Campus & online schools
Nursing Schools in Missouri: Campus & Online Programs (2026)
13 nursing schools have campuses in Missouri, plus accredited online programs open to residents. Compare programs accepting applications below.
- Campus schools
- 13
- Located in Missouri
- Online schools
- 44
- Enroll residents
- Average RN salary
- $81,950
- BLS
Programs accepting applications
Missouri programs accepting applications
Programs currently enrolling Missouri residents. Our own ranking of Missouri schools follows below.
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Missouri has 13 campus-based nursing schools plus 44 accredited online programs open to residents (2026). Registered nurses in Missouri earn about $81,950/year (BLS). Verify each program's ACEN or CCNE accreditation before enrolling.
Key takeaways — nursing schools in Missouri
- Missouri has 13 campus-based nursing schools and 44 accredited online programs available to residents.
- Registered nurses in Missouri earn an average of $81,950 per year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
- Verify each program's ACEN or CCNE accreditation before enrolling — it is the baseline for federal financial aid, NCLEX eligibility, and graduate nursing study.
- Online pre-licensure programs must hold Missouri Board of Nursing approval and arrange in-state clinical placements — verify both before enrolling.
Campus-Based Nursing Schools in Missouri
Accredited nursing schools with a campus in Missouri. Outcome data is added as state boards publish it.
Find Missouri nursing schools near you
Narrow this list to programs near your ZIP, the degree you want, and your start date.
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Online Nursing Programs Available to Missouri Residents
These accredited schools are based outside Missouri but enroll Missouri residents online. Confirm clinical-placement and Missouri Board of Nursing approval before enrolling in any pre-licensure RN program.
How We Evaluate Nursing Schools in Missouri
We separate schools with a physical campus in Missouri from accredited online programs that enroll Missouri residents, because the two answer different questions — one is about studying locally, the other about studying from Missouri. Within each group we weight NCLEX first-time pass rate most heavily; it is the strongest available predictor of how well a program prepares graduates for licensure.
Accreditation is non-negotiable: we only include schools accredited by ACEN or CCNE, or regionally accredited programs with state board approval. We also consider acceptance rate (program selectivity), program variety across degree levels (LPN through doctoral), and value relative to regional salary expectations. Where a school has not yet reported outcome data, we show it without inventing a number.
What to Look for in a Missouri Nursing School
The most important factor is NCLEX pass rate. The national first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate for U.S.-educated candidates was 86.7% in 2025 (NCSBN), down from 91.2% in 2024. Programs consistently above 90% have demonstrated they effectively prepare students for licensure. Ask schools for their three-year average pass rate — a single good year can be an anomaly.
Accreditation matters for several reasons beyond quality assurance. CCNE- or ACEN-accredited programs make you eligible for federal financial aid, qualify you for military service, and meet the requirements for most graduate nursing programs if you plan to advance your career later.
Consider clinical placement. Hospitals in Missouri often have affiliation agreements with specific nursing schools, giving graduates an inside track to jobs. If you are considering an online program based outside Missouri, confirm that it arranges clinical placements within Missouri and is approved by the Missouri Board of Nursing for pre-licensure study.
Nursing Career Outlook in Missouri
Registered nurses in Missouri earn an average of $81,950 annually. The BLS projects nursing employment to grow 6% nationally through 2032 — faster than the average for all occupations — driven by an aging population and expanded access to healthcare. Missouri is expected to see strong demand in hospitals, outpatient care centers, and home health settings.
BSN-prepared nurses command higher salaries and have access to broader roles. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing reports that 80% of nursing positions now prefer or require a BSN. If you currently hold an ADN, many schools serving Missourioffer flexible RN-to-BSN completion programs you can complete while working.