Missouri Community Colleges
Nursing Programs
Compare nursing programs across community colleges in this state. ADN, LPN, and pre-nursing pathways with section counts and transfer details.
6 colleges · 286 sections · 86 unique courses · Fall 2026 · Updated today
Missouri community colleges are the most popular launchpad into nursing in the state — 6 MCCA institutions offer the coursework and clinical hours required for the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN exam, and many graduates step directly into staff-nurse roles at local hospitals without ever attending a four-year school. The associate degree in nursing (ADN) typically takes two years full-time; LPN programs run 12–18 months.
This term, the 286 sections across these 6 colleges span the full nursing pipeline: pre-nursing prerequisites like anatomy and microbiology, the clinical ADN sequence, and bridge-to-BSN pathways for nurses planning to continue toward a bachelor's. Programs vary in clinical site partnerships, NCLEX pass rates, and waitlist length, so it pays to compare each college's awards-per-year and graduate earnings below before choosing where to apply.
Colleges offering Nursing
Pick a college to see its full plan — every required course, which ones transfer to the school you want, and what’s open now.
Nursing is a transfer program — community colleges offer the coursework; you earn the degree, and its earnings, at a four-year university. See where it transfers →
| College | Sections | Courses | Online |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Fair Community College | 107 | 28 | 2 |
| St Charles Community College | 92 | 24 | — |
| Ozarks Technical Community College | 28 | 8 | — |
| Mineral Area College | 27 | 14 | — |
| Crowder College | 20 | 8 | — |
| East Central College | 12 | 8 | 1 |
Nursing Availability Snapshot
How nursing sections are being offered across 6 colleges in Missouri this term (286 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person272 (95%)
- hybrid11 (4%)
- online3 (1%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)79
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)29
- Asynchronous / TBA178
Start dates
Sections begin on 11 distinct dates. 102 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 66 distinct instructors across 6 colleges.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
Saint Louis Community College2 programs
St Charles Community College6 programs
Common Nursing courses
- NURS 230Complex Health: Adult Clinical I(13 sections)
- NURS 231Complex Health: Adult Clinical II(11 sections)
- ADN 1505Medical Surgical Nursing II(9 sections)
- NURS 118Fundamentals II Clinical(8 sections)
- NURS 126Adult Health Clinical(8 sections)
- NURS 122Health Concepts IIB(7 sections)
- NURS 102CPR for Health Care Providers(7 sections)
- NURS 216Complex Health: Mental Health Clinical(7 sections)
- NUR 113Fund of Prof Nursing Lab(6 sections)
- NUR 114Prof Nur Lifespan I Lab(6 sections)
- NUR 123Fund of Prof Nursing Clinical(6 sections)
- NUR 124Prof NUR Lifespan I Clinical(6 sections)
Career outlook for Nursing graduates
Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data for the primary career outcome of this program (2024 OEWS release). Compare Missouri’s typical pay to the national picture before choosing where to study.
Missouri's typical pay is about 7% below the typical state — common for lower cost-of-living states, but worth weighing against tuition savings.
Wage data reflects all workers in the occupation, not just recent CC graduates — entry-level pay is typically lower. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I become a registered nurse from a community college?
- Yes. An associate degree in nursing (ADN) from any accredited Missouri community college qualifies you to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam — the same exam BSN graduates take. ADN-prepared RNs work in the same hospitals and earn the same starting wage as BSN-prepared RNs at most Missouri employers, though some larger health systems prefer or require a BSN within 5 years of hire.
- How long does the nursing program take?
- The ADN is typically a 2-year full-time program (4 semesters of core nursing courses after prerequisites). Most Missouri community colleges expect students to complete 1–2 semesters of prerequisites — anatomy, physiology, microbiology, English, statistics — before applying to the competitive nursing cohort, so the total time from first enrollment is often 3 years.
- Do nursing credits transfer to a bachelor's program?
- Yes. Every MCCA ADN program has at least one RN-to-BSN bridge partnership with a four-year university — usually the closest state university. ADN graduates can typically complete the BSN online in 12–18 months while continuing to work as an RN, often with their employer covering tuition.
- What's the demand for nurses in Missouri?
- Strong and growing. BLS projects RN employment to grow 6% nationally through 2032 — faster than the average occupation — and Missouri faces the same aging-population pressure driving demand. Most Missouri ADN graduates have job offers before completing the program; rural hospitals and long-term care facilities offer signing bonuses and tuition forgiveness to recruit RNs.
Compare Nursing programs in other states
Same comparison view, different state systems. Useful if you’re considering an out-of-state community college or just want to see how Missouri’s nursing programs stack up.
Other programs in Missouri
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.