Top 10 Nursing Schools In Missouri

Job Outlook For Rns In Missouri

More applying for nursing programs in Kansas City during the COVID-19 pandemic

Employment projections look robust for RNs in Missouri through 2028, outstripping the national average. While jobs across the country are expected to grow by 12.1%, that rate is 16.2% in Missouri. This growth should result in more than 12,000 new jobs in the state over the next several years. It will also see an average of 5,530 job openings per year due to nurses retiring or changing careers.

Employment Projections for RNs in Missouri

New Jobs

Source: Projections Central

Considering Nursing Program Cost

Another factor students need to consider is the cost of their degree. Tuition rates vary by school size, the type of institution, and the degree program. For example, public schools offer in-state tuition to residents, and ADN programs cost less than BSN programs.

Aside from tuition, nursing students need to consider other costs, including:

School and lab fees
Other course materials such as uniforms and clinical supplies
Cost of living expenses which may include on-campus room and board

A National Leader In Nursing Education

At Saint Louis Universitys Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing, youll be challenged to learn more about the human body than you might have thought possible. Yet in the end, what you’ll learn about most might just be yourself.

SLU has been a national leader in nursing education since 1928. Through our innovative approach to nursing education, we dive deeper to discover the strength, spirit and compassion required to provide patients with unparalleled care.

Were pioneering a path that is shaping the future of our field we created the first accelerated B.S.N. and comprehensive online M.S.N. programs in the country and our success shows.

In 2021, 94 percent of our graduates passed the NCLEX on the first try. In 2021, Niche ranked Saint Louis Universitys Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing as the #8 best college in the country for nursing. Additionally, U.S. News and World Report recently ranked our 4-Year BSN program in the top 7% of undergraduate nursing programs and our MSN-NP program is consistently ranked as a top 50 program in their Best Graduate Schools survey.

Preparing Nursing Leaders In Missouri And Across The Country

For more than 70 years, Avila Universitys School of Nursing in Kansas City, Missouri enjoys an outstanding reputation for preparing leaders in the field the result of an innovative, 21st-century curriculum. Students at Avila University are motivated and committed to their education. They are taught by faculty who have significant clinical experience and graduates of Avilas nursing program are sought after by employers.

Avilas nursing program was named top 10 undergraduate nursing school in Missouri by Nurse.org
Avilas nursing program ranks #3 in Missouri by RNCareers.org

Finding The Best Nursing School For You

Nursing is the most popular major in Missouri with 6,422 degrees and certificates handed out in < nil> .

It’s not easy to decide which healthcare program to enroll in when you have so many options available. You’re no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Healthcare Degree Search has developed this Best Nursing Schools in Missouri ranking. This report analyzed 46 schools in Missouri to see which ones offered the best programs for healthcare students.

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Best Ranked Rn Programs In Missouri

To help nursing students in their search for a top RN program, the education experts at RNCareers.org publish their annual findings of the best nursing schools for both Missouri and the country. Schools ranked on our list have proven their ability to educate highly competent nurses.

To create our rankings, we evaluated 18 ADN degree programs and 25 BSN degree programs in Missouri. We obtained each institutions first-time NCLEX-RN passing rates, the number of students taking the test, the program nursing accreditation and more. We then compared the results against other nursing programs in Missouri to provide our state rankings. View our methodology.

Advantages Of Bsn Programs

Many students choose to obtain a BSN due to the greater emphasis on higher nursing degrees in lots of healthcare settings. Achieving this degree opens you up to a greater variety of nursing positions, and will give you the potential to earn a greater salary. For those who have the time and resources to attend a traditional 4-year school and want a rewarding career in healthcare, a BSN is an excellent choice.

Recommended Reading: How Do You Know If A Nursing School Is Accredited

Job Outlook In The Nursing Profession In Missouri

Missouri is a state that is growing. The latest census estimates the population at more than 6 million. Many baby boomers are moving to this state because of the lifestyle that it offers. Missouri is family-friendly and has many suburbs that offer a relaxed environment for all.

Nursing is in demand, and nurses that have the correct credentials can expect significant job growth. Registered nurses have an excellent opportunity to secure a job in a variety of medical settings. Hospitals, nursing homes, doctors offices, and home health care are just some of the opportunities available to qualified Registered nurses. The compensation for Registered nurses is around $65,000-$69,000. This figure is mainly dependent on the type of facility and the geographic area.

The Next : Honorable Mentions Based On Our Methodology

Jennifer Krtek: Bachelor of Science in Nursing `18, University of Missouri

Considering there are nearly 1,000 baccalaureate nursing programs in the United States, picking only 10 means weve discussed only the top 1% of the nations nursing schools.

These next 10 schools didnt make our top 10 list, but they came close:

University of Illinois in Chicago
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of Texas
Yale University
Boston College
Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio
Purdue University
University of Florida
Ohio State University
University of Pittsburgh

How Much You Could Make As An Rn In Missouri

As of May 2020, registered nurses working in Missouri earned median annual wages of $64,220. While this number sits below the national average of $75,330, remember that the cost of living in the state is lower than in many other parts of the country. For example, nurses working in Kansas City, which has a higher cost of living than more rural areas or smaller cities, earned a median annual salary of $469,680. The table below gives a more detailed sense of how salaries differ around the state and stack up against each other.

Annual Earnings for Registered Nurses in Missouri

10th Percentile

Missouri Is Now A Part Of The Nurse Licensure Compact

Missouri is part of the Nurse Licensure Compact . A Nurse Licensure Compact NLC license allows a nurse to have one license and practice in all NLC compact states. There is no difference between a multistate license and a compact license. All compact licenses are issued in the primary state of residence.

Chamberlain School Of Nursing Chamberlain University

Chamberlain offers an onsite three-year campus-based BSN program at their St. Louis campus. Studying continues year-round and BSN students build their practical skills with experiential learning, including labs, simulations, and clinical placements.

The Chamberlain online MSN program offers five concentrations: Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Educator, Nurse Executive, Nursing Informatics and Healthcare Policy.

The online RN to BSN option can be completed on a full or part-time basis. Two further online study programs can be pursued: Doctor of Nursing Practice, and Master of Public Health.

Chamberlain is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education .

3005 Highland Parkway

Website: http://www.chamberlain.edu/

Choosing The Best Rn Program For You

HLGU Craigmiles School of Nursing Ranked Top 10 in Missouri

Where you complete your RN program can help shape your future career in nursing and other health sciences. Your undergraduate degree can also influence which advanced practice degrees you choose to pursue later.

First you have to choose between a bachelor of science in nursing or an associate degree in nursing program. More and more employers require new nurses to have a BSN, though many will also hire ADNs who agree to complete their BSNs over the next couple years.

Youll also need to consider the economic side of each degreein some cases, it may be more affordable to get your ADN so you can start working as a nurse, then enroll to get your BSN online and qualify for employer tuition assistance but in other cases, it may actually be faster and more affordable to go straight for your BSN if thats your ultimate goal

Then youll have to decide whether to enroll in a large or small nursing school, an accelerated or four-year degree, and much more. Each factor can influence your career.

Any given program might not work for some students but could be perfect for you. Nursing schools are intentionally different to best educate specific students.

The demands of your current life will also influence your choices. More and more leading universities offer online RN programs, especially in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Also Check: Path To Become Nurse Practitioner

Top 10 Best Nursing Schools

Our analysis found Lutheran School of Nursing to be the best school for nursing students who want to pursue a degree in Missouri. Lutheran School of Nursing is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Saint Louis.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Lutheran School of Nursing take out is $8,100. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $84.

Youll be in good company if you decide to attend Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Nursing Schools in Missouri list. Located in the city of Saint Louis, Goldfarb School of Nursing is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

While working on their degree, nursing majors at Goldfarb School of Nursing accumulate an average of around $37,016 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $420, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

The excellent programs at Maryville University of Saint Louis helped the school earn the #3 place on this years ranking of the best nursing schools in Missouri. Located in the large suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville U is a private not-for-profit college with a large student population.

Graceland University School Of Nursing

Registerednurse.com ranks Gracelands RN program in the top 10 for Missouri. Graceland is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education .

In addition to a traditional on-campus BSN, Graceland offers several online options. These include an RN to BSN and a BA in Health Care Management. A combined degree program is available that bridges from RN to MSN, saving up to 4 semester hours of coursework. Gracelands MSN features two-degree tracks, Family Nurse Practitioner and Adult-Gerontology and is predominantly online with short practicums on campus.

Graceland also offers an online Doctorate in Nursing Practice and the opportunity to continue studies with either a Family Nurse Practitioner or Nurse Educator Post Masters Certificate.

1401 W. Truman Rd.

Website: http://www.graceland.edu/nursing/

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The Nursing Major At Avila

Home to the oldest nursing undergraduate program in Kansas City, Avila has a proud history of producing highly sought nurses throughout the Midwest. A Top 10 Nursing School in Missouri as awarded by Nurses.org, the Avila curriculum prepares students for the future of nursing, emphasizing clinical reasoning, and practice in a variety of community-based clinical experiences.

Avilas nursing students have a first-pass rate on the NCLEX-RN of 96.68% .

Students receive hands-on nursing experience from the very first semester. Small class and clinical group sizes mean our graduates receive the attention they need when they need it. Our senior four-week internship with a nurse in the community prior to graduation ensures students begin their career on the right track.

Rn Salaries In Missouri

School of Nursing Tour – University of Central Missouri

There are approximately 64,870 registered nurses currently working in Missouri. The mean salary is around $58,040. Nurses who earn their BSN degree will be able to expand the nursing services in the state are often preferred by community based employers. Nurses who take advantage of a higher education will find new and satisfying job opportunities as a result. Areas of certification and specialty nursing may provide advancement such as:

Oncology nursing
Clinical nurse leaders
Tele-Nursing

Nurses are encouraged to take advantage of nursing programs in Missouri in order to allow them to expand their practice and finding personal and professional satisfaction.

Choosing A Great Registered Nursing School

The registered nursing program you select can have a big impact on your future. That’s why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Registered Nursing rankings. For our Best Overall Registered Nursing School rankings, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.

In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.

Inside Look At Online Nursing Programs In Missouri

Most nursing schools in Missouri now offer some level of virtual interaction, and many provide entire classes and degrees online. If youre looking for an ADN or BSN, these programs always require in-person participation due to required clinicals needed for licensure. To provide flexibility, some schools offer hybrid programs at these levels. For example, Moberly Area Community College provides a hybrid ADN while Southwest Baptist University offers a partially-online BSN for busy students. Clinical requirements can usually be completed at an approved facility near where students live.

To help students with personal and/or professional responsibilities outside of school, some programs provide evening or weekend classes to better fit into their schedules. For additional flexibility, online programs often provide asynchronous learning where students complete work at times that best fit their schedules.

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Weber State University Annie Taylor Dee School Of Nursing

Celebrating 60 years of nursing education, Weber State University gives nurses of all kinds a chance to build on their skills as they move up the degree ladder.

The associate degree in nursing is the perfect starting place for those entering the field or for practical nurses looking to advance their careers.

Students eligible to take the licensed practical nurse board examination after completing one year of study, and after they finish the two-year program, students can move into the workforce or continue on to Webers bachelors nursing program. BSN grads will be eligible to sit for the National Council of State Boards of Nursing licensure exam.

The School of Nursing has a wide reach, too, offering classes at Webers Ogden and Davis campuses as well as online and hybrid programs. The university also has nursing programs at three other schools: Bridgerland, Davis and Ogden-Weber technical college.

And theres even more rungs on that degree ladder after that, with options to earn a masters in nursing and a doctorate in nursing practice.

Acceptance rate into nursing program: 100%

Goldfarb School Of Nursing Barnes

Goldfarb offers several options for BSN study including a traditional BSN, an accelerated BSN, an upper division BSN for transfer students and an RN to BSN program. Also available are an MSN program with five concentrations, and a course of study leading to Doctor of Nursing Practice.

Students have regular opportunities to put textbook learning into hands-on practice before working on real patients in a hospital setting during clinical rotations in a diverse variety of real-world healthcare environments.

Goldfarb School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education . 85% of graduates pass the National Council Licensure Registered Nurse Examination on their first attempt.

4483 Duncan Avenue

St. Louis, MO USA 63110

Phone: 314-454-7055

Website: https://www.barnesjewishcollege.edu/

Become An Advance Practice Registered Nurse In Missouri

RNs who wish to become advanced practice registered nurses will want to pursue any number of avenues to earn Master of Science in Nursing degree. Earning a Master of Science in Nursing consists of graduate-level coursework and clinical practice for those nurses who wish to direct patient roles such as a nurse practitioner. You can also pursue indirect patient roles such as teaching or leadership roles, or become involved in policy, state-wide health initiatives or community engagement. There are many clinical and non-clinical avenues that an RN with MSN can pursue.

Best Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools In Missouri

It’s not easy to decide which nursing program to enroll in when you have so many options available. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you’re not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the ‘big name’ schools are offering online courses. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools and bootcamp that offer fast-track entry to many fields.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Nursing Degree Search has created the Best Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in Missouri to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 9 schools in Missouri to see which graduate certificate programs offered the best educational experiences for nursing students. The factors used to develop this ranking include those related to how in-demand the school us, the overall quality of the school, and post-graduation wages, and more.

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