Study in a traditional on-campus setting at either our Kansas City or Salina campuses.
Explore our BSN pathways
There are three pathways leading to a BSN degree.
Earn both an Associate’s and a Bachelor’s in Nursing through the Community College Nursing Partnership (CCNP) program, in a hybrid format at 8 community colleges.
Existing registered nurses refresh their skills, learn new ones and expand their career options by earning an online bachelor of science in nursing.
Uniquely KU
Our graduates are prepared to step confidently into the future of healthcare through a bold, future-focused curriculum that blends concept-based learning, hands-on skill development, and immersive clinical experiences.
The KU BSN program doesn’t just teach what nurses need to know—it ensures students can do it in real clinical settings and allows you to build expertise that deepens each semester. Your learning progresses intentionally across four spheres of care:
- Wellness and prevention to chronic condition management
- Acute and restorative care
- Holistic end-of-life support
- Complex care
This innovative course design creates a dynamic, supportive environment where students think critically, practice with purpose, and grow into their professional identity. The result is a practice-ready nurse who is poised to lead, innovate, and make a meaningful impact from day one.
17
Ranking among public nursing schools by U.S. News & World Report
96.1%
Retention rate for BSN students
86%
first time NCLEX-RN pass rate
United Curriculum
KU’s innovative, new curriculum unites BSN students from every pathway in dynamic online courses, creating a rich learning environment with diverse perspectives.
Students from our Kansas City campus, our Salina campus, RN to BSN students, and CCNP students learn together, gaining diverse perspectives and shared experiences.
See our Online Catalog for course details and consult the individual pathway pages for specific sequencing details.
Program Objectives
Demonstrate clinical judgment through safe, effective care founded on the knowledge of nursing practice, derived from theories of nursing and other disciplines.- Deliver person-centered care across the spheres of care.
- Apply principles of population health and social justice to address the needs of populations across the care continuum.
- Integrate sources of evidence that inform nursing practice.
- Contribute to a culture of safety and quality improvement that promotes desired health outcomes.
- Collaborate effectively with interprofessional healthcare teams, patients, families, communities, and stakeholders to improve care and strengthen outcomes.
- Apply knowledge of complex systems and resource management that promote equitable outcomes in an evolving continuum of care.
- Utilize informatics processes and communication technologies to deliver safe, quality care.
- Demonstrate a professional identity that reflects nursing’s knowledge, values, and ethical comportment.
- Develop personal, professional, and leadership attributes and skills.
Admissions and Aid
Student Affairs
The Student Affairs team is ready to help you become a KU nursing student and succeed while you’re here.
They can:
- Counsel you about the best program to fit your needs
- Advise you which courses to take
- Review your transcripts
- Help you every step of the admissions process
Have a specific question? Email them at soninfo@kumc.edu or call 913-588-1619.
Tuition & Financial Aid
Our Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) school code is 001948.
Learn about the BSN tuition and fees by clicking the links below. These links will take you to the University of Kansas Medical Center’s Registrar’s site.
Scholarships
In academic year 2024-2025, the KU School of Nursing awarded over $1.6 million in scholarships annually across all our programs, awarding scholarships to:
- 151 BSN students were awarded general university scholarships.
Program Outcomes
| Outcome | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN® pass rate - 1st attempt | 94.49% | 98.39% | 96.30% |
| Ultimate NCLEX-RN® pass rate (passed within 1 yr of graduation) | 99.2% | 100% | 99.20% |
| Graduation Rate | 90.6% | 92.25% | 90.51% |
| Employment Rate | 89.7% | 85.19% | 98.10% |
Nurse Academy
Are you just exploring a nursing career? Be sure to apply to Nurse Academy, a free nursing career immersion experience from our partner, The University of Kansas Health System.
Nursing Licensure
The BSN program prepares students for RN licensure. The National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN) is the examination for nursing practice in the United States, Canada, and Australia. The exam does not vary across states. Graduates apply for licensure and complete the NCLEX-RN through the Board of Nursing in the State where they plan to practice. Some states belong to the Nurse Licensure Compact which allows graduates to apply for multi-state licensure. For information on individual state's requirements go to the National Councils of State Boards of Nursing website.
The University of Kansas Medical Center's pass rate for the NCLEX is available on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses Program Summary - All First Time Registered Nurse Candidates Educated in Kansas through December 31, 2024 PDF.
As of July 1, 2020, the U.S. Department of Education requires professional nursing programs to provide information on how their curriculum meets education requirements for professional licensing in each state. View Licensure information.
Potential Limits to Receiving a Nursing License
There are a number of reasons that the Kansas State Board of Nursing may deny, revoke, limit or suspend a nursing license. These include fraud or deceit in practicing nursing or in procuring a license, holding a felony conviction, being incompetent, being unable to practice due to abuse of drugs or alcohol, being judged in need of a guardian, exhibiting unprofessional conduct, having violated the provisions of the Kansas Nurse Practice Act, having action taken against your nursing license in another state and assisting in suicide.
In 1997, the Kansas Nurse Practice Act was amended to add a new provision in the felony section: no person who has been convicted of a felony against persons (as specified in Article 34, Chapter 21 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, prior to its repeal, or sections 36 through 64-174, 210 or 211 of chapter 136 of the 2010 Session Laws of Kansas and amendments thereto) shall be licensed. In other felony or misdemeanor instances, the Board of Nursing will conduct an investigation and make an individual decision. As always, admission to and graduation from the University of Kansas School of Nursing does not guarantee eligibility to test for a nursing license in Kansas or any other state if a person's past record includes any of the situations listed above.
Accreditation & Recognition
The KU School of Nursing is nationally accredited and state approved. See accreditation details.
Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Approved by the Kansas State Board of NursingDepartment News
October 03, 2025
Students celebrate with transplant patient
Learning to care for the whole patient is part of the clinical education at KU School of Nursing
September 23, 2025
A day in the life of Salina nursing students
Students at KU School of Nursing-Salina share what life is like on campus this fall.
August 19, 2025
Diary of a summer nursing elective: Lifestyle Considerations in Nursing
Course introduces the concept of healthy lifestyle considerations, including nutrition, sleep, physical activity, stress management and social networks from multiple perspectives.