Best colleges for Practical Nursing in Missouri
Ranked by graduate earnings
North Central Missouri College, Mineral Area College and Cass Career Center are the top Practical Nursing programs in Missouri by graduate earnings. North Central Missouri College leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $59,889, College Scorecard. Applied Tech, Ozarks Technical Community College and North Central Missouri College award the most Practical Nursing degrees and certificates in Missouri: 98, 86 and 73 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 33 Missouri colleges offer Practical Nursing and award 970 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Practical Nursing program, also known as Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, prepares students for a career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). This program is designed for individuals who want to provide direct nursing care to…
Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Central Missouri College Trenton Public · Certificate | $59,889 | 73 | 58% | — | $15,750 |
| 2 | Mineral Area College Park Hills Public · Certificate | $55,389 | 27 | 49% | — | $10,500 |
| 3 | Cass Career Center Harrisonville Public · Certificate | $50,718 | 25 | 100% | — | $12,064 |
| 4 | Lex La-Ray Technical Center Lexington Public · Certificate | $48,192 | 20 | 100% | — | $14,727 |
| 5 | Franklin Technology Center Adult Education Joplin Public · Certificate | $47,995 | 29 | 73% | — | $14,959 |
| 6 | Concorde Career College - Kansas City Kansas City Private for-profit · Certificate | $47,421 | 26 | 53% | $29,551 | $25,421 |
| 7 | Moberly Area Community College Moberly Public · Certificate | $44,405 | 43 | 44% | — | $15,112 |
| 8 | Applied Tech Sunset Hills Public · Certificate | $43,456 | 98 | 34% | — | $17,750 |
| 9 | St Louis College of Health Careers - Fenton Fenton Private for-profit · Certificate | $39,609 | 55 | 59% | — | $24,434 |
| 10 | Ozarks Technical Community College Springfield Public · Certificate | $39,101 | 86 | 33% | — | $15,125 |
Colleges awarding the most Practical Nursing degrees in Missouri
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Applied Tech Sunset Hills Public | 98 | $43,456 |
| 2 | Ozarks Technical Community College Springfield Public | 86 | $39,101 |
| 3 | North Central Missouri College Trenton Public | 73 | $59,889 |
| 4 | St Louis College of Health Careers - Fenton Fenton Private for-profit | 55 | $39,609 |
| 5 | State Fair Community College Sedalia Public | 54 | Not reported |
| 6 | Moberly Area Community College Moberly Public | 43 | $44,405 |
| 7 | Jefferson College Hillsboro Public | 37 | Not reported |
| 8 | Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center Cape Girardeau Public | 35 | $38,814 |
| 9 | Three Rivers College Poplar Bluff Public | 31 | Not reported |
| 10 | Franklin Technology Center Adult Education Joplin Public | 29 | $47,995 |
ShowHide the other 23 Missouri colleges offering Practical Nursing
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Nursing Assistants (SOC 31-1131).
Top skills
What Nursing Assistants earn in Missouri
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Practical Nursing programs in Missouri.
Which Missouri colleges award the most Practical Nursing degrees?+
Applied Tech (98 graduates a year), Ozarks Technical Community College (86 graduates a year) and North Central Missouri College (73 graduates a year) award the most Practical Nursing degrees and certificates in Missouri, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 33 Missouri colleges offer Practical Nursing.
What is the best college for Practical Nursing in Missouri?+
By graduate earnings, North Central Missouri College leads among Practical Nursing programs in Missouri, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $59,889, College Scorecard. Mineral Area College and Cass Career Center follow. By degrees awarded, Applied Tech is the largest, with 98 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Practical Nursing program in Missouri has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, North Central Missouri College tops the list at $59,889. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Nursing Assistants earn in Missouri?+
The average annual wage for Nursing Assistants in Missouri is $38,410 (median $37,680), across about 34,050 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Practical Nursing program?+
The Practical Nursing program, also known as Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, prepares students for a career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). This program is designed for individuals who want to provide direct nursing care to…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop active listening, monitoring, reading comprehension, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Nursing Assistants?+
The national job outlook is about +2.3% growth with around 204,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Postsecondary nondegree award is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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