UMKC's School of Nursing and Health Studies Bachelor of Science in Nursing program has been ranked the No. 1 top public university nursing program in Missouri for a second year in a row by U.S. News & World Report.
“We are very proud of our BSN students, who demonstrate enthusiasm and a drive to succeed,” said Joy Roberts, dean of the UMKC School of Nursing and Health Studies. “Additionally, our BSN faculty are always working to help their students achieve excellence. Their creativity and expert teaching skills have made our BSN program the success that it is.”
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations. In 2025, the median annual wage was $97,550 with 3.5 million jobs and 180,800 openings projected each year, on average, over the next decade.
For senior nursing student, Ann Marie Bucksbee, she attributes the school’s success to its sense of togetherness.
“I really enjoy the UMKC nursing program because it is such a tight-knit community,” Bucksbee said. “You really get to know all of your fellow nursing students and learn and grow alongside them.”
According to Roberts, UMKC nursing students start their nursing courses during their sophomore year, allowing them to have many more hours of clinical experience, better preparing them for the rigors of healthcare. The students’ extensive clinical immersion during their final semester provides them experience in the nursing specialty that they are interested beginning their career in.
“As the nursing shortage in the United States continues, UMKC’s School of Nursing and Health Studies has responded by enhancing our BSN program,” Roberts said, “allowing us to graduate well educated and exceptionally prepared students who are ready to meet the demand for new RNs in the Kansas City metropolitan area as well as across the country.”
Overall, UMKC ranked #137 among public universities in the national ranking and #250 among all public and private universities.