Last Updated: October 11, 2026
Program Overview
Research College’s 12-month, in-person ABSN pairs a new 60-credit nursing plan with individual clinical mentorship through HCA Midwest Health; eligible students can apply for tuition support tied to a two-year RN work commitment.
Research College of Nursing in Kansas City, Missouri admits applicants who hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. The full-time program begins in January and May and runs across three intensive terms. Its Dedicated Education Unit connects students with experienced nurses across six HCA Midwest Health hospitals.
Accreditation and Outcomes
The baccalaureate nursing program is CCNE accredited, the college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and the prelicensure program has full Missouri State Board of Nursing approval.
The college’s outcomes report, updated September 2, 2026, lists a 2025 first-time BSN NCLEX pass rate of 89.6% and 94.1% for 2024. These are BSN-wide figures rather than separate ABSN results. It reports 100% nursing employment within 12 months for 2025 BSN graduates, and 96% completion within one year for ABSN students who entered in 2024.
Admissions Requirements
The 2026–27 catalog specifies a minimum 3.0 prerequisite GPA, grades of C or better in prerequisite courses, a conferred non-nursing bachelor’s degree and an ATI TEAS result at the Proficient level. Applicants with a 2.8–2.99 prerequisite GPA may be considered with an average of B− or better in anatomy and physiology coursework.
Anatomy and physiology with laboratory work must be complete when applying. Other outstanding requirements are subject to conditional-admission deadlines. Submit official college transcripts and complete the college’s current admissions checklist.
The admissions page directs applicants through NursingCAS with recruitment-team assistance and lists November 1 for the January-start ABSN Class of 2027. Applications are reviewed as received. The current catalog requires TEAS testing within 24 months of intended entry; verify test eligibility before submitting the application.
Prerequisites
- Anatomy and Physiology I and II with laboratories; the admissions page allows an approved combined sequence of at least 6 credits.
- Microbiology with laboratory: 4 credits.
- Pathophysiology: 3 credits.
- Statistics: 3 credits.
- Developmental psychology: 3 credits.
- Nutrition: 3 credits.
The catalog requires anatomy/physiology and pathophysiology to have been taken within five years of applying. Prior-degree block credit and transfer evaluation determine how the 60 pre-nursing credits are satisfied. Pathophysiology is a prerequisite in the new plan, rather than a course to add again to its 60 nursing credits.
Transfer evaluation is individual. The catalog generally does not accept undergraduate nursing courses except as part of a completed degree. Applicants previously enrolled in nursing must supply prior-program transcripts, a good-standing/return-eligibility letter and a student statement for review.
Curriculum
The 2026–27 catalog plan for students starting August 2026 or later totals 60 nursing credits: 20 in semester one, 18 in semester two and 22 in semester three. It moves from assessment, fundamentals and nursing scholarship through adult and specialty care to leadership, quality and capstone practice. The table summarizes the subject areas named in this new plan.
Required Courses and Credits
Term 1A — 9 Credits
| Course | Credits | What you study |
|---|---|---|
NUR3191 — Professional Nursing Identity | 2 | Introduces formation of a professional nursing identity. |
NUR3151 — Health Assessment | 3 | Develops nursing health-assessment knowledge and skills. |
NUR4081 — Informatics | 2 | Addresses the use of information in nursing practice. |
NUR3591 — Scholarship for Practice I | 2 | Introduces nursing scholarship and its relationship to practice. |
Term 1B — 11 Credits
| Course | Credits | What you study |
|---|---|---|
NUR3011 — Fundamentals of Nursing | 4 | Introduces foundational nursing knowledge and care. |
NUR3081 — Population Based Health | 2 | Addresses nursing care at the population level. |
NUR3081C — Foundational Practicum | 2 | Provides foundational nursing practice experience. |
NUR3791 — Scholarship for Practice II | 3 | Continues the nursing scholarship sequence. |
Term 2A — 10 Credits
| Course | Credits | What you study |
|---|---|---|
NUR3471 — Adult Health I | 3 | Introduces the adult health nursing sequence. |
NUR3331 — Pharmacology I | 3 | Introduces pharmacology for nursing practice. |
NUR3471C — Intermediate Practicum | 2 | Develops nursing practice through the intermediate practicum. |
NUR4191 — Leadership Development | 2 | Addresses development of nursing leadership. |
Term 2B — 8 Credits
| Course | Credits | What you study |
|---|---|---|
NUR4161 — Pediatric Nursing | 2 | Addresses nursing care of children. |
NUR4171 — Perinatal and Reproductive | 2 | Addresses perinatal and reproductive nursing care. |
NUR3491 — Mental Health | 2 | Addresses mental health nursing. |
NUR4171C — Specialty Practicum | 2 | Provides specialty nursing practice experience. |
Term 3A — 11 Credits
| Course | Credits | What you study |
|---|---|---|
NUR4271 — Adult Health II | 3 | Continues adult health nursing. |
NUR3351 — Pharmacology II | 3 | Continues the nursing pharmacology sequence. |
NUR4271C — Advanced Practicum | 2 | Provides advanced nursing practice experience. |
NUR2691 — Quality and Safety | 3 | Addresses quality and safety in nursing care. |
Term 3B — 11 Credits
| Course | Credits | What you study |
|---|---|---|
NUR4391 — Navigating Healthcare Systems | 3 | Addresses nursing practice within healthcare systems. |
NURXXXX — Nursing Elective | 2 | Provides an approved elective within the nursing plan; the specific course varies. |
NUR4501 — Capstone | 3 | Integrates nursing learning in the capstone course. |
NUR4501C — Capstone Practicum | 3 | Provides a culminating nursing practicum. |
Clinical Experience
In-person clinical learning, skills laboratories and simulation support the classroom sequence. The Dedicated Education Unit emphasizes one-to-one mentorship, with faculty and experienced hospital nurses helping students build patient-care skills. Practica progress from foundational to intermediate, specialty, advanced and capstone experience. Clinical assignments require availability and transportation to assigned sites; placement at a particular hospital is not guaranteed.
Required background checks, drug screening and clinical compliance documentation must be completed. Applicants without a prior bachelor’s degree can explore the separate Fast Track BSN; its admission standards differ from the ABSN.
Tuition and Costs
Estimated tuition: $40,500, based on 60 nursing credits at $675 per credit. The current published tuition-and-fee total is $49,670. The 2026–27 catalog applies this new structure to cohorts graduating after May 2027; earlier cohorts have a separate term-based schedule.
- Technology/resource fee: $250 per course.
- ATI fee: $960 per semester.
- Clinical Exchange fee: $40 once.
- Graduation/pinning fee: $250 once.
The 24-course plan gives $6,000 in course fees. Three ATI charges plus the one-time fees total $3,170, reconciling $40,500 tuition + $9,170 listed fees = $49,670. Prerequisite coursework, personal expenses and optional charges are additional.
The program page lists $30,375 in HCA work-loan forgiveness, equivalent to 75% of tuition, leaving $19,295 in tuition and listed fees if the full benefit applies. Support requires an application and a two-year RN work commitment; it does not forgive fees. Review the agreement’s eligibility, service and repayment terms before accepting.