelerated track is designed for students who hold a previously earned bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field. This program can be completed in 14 months. The RN to BSN bridge program is in-person, and provides RN’s with career advancing knowledge and faculty interactions that’ll strengthen their network within the nursing field.

Barnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing is located in St. Louis, Missouri.  The school has its origins in 1902 at the Jewish Hospital School of Nursing and was one of the first schools in the nation to be accredited by the National League of Nursing.  They offer a traditional BSN program, an accelerated BSN program and an RN to BSN program.

College of the Ozarks is located in Point Lookout, Missouri.  C of O is a Christian college; their nursing program is biblically-based and students must take courses that satisfy these requirements in addition to nursing requirements.  The nursing department’s mission is: “to present a Christ-centered, Biblically-based, character-driven nursing education program while preparing qualified individuals for a spiritual role as a professional nurse providing service to Christ and humankind.”

Their BSN program focuses on the moral character that nurses must possess to earn patient’s trust. They cultivate this by honing on critical thinking, communication techniques, and compassionate care. There’s also a strong focus on the well-being of the nurse’s mind and body, as those two components must be in balance in order for a nurse to handle the situations they may be presented with in their roles. The BSN program is 4 years long, and includes clinical work in the Ozark Mountains. Students may work in rural or metropolitan healthcare facilities, exposing them to the various settings of care, and the needs of diverse patient populations.

Located in Kansas City, Missouri, Saint Luke’s College of Health Sciences is a small, private nursing school with a strong reputation in the surrounding area. They offer a CCNE accredited BSN and RN-BSN track.

The school has a tight-knit community of aspiring and experienced nurses who teach students a core curriculum comprised of general education, nursing courses, hands-on practice in the simulation lab, in addition to clinical experience in the Kansas City area. Saint Luke’s emphasizes and exposes students to the many healthcare settings in which nurses practice, and places a focus on critical thinking and leadership. The school’s small size allows for greater accessibility to faculty and one-on-one learning. There are also scholarships, work study, and financial aid offerings that can help students pay tuition. Students are admitted annually in the fall.

The RN-BSN track is a 3 semester program that can be completed part-time or full-time. The curriculum is largely online, making it a manageable course of study for nurses on the go. Students are admitted twice yearly, in the fall and in the spring.

The University of Missouri-St. Louis is a public research university that was founded in 1963. They offer a pre-licensure BSN program, an accelerated BSN program, as well as an RN to BSN bridge program. The curriculum is comprised of academic, clinical, and research components. The accelerated BSN program only lasts 12 months, and is ideal for students who have completed a non-nursing bachelor’s degree prior to enrollment. The pre-licensure program is 2 years long, which begins after completing pre-clinical requirements. The bridge program is ideal for busy nurses who are seeking to advance their careers. The entire curriculum is available online, making it a flexible and customizable option. Students may apply to the nursing programs on a rolling basis, dependent upon when they’d like to begin their program.

The UMSL College of Nursing has partnered with local and regional healthcare providers, creating clinical experience opportunities for students and giving them access to cutting-edge technology, as well as lines of communication with individuals who have decades of experience in the nursing field.

Cox College is located in Springfield, Missouri.  They offer ASN, BSN and an RN to BSN degree options.  The nursing program began in 1907 as the Burge Deaconess Training School for Nurses, with three nursing students.

University of Central Missouri is located in Warrensburg, Missouri.  UCM offers a BSN degree and an RN to BSN degree.  The RN to BSN program is an online program and can be completed in one calendar year.  In 2013, the RN to BSN program was added to the “Best Buy” list on GetEducated.com, meaning it costs less than the average online nursing program.

William Jewell College is a small, private liberal arts school in Liberty, Missouri. Founded in 1849, William Jewell has a long tradition of instilling students with compassion and leadership. The nursing division offers five different CCNE accredited tracks toward obtaining a BSN degree. There’s a 3 year plan, a 4 year plan, a transfer program, and a 12 or 16 month accelerated track.

William Jewell’s nursing program places great importance on understanding the whole self, meaning the mind, body, and spirit, of both the student and the patient alike. Students will clock in 650 hours of in-lab and clinical time to fully develop the skillset necessary to provide quality, patient-centered care. Beyond excellence in nursing skills, students will cultivate their leadership and critical thinking skills, as well as accountability.

The program is well-connected in the surrounding area, and nearby hospitals recruit students from William Jewell. Beyond hospitals, the program has further relations with community health agencies, public schools, senior care facilities, mental health clinics, and home health facilities.