Best colleges for Registered Nursing in Missouri
Ranked by graduate earnings
Chamberlain University - Missouri, Research College of Nursing and University of Missouri-Columbia are the top bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Missouri by graduate earnings. Chamberlain University - Missouri leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $83,188, College Scorecard. Maryville University of Saint Louis, University of Missouri-Columbia and Barnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Missouri: 719, 358 and 306 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 55 Missouri colleges offer Registered Nursing and award 5,454 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, 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 | Chamberlain University - Missouri St. Louis Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $83,188 | 65 | 100% | $34,947 | $39,146 |
| 2 | Research College of Nursing Kansas City Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $75,705 | 151 | — | — | $27,000 |
| 3 | University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia Public · Bachelor's degree | $72,300 | 358 | 75% | — | $23,250 |
| 4 | University of Missouri-Kansas City Kansas City Public · Bachelor's degree | $71,150 | 195 | 55% | — | $31,000 |
| 5 | Missouri Western State University Saint Joseph Public · Bachelor's degree | $70,938 | 71 | 39% | — | $25,000 |
| 6 | University of Central Missouri Warrensburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $70,840 | 126 | 54% | — | $25,581 |
| 7 | Saint Louis University Saint Louis Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $70,226 | 242 | 80% | $24,886 | $25,000 |
| 8 | Missouri Baptist University Saint Louis Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $69,968 | 62 | 48% | $25,407 | $31,000 |
| 9 | Maryville University of Saint Louis Saint Louis Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $69,116 | 719 | 66% | $24,921 | $29,881 |
| 10 | Rockhurst University Kansas City Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $69,011 | 273 | 75% | $21,890 | $27,000 |
Top 10 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jefferson College Hillsboro Public · Associate degree | $67,439 | 35 | 38% | — | $22,554 |
| 2 | Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences Cape Girardeau Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $67,421 | 39 | 75% | $25,189 | $23,500 |
| 3 | Moberly Area Community College Moberly Public · Associate degree | $67,023 | 67 | 44% | — | $17,587 |
| 4 | North Central Missouri College Trenton Public · Associate degree | $66,504 | 100 | 58% | — | $24,667 |
| 5 | Three Rivers College Poplar Bluff Public · Associate degree | $65,883 | 66 | 33% | — | $17,490 |
| 6 | Columbia College Columbia Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $65,768 | 110 | 42% | $23,247 | $30,500 |
| 7 | Hannibal-LaGrange University Hannibal Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $63,863 | 22 | 50% | $17,325 | $26,174 |
| 8 | Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City Kansas City Public · Associate degree | $63,534 | 66 | 34% | — | $21,188 |
| 9 | Crowder College Neosho Public · Associate degree | $62,875 | 97 | 49% | — | $14,528 |
| 10 | East Central College Union Public · Associate degree | $62,554 | 40 | 48% | — | $16,125 |
Colleges awarding the most Registered Nursing degrees in Missouri
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, 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 | Maryville University of Saint Louis Saint Louis Private not-for-profit | 719 | $69,116 |
| 2 | University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia Public | 358 | $72,300 |
| 3 | Barnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing Saint Louis Private not-for-profit | 306 | $66,925 |
| 4 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield Public | 281 | $66,183 |
| 5 | Rockhurst University Kansas City Private not-for-profit | 273 | $69,011 |
| 6 | Saint Louis University Saint Louis Private not-for-profit | 242 | $70,226 |
| 7 | Cox College Springfield Private not-for-profit | 203 | $68,174 |
| 8 | University of Missouri-Kansas City Kansas City Public | 195 | $71,150 |
| 9 | Research College of Nursing Kansas City Private for-profit | 151 | $75,705 |
| 10 | University of Missouri-St Louis Saint Louis Public | 148 | $66,972 |
ShowHide the other 45 Missouri colleges offering Registered Nursing
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Top skills
What Registered Nurses earn in Missouri
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Registered Nursing programs in Missouri.
Which Missouri colleges award the most Registered Nursing degrees?+
Maryville University of Saint Louis (719 graduates a year), University of Missouri-Columbia (358 graduates a year) and Barnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing (306 graduates a year) award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Missouri, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 55 Missouri colleges offer Registered Nursing.
What is the best college for Registered Nursing in Missouri?+
By graduate earnings, Chamberlain University - Missouri leads among bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Missouri, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $83,188, College Scorecard. Research College of Nursing and University of Missouri-Columbia follow. By degrees awarded, Maryville University of Saint Louis is the largest, with 719 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Registered Nursing program in Missouri has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Chamberlain University - Missouri tops the list at $83,188. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Registered Nurses earn in Missouri?+
The average annual wage for Registered Nurses in Missouri is $85,900 (median $81,780), across about 76,310 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Registered Nursing program?+
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Registered Nurses?+
The national job outlook is about +4.9% growth with around 189,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree 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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