Get a job as a registered nurse in Kansas after going through the training available through these state colleges and universities.
Within just a few years, you could work in a hospital or a clinic with patients as a registered nurse.
This career will provide you with a rewarding experience helping patients in a medical facility.
Learn more about how to become a registered nurse in Kansas with this beneficial guide.
5 Registered Nurse Schools in Kansas
Emporia State University
Emporia State University (ESU) has a program for traditional nursing students that takes four years.
Earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) within 128 credit hours, including 60 nursing course credits.
The cost of attending ESU nursing school for in-state Kansas students is $6,791 per academic year.
Emporia State University also has a master’s program for students in nursing.
This is the Master of Science in Nursing, which is an online program available to RNs.
Hesston College
At Hesston College, expect to learn everything you need to be a professional RN in Kansas.
Students report a 100 percent success rate for passing the national exam called the NCLEX-RN in 2020.
Here you can earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in four years of training.
This includes ample time in the nursing labs to learn hands-on how to become a registered nurse.
The school also offers an Associate of Arts degree in nursing.
With an AA, you spend just two years in training to become an RN.
There is also a program that allows licensed practical nurses (LPN) to earn a BSN.
This track is perfect if you are already trained as an LPN but want to pursue a career as a registered nurse in Kansas.
Tuition for in-state students at Hesston College is $28,440 for an academic year.
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC) provides nursing hopefuls with a variety of training programs.
Learn what it takes to be a registered nurse in a traditional program, or opt for online training.
KU provides a BSN pathway, as well as a master’s degree for nurses, including a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and a Ph.D. in Nursing.
These degrees are advanced-level training for registered nurses in Kansas.
In-state tuition at KUMC is $18,948 for an academic year.
Pittsburg State University
Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas is home to the Pitt State Gorillas.
Nursing students also have plenty of options at this college.
The Irene Ransom Bradley School of Nursing offers multiple training routes.
Choose to take the traditional pathway with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing for pre-licensed students.
There is also the RN to BSN track for students who have RN training but want to complete a four-year degree.
With a BSN, nursing students can pursue a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with an education emphasis.
This is for nurses who want to teach and prepare other students to become registered nurses.
Additional routes for training at Pittsburg State University include an MSN to DNP, for Doctor of Nursing Practice, and a BSN to DNP degree program.
The cost for in-state tuition for nurses at PSU is $7,508 per academic school year.
Wichita State University
Wichita State University provides nursing students with many ways to earn a degree and a paying position in the Kansas medical system.
Students can take on coursework to lead to a BSN, which is a four-year program.
There is also the Accelerated BSN program, which reduces the time that it takes to complete the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.
LPNs can pursue a BSN, as well.
RNs can take on the BSN program if they want to get a Bachelor’s degree leading to a Master’s degree in nursing.
Tuition at Wichita State University is $8,433 for in-state students enrolled in the nursing program.
Registered Nurse Schools in Kansas – Summary Table
Top 5 Schools in Kansas
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Emporia State University | 1 Kellogg Cir, Emporia, KS 6680 |
| Hesston College | 301 S Main St, Hesston, KS 67062 |
| University of Kansas | 1450 Jayhawk Blvd, Lawrence, KS 66045 |
| Pittsburg State University | 1701 S Broadway St, Pittsburg, KS 66762 |
| Wichita State University | 1845 Fairmount St, Wichita, KS 67260 |
Salary
The national median salary for a registered nurse in this nation is approximately $83,200.
The salary range varies from $59,570 to $106,830.
For Kansas RNs, the cost of living is 14 percent lower than in the rest of the US.
Therefore, you can anticipate earning about 14 percent less than the median salary.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Registered Nurse (RN)s in Kansas
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Wichita | $63,950 |
| Kansas City | $65,190 |
| Topeka | $62,090 |
| Overland Park | $64,960 |
| Olathe | $64,780 |
| Lawrence | $63,070 |
| Shawnee | $64,960 |
| Salina | $63,290 |
| Manhattan | $61,420 |
| Hutchinson | $63,290 |
Regional Salary in Kansas
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence, KS | 700 | $74,260 | $35.7 | $81,050 | $62,490 |
| Manhattan, KS | 590 | $73,440 | $35.31 | $83,710 | $59,440 |
| Topeka, KS | 2,940 | $78,150 | $37.57 | $94,510 | $61,570 |
| Wichita, KS | 6,680 | $72,890 | $35.04 | $91,710 | $55,280 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kansas an RN compact state?
Yes, Kansas is an RN compact state.
According to the Kansas Board of Nursing, “On July 1, 2019, the conversion application will be available on our website for all existing Kansas RN and LPN licensed nurses to apply to convert from [a] single state license to [a] multi-state license.”
The Nurse Licensure Compact or NLC supports having one RN license and being able to work in more than one state.
Thirty-eight states are RN compact states allowing RNs to have a multi-state license.
Where is the busiest place to work in Kansas as a registered nurse?
Kansas City, Topeka, and Wichita are the most populated cities in Kansas, and these are the areas where the most RN jobs are available.
How do I get a Kansas nursing license?
In Kansas, you need to go to school to study for the licensure exam, which is a national board called the NCLEX-RN.
Nursing programs in KS prepare students for taking this exam.
Following certification and nursing school, you have the prerequisites for getting a Kansas nursing license.
Apply for a state license as an RN at the Kansas Board of Nursing.
How long does it take to get an RN degree in Kansas?
The Kansas State Nurses Association reports that you can anticipate spending two to four years becoming an RN in Kansas.
This depends on the type of training and school program you are admitted to, such as an accelerated program or a traditional route of study.
How many RNs are there in Kansas?
Kansas has 26,380 registered nurses in the state, versus 2.6 million RNs in the US.
