UMKC Nursing: Programs, NCLEX & What to Expect (2026)
Public University of Missouri campus in Kansas City with pre-licensure and Accelerated BSN, online RN-BSN, and CCNE-accredited graduate nursing programs. Figures below cite UMKC Cashiers (2025–26), SONHS program pages (TEAS, GPA), and the SONHS homepage NCLEX headline—confirm every detail with SONHS and the Missouri Board of Nursing.
Contents
Quick Facts
Key Takeaway
UMKC SONHS pairs a 1+3 pre-licensure BSN structure (one year general education, three years of nursing) with Kansas City clinical partners, a published TEAS threshold for the clinical major, and a full ladder from RN-BSN through DNP—strong if you want a public, urban health sciences campus with transparent UM-system tuition tables.
Overview & Why Students Choose UMKC SONHS
The University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Nursing and Health Studies sits on UMKC’s Health Sciences Campus near major Kansas City hospitals. Students can enter pre-licensure nursing through a traditional BSN track, an Accelerated BSN if they already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field, or RN-BSN completion online; graduate students pursue MSN, DNP, and PhD pathways aligned with advanced practice and leadership roles.
SONHS emphasizes interprofessional simulation, urban and community clinical experiences, and a 1+3 pre-licensure design (one year of general education followed by three years of nursing coursework). Confirm immunizations, background checks, and clinical clearance policies with SONHS for your cohort.
The Missouri Board 2025 Quarter 3 RN Report 4 lists MO — University of Missouri–Kansas City — BS (US17507500) with 59 of 59 first-time candidates passed (100.00%) in the Total column. The SONHS homepage highlights 100% NCLEX-RN for BSN graduates for 2024 and 2025 (headline statistic). Confirm cohort definitions with SONHS and compare sources.
Reasons students choose UMKC SONHS
Urban Kansas City clinical footprint
Clinical rotations tie into major teaching hospitals and community sites across the metro—useful if you want early exposure to high-acuity and community care.
CCNE-accredited ladder
SONHS publishes CCNE accreditation and Missouri State Board of Nursing approval of pre-licensure programs on its accreditation materials—important for licensure-bound students.
1+3 BSN structure
Pre-licensure BSN uses one year of general education plus three years of nursing, so students begin nursing coursework earlier than many 2+2 patterns.
Graduate depth
MSN, DNP, and PhD options support progression from RN-BSN through doctoral preparation without leaving the institution.
Nursing Programs Offered
Programs below follow SONHS public pages and the UMKC academic catalog as of the 2025–26 cycle referenced in Cashiers tuition tables.
Pre-licensure
Pre-Licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Traditional BSN for students who complete prerequisites and the competitive clinical supplemental application; uses the 1+3 format described on the Pre-Licensure BSN page.
Accelerated BSN (ABSN)
Accelerated BSN (ABSN) for applicants who already hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree; see SONHS Accelerated BSN page for prerequisites and timeline.
Post-licensure
RN-to-BSN
Online BSN completion for licensed RNs; Cashiers lists a dedicated Online nursing RN-BSN tuition row—verify authorization if you live outside Missouri.
Graduate
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
Graduate nursing degrees including nurse practitioner and other advanced roles; U.S. News ranks UMKC’s online graduate nursing program highly—confirm specialty availability with SONHS.
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) & PhD in Nursing
DNP for terminal practice preparation; PhD for research and academic careers. SONHS highlights national recognition for DNP quality on its homepage—verify tracks and entry requirements on graduate pages.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
According to the Missouri Board of Nursing 2025 Quarter 3 RN Report 4, MO — University of Missouri–Kansas City — BS (US17507500) shows 59 of 59 first-time candidates passed (100.00%) in the report’s Total column.
The UMKC School of Nursing and Health Studies homepage also displays a 100% NCLEX-RN pass rate for BSN graduates for 2024 and 2025 (school-reported headline). Confirm cohort definitions with SONHS; use the Board’s NCLEX Statistics for official program-level tables.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN first-time (MO BON Report 4, 2025 Q3) | 100.00% (59/59), US17507500 — RN Report 4 PDF |
| NCLEX-RN pass rate (BSN, SONHS homepage) | 100% (2024 & 2025 headline on sonhs.umkc.edu; school-reported) |
| Source | Missouri Board of Nursing NCLEX Statistics; SONHS homepage. Confirm current rates with SONHS and the Board. |
NCLEX outcomes change by cohort and reporting period. Treat the SONHS headline as a high-level school summary; confirm the latest first-time pass rates with the Missouri Board of Nursing and SONHS.
International Students & Internationally Educated Nurses
Requirements for international students and internationally educated nurses vary by pathway, clinical site rules, and Missouri licensure policy. Use this checklist as planning guidance—not legal advice—and verify with UMKC International Student Affairs, SONHS admissions, and the Missouri Board of Nursing.
- English-language proficiency: Confirm TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo minimums for your admission category with International Student Affairs and SONHS.
- Transcript / credential evaluation: Ask SONHS which evaluators are accepted for prerequisites and any foreign nursing coursework.
- Missouri Board of Nursing: Internationally educated nurses seeking Missouri licensure must follow Board pathways for credential review, English competency, and NCLEX eligibility.
- Immigration & visa: Clinical courses require clearance at U.S. health care sites; visa status may affect placement—disclose early to International Student Affairs and the nursing clinical coordinator.
Policies change frequently. Confirm current requirements with UMKC and Missouri’s Board of Nursing before you invest in relocation or prerequisite coursework.
Admissions: A Realistic Look
UMKC admits students to the university first; pre-licensure BSN applicants complete a separate clinical supplemental after prerequisites. The Pre-Licensure BSN page describes holistic review using prerequisite GPA (minimum 2.75, 3.5 recommended), cumulative GPA, UM System GPA when applicable, ATI TEAS (minimum 60), essays, and 30 hours of direct patient interaction within two years of application. Application windows and cohort status (for example, whether a fall cohort is open) change—use the live SONHS BSN page.
Application timeline
| Pathway | Deadline / cycle | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Licensure BSN | Clinical supplemental typically November–January; prerequisites by end of spring before entry | SONHS BSN page lists essay prompts and TEAS rules when the application opens. |
| Accelerated BSN | See Accelerated BSN page for annual cycle | For second-degree applicants; prerequisites differ from traditional BSN. |
| Nursing Direct Admit (freshmen) | Eligible first-time students with ACT ≥27 | Waiver of clinical supplemental per Direct Admit materials; confirm current ACT threshold. |
Admissions snapshot
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Acceptance rate (clinical major) | Not publicly disclosed |
| GPA (pre-licensure clinical application) | Cumulative minimum 2.75 (3.5 recommended); UM System GPA minimum 2.75 when applicable; prerequisite GPA reviewed holistically per SONHS Pre-Licensure BSN page. |
| TEAS | ATI TEAS minimum score 60 required for clinical supplemental (per Pre-Licensure BSN page). |
| Direct patient hours | Minimum 30 hours within two years before application; paid or volunteer healthcare settings that include direct patient interaction. |
Tuition & Cost of Attendance
UMKC Cashiers publishes Academic Year 2025–2026 per-credit tuition by school and residency tier. Figures below come from the Undergraduate Program Tuition and Fees table; student services fees, course fees, housing, and books are additional. Kansas residents qualify for the Missouri/Kansas rate; several states may qualify for the Heartland rate.
| Metric | Value (2025–26, UMKC Cashiers table) |
|---|---|
| SONHS Nursing (BSN/RN-BSN), Missouri/Kansas rate | $588.70 per credit hour |
| SONHS Nursing (BSN/RN-BSN), Heartland rate | $781.70 per credit hour |
| SONHS Nursing (BSN/RN-BSN), Nonresident rate | $1,250.20 per credit hour |
| SONHS Online nursing (RN-BSN) | $588.70 per credit hour (all columns on table reviewed) |
| Other costs | See Cashiers fees page and undergraduate cost estimates for full cost of attendance. |
| Source | UMKC Undergraduate Program Tuition and Fees. Confirm current amounts with Cashiers. |
Student Outcomes & Career Prospects
Licensure outcomes for pre-licensure graduates are summarized on the SONHS homepage (NCLEX headline above). Employment or placement percentages were not consolidated from a single UMKC consumer-disclosure page for this guide.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN pass rate (BSN, SONHS homepage) | 100% (2024 & 2025 headline; school-reported) |
| Source | SONHS homepage; confirm methodology with SONHS and Missouri Board of Nursing. |
| Job placement / employment | Not publicly disclosed in the sources summarized here; see UMKC career services or program outcomes pages. |
Is UMKC SONHS the Right Fit for You?
Choose UMKC SONHS when you want a public university nursing school embedded in Kansas City’s hospital ecosystem with a clear pre-licensure application process (TEAS, patient hours, essays) and a full graduate pipeline.
✓ Good fit for students who—
- Want clinical training in a major Midwest metro with academic medical centers and community safety-net sites.
- Value transparent UM-system tuition tables and Heartland/Kansas resident options.
- Plan to progress from BSN through MSN or DNP within one institution.
✗ May not be ideal for students who—
- Prefer a small private campus away from urban traffic and large hospital systems.
- Cannot meet TEAS, GPA, or direct patient hour expectations for the clinical supplemental.
- Need a fully online pre-licensure program without relocating to the Kansas City area.
Local Healthcare Ecosystem
Kansas City hosts multiple academic medical centers, pediatric specialty hospitals, safety-net clinics, and community hospitals. SONHS rotates students through diverse settings; official affiliation lists change by semester. Ask SONHS clinical placement staff for your cohort’s sites.
| Setting | Regional context (not an official SONHS clinical list) |
|---|---|
| Urban Kansas City | Major health systems and teaching hospitals serving the metro—common rotation environments for BSN students. |
| Community health | Federally qualified health centers and public health agencies support community and population-health learning outcomes. |
| Specialty care | Pediatric and specialty institutes in the region supplement med-surg experiences. |
Student Experience & Campus Life
SONHS students use the Health Sciences Campus for skills labs, simulation, and interprofessional learning. UMKC’s broader student life includes Division I athletics (Roos), student organizations, and the KC Streetcar connection to downtown. Expect transportation to regional clinical sites throughout the metro.
Resources & Next Steps
Contact & location
- Campus location
- Kansas City, MO (Health Sciences Campus)
- Address
- 2464 Charlotte Street, Kansas City, MO 64108, US
- Telephone
- 816-235-1700 (SONHS)
- Contact email
- nurses@umkc.edu
- Website
- sonhs.umkc.edu
Official links
Your “Next 7 Days” checklist
- Bookmark the Pre-Licensure BSN page and note whether your target cohort application is open.
- Register for ATI TEAS if you have not yet met the minimum score of 60.
- Document direct patient interaction hours in an eligible healthcare setting.
- Compare your transcripts to UMKC prerequisite coursework using Transferology or SONHS advising guidance.
- Attend a Roo visit or SONHS information session if available.
- Review Cashiers tuition for your residency tier and build a rough budget with fees and housing.
- Check Missouri Board of Nursing NCLEX publications to contextualize SONHS outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What NCLEX-RN pass rate does UMKC SONHS report for BSN graduates?
The Missouri Board 2025 Q3 RN Report 4 lists 100.00% (59/59 first-time, US17507500). The SONHS homepage highlights 100% for BSN graduates for 2024 and 2025. Confirm both on pr.mo.gov and sonhs.umkc.edu.
Does UMKC require TEAS for pre-licensure BSN?
Yes. The Pre-Licensure BSN page lists ATI TEAS with a minimum score of 60 as part of the clinical supplemental application.
What tuition does UMKC publish for SONHS undergraduate nursing?
Cashiers lists $588.70/credit for SONHS Nursing (BSN/RN-BSN) at the Missouri/Kansas rate for 2025–26, with Heartland and nonresident tiers higher. Online RN-BSN shows $588.70/credit across columns on the table reviewed.
Where is the School of Nursing and Health Studies?
SONHS is on UMKC’s Health Sciences Campus; public contact information includes 2464 Charlotte Street, Kansas City, MO 64108 and 816-235-1700.
What GPA does UMKC expect for pre-licensure clinical admission?
The Pre-Licensure BSN page describes a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 (3.5 recommended) plus UM System GPA rules when applicable, reviewed alongside prerequisite performance.
Is UMKC nursing accredited?
SONHS describes CCNE accreditation of nursing programs and Missouri State Board of Nursing approval of pre-licensure programs on its accreditation materials.
What is Nursing Direct Admit?
Eligible first-time college students with ACT ≥27 may receive direct admission to the pre-licensure BSN with a waived clinical supplemental per SONHS Direct Admit materials—confirm current rules.
Does UMKC offer an Accelerated BSN?
Yes. Second-degree students apply to the Accelerated BSN track described on the SONHS Accelerated BSN page.
References
- UMKC School of Nursing and Health Studies — Homepagesonhs.umkc.edu
- UMKC SONHS — Pre-Licensure BSNbsn-pre-licensure.html
- UMKC SONHS — Accelerated BSNbsn-accelerated.html
- UMKC SONHS — Accreditation & regulationaccreditation-and-regulation.html
- UMKC Cashiers — Undergraduate program tuition and feesundergraduate-programs.html
- UMKC Financial Aid — Undergraduate cost estimatesundergraduate-cost-estimates
- Missouri Board of Nursing — NCLEX statisticspr.mo.gov/nursing-education-nclex
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)ncsbn.org
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Registered Nursesbls.gov/ooh
Editorial Standards & Review
About the author: Francesco Di Siena, RN, writes evidence-based nursing education guides for NurseOnShift.
Review: This page was reviewed by Araceli Collado, RN, for NCLEX alignment with the SONHS homepage headline, tuition rows on UMKC Cashiers 2025–26 undergraduate tables, and admissions details on the Pre-Licensure BSN page (TEAS, GPA, patient hours).
Disclaimer: This page is for general reference only. It does not constitute professional, admissions, or financial advice. Requirements, deadlines, tuition, and policies change; always verify with the institution and the Missouri Board of Nursing.
Published: March 27, 2026 · Last reviewed: March 27, 2026 · Medical Review Process · Editorial Policy