The employment of registered nurses is projected to increase by 6% between 2021 and 2031, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH). As of 2021, according to the same source, there are 3,130,600 registered nurses employed in the United States. Wages for registered nurses and other nursing occupations is much higher than the average for all occupations. According to the BLS’s Occupational Employment Statistics (OES), the mean annual wage of registered nurses is $82,750. That’s significantly better than the $58,260 average annual pay for all occupations. But once you’re a nurse, you can go into other fields and earn more money, such as a nurse practitioner (mean annual wage of $118,040) or nurse anesthetist (mean annual wage of $202,470).
Considering the solid-to-high compensation, it’s not surprising that majoring in nursing is so popular in the U.S. Other factors, such as being the child of medical parents or the increase in America’s aging population, have helped contribute to the appeal of nursing, both as a field of study and field of employment.
If you’re thinking about pursuing a degree in nursing, finding the best colleges for nursing is an important criteria when researching different colleges to apply to. Therefore, for our study here, BrokeScholar concentrated on identifying the best colleges for nursing in Missouri. We analyzed 66 colleges in Missouri, both four-year public institutions and private not-for-profit institutions, but excluding for-profit institutions. Sourcing data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), we assembled a list of the best colleges for nursing in Missouri for the academic year 2023-2024. (See the methodology section for more details).
Read on to find out the best colleges for nursing degrees in Missouri.
Best Colleges for Nursing in Missouri
For our nursing degree study, we analyzed all the four-year public and private not-for-profit colleges in Missouri in terms of several factors. These included the type and number of degrees awarded per academic year in Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (terminology provided by the NCES), graduation rates, estimated annual cost of tuition and required fees. Another key factor was the proportion of degrees in nursing compared to the student population. This was an important factor in the study because it levelled the playing field so that smaller schools could rank as well and not get swamped by the quantity of nursing degrees conferred by larger state schools.
In terms of the level of degrees awarded in nursing, the top best colleges for nursing in Missouri offer a range from associates through doctoral degrees. The level with the most degrees in nursing is a bachelor's degree, though several schools offer high level degrees in nursing like a master’s or doctoral degree. Hence, without further delay, let’s take a closer look at the breakdown of the best colleges for nursing in Missouri.
Maryville University of Saint Louis
Type: 4-year, private not-for-profit
Graduation rate: 73%
Tuition and required fees: $27,166
Maryville University of St. Louis is a private university in Town and Country, Missouri. It was originally founded in 1872 by the Society of the Sacred Heart. Boasting a graduation rate of 73%, Maryville University’s rate is way better than the 51% average graduation rate for all 66 Missouri colleges in the study. Though a private college, Maryville University is fairly large, with more than 5,600 undergraduate students and more than 10,500 students in total. Maryville University possesses a comparatively high proportion of bachelor’s degrees in nursing versus its undergraduate population, at 2.88%. Maryville University is also one of few colleges with no application fee.
All these factors contributed to Maryville’s ranking among the best colleges for nursing in Missouri. On top of these factors, Maryville University offers degrees in nursing across multiple degree levels. The main nursing programs on offer at Maryville University include:
According to NCES data, the main nursing degrees awarded by Maryville University in the last academic year include:
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Bachelor’s degrees: 164 awarded in Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse.
Rockhurst University
Type: 4-year, private not-for-profit
Graduation rate: 74%
Tuition and required fees: $41,701
Rockhurst University is a private Jesuit university in Kansas City, Missouri. As a private college, it naturally has fewer students than most public colleges, possessing a total student population of over 3,600 and an undergraduate population just over 2,700. Rockhurst University’s graduation rate of 74% is far superior to the 51% average graduation rate for the 66 Missouri colleges included in the study. In terms of admissions, Rockhurst University is on the more competitive side, with an undergraduate acceptance rate of 67%. Rockhurst also has a comparatively higher proportion of nursing degrees compared to undergraduates, at 9.32%, which is one of the highest ratios in the study. Rockhurst University offers degrees in nursing primarily on the bachelor’s level. Through the university’s Saint Luke’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences, you can earn nursing degrees through the following programs:
According to NCES data, the principal nursing degrees awarded by Rockhurst University in the last academic year include:
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Bachelor’s degrees: 252 awarded in Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse.
Saint Louis University
Type: 4-year, private-not-profit
Graduation rate: 80%
Tuition and required fees: $50,644
As its name would suggest, Saint Louis University is a private Jesuit research university with its main campus in St. Louis as well as one in Madrid, Spain. Originally founded in 1818 by Louis William Valentine DuBourg, it is the oldest university west of the Mississippi River and the second-oldest Jesuit university in the US. A particular factor that really makes Saint Louis University stand out is its excellent graduation rate of 80%, which is one of the best rates in the study. Though a private college, Saint Louis University is one the larger side, being home to a total student population of nearly 13,500 students, including a little over 8,700 undergraduate students. Saint Louis University offers a broad range of programs in nursing, across different degree levels. Below is a list of the principal nursing programs the university has to offer:
According to NCES data, the main nursing degrees awarded by Saint Louis University in the last academic year include:
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Bachelor’s degrees: 189 awarded in Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse.
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Master’s degrees: 82 awarded in Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse.
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Doctoral degrees: 9 awarded in Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse.
Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Type: 4-year, private not-for-profit
Graduation rate: 100%
Tuition and required fees: $11,691
Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences is a private four-year university in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, though it’s primarily an associate degree-awarding school. This college of nursing and health sciences is located in the same city as Southeast Missouri State, which ranked among the best colleges for biology in Missouri in a separate study. Often simply referred to as SoutheastHealth College, this school is very small, with only about 158 students, all undergraduates. With such a small student body and such a specialized focus in terms of subjects of study, it isn’t too surprising SoutheastHEALTH College has the highest graduation rate in the study at 100%. It also boasts the highest proportion of all nursing degrees to all students, at 25.95%. All these factors combined helped make Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences one of the best colleges for nursing in Missouri. Below is a list of the school’s main nursing programs:
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Practical Nursing Program: This program sets students up to then earn an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing degree.
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Associate of Applied Science in Nursing: This program has two tracks available, including an accelerated LPN/Paramedic to RN track and a full-time Basic track offered for students with no prior nursing education.
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BSN Completion Programs: This program has an RN to BSN curriculum designed to enhance the knowledge of individuals with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) who are licensed as registered nurses.
According to NCES data, the principal nursing degrees awarded by Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences in the last academic year include:
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Associate degrees: 37 awarded in Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse.
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Bachelor’s degrees: 4 awarded in Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse.
Southwest Baptist University
Type: 4-year, private not-for-profit
Graduation rate: 52%
Tuition and required fees: $26,970
Southwest Baptist University is a private Baptist university in Bolivar, Missouri. It is affiliated with the Missouri Baptist Convention, which is part of the Southern Baptist Convention. This school offers a range of nursing degrees, from the associate level to the master’s level. As private colleges go, Southwest Baptist University is medium-sized, with just over 2,100 undergraduate students and more than 2,700 students in total. One small benefit about Southwest Baptist University is that it charges no application fee. The university’s graduation rate of 52% is just one percentage point higher than the study’s overall average graduation rate. However, Southwest Baptist University has one of the highest proportions of total nursing degrees to total students, at 7.12%. This proved to be a major factor in propelling Southwest Baptist University to the rank of the No. 5 best college for nursing in Missouri. Its degrees in nursing span multiple degree levels, such as the ones below:
According to NCES data, the main nursing degrees awarded by Southwest Baptist University in the last academic year include:
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Associate degrees: 127 awarded in Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse.
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Bachelor’s degrees: 63 awarded in Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse.
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Master’s degrees: 3 awarded in Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse.
University of Central Missouri
Type: 4-year, public institution
Graduation rate: 53%
Tuition and required fees: $9,414 for in-state | $17,454 for out-of-state
Located in Warrensburg, Missouri, the University of Central Missouri is a public university that is of middling size. The university has an undergraduate population of just over 7,500 students as well as more than 10,500 students in total. Although its graduation rate of 53% is only a little higher than the 51% average graduation rate for the whole study, the University of Central Missouri (UCMO) makes up for this with affordable costs of tuition and fees.
The University of Central Missouri came in as the 10th best college for nursing in Missouri. Despite its large undergraduate population, the university maintains a comparatively high proportion of nursing degrees to undergraduates, at 1.56%. This was a significant factor that contributed to UCMO ranking among the best colleges for nursing in Missouri, as was the number of nursing programs students can pursue. These nursing programs include:
According to NCES data, the primary nursing degrees awarded by the University of Central Missouri in the last academic year include:
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Bachelor’s degrees: 118 awarded in Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse.
University of Missouri-Columbia
Type: 4-year, public institution
Graduation rate: 73%
Tuition and required fees: $13,600 for in-state | $33,900 for out-of-state
Located in Columbia, Missouri, as its name suggests, this is the centerpiece of the University of Missouri system: University of Missouri, or Mizzou. This school ranked as the No. 3 best college for biology in Missouri. Mizzou also happens to be the biggest college in the state, with a total student population of over 31,000, including a little under 24,000 undergraduate students. Despite its considerable size, Mizzou boasts a comparatively high proportion of bachelor’s degrees in nursing compared to its undergraduate population, at 1.07%. The university’s graduation rate of 73% is also well above the study’s average of 51%. What’s more, for a big state school, Mizzou’s undergraduate acceptance rate of 77% is more competitive than most public colleges in the state.
Nursing degrees at Mizzou are provided through studies at the Sinclair School of Nursing. As a large public college, Mizzou offers degrees in biology on several degree levels. Here are some of the principal nursing degrees on offer from the University of Missouri:
According to NCES data, the main nursing degrees awarded by Mizzou in the last academic year include:
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Bachelor’s degrees: 253 awarded in Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse.
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Master’s degrees: 27 awarded in Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse.
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Doctoral degrees: 12 awarded in Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse.
University of Missouri-Kansas City
Type: 4-year, public institution
Graduation rate: 57%
Tuition and required fees: $11,287 for in-state | $27,760 for out-of-state
Part of the University of Missouri System, the University of Missouri-Kansas City is a public research university and one of only two member universities with a medical school. Similar to the University of Missouri-Columbia, UMKC is also quite large, with over 16,000 total students and just under 11,000 undergraduate students. While its graduation rate is lower than Mizzou’s, at 57%, it is still higher than the study’s overall average of 51%. Furthermore, the University of Missouri-Kansas City is also a bit competitive to get into for a state school, having an undergraduate acceptance rate of 76%.
As is common among large public research universities, UMKC offers multiple levels of nursing degrees for undergraduates and graduate students to pursue. Below are the main nursing programs to be found at UKMC:
According to NCES data, the main nursing degrees awarded by the University of Missouri-Kansas City in the last academic year include:
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Bachelor’s degrees: 80 awarded in Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse.
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Master’s degrees: 121 awarded in Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse.
University of Missouri-St. Louis
Type: 4-year, public institution
Graduation rate: 58%
Tuition and required fees: $11,693 for in-state | $29,960 for out-of-state
The University of Missouri–St. Louis is a public research university located, of course, in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1963, it is the newest of the four universities in the University of Missouri System; the name is often shortened to UMSL. The university has a better-than-average graduation rate of 58%. In terms of admissions, UMSL is on par with the Universities of Missouri-Columbia and Kansas City, possessing an undergraduate acceptance rate of 77%. This admission rate is, once again, relatively selective for a fairly large public college, which has a total student population of over 15,000, including more than 12,300 undergraduate students. The university, though large, has a great student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1, which is very good for a public university.
Like other schools in the University of Missouri System, UMSL provides nursing degrees on both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Through its College of Nursing, the University of Missouri-St. Louis offers the following degrees in nursing:
According to NCES data, the main nursing degrees awarded by the University of Missouri-St. Louis in the last academic year include:
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Bachelor’s degrees: 191 awarded in Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse.
William Jewell College
Type: 4-year, private not-for-profit
Graduation rate: 65%
Tuition and required fees: $19,610
Located in Liberty, Missouri, William Jewell College is a private liberal arts college, originally founded in 1849 by members of the Missouri Baptist Convention and endowed with $10,000 by William Jewell. William Jewell College is definitely on the smaller end of the spectrum in terms of student body size: It has approximately 805 total students, with nearly 780 of them being undergraduates. The graduation rate at William Jewell College is 65%, which is 14 percentage points higher than the study’s overall average. In terms of admissions, William Jewell College is one of the hardest colleges to get into among the top 10 best colleges for nursing, having an undergraduate acceptance rate of 47%.
More significantly, what really makes William Jewell College one of the best colleges for nursing is its very high proportion of bachelor’s degrees in nursing compared to its undergraduate population, at 8.60%. Out of only 779 undergraduate students, 67 bachelor’s degrees in nursing were awarded in the last academic year. Additionally, William Jewell College offers a couple of nursing degree programs, including:
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Transfer Nursing (Spring and Fall entry points)
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Accelerated Track Nursing 12-month track (May start) or 16-month track (January start)
According to NCES data, the main nursing degrees awarded by William Jewell College in the last academic year include:
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Bachelor’s degrees: 67 awarded in Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse.
The Bottom Line on the Best Colleges for Nursing in Missouri
Missouri is home to more than 60 colleges and universities that are four-year public or private not-for-profit institutions. And although our study includes only the top 10 best colleges for nursing in Missouri, at least 31 colleges in the state that award nursing degrees on some degree level, ranging from the associate level to the doctoral level. So, if you’re interested in majoring in nursing or studying nursing on the graduate level in Missouri, you have plenty of options to choose from.
Many schools that made our top-10 list boast high numbers of degrees in nursing plus high proportions of degrees in nursing versus their student populations. The college that awarded the most bachelor’s degrees in nursing was the University of Missouri (Mizzou), with 253 conferred in the last academic year alone; this just beats out Rockhurst University, which awarded 252 bachelor’s degrees in nursing in the last academic year. On the flipside, the school with the highest proportion of bachelor’s degrees in nursing compared to its undergraduate student population was Rockhurst University, at 9.32%.
The majority of these Missouri colleges are private not-for-profit colleges, which tend to have higher tuition costs, but not always. Saint Louis University, which ranked No. 2 among the best colleges for nursing in Missouri, has an estimated cost of tuition and required fees in excess of $50,000 per year. However, William Jewell College, which ranked No. 9, is also private and only charges an estimated $19,610 per year in tuition and required fees. Compared to tuition rates in many other states, the best colleges in Missouri for nursing are fairly affordable. And you can make the cost of attending college even more affordable by taking advantage of BrokeScholar’s vast library of college scholarships for nursing. By winning one of these scholarships, you can get a big help in lessening the cost of attending college, whether it is on the undergraduate or graduate level.
Methodology
In order to identify the best colleges for nursing in Missouri, we analyzed 66 colleges and universities that fit the following criteria:
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Are four-year private, not-for-profit institutions or public institutions.
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Offer a degree in Nursing/Biological Sciences, General, on any degree level ranging from undergraduate certificates to doctoral degrees.
These 66 colleges and universities were sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), as was data on their respective undergraduate populations; undergraduate graduation rates; the type and number of degrees awarded per academic year in marketing; and the proportion of these degrees to the undergraduate population. Tuition costs were taken from individual college websites when available, otherwise NCES was sourced.
