Nursing Schools in Missouri

LS
By Lindsay Smith, AGPCNP
Updated March 16, 2026

The Show-Me State is a wonderful place to live. Barbecue lovers converge down on Kansas City for plates of ribs on a regular basis, while baseball lovers enjoy watching the Cardinals and Royals every spring. Beer lovers appreciate the Anheuser-Busch Brewery in St. Louis and tourists enjoy the southern hospitality of the bootheel region. The state is an absolute delight to live in and even more enjoyable for finding nursing schools in Missouri.

There are many job opportunities within the state, but one of the best options is Nursing. Missouri has a large population, with a huge demand for medical care, so there is a constant demand for new nurses.

The Missouri Board of Nursing oversees the accreditation process for nursing programs throughout the state. Each program must properly prepare its students for a career as a nurse while also preparing them for the intensive national exams. Students in the state can become Licensed Practical Nurses or Registered Nurses, depending on which program they choose.

Nursing Education in Missouri

There are numerous programs in Missouri for nurses. Students that want to become LPN’s can choose from several excellent institutions.

Ozarks Community College is the best program in the state. The program is known for exposing students to the best possible technical and general education. Students that pass this prog around a 97% pass rate on the national exams.

Becoming a Registered Nurse is an admirable goal, and Missouri has numerous great programs. Saint Louis University is the best Registered Nurse program in the state. Students that attend this program will experience a top 50 nationally ranked program.

Nurses in Missouri have several great career advancement options. They can easily become Nurse Practitioners or move into nursing education. Hospitals around Missouri are constantly looking for new nurses, so there are numerous career opportunities.

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 (CCNE).

3005 Highland Parkway

Downers Grove, IL 60515

Phone: 877-751-5783

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

Goldfarb School of Nursing – Barnes-Jewish College

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 (CCNE). 85% of graduates pass the National Council Licensure Registered Nurse Examination on their first attempt.

4483 Duncan Avenue

Mailstop 90-36-697

St. Louis, MO USA 63110

Phone: 314-454-7055Website: https://www.barnesjewishcollege.edu/

Graceland University School of Nursing

Registerednurse.com ranks Graceland’s RN program in the top 10 for Missouri. Graceland is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

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. Graceland’s 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 Master’s Certificate.

1401 W. Truman Rd.

Independence, MO 64050

Phone: 800-833-0524Website: http://www.graceland.edu/nursing/

Saint Louis University School of Nursing

The Saint Louis School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Several traditional and flexible options are on offer. BSN choices include a traditional four year BSN, an accelerated one year BSN and RN to BSN. Existing Registered Nurses can opt for the online MSN which also leads to qualification as a Nurse-Practitioner. The two-year direct-entry accelerated MSN offers an alternative for individuals with a first degree in another subject. Two online doctoral programs are also offered for holders of either a BSN or MSN.

The SLU online MSN is ranked at 35 in its category by the *U.S. News & World Report for 2018. The report also *named SLU to its top 50 “Best Value Schools” list. In 2016, 92.6 percent of Saint Louis School of Nursing graduates passed the National Council Licensure Registered Nurse Examination, a rate nine points higher than the national average.

1 N Grand Blvd,

St. Louis, MO 63103

Phone: 1-800-758-3678

Website: http://www.slu.edu/

University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing

Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the Sinclair School of Nursing offers two campus-based options, a traditional four year BSN and a 15 month accelerated BSN for holders of first degrees in other subjects. The National Council Licensure Registered Nurse Examination pass rate is 94 percent for first-time test takers.

An MSN course is also offered, this is largely online but does include some short, campus-based sessions. The MSN may be studied full or part-time and Nursing Education and Leadership are the two Master’s concentrations available. Other online options include an RN to BSN program and an RN to MSN option which has an emphasis upon preparing graduates to teach in nursing programs. Both the Ph.D. and Doctor of Nursing Practice courses are also accessed online.

S235 School of Nursing

Columbia, MO 65211

Phone: 573-882-0277

Website:http://nursing.missouri.edu/

Missouri Board of Nursing Approved Schools

Chamberlain College of Nursing – Campus, and Online Location: St. Louis, Missouri Programs: ASN/ADN, BSN, RN to BSN Founded In: 1889 Accreditation body: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing (ACEN) Website: http://www.chamberlain.eduDeaconess College of Nursing (now Chamberlain College of Nursing) Location: St. Louis, Missouri Programs: ASN/ADN, BSN, RN to BSN Founded In: 1889 Accreditation body: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing (ACEN) Website: http://www.deaconess.eduAvila University School of Nursing Location: Kansas City, Missouri Programs: BSN Founded In: 1916 Accreditation body: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) Website: http://www.avila.eduBarnes-Jewish College of Nursing and Allied Health Location: Saint Louis, Missouri Programs: RN to BSN, Accelerated BSN, Upper Division BSN, MSN Founded In: 1902 Accreditation body: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing (ACEN) Website: http://www.barnesjewishcollege.eduCentral Missouri State University School of Nursing Location: Warrensburg, Missouri Programs: BSN, MSN Founded In: 1871 Accreditation body: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) Website: http://www.cmsu.eduGraceland University School of Nursing Location: Independence, Missouri Programs: BSN, MSN Founded In: 1895 Accreditation body: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing (ACEN) Website: http://www.graceland.eduLester L. Cox College of Nursing and Health Sciences Location: Springfield, Missouri Programs: BSN Founded In: N/A Accreditation body: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) Website: http://www.coxcollege.eduLincoln University Department of Nursing Science Location: Jefferson City, Missouri Programs: BSN Founded In: N/A Accreditation body: Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing (ACEN) Website: http://www.lincolnu.eduMaryville University of Saint Louis School of Nursing Location: Saint Louis, Missouri Programs: BSN, MSN Founded In: 1872 Accreditation body: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing (ACEN) Website: http://www.maryville.eduMissouri Southern State University School of Nursing Location: Joplin, Missouri Programs: BSN Founded In: 1937 Accreditation body: Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing (ACEN) Website: http://www.mssu.eduMissouri Western State College School of Nursing Location: Saint Joseph, Missouri Programs: BSN Founded In: 1915 Accreditation body: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) Website: http://www.missouriwestern.eduResearch College of Nursing Location: Kansas City, Missouri Programs: BSN, MSN Founded In: 1980 Accreditation body: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) Website: http://www.researchcollege.eduSaint Louis University School of Nursing Location: Saint Louis, Missouri Programs: BSN, MSN, PhD Founded In: 1818 Accreditation body: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) Website: http://www.slu.eduSaint Luke’s School of Nursing Location: Kansas City, Missouri Programs: BSN Founded In: 1903 Accreditation body: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) Website: http://www.saint-lukes.orgSoutheast Missouri State University School of Nursing Location: Cape Girardeau, Missouri Programs: BSN, MSN Founded In: 1873 Accreditation body: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) Website: http://www2.semo.eduSouthwest Baptist University St. John’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences Location: Springfield, Missouri Programs: BSN Founded In: 1878 Accreditation body: Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing (ACEN) Website: http://www.sbuniv.eduSouthwest Missouri State University School of Nursing Location: Springfield, Missouri Programs: BSN, MSN Founded In: 1905 Accreditation body: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) Website: http://www.smsu.eduTruman State University School of Nursing Location: Kirksville, Missouri Programs: BSN Founded In: 1867 Accreditation body: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) Website: http://www.truman.eduUniversity of Missouri Columbia Sinclair School of Nursing Location: Columbia, Missouri Programs: BSN, MSN, PhD Founded In: 1839 Accreditation body: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) Website: http://www.hsc.missouri.eduUniversity of Missouri Kansas City School of Nursing Location: Kansas City, Missouri Programs: BSN, MSN, PhD Founded In: 1929 Accreditation body: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) Website: http://www.umkc.eduUniversity of Missouri St. Louis College of Nursing Location: St. Louis, Missouri Programs: BSN, MSN, PhD Founded In: 1963 Accreditation body: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) Website: http://www.umsl.eduWebster University School of Nursing Location: St. Louis, Missouri Programs: BSN, MSN Founded In: 1915 Accreditation body: Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing (ACEN) Website: http://www.webster.eduWilliam Jewell College School of Nursing Location: Liberty, Missouri Programs: BSN Founded In: 1849 Accreditation body: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) Website: http://www.jewell.edu