Nursing Programs in Kansas City, MO

UMKC's Bachelor of Science in Nursing prepares students for RN licensure via two routes: a four-to-five-year traditional prelicensure track for first-time students and an accelerated five-semester program for second-degree candidates. Each pathway includes extensive clinical experiences starting in the fall, with hospital and community rotations. Admission features a Direct Admit program for qualified high schoolers and a January supplemental application deadline. The curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, health promotion, and accountability with individualized faculty mentorship. UMKC's BSN cohorts logged NCLEX pass rates of 97.14% in 2023 and 100% in 2024. ACT/SAT scores are not explicitly required for either track; prerequisite GPA and university admission criteria are prioritized.

• 2 concentration options
• Starts fall
• Traditional 4-5 year BSN
• Accelerated BSN for second degree
• Direct Admit for high school students
• Fall clinical program start
• January supplemental application deadline

UMKC's Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing is an intensive five-semester pathway for students who already hold a bachelor's degree. It includes more than 1,050 clinical hours—the most in the region—and a 300-hour capstone internship. Daytime classes take place on an interprofessional health sciences campus shared with medical and pharmacy students, and clinical placements cover seven specialty areas. Prerequisite courses include anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and nutrition; applicants need at least a 2.75 GPA. Kansas residents receive in-state tuition, and discounted Heartland tuition applies to residents of 15 Midwestern states. UMKC's BSN cohort NCLEX pass rates were 97.14% (2023) and 100% (2024). The accelerated program does not require ACT/SAT, as admission depends on the prior bachelor's degree.

• 5-Semester program
• Complete in In less than two years
• Starts fall
• 2.8 GPA minimum
• 1050 clinical hours
• Prerequisite courses required
• Capstone required
• 300-hour capstone internship
• Interprofessional learning campus
• Kansas in-state tuition

Research College of Nursing offers a 12-month Accelerated BSN (ABSN) on campus for individuals who already hold a non-nursing bachelor's degree. The curriculum combines theory, simulation, and clinical practice through partnerships with HCA Midwest Health and the region's largest Dedicated Education Unit, covering person-centered care, evidence-based practice, health equity, and professional leadership. Admission requires a 3.0 GPA, prerequisite coursework, and the ATI TEAS exam, not ACT/SAT. Recent NCLEX-RN pass rates for the BSN program are strong: 94.12% in 2024 and 90.41% in 2023. Graduates enjoy a 100% employment rate within six months. Total tuition is $49,670, with two start dates per year and financial aid available, including HCA work loan forgiveness.

• Entrance exam required
• Exams: TEAS
• $49,670 total program tuition
• 12-Month program
• 2 start dates per year
• Starts spring/summer
• 100% job placement rate
• 3.0 GPA minimum
• Prerequisite courses required
• Prepares for NCLEX-RN

Avila University in Kansas City, Missouri, provides a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) centered on compassionate, holistic care and evidence-based practice. Students engage in high-fidelity simulations and clinical rotations across hospitals, clinics, schools, and hospices. Accredited by CCNE and the Missouri State Board of Nursing, the program starts in fall and spring. Small classes allow personalized mentorship from experienced clinical faculty. The Nursing Education and Resource Center houses a simulated hospital. Graduates posted NCLEX pass rates of 94.44% (2023) and 89.47% (2024), with 98% employed within five months. Patterson Scholarships support students entering rural healthcare. Avila also offers an accelerated BSN and is military-friendly, with financial aid and scholarships available.

• Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), Missouri State Board of Nursing accredited
• Starts fall/spring
• 98% job placement rate
• Prepares for NCLEX
• Financial aid available
• Scholarships available
• Small class sizes
• High-fidelity simulation experiences
• Diverse clinical settings
• Faculty with clinical experience

Rockhurst University's Bachelor of Science in Nursing, offered in partnership with Saint Luke's College of Nursing and Health Sciences, blends a Jesuit liberal arts foundation with over a century of nursing education expertise. The CCNE-accredited program prepares generalist nurses for diverse healthcare settings through coursework in health assessment, professional foundations, and advanced clinical management. Students train in the Seelos Simulation Center and participate in clinical rotations with top Kansas City health systems, benefiting from low faculty-to-student ratios and personalized 1:1 NCLEX coaching. Recent NCLEX first-time pass rates stand at 89.57% (2023) and 91.46% (2024). Financial aid, scholarships, employer reimbursement, and tuition discounts for Saint Luke's employees are available.

• CCNE accredited
• Capstone required
• Prepares for NCLEX
• Employer reimbursement supported
• Financial aid available
• Scholarships available
• 115 years of nursing education experience
• Low faculty-to-student ratio
• 1:1 NCLEX success coaching
• State-of-the-art simulation center

Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City's Professional Nursing program offers a two-year Associate Degree in Nursing at MCC-Penn Valley, combining classroom theory with practical training at the state-of-the-art Health Science Institute. Students learn patient assessments, diagnostics, medication administration, IV therapy, and care planning, alongside community health education. This ACEN-accredited, Missouri State Board of Nursing-approved program prepares graduates for NCLEX-RN licensure in Missouri and Kansas, with no entrance exam required. The curriculum spans 74 credit hours, with in-district tuition from $121 per credit, making it an affordable option. The 2024 NCLEX pass rate was 87.37%, and 100% of 2023-24 graduates secured employment.

• ACEN, Missouri State Board of Nursing accredited
• No entrance exam required
• $121 per credit
• 2-Year program
• 74 total credit hours
• 2 start dates per year
• Starts fall/spring
• 90% licensure pass rate
• 100% job placement rate
• $77,000 median earnings