Kansas Nursing Programs and Degrees Guide
The following guide is designed to provide you with essential information on the nursing programs offered across the state of Kansas. The state’s colleges and universities allow students to choose from a variety of concentrations, among them nurse practitioner, nursing education, and nursing administration. If you need a more flexible and more convenient option to earning an education in nursing, you may want to consider enrolling in an online bachelor’s or a master’s in nursing degree program. Online programs afford students the opportunity to earn a degree entirely online with required practicums generally completed in the student’s hometown.
Quick Facts
- 45 schools with nursing programs in Kansas are in our database (see below).
- 28 colleges and universities offer associate’s degrees or certificates in nursing.1
- 18 colleges and universities offer bachelor’s degrees in nursing.1
- 9 colleges and universities offer master’s or advanced degrees in nursing.1
- No schools ranked in Kiplinger’s Best Values in Public Colleges in 2018.2
- No schools ranked in the Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Nursing Majors in 2018.3
- 1 school ranked in US News Best Nursing Schools: Master’s programs.4
- 2 schools ranked in US News Best Nursing Schools: Doctor of Nursing Practice programs.4
Top-Ranked Schools with Nursing Programs in Kansas
US News Best Nursing Schools: Master’s
- University of Kansas (#50 tie)
US News Best Nursing Schools: Doctor of Nursing Practice
- University of Kansas (#48 tie)
- Pittsburgh State University (#142 tie)
Continue reading below where you will find more in-depth information about associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degree in nursing programs offered throughout the state of Kansas.
NCLEX Pass Rate and Accreditation Information for Nursing Schools in Kansas
The following table allows you to easily compare not-for-profit Kansas nursing schools on a variety of factors. Click on the arrows in the top row to sort the table. In addition to seeking a program that leads to licensure in your desired area of nursing, it’s advisable to consider accreditation as a factor in your decision. If you are considering education beyond the associate’s level, know that a degree from a school that holds accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) is a common requirement for admission to master’s degree, ADN/LVN and RN to BSN, and specialized certificate programs. You should also check to ensure that the school you are considering is approved or accepted by the Kansas State Board of Nursing (https://ksbn.kansas.gov/).
| School | ADN or LVN Program | BSN Program | Graduate Nursing Program | ACEN/CCNE Accred.* | NCLEX-PN First Time Pass Rate** | # Taking | NCLEX-RN First Time Pass Rate^ | # Taking | Net Price^^ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allen County Community College | No | Yes | Yes | No | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $6,402 |
| Baker University | No | Yes | Yes | CCNE | N/A | N/A | 96.92% | N/A | $20,294 |
| Barton County Community College | Yes | No | No | ACEN | 87.5% | N/A | 44.44% | N/A | $9,857 |
| Benedictine College | No | Yes | No | CCNE | N/A | N/A | 68.18% | N/A | $24,879 |
| Bethel College | No | Yes | No | CCNE | N/A | N/A | 84.44% | N/A | $19,861 |
| Butler County Community College | Yes | No | No | ACEN | 100% | N/A | 89.57% | N/A | $6,623 |
| Cloud County Community College | Yes | No | No | ACEN | N/A | N/A | 82.76% | N/A | $5,732 |
| Coffeyville Community College | Yes | No | No | No | 80% | N/A | 72.73% | N/A | $4,627 |
| Colby Community College | Yes | No | No | ACEN | 79.49% | N/A | 72.97% | N/A | $8,239 |
| Dodge City Community College | Yes | No | No | ACEN | 100% | N/A | 88.89% | N/A | $8,716 |
| Donnelly College | Yes | No | No | No | 75% | N/A | N/A | N/A | $10,442 |
| Emporia State University | No | Yes | No | ACEN | N/A | N/A | 93.94% | N/A | $12,645 |
| Flint Hills Area Technical College | Yes | No | No | No | 88.37% | N/A | N/A | N/A | $15,257 |
| Fort Hays State University | No | Yes | Yes | CCNE | N/A | N/A | 95% | N/A | $11,890 |
| Fort Scott Community College | Yes | No | No | ACEN | N/A | N/A | 88% | N/A | $5,147 |
| Garden City Community College | Yes | No | No | ACEN | 95.65% | N/A | 79.19% | N/A | $6,303 |
| Hesston College | Yes | Yes | No | ACEN | N/A | N/A | 86% | N/A | $20,529 |
| Highland Community College Technical Center | Yes | No | No | No | 97.3% | N/A | 97.74% | N/A | $5,683 |
| Hutchinson Community College | Yes | No | No | ACEN | 77.27% | N/A | 70.42% | N/A | $7,635 |
| Johnson County Community College | Yes | No | No | ACEN | 89.58% | N/A | 98.41% | N/A | $7,037 |
| Kansas City Kansas Community College | Yes | No | No | ACEN | 84.31% | N/A | 73.27% | N/A | $12,579 |
| Kansas Wesleyan University | No | Yes | No | No | N/A | N/A | 57.14% | N/A | $20,620 |
| Labette Community College | Yes | No | No | ACEN | 100% | N/A | 82.35% | N/A | $7,330 |
| Manhattan Area Technical College | Yes | No | No | ACEN | 94.74% | N/A | 87.5% | N/A | $11,692 |
| MidAmerica Nazarene University | No | Yes | Yes | CCNE | N/A | N/A | 87.83% | N/A | $19,143 |
| Neosho County Community College | Yes | No | No | ACEN | 94.81% | N/A | 77.88% | N/A | $8,624 |
| Newman University | No | Yes | No | CCNE | N/A | N/A | 94.12% | N/A | $14,407 |
| North Central Kansas Technical College-Beloit | Yes | No | No | ACEN | 96.43% | N/A | N/A | N/A | $10,831 |
| North Central Kansas Technical College-Hays | Yes | No | No | ACEN | 100% | N/A | 88.46% | N/A | $10,831 |
| Ottawa University | No | Yes | No | CCNE | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Pittsburgh State University | No | Yes | Yes | CCNE | N/A | N/A | 89.19% | N/A | $12,526 |
| Pratt Community College | Yes | No | No | No | 83.33% | N/A | 31.25% | N/A | $6,798 |
| Seward County Community College | Yes | No | No | ACEN | 95.83% | N/A | 88.89% | N/A | $7,092 |
| Southwestern College | No | Yes | No | CCNE | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $23,671 |
| Tabor College | No | Yes | Yes | CCNE | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| University of Kansas Medical Center | No | Yes | Yes | CCNE | N/A | N/A | 87.76% | N/A | $18,485 |
| University of St. Mary | No | Yes | Yes | CCNE | N/A | N/A | 83.05% | N/A | $17,568 |
| Washburn Institute of Technology | Yes | No | No | No | 90.7% | N/A | N/A | N/A | $10,834 |
| Washburn University | No | Yes | Yes | CCNE | N/A | N/A | 80.74% | N/A | $11,303 |
| Wichita State University | No | Yes | Yes | CCNE | N/A | N/A | 85.50% | N/A | $12,926 |
*The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) accredits ADN/ASN/BSN programs. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredits BSN/MSN/DNP programs.5,6
**NCLEX-PN pass rates reported are for first-time undergraduates testing between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016.7 You can compare these pass rates to the national average through the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
^NCLEX-RN pass rates reported are for first-time undergraduates testing between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016.7 You can compare these pass rates to the national average through the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
^^The National Center for Education Statistics calculates net price from the total estimated cost of attendance, including includes tuition, books, room and board, and other expenses, for in-state students minus the average financial aid award (such as grants and scholarships).
Schools in Kansas with Nursing Degrees
Associate’s in Nursing Programs
Cloud County Community College
Cloud County Community College offers an associate degree nursing program with two tracks, one for currently licensed practical nurses and a new generic track for first-time nursing students. Admission to the program is competitive and requires students to have completed prerequisite courses and provide professional references. Accepted students learn the fundamentals of patient-centered care and evidence-based practice through such courses as Anatomy and Physiology, Microbiology, and Nursing Across the Lifespan. The LPN to RN associate degree nursing program at Cloud County Community College has been accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN); the school also plans to pursue ACEN accreditation for the generic track.
Kansas City Kansas Community College
The Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Registered Nursing (RN) program at Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC) has been graduating nurses since 1970. The program can be completed in four semesters once 28 credit hours of general education requirements are met; in total, 66 credit hours are required to earn the degree. Faculty strive to encourage lifelong learning and the spirit of inquiry, and as part of this mission, ADN graduates are prepared to pursue further study in a bachelor’s degree nursing program. Core nursing courses include Caring Interventions, Protective Concepts, and Pharmacology in Nursing. KCKCC’s AAS program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and approved by the Kansas State Board of Nursing.
Bachelor’s in Nursing Programs
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas Medical Center’s four-year, 124-credit undergraduate nursing program leads to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Students must complete general college requirements during the freshmen and sophomore years before entering the nursing major for the junior and senior years. In addition to nursing coursework in physiological functioning, quality improvement, and nursing across the lifespan, nursing majors will also complete a mandatory practicum each semester of the program. Students begin the program in the fall semester, and applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early as the program is competitive. Graduates of the program have secured nursing positions in such prestigious institutions as the Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins University.
Newman University
Newman University confers the Bachelor of Science of Nursing (BSN) to students who successfully complete the four-year, 124-credit program. Students must complete 61 credits of general college education requirements and prerequisites before beginning the nursing curriculum, generally in the junior year. Nursing coursework focuses on therapeutic nursing interventions, nursing assessment, mental health nursing across the lifespan, and community nursing. In addition to coursework, nursing majors must also engage in a clinical experience each semester in the nursing program. Successful applicants to the program, which is competitive, may begin their studies in the fall or in the spring semester.
Master’s in Nursing Programs
Wichita State University
Graduate students at Wichita State University can earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in one of two concentrations: direct care nursing education and nursing leadership and administration. Students in the direct care nursing education track will complete 50 credits and nursing leadership administration students must take 49 credits to fulfill degree requirements. All graduate nursing students will take five core courses covering graduate statistics, policy and politics in health care systems, and an evidence-based nursing project. Successful applicants to the program must already possess a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and must currently hold a registered nurses license. One year of nursing experience is preferred but not required.
Fort Hays State University
Fort Hays State University awards the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with specializations in family nurse practitioner, nursing education, and nursing administration. The MSN program allows for both on-campus and online learning. All graduate students, regardless of the track, will complete a menu of core courses in statistics for health professionals, developing nursing theories, primary health promotion, and research in nursing. A practicum is mandatory. Students in the family practitioner track generally only take classes on campus in Hays one day each week with all students completing a minimum of 750 hours of a clinical experience. Clinical experiences are generally found close to the student’s home.
Student Reviews
Note: Student Reviews are based on the experiences of a few individuals and it is unlikely that you will have similar results. Please review the “Data, Student Reviews and Other Information” section in our Terms of Use and Disclaimers.
Pittsburg State University
1701 S Broadway St
Pittsburg, KS 66762
(620) 231-7000
https://www.pittstate.edu
Student Review: “The nursing program is very hard to get into. It is a very competitive process. Less people get into the program than don’t. This makes it a very reputable program. All of the nursing instructors are really good at their job and have a lot of experience working in the industry. I trust that I have gotten a good education in the program and that I am doing well in my career. I would definitely recommend the program to anyone who is looking to get a good nursing education and is willing to put in a lot of work up front getting into the program.” – Student at Pittsburg State University
Tabor College
400 S Jefferson St
Hillsboro, KS 67063
(620) 947-3121
https://tabor.edu
Student Review: “The Tabor College nursing program that I attend is an RN to BSN program. It is all online with classes lasting 6 weeks. I am almost done now and it has taken about a year and a half of part-time study. The program has pros and cons. The pros are that it can be completed all online, it has small class sizes, and has a good reputation in my state. The reputation part is a big deal to me because I intend to go on to complete my DNP. The cons to this program are that it was more expensive than most alternative RN-BSN online programs in my state. I also felt that even though the classes were small, the instructors didn’t interact much outside of grading. The classes seemed premade and were mostly discussion posts and papers. No lecture components and not much actual ‘teaching’ took place.” – Student at Tabor College
Wichita State University
1845 Fairmount St
Wichita, KS 67260
(316) 978-3456
https://www.wichita.edu/
Student Review: “The Wichita State University nursing program located in Northeast Wichita is accredited, offers a BS Nursing degree (i.e., an Accredited BSN degree) and includes clinical training. On the most part, the class sizes were small and offered individual attention with the instructor and professors. Most of the professors and instructors were experienced and professional. Some of the classes were ‘hands-on’ or clinicals at a real functioning hospital or clinic. The program is listed as a 13-month program although it took me longer since I was somewhere between part-time and full-time. They list an average class size of 30 but most were less than that. All and all I would say it was a positive experience and I learned a lot.” – Student at Wichita State University
References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Kiplinger’s Best Values in Public Colleges: https://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-best-college-values-college-finder/index.php#Tile
3. The Princeton Review. The Best 382 Colleges, 2018 Edition. New York, Penguin Random House, 2018.
4. US News Top Graduate Nursing Schools: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-nursing-schools
5. Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN): http://www.acenursing.us/accreditedprograms/programSearch.htm
6. Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE): https://directory.ccnecommunity.org/reports/accprog.asp
7. Kansas State Board of Nursing: https://ksbn.kansas.gov/