Best Nursing Schools in St. Louis, MO – 2027 Rankings
Compare NCLEX pass rates, tuition, and outcomes for BSN programs across the St. Louis metro area.
By Hannah Pierce, BSNReviewed by TopNursing.org TeamUpdated August 29, 202617 min read
Points of interest…
topnursing.org ranks St. Louis nursing programs using earnings, affordability, and completion data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Several St. Louis BSN programs report first-time NCLEX pass rates above 90 percent.
St. Louis provides traditional, accelerated, and RN-to-BSN pathways to fit different schedules and backgrounds.
Registered nurses in the St. Louis metro enjoy competitive wages and strong demand across major healthcare employers.
St. Louis anchors a healthcare economy that includes BJC HealthCare, SSM Health, and Mercy, systems that collectively employ thousands of nurses and increasingly expect a BSN for advancement. For aspiring nurses, the city’s concentration of clinical sites creates a practical tension: you can access strong training without relocating, but program costs and formats differ sharply across public universities, private colleges, and accelerated pathways. A traditional BSN at a state school may stretch four years with lower debt, while an accelerated program can move you into practice in under 18 months at a higher price. That trade-off (time versus money) shapes most nursing school decisions in the St. Louis market.
Best Nursing Schools in St. Louis, MO
One-year program-level earnings are not yet reported for these programs, so the cards note institution-level median earnings and median debt where available. The strongest St. Louis nursing programs combine hands-on hospital clinicals with flexible scheduling and strong completion support.
Factors considered
First-year retention weighs most heavily
Student-to-faculty ratio heavily weighted
Tuition and fees compared
Post-completion earnings reviewed
Program format and completion assessed
Data sources
BEA state price parities, used to adjust tuition — bea.gov
National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) — nces.ed.gov
Rank
School
Location
Net price
Best for
#1
Chamberlain University-Missouri
St. Louis, MO
~$31,000/yr (est.)
Working adults needing flexible evening pacing
Chamberlain University's St. Louis campus is built for students who need to balance school with work or family, offering hybrid blended and evening/weekend BSN formats with no prerequisite courses. The curriculum includes simulation lab training, NCLEX prep, and specialty tracks in Emergency, Oncology, and Perioperative Nursing. Median debt among graduates is about $20,919, and institution-level median earnings are reported around $92,405.
122 credit hours: 56 general education plus 66 nursing
Finish in as few as three years
$735 per credit, $89,670 total program tuition
Hybrid blended and evening/weekend options
93% NCLEX pass rate at St. Louis campus
Five concentration options: Emergency, Oncology, Perioperative
No prerequisite courses required
LPN to BSN option saves up to $7,000
#2
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, MO
~$26,000/yr (est.)
Transfer students seeking direct-entry nursing
Saint Louis University's direct-entry BSN places students in clinical settings across St. Louis-area hospitals from the start, with a low student-to-faculty ratio and study abroad options. The school also offers a 21-month direct-entry MSN for career changers seeking an accelerated route to RN licensure and CNL certification. Median debt among graduates is about $25,000, with institution-level median earnings near $70,783.
Barnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing is affiliated with BJC HealthCare and Washington University, giving students clinical access to Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children's hospitals. The campus offers upper division, accelerated, and weekend/evening BSN tracks, plus a 20% tuition discount for BJC employees and full-ride scholarship options. Median debt among graduates is about $16,750, and institution-level median earnings are reported near $84,393.
Our ranking for nursing schools in St. Louis is built on publicly available data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard. Instead of relying on reputation surveys or subjective opinions, we weigh objective, quantifiable factors that reflect what most students care about: affordability, graduation outcomes, and earning potential.
What we look at
Net price: The average cost after scholarships and grants, for lower-income students. This signals affordability.
Graduation rate: The percentage of first-time, full-time students who complete a degree. This metric is institution-wide (not limited to nursing) so it offers a broad measure of student support and resources.
Earnings: Median earnings for students who received federal financial aid. We include earnings at one, two, and four years after entering college, weighting later earnings more heavily as a gauge of career payoff.
Debt: Median federal student loan debt at graduation. Lower debt loads improve a school’s rank.
Completions: The number of students completing nursing programs, which signals program scale and viability.
What we don’t include (and why)
NCLEX pass rates are not part of our ranking formula. Pass rates reflect exam performance, an important metric, but they are not collected uniformly by the federal dataset, and including them would reduce our ability to compare schools consistently. Instead, we feature NCLEX data in a dedicated section below so you can still assess program quality directly.
By using outcomes data rather than surveys, we give you a transparent, data-driven starting point for your nursing school search.
NCLEX Pass Rates for St. Louis BSN Programs
NCLEX-RN first-time pass rates are one of the most concrete ways to gauge how well a BSN program prepares students for licensure. The Missouri State Board of Nursing publishes annual reports that break out performance for each approved program in the state, including schools in the St. Louis metro area. Because pass rates can shift from one testing cycle to the next, looking at multi-year trends gives a clearer picture than any single snapshot.
Where to find official pass rates
The Missouri Board of Nursing posts program-specific NCLEX statistics on its website, typically in spreadsheet or PDF format. These reports list first-time pass rates for associate degree and baccalaureate programs separately. For St. Louis BSN programs, such as those at Saint Louis University, University of Missouri–St. Louis, Maryville University, Chamberlain University, and Goldfarb School of Nursing, the data is publicly available and updated at least once a year. Prospective students can compare recent cohorts to see which schools consistently outperform the national average.
Using pass rates in your decision
A high pass rate suggests a curriculum aligned with NCLEX test plans and strong clinical preparation, but it is not the only measure of program quality. Some programs with slightly lower pass rates may enroll more working students or second-career learners who face different challenges. Pair pass-rate data with other indicators like graduation rates, student support services, and clinical placement variety. Always check the most current year’s report on the Missouri Board of Nursing website before making a final choice.
St. Louis nursing schools provide multiple BSN pathways, so you can find a program that fits your background, schedule, and career goals. Whether you are starting college for the first time, switching from another field, or already working as an RN, there is a bachelor’s-level option in the region.
Traditional Four-Year BSN
Students with no prior college degree can enter a direct-entry BSN, which typically spans four years of full-time study. Saint Louis University, the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL), Chamberlain University, and Maryville University all admit students into traditional BSN cohorts. Most follow a 48-month curriculum delivered on campus, though Chamberlain’s BSN program can be completed in as few as 36 months.1
Accelerated BSN for Career Changers
If you already hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field, an accelerated BSN (ABSN) compresses nursing coursework into a short, intensive format. Saint Louis University, UMSL, Maryville University, and Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College offer ABSN programs. Expect a 12-month timeline for most, with hybrid delivery that blends online theory and in-person clinicals.2 Goldfarb’s Accelerated Upper-Division BSN is an on-campus option that typically takes 20 to 24 months for students who have completed general education requirements.1
Online RN-to-BSN Completion
Registered nurses with an associate degree or diploma can earn their BSN through flexible online RN-to-BSN programs in Missouri, with most students finishing in 12 to 24 months while continuing to work.1 The fully online format lets you study on your own schedule without a campus commute.
St. Louis Nursing Salary & Job Outlook
Registered nurses in the St. Louis MO-IL metro area earn wages that align with the region's robust healthcare economy. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) compiles detailed percentile distributions for the metro, and while annual updates shift slightly, St. Louis RNs typically see entry-level offers around $60,000, with experienced clinicians in acute or specialty roles surpassing $95,000.1
St. Louis RN Salary Overview
The May 2025 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141) in the St. Louis MSA report employment levels, mean wages, and the full range from the 10th to 90th percentile. The median hovers near the national median, giving new nurses a reliable benchmark.1 Top-decile earners reflect critical-care, management, and advanced-practice pathways that significantly lift lifetime earnings.
ADN vs. BSN: Why the Degree Matters for Your Paycheck
BLS wage tables do not break out RN earnings by educational attainment, but St. Louis employers routinely reward a BSN with higher starting pay and faster advancement. National workforce studies consistently show ADN-to-BSN differentials, with BSN-earners pulling ahead within five years.2 Program-level earnings for St. Louis BSN graduates are not yet available through federal scorecard data, but the long-term return on a bachelor's degree remains a central reason nurses pursue RN-to-BSN and traditional BSN programs at nursing schools in Missouri.
Job Growth and Major Employers
National projections from the BLS point to a 6 percent increase in RN positions from 2023 to 2033, on pace with the average for all occupations.3 That growth translates directly into St. Louis hiring, where powerhouse systems like BJC HealthCare, SSM Health, and Mercy operate a dense network of hospitals, specialty centers, and community clinics. Together they drive a steady local demand that supports both new graduates and career changers entering the field.
Frequently Asked Questions
Prospective nursing students in St. Louis often have the same pressing questions. Below, we answer the top queries using data from topnursing.org's school rankings and federal education sources, so you can make informed decisions about your nursing education.
According to topnursing.org's composite scoring, the University of Missouri-Columbia ranks highest among Missouri's Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs, with a score of 61.15. However, Bolivar Technical College's Associate Degree in Nursing program earned the top overall score statewide (70.12) due to perfect NCLEX pass rates and job placement.
Public NCLEX data for Saint Louis BSN programs is limited, but both Saint Louis University and Maryville University report strong licensure outcomes. Among all Missouri BSN programs tracked by topnursing.org, Truman State University (not in St. Louis) posts a 94.4% first-time pass rate, the highest verified in the state.
Based on average net price, Maryville University is the most affordable BSN option in Saint Louis, with an effective net cost of $22,066 per year. Saint Louis University's BSN has a higher net price of $24,398. For a lower-cost path outside the city, Truman State University offers a BSN at just $12,780 net price.
The University of Missouri's accelerated BSN track, open to those with a prior bachelor's degree, can be completed in about 17 months. Maryville University offers a flexible fast-track option for transfer students, while Saint Louis University's traditional four-year BSN is the standard direct-entry route.
Yes, an RN-to-BSN degree typically leads to higher earnings. Ten years after entering college, BSN graduates from Saint Louis University earn a median of $70,783, and University of Missouri graduates earn $63,403, well above Missouri's average registered nurse wage. Many St. Louis employers require or prefer a BSN for advancement.
More Nursing Schools Near St. Louis to Consider
Beyond the St. Louis programs ranked above, Missouri has a deep bench of nursing schools spread across the state. This directory lists additional options in the St. Louis metro, Kansas City, and outstate Missouri, with delivery format and average net price included so you can size up each one quickly. These entries are not ranked against the schools in the list above.
Maryville offers three BSN tracks (direct entry, fast track for transfer students, and evening/weekend for working adults) with simulation labs in Walker Hall and clinical partnerships at Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children's Hospital. Average net price is about $22,100.
UMSL's traditional BSN is a full-time on-campus program drawing on more than 100 clinical partnerships across the region, with simulation labs and a 12-month accelerated track for students who already hold a bachelor's degree. Average net price is about $15,100.
Jefferson College's RN Pathway leads to an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing, with a full-time day track that finishes in five semesters and a part-time evening/weekend option that takes nine. Average net price is about $7,400.
Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (A.A.S.) (RN Pathway)
East Central College offers an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing with both a pre-licensure track and an LPN-to-RN bridge, taught in simulation labs with high-fidelity mannequins and clinical placements across a range of care settings. Average net price is about $13,100.
Rockhurst's BSN pairs a Jesuit-inspired liberal arts core with hands-on practice in the Seelos Simulation Center, plus individual NCLEX coaching and clinical placements with Kansas City health systems. Average net price is about $25,900.
UMKC's BSN comes in a traditional four- to five-year track and an accelerated path for second-degree students, with a Direct Admit option for qualified high school students and clinical work that begins in the fall. Average net price is about $13,300.
At William Jewell, clinicals begin in the sophomore year and students train in a simulation center that was the first internationally endorsed in Missouri and Kansas. More than 650 clinical, lab, and simulation hours feed into the degree. Average net price is about $17,600.
Central Missouri's BSN combines coursework in health promotion, maternal-child, and adult care with simulation lab practice and clinical rotations at hospitals including North Kansas City Hospital and St. Luke's. Average net price is about $14,500.
Northwest Missouri State's online RN-to-BSN completion program requires 73 credit hours, combining a liberal arts core with upper-division nursing courses and finishing with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Average net price is about $16,200.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Nursing Completion Degree Program (RN-to-BSN))
North Central Missouri College runs a nine-month associate degree track built for working LPNs moving into the RN role, offered in Trenton, Savannah, or fully online with lab and clinical coursework included. Average net price is about $13,600.
Hannibal-LaGrange's BSN runs in eight-week course blocks, covering geriatric nursing, bioethics, nursing informatics, and community health before a senior capstone. Average net price is about $22,800.
Missouri State's BSN blends classroom work with simulation lab practice and interprofessional coursework alongside anesthesia, therapy, and social care students, offered as a traditional four-year track, a 15-month accelerated option, and a one-year RN-to-BSN completion. Average net price is about $17,600.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) (Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)-to-Registered Nurse (RN) Bridge)
Southeast Missouri State's on-campus BSN pairs clinical practice in hospitals, clinics, and community agencies with high-fidelity simulation labs and eight weeks of dedicated NCLEX-RN preparation at the end of the program. Average net price is about $15,900.
Mineral Area College's associate degree in nursing spans five semesters and offers a traditional track plus an advanced placement LPN-to-RN option, pairing classroom theory with lab and clinical experience. Average net price is about $12,000.
Texas County Technical College runs a 47-week LPN-to-RN associate program with classes two to three days a week and 450 clinical hours in settings such as the ER, OR, and ICU. Average net price is about $19,400.
