Missouri’s nursing education landscape is anchored by major research universities in the state’s two largest metros. Saint Louis University, the University of Missouri (Mizzou), and UMKC all offer accredited nursing programs ranging from ADN through doctoral level, while regional state universities extend program access across the state. Missouri joined the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) in 2018, making a Missouri RN license a multistate compact license recognized in 40+ member states.
Is Missouri a compact state?
Yes. Missouri joined the Nurse Licensure Compact in 2018. A Missouri RN license issued to a nurse whose primary state of residence is Missouri is a multistate compact license, valid for practice in all current NLC member states without requiring separate licensure applications.
This matters in practical terms for:
- Travel nurses – A Missouri compact license eliminates the need to obtain single-state licenses in most US states, significantly reducing licensure overhead between assignments.
- Relocating nurses – Nurses moving from another compact state to Missouri can typically continue practicing while their Missouri application is processed, depending on the states involved.
- Border-area nurses – Missouri borders eight states. Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Kentucky are all compact members; Illinois and Oklahoma are not (as of 2026). Nurses working near compact borders can use their home-state multistate license across those borders.
To maintain a Missouri multistate license, Missouri must be your primary state of residence. If you relocate to another compact state, you would surrender the Missouri license and apply through your new state’s board.
For complete state-by-state compact status and licensing information, see nursing license by state.
Top nursing schools in Missouri
Missouri has a range of CCNE- and ACEN-accredited nursing programs, from ADN through doctoral level. The table below covers the most prominent options.
| School | Location | Program types | Accreditation | NCLEX pass rate (est.) | Annual tuition (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Missouri (Mizzou) | Columbia | BSN, RN-to-BSN, MSN, DNP, PhD | CCNE | ~87% | $11,800 (in-state) |
| Saint Louis University | St. Louis | BSN, MSN, DNP | CCNE | ~88% | $46,500 |
| University of Missouri–Kansas City | Kansas City | BSN, RN-to-BSN, MSN, DNP | CCNE | ~86% | $10,900 (in-state) |
| Missouri State University | Springfield | BSN, RN-to-BSN, MSN | CCNE | ~87% | $8,400 (in-state) |
| Southeast Missouri State University | Cape Girardeau | BSN, RN-to-BSN | CCNE | ~85% | $8,100 (in-state) |
| Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College | St. Louis | BSN, RN-to-BSN, MSN, DNP | CCNE | ~89% | $30,500 |
| Chamberlain University – St. Louis | St. Louis | ADN, BSN | ACEN / CCNE | ~84% | $20,000 (est.) |
NCLEX pass rates shown are estimates based on program reporting and national averages; verify current figures with individual programs. School-specific NCLEX data is published annually by the Missouri State Board of Nursing.
University of Missouri (Mizzou) – Columbia Mizzou’s Sinclair School of Nursing is CCNE-accredited and one of the largest nursing schools in the state. The program spans BSN through PhD, with particular strength in family nurse practitioner and clinical research tracks. MU Health Care serves as the primary clinical training site, giving students access to a major academic medical center with a Level I trauma center and specialty services across disciplines.
Saint Louis University – St. Louis SLU’s nursing program is housed within the Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing, a CCNE-accredited program with a strong Catholic academic health tradition. SLU students train at SSM Health and other St. Louis metro systems. The program offers BSN, MSN, and DNP tracks, with DNP programs in nurse practitioner and clinical nurse leader specialties.
University of Missouri–Kansas City – Kansas City UMKC’s School of Nursing and Health Studies is CCNE-accredited and well-positioned for students seeking access to Kansas City’s dense healthcare market. Major clinical partners include University Health (the academic medical center serving western Missouri) and Research Medical Center. UMKC offers BSN, RN-to-BSN, MSN, and DNP programs.
Missouri State University – Springfield MSU’s nursing program is CCNE-accredited and serves south-central Missouri’s healthcare workforce from its Springfield campus. The program has established clinical relationships with CoxHealth and Mercy Hospital Springfield – two of the largest health systems in the region. BSN and MSN tracks are available, with competitive in-state tuition.
Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College – St. Louis Goldfarb occupies a distinctive position in Missouri’s nursing landscape: it is embedded within the academic medical campus of Barnes-Jewish Hospital (one of the nation’s top-ranked hospitals and the teaching hospital for Washington University School of Medicine). CCNE-accredited, with BSN through DNP, Goldfarb graduates have direct clinical access to a nationally prominent academic medical center.
Southeast Missouri State University – Cape Girardeau SEMO’s CCNE-accredited BSN program serves southeast Missouri’s healthcare needs, with clinical placements at regional hospitals including Saint Francis Medical Center. Affordable in-state tuition and strong community health clinical training make SEMO a practical option for students in the region.
Admission requirements
Missouri nursing programs share a common prerequisite framework. The following reflects standard requirements across ADN and BSN programs in the state; individual programs may vary.
Standard prerequisites:
| Course | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| Anatomy & Physiology I & II | With lab; grade of C or better (B preferred) |
| Microbiology | With lab |
| Chemistry | Introductory level with lab (some programs) |
| English Composition | Writing-intensive; C or better |
| Psychology | General or developmental psychology |
| Statistics | Required by most BSN programs |
| Nutrition | Required by several programs |
Science prerequisites are typically required within the past 5–7 years.
Entrance exams: The ATI TEAS is the most widely used nursing entrance exam across Missouri programs. Some programs accept the HESI A2. Competitive scores for ADN programs generally start at the 60th percentile; BSN programs at research universities typically look for 70th percentile and above. For guidance on which programs use which test, see ATI TEAS vs. HESI: which exam does your school require?
GPA: Minimum GPA requirements across Missouri programs typically run 2.75–3.0 cumulative. Competitive BSN programs at Mizzou and SLU see admitted students with science GPAs of 3.2 or higher. Some ADN programs use a competitive point-based selection system based on prerequisite grades and TEAS scores rather than a hard cutoff. If your GPA falls below the threshold for your target program, see our guide on nursing schools that accept lower GPAs.
Clinical experience: CNA certification or verifiable healthcare work experience is required or strongly preferred by several Missouri programs. Even where not required, relevant patient-care experience strengthens applications at competitive programs.
Application timeline: Most Missouri programs have fall entry as the primary intake and accept applications once per year. Apply as early as the window opens — competitive programs fill quickly.
NCLEX pass rates in Missouri
The Missouri State Board of Nursing publishes school-by-school NCLEX-RN first-attempt pass rates annually. These reports are available directly from the Board’s website (pr.mo.gov/nursing). The national average first-attempt pass rate was approximately 87% in 2023 (NCSBN data), and Missouri-educated graduates generally track near that figure.
First-attempt pass rates are the strongest publicly available quality indicator for nursing programs. When comparing Missouri schools, look at pass rate data across at least three years — single-cohort figures are affected by class size and other variables. Programs with sustained rates below 80% should be scrutinized carefully.
For school-level pass rate comparisons across states, see NCLEX pass rates by nursing school.
Nursing license in Missouri
State board: Missouri State Board of Nursing Website: pr.mo.gov/nursing
To become a licensed RN in Missouri:
- Graduate from a Missouri State Board of Nursing–approved nursing program
- Apply to the Missouri State Board of Nursing and pay the applicable licensure fee
- Submit to a criminal background check (required)
- Register for and pass the NCLEX-RN through Pearson VUE
- Receive your Missouri RN license (multistate compact license if Missouri is your primary state of residence)
Missouri RN license fees are set by the State Board and are subject to change; check the Board’s current fee schedule before applying. Processing times vary; check the Board website for current estimates.
Compact license: Missouri joined the NLC in 2018. A Missouri RN license is a multistate license valid in all current compact member states. Missouri must be your declared primary state of residence to hold and maintain the Missouri multistate license. For full compact state details, see nursing license by state.
RN salary in Missouri
Bureau of Labor Statistics data places the mean annual RN wage in Missouri at approximately $66,000–$72,000 (2023 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics). This is below the national median of approximately $93,600 and reflects Missouri’s lower cost of living compared to coastal states and high-cost metros.
Top markets in Missouri:
- St. Louis metro – The largest healthcare labor market in the state, with major employers including Barnes-Jewish Hospital, SSM Health, Mercy Health, and BJC HealthCare. Experienced RNs in specialty roles in the St. Louis metro can reach $75,000–$90,000.
- Kansas City metro – Strong healthcare employment base anchored by University Health, Research Medical Center, Saint Luke’s Health System, and Children’s Mercy Kansas City. RN wages in Kansas City generally track slightly below St. Louis metro figures.
- Springfield – CoxHealth and Mercy Hospital Springfield are the dominant employers; wages reflect a smaller regional market.
Missouri’s lower wage floor compared to national averages should be contextualized: a $68,000 RN salary in Missouri carries substantially more purchasing power than the same salary would in California, New York, or Massachusetts. For nurses open to living in Missouri, the combination of competitive employment demand and lower cost of living can represent a favorable overall position.
How to choose a nursing school in Missouri
Accreditation. Only consider programs accredited by CCNE or ACEN. Both are nationally recognized; either is sufficient for NCLEX eligibility, graduate school admission, and employer recognition. Confirm accreditation status directly with the program before applying.
NCLEX pass rates. Request three to five years of first-attempt NCLEX-RN pass rate data. Sustained performance above 85% indicates solid preparation. Programs with consistently lower rates should raise questions about curriculum quality.
Program format. Traditional on-campus BSN programs offer maximum clinical access and cohort structure. Online or hybrid RN-to-BSN programs suit working RNs completing their degree. ADN programs at community colleges offer lower cost and shorter time-to-licensure.
Cost. In-state tuition at Missouri’s public universities (Mizzou, Missouri State, UMKC, SEMO) runs significantly below private options like SLU or Goldfarb. If cost is a major factor, an ADN from an ACEN-accredited program followed by an RN-to-BSN is a proven, cost-effective pathway to a BSN credential.
Location and clinical placement access. Programs in St. Louis and Kansas City have structural advantages in clinical site variety and complexity. Regional programs offer strong community health training and local employment pipelines. Choose based on where you want to practice after graduation.
For a full framework on evaluating nursing programs, see how to choose a nursing school.
Sources and references
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Registered Nurses, Missouri (2023): bls.gov/oes
- Missouri State Board of Nursing: pr.mo.gov/nursing
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) – Nurse Licensure Compact member states and Missouri compact history: ncsbn.org
- NCSBN NCLEX pass rate data (2023)
- CCNE accreditation database: ccneaccreditation.org
- ACEN accreditation directory: acenursing.org