Top Nursing Schools in St. Louis: Online & Campus
Find top-rated, accredited nursing schools in St. Louis that can help you take advantage of the high demand for registered nurses and APRNs in the area.
Find top-rated, accredited nursing schools in St. Louis that can help you take advantage of the high demand for registered nurses and APRNs in the area.
If you live in the St. Louis area and are thinking about starting or advancing your career in nursing, the time to act is now. There’s a critical shortage of trained nursing professionals in and around St. Louis and across the entire nation. That shortage has led to sharp increases in salaries and signing bonuses by employers trying to fill an ever-increasing number of job vacancies.
Take advantage of the situation by earning your nursing degree from an accredited nursing school in St. Louis. This guide gives you information on the top schools and programs, paying for college, and more. Read on to learn which schools made it onto our list and find the St. Louis nursing school that best meets your needs.
Maryville University of Saint Louis
Saint Louis, Missouri
Private
Webster University
Saint Louis, Missouri
Private
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, Missouri
Private
University of Missouri-St Louis
Saint Louis, Missouri
Public
Missouri Baptist University
Saint Louis, Missouri
Private
Types of Nursing Programs Available in or Near St. Louis
As the school spotlights above indicate, there are many different types of nursing programs in St. Louis to choose from. To help decide which one is right for you, below are explanations of the most popular types of nursing programs available in St. Louis along with links to program examples for each.
Pre-Licensure Nursing Programs in St. Louis
Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
Individuals seeking a quick and affordable path to a career as a registered nurse can opt for an AND program. These nursing programs in St. Louis are available exclusively on community college campuses and typically require two years of full-time study. Curriculums consist of general education and lower-division coursework along with the clinical practice hours needed to qualify for the NCLEX-RN.
Examples of St. Louis Nursing Schools with this Program
Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (Traditional BSN)
Traditional BSN programs provide all the nursing courses and clinical practice hours required to sit for the NCLEX-RN. They may be offered as four-year, full-time programs for students with little or no previous college coursework or as two-year completion programs that require students to complete their first two years of general education and lower-division nursing courses as prerequisites.
Examples of St. Louis Nursing Schools with this Program
Accelerated BSN Programs
Students with non-nursing bachelor’s degrees can apply the general education and other credits earned in those degree programs to an accelerated (second-degree) BSN program, thus saving time and money as they work toward NCLEX-RN eligibility and becoming RNs. Completion times vary, but many students finish in as little as one year.
Examples of St. Louis Nursing Schools with this Program
Direct-Entry MSN Programs (Master of Science in Nursing)
The direct-entry (accelerated) MSN is designed for individuals with no prior nursing education who are looking for the quickest and most affordable path to advanced practice and nurse leadership careers. Admission requires a non-nursing bachelor’s or higher degree and completion of certain healthcare courses. Graduates of direct-entry MSN programs are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN.
Examples of St. Louis Nursing Schools with this Program
Nursing Bridge Programs in St. Louis for Current Nurses
LPN to RN and LPN to BSN Programs
LPNs seeking professional advancement often do so by earning an ADN or BSN through LPN to RN or LPN to BSN programs. LPN to RN programs, sometimes called ADN bridge programs, are a staple of community college nursing programs in St. Louis and typically require three to four semesters to complete. LPN to BSN programs are available from four-year colleges and universities and can be completed in as little as three years.
Examples of St. Louis Nursing Schools with this Program
RN to BSN Programs
RN to BSN programs provide current RNs with ADNs a convenient and affordable way to expand their nursing skills and increase their value in the job market. RN to BSN programs often feature 100% online coursework and can be completed in as few as 12 months depending primarily on the student’s previous college coursework and chosen study pace.
Examples of St. Louis Nursing Schools with this Program
RN to MSN Programs
RN to MSN programs are for current RNs with nursing diplomas or ADNs interested in the most direct route to obtaining a nursing master’s degree. Some programs offer both full-time and part-time study formats as well as the option of earning a BSN degree on the way to earning the MSN. Most RN to MSN programs feature fully-online coursework.
Examples of St. Louis Nursing Schools with this Program
Advanced Nursing Programs in St. Louis
Traditional MSN Programs (Master of Science in Nursing)
Traditional MSN programs are for nurses with BSNs who want to advance their careers into leadership and advanced nurse practitioner positions. Traditional MSN programs often feature fully-online coursework, but students are still required to complete substantial clinical rotations at local healthcare facilities. Program lengths are typically 18 to 24 months.
Examples of St. Louis Nursing Schools with this Program
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and PhD Doctoral Programs
DNP and PhD in Nursing degrees are exclusively for those seeking the highest positions in the nursing profession. PhD programs prepare students for careers in advanced research and post-secondary education while DNP programs prepare graduates for senior administration and advanced practice roles. Completion times vary substantially depending on credential type and chosen study pace.
Examples of St. Louis Nursing Schools with this Program
Post-Graduate Nursing Certificates
Post-graduate certificates allow nurses with master’s or doctoral degrees the ability to add new specialized areas of practice without completing an additional full degree program. Specializations commonly include any of several nurse practitioner fields as well as areas like nurse educator and nursing administration. Some nursing schools in St. Louis feature post-grad certificates that can be completed entirely online.
Examples of St. Louis Nursing Schools with this Program
Financial Aid Opportunities for Nursing Students in St. Louis
Financial aid is an absolute must for almost all nursing students. Fortunately, there are plenty of financial aid resources to tap into, many exclusive to nursing students. The most popular financial aid resource is the student loan. Student loans are available from many lenders, but the most common source is the federal student loan. The federal government also sponsors several loan repayment opportunities for nurses through the Health Resources & Services Administration.
Other funding sources for nursing students include scholarships and grants, assistantships and fellowships, work study programs, and employer tuition reimbursement programs. For active military and veterans, there are GI Bill and other VA educational benefits. Nursing students in the St. Louis area can also take advantage of financial aid opportunities sponsored by the Missouri and Illinois state governments as well.
For more on financial aid for students in nursing programs in St. Louis, check out EduMed’s guides to financial aid, nursing scholarships, and graduating from nursing school debt-free.
How to Become an RN in St. Louis: Licensing Requirements
Whether you’re in St. Louis, Missouri or Metro East in Illinois, you’ll need an RN license to work as a registered nurse in the Greater St. Louis metro area. If you currently hold a valid RN license from a state or territory member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) and intend to work in Missouri, you can use your current RN license.
If your license is from a non-NLC state or territory and you plan to work in Missouri, or if you plan to work in Illinois and your license is from any other state, you’ll need to obtain an RN license through Missouri’s or Illinois’s license by endorsement process. If you’re seeking RN licensure for the first time, however, you’ll use your state’s license by examination process, which includes taking and passing the NCLEX-RN.
For detailed RN licensure information, visit the Missouri State Board of Nursing and Illinois Nursing Workforce Center websites.
Salaries for RNs in St. Louis
St. Louis is one of the best places in Missouri for Registered Nurses (RNs) to build a career, with salaries that reflect the city’s demand for skilled healthcare professionals. The median salary for RNs in St. Louis is $80,760, surpassing the state’s median of $77,190. Top earners in the city bring home up to $100,700 annually, while even entry-level RNs start with a solid salary of $61,660.
As one of Missouri’s largest healthcare hubs, St. Louis offers a range of opportunities, from major hospitals to specialized care centers and research facilities. Whether you’re new to nursing or aiming to advance your career, St. Louis provides a supportive and dynamic environment for growth. Check out the data below to see how a career in St. Louis could fit into your goals.
| Area | 10th Percentile | Median | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri | $56,690 | $77,190 | $99,330 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $61,660 | $80,760 | $100,700 |
Source: Registered Nurses, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.
