BSN Programs in Missouri
Avila University
11901 Wornall Rd, Kansas City MO 64145
As a catholic affiliated university, Avila University offers a bachelor of nursing program that promotes both academic and spiritual growth. The program admits about 56 students once annually for the fall semester. The curriculum when taken in the suggested sequence takes 4 years to complete. Three admission options are available for the nursing major: direct admission, regular competitive admission and guaranteed admission.
Regular admission students have to take prerequisites courses and supportive lab courses in the freshman and sophomore years before applying for competitive admission. These courses must carry a GPA of 2.7 or better. On the other hand, direct admission is offered to high school senior applicants who have an ACT score of 24 or better and have a high school GPA of 3.0. If a GPA of 3.0 is earned by the end of the first two years, such students progress smoothly to the major. Guaranteed admission is offered to regular admits who earn a GPA of 3.0 by the end of the prerequisites coursework. Although transfer students are also welcome, preference is given to equally qualified students who have completed foundation courses at Avila.
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Central Methodist University
411 Central Methodist Sq, Fayette MO 65248
At CMU, the bachelors of nursing science degree is offered to both current CMU pre-nursing students and transfer students who have completed pre-nursing courses from other colleges. Prior to applying to the upper division phase of the program, students must have completed at least 53 credits of the common core CMU curriculum, allied health and general education with a cumulative GPA of 2.85 or higher. Applicants must also take a nursing entrance exam prior to applying to the nursing major. The university accepts one cohort of 50 students annually for classes starting fall semester. Qualified students who do not get admitted may be ranked on a waiting list just in case some seats become forfeited prior to beginning of classes. The nursing sequence starts at junior year and takes two years to complete leading to academic eligibility to take the NCLEX-RN exam.
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Chamberlain College of Nursing
11830 Westline Industrial Dr, St. Louis MO 63146
At Chamberlain College of Nursing, students receive a general education and nursing curriculum leading to the Bachelor of Science in nursing degree. The college has over 120 years of nurse training and offers a CCNE fully accredited program. The most attractive advantage of Chamberlain Bachelor of nursing is that students are able to complete the entire curriculum including the general education portion in a record 3 years. This is as opposed to other programs that typically take 4 years before students gain eligibility for the NLCEX-RN exam. However, owing to the short time, students must be ready to take an accelerated mode of study without taking summer breaks. Community nursing services at Chamberlain include international service projects in Kenya, Brazil and Bolivia in addition to the big project dubbed “Race to cure Breast Cancer”.
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College of the Ozarks
1 Industrial Place, Point Lookout MO 65726
The BSN program at C of O’s is grounded in Christian/Biblical worldview of character and thinking and reflects the doctrine of Nightingale. After admission to the college, student can declare a major in nursing and take one year of nursing prerequisites courses. After this, students may apply to the nursing major but have to pass assessment tests including a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher and an ACT composite score of 21 or better. If students meet all the admission requirements, they are subjected to selective admission process which may include a personal interview. Upon admission for the upper division, a sequence of nursing courses ensues taking the next 6 semesters. For students interested in becoming nurse corps, the Nursing Cadet Program will help them get into military service.
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Cox College
1423 N. Jefferson Ave, Springfield MO 65802
Cox College offers two entry options to the traditional BSN degree program. The first option is the Entry-Level which follows the regular admission mode while the 2nd option is an Early Admission Option (EDO) open for high school seniors. Eligibility for Early Admission includes an ACT score of 25 or higher, a minimum high school GPA of 3.0 that must be maintained upon starting on the prerequisites courses. EDO students start their program once annually in the fall semester. Entry-level students on the other hand must first gain admission to Cox and complete at least 37 pre-nursing courses work before becoming eligible to apply to the major. Upon completion of the prerequisites, they may apply to the nursing major and become subjected to competitive selection. The entry-level option students have two starting dates for spring and fall.
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Goldfarb School of nursing at Barnes Jewish College
4483 Duncan Ave, St. Louis MO 63110
The BSN program is an upper division option offered to transfer students only who have completed lower division BSN courses. The program is available at two locations: the main campus at Goldfarb and at the Missouri Baptist Medical Center. All transfer students wishing to take the Goldfarb BSN must have completed at least 54 lower division credits from an accredited college or university. Such courses must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better. Students are advised to send their completed applications early since they are processed as received and admission is closed once the class is full. On a lighter note, the program has three admission dates for summer, spring and fall. The track takes 2 years full time study to complete and students become eligible to write the NCLEX –RN exam to become registered nurses.
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Graceland University
1401 W. Truman Rd, Independence MO 64050
The nursing undergraduate track at Graceland University is designed for both students starting college education and transfers students who have completed a number of prerequisites courses. The program is offered in shift at the main campus in Lamoni and at the Independence campus. There are two entry options; one for freshman students and the other one for transfer students. Students starting as freshmen at Graceland start their program at the main campus where prerequisite courses are offered. This curriculum starts annually in the summer semester. Upon completion, students transfer to the Independence campus to take the nursing sequence of courses. On the other hand, transfer students who have completed all lower division courses are directly admitted at Independence to start the nursing courses usually at junior level. The program does not have a guaranteed admission and all applicants must have completed the 65 lower division curriculum with a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or better to be considered for admission. A proctored online HESI exam is also be administered prior to selection. Nursing classes start once annually in the month of June.
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Maryville University
650 Maryville University Dr, St. Louis MO 63141
The traditional day nursing program at Maryville accepts two categories of students each fall semester: generic first-time college students and transfer students with over 65 credits of lower division nursing. The curriculum starts-off with a set of general education and liberal arts courses followed by the nursing course sequences. Admission to take the nursing courses occurs once annually in the fall semester but transfer students who meet all admission requirement can apply anytime throughout the year. Maryville offers nursing students a wide range of activities outside the BSN curriculum including involvement in the Students nurses association and the Sigma Theta Tau international honor society for nurses. The university also avails at least one opportunity for student to travel to London to take a course in international health education. This study abroad program is offered in cooperation with US’s University of Evansvillle.
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Missouri Southern State University
3950 Newman Rd, Joplin MO 64801
The Bachelor of Science degree in nursing at MSSU is open to first time college students seeking initial licensure as registered nurses. First, students must be admitted as freshman to take the suggested nursing prerequisite curriculum prior to applying for entry to the nursing program at junior level. Freshman students who meet all listed admission requirements and have an ACT composite score of 25 and a high school GPA of 3.0 are given the chance for direct provisional admission. Provisional status is withdrawn if the students maintain the 3.0 GPA up to completion of the 1st two years of pre-nursing coursework. Other students from the freshman pool below these options are required to earn to cumulative GPA of 2.5 in order to be considered for competitive admission to the major. Freshman students with an ACT of 28 and GPA of 3.5 or higher may be enrolled in the honors program to encourage their academic and scholastic development. Such students who make it to the honor program are eligible to compete for a full tuition scholarship.
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Missouri State University
901 S. National Ave, Springfield MO 65897
A bachelors degree in nursing at Missouri State University prepares student to take the NLCEX-RN exam to become registered nurses. It is a full time program offered in 8 regular semesters and 2 summer sessions that start at the end of sophomore year. The first two years are reserved for prerequisite courses and nursing courses start with the 8-week summer session after completion of sophomore year. Generally, applicants must have earned a cumulative GPA of 2.75 prior to applying though a high average of 3.5 is observed for admitted students. Although transfer students who meet the same requirements are welcome to apply, MSU pre-nursing students are given preference. There are however limited direct admission seats reserved for students in the Honors programs who have declared interest in the nursing major. Such students are granted conditional acceptance into the major until they earn a GPA 0f 3.5 on all pre-nursing coursework taken prior to starting the nursing program. Out of the 75-140 applications receive annually for the BSN, MSU admits only 61 students for the major.
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Missouri Valley College
500 E. College, Marshall MO 6530
MVC has a 4-year BS in nursing program that starts with 2 years of pre-nursing in the freshman and sophomore years. Upon completion of this curriculum, students are welcome to apply to the professional courses usually during late fall or early spring of the sophomore year. The admission criteria for the major phase include GPA, interviews, a personal essay and recommendation letters. The college admits only 20 students to the pre-licensure professional nursing program on a competitive basis from the large pool of applicants. Nursing students have the advantage of having the College-affiliated with Fitzgibbon Hospital campus where they can take their clinical nursing courses and practicum. By following the suggested courses sequence from freshman year, students are guaranteed to complete the track in 4 years and become eligible for the NCLEX-RN exam.
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Missouri Western State University
4525 Downs Dr, St. Joseph MO 64507
The nursing baccalaureate program at MWSU is a 4-year full time track fully accredited by CCNE. Students are initially admitted to the university as pre-nursing majors, declare a nursing major and complete a set of 42-46 credit hours prior to applying for the major. During application to the major, students must have an average GPA of 2.7 on the pre-nursing curriculum taken earlier in addition to an ACT score of 20. However, a special early admission option for high school senior students with highly exceptional records is available. About 50 students are admitted in the BSN program each fall and spring semesters. Students take their clinical practical classes in health agencies in St Joseph areas and Kansas City area.
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Research College of Nursing
2525 East Meyer Blvd, Kansas City MO 64132
The traditional BSN at RCN is open for both freshman and transfer students seeking initial registered nurse licensure. The track is offered on both RCN and Rockhurst University and students are bound to spend more time at Rockhurst than RCN in the early years. Students can send their applications starting at the fall semester of senior high school year. Two entry options are available: a direct entry option for high school seniors with a good GPA and an ACT score of 21 or better. Such students in the direct admit plan must maintain a GPA of 2.7 on all courses taken in the first 3 semesters at Rockhurst to be eligible to remain in the nursing major portion. Students who do not qualify for direct admission are subject to competitive admission process. On the other hand, transfer students are expected to have the same GPA as Rockhurst students to be eligible for the January competitive admission. All admission affairs and pre-nursing curriculum are conducted through Rockhurst while nursing courses are facilitated by RCN.
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Saint Luke’s College of Nursing
624 Westport Rd, Kansas City MO 64111
St. Luke’s offers the bachelor of nursing as an upper division option starting every fall and spring semester. This basically means that students must take all prerequisites courses outside the college; in accredited colleges or universities before applying to St Luke’s. Generally, students interested in the BSN must have completed at least 63 transferable credits with a cumulative GPA of 2.7 prior to applying. Upon admission, students take nursing courses, practical lessons in health agencies around Kansas City and the state of the art simulation center for a period of 2 years. If students take all the courses in a sequential manner and even become admitted at St Luke’s soon after completing their pre-nursing program, the track can be completed in 4 years. The nursing program is fully accredited by CCNE and approved by Missouri State Board of Nursing.
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Southeast Missouri State University
1 university Plaza, Cape Girardeau MO
Each fall and spring semesters, SMSU admits 35 students to start on a 4-year curriculum leading to the Bachelor of nursing degree. First, students must apply and be accepted in the university whereby they remain designated as pre-nursing majors. During this time, a set of 62 credits of general education, science and nursing support courses are taught. By the end of the pre-nursing curriculum, students that have achieved a GPA of 2.5 or better are considered for admission in the competitive nursing major. At this level, transfer students may also apply along with SMSU students. Generally, GPAs is used to rank students while science grades are given additional admission weight. The nursing department also encourages academically talented students to participate in the honors program by completing extra courses. Outside the regular class work, nursing students can participate in various organizations including the student nurses association and the Lambda Theta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International.
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Saint Louis University
221 North Grand Blvd, St. Louis MO 63103
Saint Louis University offers students a baccalaureate nursing program that strongly upholds to Christian catholic Jesuits traditions. St Louis nursing program offers students a chance to complete the entire program in the US or take an exciting option of taking two years in St Louis and two years in Madrid, Spain. One advantage of this BSN is that students are admitted directly into the nursing program from high school or on transfer basis hence no need of a supplemental application. High school graduates with an ACT of 24 or better and a high school GPA of 3.2 are eligible for the program. On the other hand,
Transfer students must have a prerequisites GPA of 3.4 to be eligible for direct admission. As aforementioned, students can choose to complete the entire program at St Louis Missouri but interested students can transfer after the prerequisite coursework to Madrid to take the nursing courses. At Madrid, nursing courses are offered in conjunction with a premier private health agency known as Sanitas. Upon completion, students at Madrid become eligible to take the NCLEX-RN exam to become registered nurses just like their counterparts in the main campus.
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Truman State University
100 E. Normal Ave, Kirksville MO 63501
The 4-year baccalaureate nursing program prepares students to become generalists in beginning positions as registered nurses. The curriculum is clearly divided into two phases: a lower division phase of liberal arts and foundation courses in science and humanities in preparation for upper division nursing courses phase. Admission to the program requires two application steps; one for the university for which students are enrolled to take the lower division courses and the second application to the nursing division for nursing courses. The university admits one cohort annually for classes beginning fall semester. Occasionally, there may be a spring admission date if space and resources permits. Every year, nursing majors may participate in the Transcultural Nursing Experience in the Philippines and an exchange program at West Visayas State University.
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University of Central Missouri
614 S. College St, Warrensburg MO 64093
There are 2 admission options to the traditional BSN program at University of Central Missouri. Beginning students with an ACT score of 24 or better and high school GPA of 3.0 are eligible for the Direct Admission Policy and remain exempted from competitive admission policy. On the other hand, students who do not meet the above requirements may apply as regular students and be subjected to the competitive admission process. Upon admission in either category, students complete a pre-nursing curriculum of 60 semester hours. For direct admit students, a cumulative GPA of 3.5 must be maintained otherwise the direct admit advantage will the nullified. In this case, such students are still eligible to apply for the competitive selective option. Regular students on the other hand must earn an average GPA of 2.7 to be eligible to apply to the competitive major. Each fall and spring semester, the university admits 40 students for each category above bringing it to a total of 80 students per semester.
The Nursing sequence of courses starts at junior year and students spend the 2 junior level semesters at the main campus of the university. During the senior year, all students transfer to Central Summit Center campus in Kansas City.
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University of Missouri-Columbia
319 Jesse Hall Columbia MO 65211
The bachelor of nursing science at UM-Columbia is offered at the Sinclair school of nursing. It is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The traditional curriculum runs over a period of 4 academic years and welcomes beginning, major changing and transfer students. During the program, the first 2 years students are referred as pre-nursing majors and are expected to complete a curriculum of at least 60 credits of liberal arts and general education courses. During the last semester of the pre-nursing curriculum, applications to the upper division for either fall or spring start dates can be done. The school of nursing also offers a Nursing Scholars Program for freshman students with highly exceptional grades. This program is open to freshmen who are already in the university’s honors program who meet extra requirements for the nursing scholars program. Such include a high school GPA of 3.7, and an ACT score of 29 or higher in addition to ranking top 10 percent of the high school graduating class.
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University of Missouri-Kansas City
5100 Rockhill Rd, Kansas City MO 64110
UMKC School of nursing has a BS in Nursing Pre-licensure track designed for 80 transfer and freshman students every fall semester. The plan includes completion of prerequisites courses in a pre-nursing program before starting on the clinical major courses that begin at sophomore year. Freshman students have the option of regular or direct admission. Direct admission is open to students who ranked top 10 percent of their high school graduating class with an ACT score of 27. Other applicants are considered regular students and must complete the prenursing curriculum with a cumulative GPA of 2.75 to be considered for admission. The same case applies to transfer students coming to UMKC from accredited colleges and universities. Starting on nursing courses as early as the sophomore year enables students to have about 1200 clinical hours in a span of 6 semesters. Upon completion of the BSN-PL, graduates become eligible to apply and take the NCLEX-RN exam to become registered nurses. UMKC runs a chapter of STTI honor society for nurses.
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University of Missouri-St. Louis
1 University Blvd St. Louis MO 63121
Applicants for the undergraduate bachelor of nursing degree at UMSL have three options of entering the program. The three include a freshman guaranteed, freshman general admission and transfer student admission criteria. Applicants for guaranteed admission must have a high school GPA of 2.75 and an ACT score of 22. This GPA must be maintained for students to be eligible to continue with the clinical phase of the track. General admission applicants must have a high school GPA of 2.5 and an ACT score of 21 and are subject to competitive admission. This GPA also applies to transfer students applying for the major. Nursing courses starts every fall and spring semesters and students can choose between the full time and weekend/evening part time option. Academically endowed students can join the Nu Chi Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau in order to develop their scholastic and research endeavors.
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William Jewell University
500 College Hill, Liberty MO 64068
The traditional 4-year nursing track at William Jewell is one of the 3 tracks leading to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) along with 2 accelerated BSN tracks. Students can join the program as soon as they leave high school (declared major/direct admit) or as transfer students from other colleges and universities. During the first 3 semesters at William Jewell, students take liberal arts and prerequisite courses and later on start nursing courses in combination with a few liberal arts from the 2nd semester of sophomore year. However, students must note that even for the direct admit, a supplemental application must be made and with applicants having the required minimum GPA of 2.7 on prior pre-nursing courses in addition to meeting other admission requirements. Besides the regular BSN curriculum, student nurses and registered nurses from William Jewell can take a spring course in Faith Community Nursing formerly known as Parish Nursing.
