Accredited nursing programs in Kansas
32 schools in Kansas have at least one nursing program accredited by ACEN or CCNE: 14 BSN, 18 ADN, 8 MSN programs. For the bachelor’s degree, 13 of 14 listings are CCNE and 1 are ACEN.
- Bachelor's programs
- 14
- 1 ACEN, 13 CCNE
- Associate programs
- 18
- 18 ACEN, 0 CCNE
- Master's programs
- 8
- 1 ACEN, 7 CCNE
Accredited schools in Kansas
| School | City | Type | BSN | ADN | MSN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baker University | Baldwin City | Private | CCNE | – | CCNE |
| Barton County Community College | Great Bend | Public | – | ACEN | – |
| Benedictine College | Atchison | Private | CCNE | – | – |
| Bethel College-North Newton | North Newton | Private | CCNE | – | – |
| Butler Community College | El Dorado | Public | – | ACEN | – |
| Cloud County Community College | Concordia | Public | – | ACEN | – |
| Colby Community College | Colby | Public | – | ACEN | – |
| Dodge City Community College | Dodge City | Public | – | ACEN | – |
| Emporia State University | Emporia | Public | ACEN | – | ACEN |
| Fort Hays State University | Hays | Public | CCNE | – | CCNE |
| Fort Hays Tech North Central | Beloit | Public | – | ACEN | – |
| Fort Scott Community College | Fort Scott | Public | – | ACEN | – |
| Garden City Community College | Garden City | Public | – | ACEN | – |
| Hesston College | Hesston | Private | CCNE | – | – |
| Highland Community College | Highland | Public | – | ACEN | – |
| Hutchinson Community College | Hutchinson | Public | – | ACEN | – |
| Johnson County Community College | Overland Park | Public | – | ACEN | – |
| Kansas City Kansas Community College | Kansas City | Public | – | ACEN | – |
| Kansas Wesleyan University | Salina | Private | CCNE | – | – |
| Labette Community College | Parsons | Public | – | ACEN | – |
| Manhattan Area Technical College | Manhattan | Public | – | ACEN | – |
| MidAmerica Nazarene University | Olathe | Private | CCNE | – | CCNE |
| Neosho County Community College | Chanute | Public | – | ACEN | – |
| Newman University | Wichita | Private | CCNE | – | – |
| Pittsburg State University | Pittsburg | Public | CCNE | – | CCNE |
| Salina Area Technical College | Salina | Public | – | ACEN | – |
| Seward County Community College | Liberal | Public | – | ACEN | – |
| University of Kansas | Lawrence | Public | CCNE | – | CCNE |
| University of Saint Mary | Leavenworth | Private | CCNE | – | CCNE |
| Washburn University | Topeka | Public | CCNE | – | – |
| Wichita State University | Wichita | Public | CCNE | – | CCNE |
| Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology | Wichita | Public | – | ACEN | – |
Programs listed as accredited in the ACEN directory (opens in a new tab) and the CCNE directory (opens in a new tab), collected November 2026 and matched to schools by name and city. Programs in candidacy are not counted. A dash means no accredited program at that level was matched.
Programs with an ACEN note
ACEN publishes a note beside some listings. The wording below is ACEN’s own; open the listing for what it means for the program.
- Neosho County Community College, ADN: Conditions. ACEN listing (opens in a new tab)
What accreditation means in Kansas
Two separate approvals apply to a nursing program. The Kansas board of nursing approves programs so their graduates can sit the NCLEX. Programmatic accreditation from ACEN or CCNE is voluntary and is judged by a national peer body.
Associate programs are the most common accredited level here, with 18. For bachelor’s degrees, 14 of 17 schools reporting graduates to the federal government matched an accredited program (82%).
Common questions
How many nursing schools in Kansas are accredited?
We matched 32 Kansas schools to at least one accredited nursing program in the ACEN and CCNE directories: 14 BSN, 18 ADN, 8 MSN. Schools with several programs appear once.
What is the difference between ACEN and CCNE?
ACEN accredits nursing programs at every level, from practical nursing to doctorates. CCNE accredits bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs. Both are recognized by the US Department of Education.
Do I need an accredited program to become a nurse in Kansas?
Not always. The state board of nursing approves programs for licensure, and that is a separate approval from ACEN or CCNE accreditation. Accreditation still matters for transferring credits, federal and employer tuition benefits, and entry to graduate programs.
Are all Kansas bachelor’s programs accredited?
14 of the 17 Kansas schools that report nursing bachelor’s graduates to the federal government matched an accredited listing. A school that does not match may be new, may be listed under another name, or may lack accreditation, so check the accreditor’s own directory before you apply.