Nursing Schools in Kansas

Kansas offers a variety of pathways for aspiring nurses, with 49 nursing schools providing a range of programs from Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to doctoral-level education. While Kansas is not a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, meaning nurses licensed elsewhere must apply for a Kansas license, the state offers opportunities for students to pursue careers in different areas of nursing. Prospective students can find programs for LPN (24 schools), Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) (25 schools), and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) (18 schools) as traditional pathways, alongside accelerated BSN programs (2 schools). Furthermore, the state provides options for career advancement with LPN to BSN (4 schools), LPN to ADN (17 schools), and RN to BSN (12 schools) bridge programs. Graduate nursing education is also available, including Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) (7 schools), RN to MSN (2 schools), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) (2 schools), BSN to DNP (2 schools), and even a single program for BSN to PhD.

While program costs vary, prospective students can use the provided median salary information to get an idea of potential earnings in Kansas. Registered Nurses in Kansas earn a median annual salary of $76,240, while Nurse Practitioners earn around $119,270. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses earn a median salary of $55,610 per year. The state currently employs a large number of nursing professionals, including 31,120 Registered Nurses, 6,560 Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses, and 2,920 Nurse Practitioners.

Among the notable institutions for nursing education in Kansas are the University of Kansas Medical Center School of Nursing, known for its strong research focus and inter-professional education, and Wichita State University's College of Health Professions, which offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate nursing programs. Another notable institution is Kansas State University, which offers a traditional BSN program as well as an RN to BSN completion program, catering to students at different stages of their nursing journey.

To explore the complete list of 49 nursing schools in Kansas and find the program that best suits your career goals, please continue reading below.

Top RN Programs in Kansas

This year, we've compiled a list of top nursing schools in the state by examining NCLEX-RN pass rates from the last three years. Our analysis focused on schools with consistent graduate numbers and a minimum average pass rate of 80%. By looking at these rates, you can see which schools effectively prepare their students for the licensure exam and beyond. For a detailed breakdown of how we determined these rankings, visit our ranking methodology page.
Student Population
Small
College Type
4-year, Private
Average NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
95.0%
Average NCLEX-PN Pass Rate
N/A

Available Programs


Student Population
Medium
College Type
2-year, Public
Average NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
95.0%
Average NCLEX-PN Pass Rate
89.7%

Available Programs


Student Population
Small
College Type
4-year, Private
Average NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
93.0%
Average NCLEX-PN Pass Rate
N/A

Available Programs


Student Population
Small
College Type
2-year, Public
Average NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
93.0%
Average NCLEX-PN Pass Rate
90.7%

Available Programs


Student Population
Small
College Type
2-year, Public
Average NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
93.7%
Average NCLEX-PN Pass Rate
100.0%

Labette Community College is located in Parsons, Kansas. This public community college was established back in 1923. This school has a history of being a great option for people seeking new careers in the community. Many different academic programs are available at this school. Students will be able to seek out several associate degree programs and will also find certain certificate opportunities that are catered toward career-oriented studies. Aside from academic pursuits, LCC is well known for having a good athletics program. Both the basketball programs and wrestling programs have had great success in NJCAA competition. LCC also has many school programs and other extracurricular activities for students to involve themselves in.

Nursing at LCC has always been a very respected program. This school's nursing program is a bi-level program that has had amazing success over the years. One hundred percent of the graduates of this nursing program go on to find employment in the nursing field. The program is designed to prepare students to become both LPN's and RN's. Graduates are prepared to take the NCLEX-PN and NCLEX-RN licensure exams through their studies in the nursing program. The program is also set up to make it convenient for LPN's to transition into becoming RN's. All students who are interested in pursuing further nursing studies will be able to transfer to a four-year school in Kansas to pursue a bachelor degree in nursing under the Kansas Statewide Nursing Articulation Plan. 

Student Population
Medium
College Type
4-year, Public
Average NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
93.7%
Average NCLEX-PN Pass Rate
N/A
Student Population
Small
College Type
2-year, Public
Average NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
91.5%
Average NCLEX-PN Pass Rate
96.7%

Available Programs


Student Population
Small
College Type
2-year, Public
Average NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
91.3%
Average NCLEX-PN Pass Rate
94.3%

Garden City Community College (GCCC) is located in Garden City, Kansas. This school was established in 1919, making it a very old community college. GCCC has been serving the needs of the community for an entire century now and they continue to provide the best possible educational opportunities to students who walk through the doors. The school currently serves over 2,000 students and it has a number of different academic programs to choose from. Students will be able to pursue many associate degree opportunities, as well as various certificate options. GCCC is quite famous for having a good athletics program, too. They are part of the National Junior College Athletic Association and participate in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference.

Nursing is an essential program at GCCC and there are several options for nursing students to consider at this school. It offers a practical nurse program, as well as an associate degree nurse program for those who wish to pursue careers as an RN. There is also a program for LPN's who wish to become RN's. This nursing program has the full support of the Kansas State Board of Nursing and is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. It offers students a great education and prepares them for future success and professions. 

Student Population
Small
College Type
2-year, Public
Average NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
92.0%
Average NCLEX-PN Pass Rate
92.0%

Available Programs


Student Population
Small
College Type
4-year, Private
Average NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
90.0%
Average NCLEX-PN Pass Rate
N/A

Available Programs


Student Population
Small
College Type
4-year, Private
Average NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
90.7%
Average NCLEX-PN Pass Rate
N/A

Available Programs


Student Population
Large
College Type
4-year, Public
Average NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
89.3%
Average NCLEX-PN Pass Rate
N/A
Student Population
Small
College Type
2-year, Public
Average NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
88.7%
Average NCLEX-PN Pass Rate
98.7%

Available Programs


Student Population
Small
College Type
2-year, Public
Average NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
89.0%
Average NCLEX-PN Pass Rate
92.3%

Available Programs


Student Population
Small
College Type
4-year, Private
Average NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
89.0%
Average NCLEX-PN Pass Rate
N/A

Available Programs


Student Population
Small
College Type
2-year, Public
Average NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
88.3%
Average NCLEX-PN Pass Rate
100.0%

Available Programs


Dodge City Community College (DCCC aka DC3) is located in Dodge City, Kansas. This public community college was established in 1935. This school offers its students a very good variety of courses and student programs to participate in. Students will be able to work toward earning many different associate degrees and there are also certificate programs to consider. Aside from this, the school is well-known for having a good athletics department. DC3 is a member of the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference in the National Junior College Athletic Association. The school once won a national championship in men's basketball and has both men's and women's teams in many different sports.

DC has a great nursing program that will appeal to students as well. Students will be able to pursue an associate degree in applied science at this school. Students who complete the first year of the ADN course will be able to receive a practical nursing diploma. This diploma entitles students to take the NCLEX-PN licensure examination.  Upon graduation, students will be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN licensure examination. This nursing program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Nursing in Education (ACEN). 

Student Population
Medium
College Type
4-year, Public
Average NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
86.3%
Average NCLEX-PN Pass Rate
N/A
Student Population
Small
College Type
2-year, Public
Average NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
86.0%
Average NCLEX-PN Pass Rate
88.7%

Available Programs


Student Population
Medium
College Type
4-year, Public
Average NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
84.3%
Average NCLEX-PN Pass Rate
N/A

Available Programs


Student Population
Medium
College Type
4-year, Public
Average NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
84.3%
Average NCLEX-PN Pass Rate
N/A

Wichita State University (WSU) is a public university in Wichita, Kansas. It is part of the Kansas State University system, which includes six campuses. WSU was founded in 1886 as a private preparatory school. Over the years, WSU has expanded to offer more than 200 areas of study through its 6 colleges. The main campus covers a small 9-acre area in Maize, which is a suburb of Wichita. Additional classes are offered through four satellite locations in the greater Wichita area. Incoming freshmen are required to reside on campus during their first year. WSU is also home to a large library system containing over 2 million volumes and over 70,000 journal subscriptions. These holdings are contained in four different libraries managed by the university. 

The WSU School of Nursing offers eight different CCNE-accredited nursing programs. The undergrad programs include BSN, accelerated BSN, LPN to BSN, and RN to BSN programs. With the accelerated BSN program, students may become qualified nurses within two years. The graduate-level programs include MSN, RN to MSN, DNP, and BSN to DNP programs. With the RN to BSN completion program, registered nurses can further their career by earning their BSN through the completion of online classes. The WSU School of Nursing first received accreditation in 1973 and continues to offer quality nursing programs with students regularly exceeding the state and national scores on the nursing license exam.

Kansas's NCLEX-RN pass rate Vs. National Average

Kansas's NCLEX-PN pass rate Vs. National Average