2026 Best Registered Nursing Schools in Kansas
Registered Nursing degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 37 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for registered nursing students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Registered Nursing in Kansas
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the registered nursing degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Registered Nursing
University Of Kansas is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in registered nursing. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public institution. University Of Kansas graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 187 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of Kansas in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $105,103 in their early career. University Of Kansas graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from University Of Kansas
Students looking for a strong registered nursing program will find one at Washburn University, which ranked #2. Washburn University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Topeka. About 44% of students finish within six years. About 130 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Washburn University in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of Washburn University earn a median of $98,985 early in their careers. Washburn University graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans.
Read more about the registered nursing program at Washburn University
Students looking for a strong registered nursing program will find one at Fort Hays State University, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Hays, Fort Hays State University is a large public university. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. Fort Hays State University awarded about 120 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $82,486 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,726 to complete this degree.
Get the full registered nursing details for Fort Hays State University
Midamerica Nazarene University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in registered nursing, ranking #4. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Olathe. About 54% of students finish within six years. About 155 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Midamerica Nazarene University in the most recent year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $80,895 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,620 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from Midamerica Nazarene University
A rank of #5 makes Johnson County Community College one of the top schools for registered nursing. Johnson County Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Overland Park. Johnson County Community College awarded about 57 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of Johnson County Community College earn a median of $64,303 early in their careers. Johnson County Community College graduates carry a median of $15,914 in student loans.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from Johnson County Community College
Baker University placed #6 among the best registered nursing schools. Located in the rural area of Baldwin City, Baker University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Baker University graduates 58% of students within six years. About 56 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Baker University in the most recent year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Baker University earn around $70,720 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $29,577 to complete this degree.
See the full registered nursing program report for Baker University
Hutchinson Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Set in the town of Hutchinson, Hutchinson Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 78 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Hutchinson Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Hutchinson Community College earn around $60,330 in the first couple years of their career. Hutchinson Community College graduates carry a median of $21,889 in student loans.
Get the full registered nursing details for Hutchinson Community College
Salina Area Technical College came in at #8 for registered nursing this year. Located in the town of Salina, Salina Area Technical College is a small public university. About 23 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Salina Area Technical College in the most recent year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Salina Area Technical College earn around $38,440 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,124.
Get the full registered nursing details for Salina Area Technical College
Emporia State University came in at #9 for registered nursing this year. Set in the town of Emporia, Emporia State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Emporia State University graduates 56% of students within six years. There were roughly 38 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Emporia State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $60,066 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,440.
See the full registered nursing program report for Emporia State University
Newman University came in at #10 for registered nursing this year. Located in the city of Wichita, Newman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 51% of students finish within six years. Newman University awarded about 29 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Newman University earn around $137,199 in the first couple years of their career. Newman University graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans.
Read more about the registered nursing program at Newman University
Wichita State University earned the #11 position for registered nursing this year. Set in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. About 135 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Wichita State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $78,022 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,750 to complete this degree.
Get the full registered nursing details for Wichita State University
Wichita Area Technical College placed #12 among the best registered nursing schools. Located in the city of Wichita, Wichita Area Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. About 29 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Wichita Area Technical College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Wichita Area Technical College generally make around $35,358. Wichita Area Technical College graduates carry a median of $11,828 in student loans.
Read more about the registered nursing program at Wichita Area Technical College
Pittsburg State University landed the #13 spot for registered nursing this year. Pittsburg State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Pittsburg. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. There were roughly 106 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Pittsburg State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Pittsburg State University earn around $82,109 in the first couple years of their career. Pittsburg State University graduates carry a median of $22,791 in student loans.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from Pittsburg State University
Neosho County Community College placed #14 among the best registered nursing schools. Set in the town of Chanute, Neosho County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 56 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Neosho County Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $61,906 in their early career. Neosho County Community College graduates carry a median of $17,877 in student loans.
Read more about the registered nursing program at Neosho County Community College
Benedictine College placed #15 among the best registered nursing schools. Located in the town of Atchison, Benedictine College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 35 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Benedictine College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $66,204 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,223 to complete this degree.
Read more about the registered nursing program at Benedictine College
Donnelly College came in at #16 for registered nursing this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Kansas City. About 23 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Donnelly College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Donnelly College generally make around $49,147. Donnelly College graduates carry a median of $27,626 in student loans.
Get the full registered nursing details for Donnelly College
University Of Saint Mary placed #17 among the best registered nursing schools. University Of Saint Mary is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Leavenworth. About 48% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 37 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of Saint Mary in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from University Of Saint Mary generally make around $85,735. Typical student debt for the program is $29,000.
Get the full registered nursing details for University Of Saint Mary
Butler Community College earned the #18 position for registered nursing this year. Located in the town of El Dorado, Butler Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 218 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Butler Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Butler Community College generally make around $63,244. Students borrow a median of $24,750 to complete this degree.
See the full registered nursing program report for Butler Community College
Rasmussen College Kansas earned the #19 position for registered nursing this year. Located in the city of Topeka, Rasmussen College Kansas is a small private for-profit university. About 134 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Rasmussen College Kansas in the most recent year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $77,596 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $34,866 to complete this degree.
Get the full registered nursing details for Rasmussen College Kansas
Labette Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Located in the town of Parsons, Labette Community College is a small public university. About 20 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Labette Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Labette Community College earn around $66,833 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,150.
Read more about the registered nursing program at Labette Community College
Hesston College landed the #21 spot for registered nursing this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Hesston. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. Hesston College awarded about 34 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Hesston College generally make around $68,338. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
See the full registered nursing program report for Hesston College
Kansas City Kansas Community College landed the #22 spot for registered nursing this year. Set in the city of Kansas City, Kansas City Kansas Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Kansas City Kansas Community College awarded about 52 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of Kansas City Kansas Community College earn a median of $63,181 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,444.
See the full registered nursing program report for Kansas City Kansas Community College
Garden City Community College earned the #23 position for registered nursing this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Garden City. About 16 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Garden City Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Garden City Community College earn around $61,593 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,100.
Get the full registered nursing details for Garden City Community College
North Central Kansas Technical College placed #24 among the best registered nursing schools. Set in the rural area of Beloit, North Central Kansas Technical College is a small public institution. There were roughly 43 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at North Central Kansas Technical College in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from North Central Kansas Technical College
Cloud County Community College placed #25 among the best registered nursing schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the rural area of Concordia. Cloud County Community College awarded about 39 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Cloud County Community College earn around $61,406 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,268 to complete this degree.
See the full registered nursing program report for Cloud County Community College
Rest of the Top 35 Registered Nursing Schools
These schools also placed among the best for registered nursing this year:
More Registered Nursing Rankings
View All Registered Nursing Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 37 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
