Compare tuition, NCLEX pass rates, and outcomes for BSN programs in the Topeka area.
Prospective nurses in Topeka face a crucial decision: pursue a faster, lower-cost associate degree or invest in a bachelor’s degree that unlocks broader career advancement. Kansas healthcare employers are increasingly seeking BSN-prepared candidates, a trend that has reshaped program demand across the state.
Within the Topeka area, the rankings include 10 nursing programs, from community college ADN pathways to university-based BSNs, each evaluated on net price, graduation rates, and graduate earnings. Comparing NCLEX pass rates, clinical rotation sites, and licensure requirements reveals stark differences in value.
Topeka’s healthcare sector, anchored by Stormont Vail Health and the University of Kansas Health System, continues to expand, ensuring that local nursing graduates step into a job market hungry for clinical talent.
To help Topeka students find the right nursing program, we've ranked schools across Kansas based on graduate earnings, cost, completion rates, and program accessibility. The list includes programs that offer hybrid and online options, direct partnerships with Topeka-area colleges, and eligibility for state scholarships like the Kansas Promise program.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University of Kansas | Lawrence, KS | $12,000 – $30,000/yr | Topeka students via CCNP partnership | |
The University of Kansas School of Nursing offers a traditional campus-based BSN at the Lawrence campus and a flexible Community College Nursing Partnership (CCNP) that allows students to complete ADN coursework at partner schools like Washburn University in Topeka and finish KU's BSN online. KU's CCNP emphasizes rural and non-metro access, with twice-yearly admission cycles, making it one of the most direct BSN pathways for Topeka-area nurses. The program boasts a strong 86% institutional retention rate and prepares graduates for leadership roles across Kansas healthcare settings.
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| #2 | Donnelly College | Kansas City, KS | ~$11,000/yr (est.) | Working RNs needing hybrid BSN format | |
Donnelly College's RN-to-BSN program is a hybrid format designed for working registered nurses in the Kansas City–Topeka region, with evening classes and no Friday sessions for maximum flexibility. The program emphasizes evidence-based practice, nursing leadership, and community health, with a curriculum that includes nursing informatics, law and ethics, and advanced health assessment. Donnelly offers affordable in-state tuition and scholarships, and the program's clinical placements span the northeast Kansas area, directly serving Topeka-area employers.
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| #3 | Pittsburg State University | Pittsburg, KS | $16,000/yr (net price) | Northeast Kansas students pursuing BSN | |
Pittsburg State University's BSN program is a traditional pre-licensure track that combines rigorous coursework with hands-on simulation hospital training, and it actively recruits students from northeast Kansas, including Topeka. The program reports strong NCLEX-RN pass rates and a 77% retention rate, reflecting its supportive campus environment. Graduates are prepared for generalist nursing roles across Kansas, and the in-state tuition makes it a cost-effective public university option.
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| #4 | Salina Area Technical College | Salina, KS | $6,000/yr | ||
Salina Area Technical College offers a nine-month associate degree nursing program that bridges LPNs to RN licensure, combining classroom instruction with simulations and clinical experiences. The program is fully campus-based and emphasizes patient-care skills and soft skills training. Salina Tech's ADN is Promise Scholarship eligible, offering in-state students from Topeka a low-cost path to RN licensure with a total program cost around $11,630.
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| #5 | North Central Kansas Technical College | Beloit, KS | $12,000/yr | ||
North Central Kansas Technical College provides an 18-month associate degree nursing program that prepares students for both LPN and RN licensure through the NCLEX-PN and NCLEX-RN exams. The full-time, campus-based program includes hands-on clinical experience and small class sizes, and it is accredited by ACEN. NCK Tech markets its nursing program to north-central and northeast Kansas students, and the school's low median graduate debt of $10,000 and strong 78% graduation rate make it an efficient, affordable pathway into nursing.
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| #6 | Hesston College | Hesston, KS | ~$26,000/yr (est.) | ||
Hesston College's BSN program is a private, campus-based bachelor's degree that draws students from the Wichita–Topeka corridor and beyond, offering a comprehensive 121-credit curriculum with 61 nursing credits. Admission options include a pre-nursing guarantee for freshmen and direct admission for transfers with a 3.0 GPA. Despite being a private college, Hesston's institutional aid keeps the net price competitive, and graduates report median earnings of $47,495 a decade after entry.
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| #7 | Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology | Wichita, KS | $9,000/yr (net price) | ||
WSU Tech's Associate Degree Nurse program is a two-year, campus-based track that prepares students for the NCLEX-RN exam and entry-level nursing positions. The program is Promise Scholarship eligible for Kansas residents and articulates with Wichita State University's online RN-to-BSN, offering a clear path to a bachelor's degree for Topeka-area graduates who want to stay in-state. With a net price of $8,805 and median graduate debt under $10,000, it presents a very affordable option.
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| #8 | Colby Community College | Colby, KS | $8,000/yr (net price) | ||
Colby Community College offers an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing that combines practical nursing and associate degree nursing into a two-year sequence, with LPN and RN exit points. The program is accredited by the Kansas State Board of Nursing and ACEN, and includes transition courses for paramedics and respiratory therapists. Colby's nursing program is designated as Promise Scholarship eligible, extending low-cost training to any Kansas resident, including those from Topeka, who agree to work in the state after graduation.
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| #9 | Seward County Community College | Liberal, KS | $4,000 – $5,000/yr | ||
Seward County Community College's two-year ADN program builds on practical nursing skills and is designed for LPNs moving up to RN. The campus-based curriculum emphasizes critical thinking and patient care across diverse healthcare settings, and the program is eligible for the Kansas Promise Scholarship, which can dramatically reduce costs for Kansans willing to relocate to Liberal from Topeka or elsewhere. With a net price of $6,717 and median graduate debt of $6,500, it is one of the most affordable nursing pathways in the state.
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| #10 | Garden City Community College | Garden City, KS | ~$8,000/yr (est.) | ||
Garden City Community College's ADN program is a campus-based track that recruits LPNs from anywhere in Kansas, offering small class sizes and high job placement rates. The program's NCLEX pass rates exceed state and national averages, and it qualifies for the Kansas Promise Scholarship, which sweetens the deal for Topeka-area students willing to move across the state. With a median graduate debt of just $6,500 and earnings of $41,704 ten years out, it provides solid returns.
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Nursing school rankings are shifting toward transparency, as students increasingly demand clear data on earnings and debt repayment before committing to a program. Our approach for Topeka programs combines four key measures: net price, graduation rates, student outcomes such as earnings and loan debt, and program format availability.
We evaluate each school on affordability (net price), completion rate (institution-wide graduation rate), return on investment (earnings and debt levels), and accessibility (learning formats). Net price is the average amount students pay after scholarships and grants, calculated for full-time first-year undergraduates and sourced from federal data. Graduation rates track the share of students who complete their degree within 150% of normal time; these are school-wide figures and do not isolate nursing programs.
Because federal college datasets report overall statistics, the earnings and debt figures we reference reflect the entire institution, not just nursing graduates. Individual outcomes in nursing can differ significantly from the school average. Additionally, net price is an average; your actual cost will depend on your financial aid package. We strongly encourage using each school’s net price calculator for your personalized estimate.
We consider schools within a 75-mile radius of Topeka to ensure options are commutable or within a reasonable distance for clinical rotations. This geographic scope captures institutions in the greater Topeka area where many students live or work.
When comparing nursing programs, sticker price is just the starting point. Net price, what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, is often significantly lower. Keep in mind that net price is an institution-wide average, so your actual costs may vary depending on your financial aid package.
The first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate is a critical indicator of program quality. According to the latest multi-year data from the Kansas State Board of Nursing (2024), several programs serving the Topeka area deliver strong results.1 Washburn University’s first-time pass rate was 97.50% in 2024, with a three-year average (2022, 2024) of 94.66%. Baker University (Baldwin City) posted a 96.77% first-time rate and a 92.73% three-year average. Rasmussen University, Topeka, reported an 89.90% first-time rate and a 77.95% three-year average. These figures show that two of the three programs consistently exceed state and national benchmarks.
For context, the 2024 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate for all Kansas BSN programs was 94.21%, while the national rate for U.S.-educated BSN graduates was 91.92%.1 Both Washburn and Baker clear these thresholds comfortably, highlighting their rigorous preparation. Rasmussen’s 2024 first-time rate sits just below the national average but slightly above the national overall pass rate (88.56%).1 When evaluating any program, it’s wise to look at multi-year trends, single-year numbers can fluctuate.
While NCLEX pass rates signal licensure readiness, they don’t capture long-term financial outcomes. Program-level earnings shortly after completion are not yet available for many nursing programs, but institution-wide data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard provides helpful context. For instance, Washburn University graduates across all majors had median earnings of $49,774 ten years after entry, with median debt of $18,127. Baker University graduates earned a median of $63,855, with median debt of $25,000. These figures are not program-specific, but they offer a rough idea of the economic return students can expect.
NCLEX pass rates are a powerful signal, but they work best when paired with earnings, debt, and employment data. Prospective students should also consider net price, clinical placement opportunities, and student support services. No single metric tells the whole story, but a program that combines high NCLEX performance with manageable debt and strong career prospects is a promising choice.
The quality of a nursing program in Topeka is shaped by its clinical partnerships, which provide direct patient-care hours, specialty rotations, and career pipelines into the city’s largest health systems.
Three hospital systems form the backbone of clinical training for nursing students in the capital city. Stormont Vail Health is the primary partner for Washburn University and Washburn Tech, placing students across a wide range of units, including medical-surgical, critical care, emergency, and maternal-child services. With over 14 affiliated nursing schools and an ANCC-accredited Nurse Residency Program, Stormont Vail also serves as a hiring pipeline after graduation.
The University of Kansas Health System St. Francis Campus offers its own Nurse Academy and opens clinical rotations in trauma, ICUs, cardiac care, and ambulatory settings. The Colmery-O’Neil VA Medical Center provides additional placement options, especially in mental health, geriatrics, and primary care, often appealing to students interested in veteran-focused care. Placements are coordinated through formal affiliation agreements and systems like myClinicalExchange.
Most pre-licensure nursing programs in Topeka require in-person attendance, with clinical hours completed at local hospitals and simulation labs on campus. Washburn Tech’s Practical Nursing program, for example, is a full-time, 9-month campus-based program leading to LPN eligibility. Traditional BSN and ADN pathways follow a similar in-person model, blending didactic coursework with hands-on clinicals.
For nurses who already hold an RN license, RN-to-BSN and graduate programs often provide greater flexibility. Some schools in the region offer hybrid or online didactic courses while still requiring in-person clinical placements. Accelerated tracks exist for those entering with a prior bachelor’s degree, compressing the timeline but maintaining rigorous clinical hour requirements.
Hands-on clinical hours are the practical heart of nursing education. The variety of units available at a clinical site determines your exposure to specialty areas, from NICUs and ORs to cardiac catheterization labs. Sites like Stormont Vail and St. Francis, with their comprehensive services, let students experience multiple patient populations and care settings. Strong clinical partnerships also create direct hiring pipelines; many graduates secure employment on the units where they trained.
Clinical placement availability can influence program length and scheduling. Programs coordinate placements months in advance, and limited slots at high-demand sites may cause occasional waitlists. Students who need a predictable schedule should ask about typical clinical days, evening or weekend rotations, and whether the program guarantees placement within a set timeframe.
Admissions to nursing programs in the Topeka area have grown more structured as schools balance rising applicant numbers with limited clinical placements.
To become a registered nurse in Topeka, you follow a step-by-step process: complete prerequisites, earn a BSN (or ADN), pass the NCLEX-RN, and apply for licensure through the Kansas Board of Nursing. A traditional BSN takes about four years, while accelerated paths for career changers can be finished in 12 to 18 months. Kansas is a Nurse Licensure Compact state, so your RN license allows practice across multiple states.
Choosing the right nursing program requires clarity on costs, timelines, and career outcomes. Below are answers to the questions most often asked by prospective nursing students in Topeka, Kansas.
