Looking for a way to break into the Sunflower State’s dynamic healthcare industry? Most LPN programs in Kansas take 12 or fewer months to complete, and you only need a high school diploma to be admitted. Licensed practical nursing programs will teach you the fundamentals of nursing care, and after you graduate and attain your nursing license, you’ll qualify for a job where you’ll make $51,700 a year. There are plenty of employment opportunities for LPNs in Kansas, too, and those job openings will increase by more than 5 percent in the next 10 years. So why wait? Get started today by reading through this guide to the 12 best LPN programs in Kansas.
Based on our Ranking Methodology, the following are the 12 best nursing schools for LPN programs in Kansas.
Program Details: Like many other licensed practical nursing programs in Kansas, Barton Community College’s 43-credit LPN program is actually the first year of a traditional associate nursing degree program. At the end of two semesters, you can either enter the workforce as a full-time LPN or continue your nursing education.
Applicants must complete all prerequisites before they begin taking core nursing coursework. Applicants must be certified nurse aides in Kansas and submit three professional references. Barton Community College accepts the TEAS, ACT, and Accuplacer-Next Generation tests as entrance exams. Classes begin in the fall and are taught at BCC’s main campus in Great Bend and its auxiliary campus at Pratt Community College.
Courses like “Fundamentals of Nursing,” “Medical Surgical Nursing I & II,” and “Maternal-Child Nursing I & II” will teach you the essentials of evidence-based practice and patient care accountability. You’ll get your first hands-on experience in BCC’s sophisticated nursing simulation labs, which are equipped with medical technology and programmable manikins to prepare you for real-life situations. You’ll participate in practicums and other clinical experiences at Ellsworth County Medical Center, Hutchinson Regional Medical Center, Stafford County Hospital, Pratt Regional Medical Center, and other medical centers and extended nursing facilities throughout Great Bend and other communities in central Kansas.
Why Choose This Program
• Interested in becoming a registered nurse? Barton Community College accepts qualified LPNs into the second year of its traditional Associate Degree In Nursing (ADN) program.Program Details: North Central Kansas Technical College prides itself on the hands-on nature of its licensed practical nursing program in Kansas. Class sizes are deliberately kept small—one instructor for every 10 students in lab settings and one instructor for every six students in clinical settings—so that students can benefit from individualized learning. You’ll spend approximately eight weeks in NCK Tech’s state-of-the-art nursing lab learning hands-on skills, and then you’ll take those skills to real-world healthcare settings like Hays Medical Center, where you’ll work with actual patients.
This LPN program in Kansas is only open to applicants who hold nursing assistant certification in Kansas and who score 58.7 or higher on the TEAS entrance examination. The program is offered at NCKTC’s campuses in Beloit and Hays, and it accepts 40 new students each fall.
Like many of the Sunflower State’s technical colleges, NCK Tech’s LPN program is the first part of a 1+1 nursing program with multiple entry and exit points: If you complete the first year successfully, you’ll earn a licensed practical nursing diploma, and qualified students will have the option of continuing with the ADN degree.
Foundational courses include “Medical/Surgical Nursing Across the Life Span I & II,” “Maternal Child Nursing,” and “Socialization into Practical Nursing.” Many lecture courses are paired with clinical courses emphasizing the practical application of nursing theory; thus, you’ll take “Foundations of Nursing” and “Foundations of Nursing Lab” in the same semester.
Why Choose This Program
• Interested in qualifying for registered nursing positions? Eligible LPNs who complete the college’s "Professional Nursing Role Transitions" course can join NCK Tech’s ADN cohort in their second year of studies.Program Details: Neosho County Community College’s licensed practical nursing program in Kansas focuses on teaching students concept-based care in a variety of practice settings, including long-term care facilities, hospitals, patients’ homes, and community clinics. Like many other LPN programs in Kansas, this is a two-tier program where the LPN pathway constitutes the first year of an associate nursing degree program.
Neosho’s nursing program is taught on its Chanute (fall start) and Ottawa (spring start) campuses. It’s a flexible program that offers traditional classroom learning as well as a hybrid study option in which you’ll be able to access lecture classes like “Nursing Assessment,” “Patient-Centered Care I & II,” and “Pharmacology” online, but must attend nursing labs and clinical rotations in person. Practicums are scheduled as separate courses. Neosho’s nursing labs use up-to-date equipment and realistic manikins capable of replicating a variety of human physiological responses. You’ll participate in clinical rotations at healthcare agencies throughout Chanute and other communities in east central Kansas.
You must apply separately to the college and the nursing program. Neosho County Community College uses the ATI TEAS entrance exam. You must complete all prerequisites before you begin taking classes.
Why Choose This Program
• Thinking about transitioning to a registered nursing role? Check out Neosho County Community College’s LPN to RN completion program.Program Details: Flint Hills Technical College’s 11-month, 42-credit licensed practical nursing program in Kansas is a standalone LPN pathway. Courses like “Nursing Care of Adults I & II,” “Care of Aging Adults,” and “Role Development” will teach you how to become a nurse generalist whose care is guided by critical thinking and evidence-based practice. LPN students at FHTC learn hands-on skills at the state-of-the-art Clinical Simulation Lab operated by Newman Regional Health. They also participate in clinical rotations at Newman Regional Health and other hospitals and extended nursing facilities in Emporia and nearby parts of east central Kansas.
This program is offered in the fall and spring at FHTC’s main campus in Emporia. This program is only open to applicants who are certified nurse aides in the State of Kansas. Competitive candidates must score 58.7 percent or higher on the ATI TEAS entrance examination.
Why Choose This Program
• Aspiring LPNs who enroll in Flint Hills Technical College’s licensed practical nursing program may qualify for tuition breaks through the Kansas Career Technical Workforce Grant initiative.Program Details: Garden City Community College adheres to a nursing education structure that permits students to complete their LPN degree at the end of their first year of study and their associate nursing degree at the end of their second year. This 46-credit LPN program in Kansas, which is taught on the college’s main campus in Garden City, admits 40 students each fall.
GCCC only admits certified nursing assistants into its LPN program. You must complete 18 credits of prerequisites in addition to the core nursing curriculum. The core nursing curriculum follows guidelines developed by the Kansas State Board of Nursing. It includes courses like “Fundamentals of Pharmacology and Safe Medication Administration,” “Maternal Child Nursing,” and “Leadership, Roles, and Issues.” All lecture courses focusing on nursing care of a specific patient population are accompanied by clinical courses that put nursing theory into practice, so you’ll take “Foundations of Nursing” and “Foundations of Nursing Clinical” in the same semester.
Garden City Community College’s nursing simulation lab is a state-of-the-art classroom suite that allows you to train on the very same medical equipment you’ll be using once you enter the healthcare workforce. You’ll take part in practicums and other clinical experiences at long-term care centers, hospitals, and other healthcare institutions throughout Garden City and other communities in west central Kansas.
Why Choose This Program
• Why not develop your professional nursing skills further? Garden City Community College encourages qualified LPNs to join the second year of its traditional Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (ASN) degree.Program Details: Coffeyville Community College only accepts students into its LPN program in Kansas who are certified nurse aides. You’ll need to complete 20 general education credits before applying. This program accepts a new cohort each fall. Like most licensed practical nursing programs in Kansas, Coffeyville Community College’s LPN pathway comprises the first two semesters of its associate nursing degree program. This program requires the HESI A2 entrance examination.
The LPN curriculum alternates theory courses dedicated to treating specific patient demographics with clinical courses focusing on practical applications of that nursing theory. You’ll take classes like “Foundations of Nursing/Foundations of Nursing Clinical,” “Maternal Child Nursing/Maternal Child Nursing Clinical,” and “Nursing Care of Adults I/Nursing Care of Adults I Clinical.” Students learn essential bedside skills in Coffeyville Community College’s well-equipped simulation lab and apply the nursing process they’ve learned to supervised patient care experiences at Coffeyville Regional Medical Center and other long-term and acute healthcare facilities in Montgomery County and other parts of southeastern Kansas.
Why Choose This Program
• Is licensed practical nursing just the first step in your professional nursing career? Coffeyville Community College has a highly regarded LPN-to-RN Bridge program.Program Details: Manhattan Area Technical College's licensed practical nursing program in Kansas uses the Kansas Practical Nursing Core Curriculum. Courses like “Mental Health Nursing,” “Care of Aging Adults,” and “Leadership, Roles, and Issues” will introduce you to the delivery of evidence-based patient-based care that incorporates cultural sensitivity and critical thinking.
All applicants must be certified nurse aides in the State of Kansas. You must complete 14 credits of general education requirements before you apply to this program. Manhattan Area Technical College employs the TEAS entrance exam. The college’s skills labs will provide you with practical experience working with hands-on techniques in a safe, controlled environment. Clinical rotations are scheduled at skilled nursing centers and other medical practice settings throughout Manhattan and other parts of northeastern Kansas.
Why Choose This Program
• Want to continue your nursing education? Manhattan Area Technical College’s entire ADN program is specifically designed for licensed practical nurses who want to become RNs.Program Details: Students who must work while they pursue their nursing education goals may find Johnson County Community College’s LPN program one of the best licensed practical nursing programs in Kansas because it offers both full-time and part-time enrollment. Both LPN pathways are taught off-campus at the Olathe Health Education Center.
One full-time track admits 32 students every August and can be completed in nine months, while the other full-time track admits 24 students every January and can be completed in 11 months. The part-time track, which can be completed in 14 months, admits 24 students each June.
Johnson County Community College’s LPN program is a standalone track. Expect to spend 20 to 30 hours a week between lecture courses, clinical experiences, and homework. You’ll take courses such as “Foundations of Nursing,” “Nursing Care of Adults I & II,” and “Care of Aging Adults;” many lecture courses are paired with an equivalent clinical class. Lectures and labs are typically taught Mondays through Fridays between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., but you’ll also be responsible for completing one or two 8- or 12-hour clinical shifts each week.
The Healthcare Simulation Center at the Olathe Health Education Center sports four realistic acute-care room replicas and many simulators that can be programmed to mimic a host of physiological responses and illness symptoms. You’ll participate in supervised patient care experiences at hospitals and long-term care facilities throughout Overland Park and other communities in suburban Kansas City.
Why Choose This Program
• Eligible LPN students at Johnson County Community College may qualify to have all or part of their tuition paid through the Kansas Promise Scholarship.Program Details: Colby Community College is another one of the licensed practical nursing programs in Kansas where the LPN pathway is the first part of associate nursing degree studies. This LPN pathway starts each fall (August) at the Colby campus. The LPN program is also offered as a standalone at the Norton campus.
You’ll meet twice a week to attend skills labs and lectures in such courses as “Fundamentals of Pharmacy,” “Maternal Child Health Nursing,” and “Mental Health Nursing,” and twice a week to participate in clinical rotations. Many lecture courses are paired with clinical sections that reinforce nursing theory with practical applications.
You’ll need to apply separately to Colby Community College and its nursing program. You must complete 12 credits of prerequisites before you submit your application. All applicants must be nurses’ aides, certified in Kansas. This LPN program in Kansas requires the ATI TEAS entrance examination.
You’ll get your first exposure to essential hands-on skills in Colby Community College’s nursing lab. You’ll also have the opportunity to participate in clinical rotations at extended care facilities, clinics, hospitals, and other healthcare agencies throughout northcentral Kansas.
Why Choose This Program
• LPN grads at Colby Community College have an impressive three-year average NCLEX-PN pass rate of 97 percent.Program Details: What makes Washburn Institute of Technology’s licensed practical nursing program an ideal choice for aspiring LPNs who are trying to balance work and personal commitments? You can enroll in this 47-credit licensed practical nursing program in Kansas either part-time or full-time. Full-time students attend classes Mondays through Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 2:55 p.m. and graduate in two semesters; part-time students attend classes Mondays through Thursdays from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. (including summer) and graduate in three semesters. The full-time track accepts new students every August and January, while the part-time track accepts new students every third semester in August or January.
Both LPN tracks follow the curriculum approved by the Kansas State Board of Nursing, which features courses like “Fundamentals of Pharmacology & Safe Medication Administration,” “Nursing Care of Adults I & II,” and “Maternal Child Nursing.” Many lecture courses are twinned with clinical classes that emphasize the practical application of the nursing theory you learned in lecture. Washburn Tech LPN students use the Regional Simulation Center, which contains simulation bays that replicate acute care and rehabilitation practice settings. You’ll do clinical rotations at Stormont Vail Health and other healthcare agencies throughout Greater Metropolitan Topeka.
Applicants must take the Accuplacer, ACT, SAT, or COMPASS entrance exam. Additionally, they must earn a composite score of 55 or higher on the TEAS exam. Like the majority of LPN programs in Kansas, this program is only open to certified nurse aides.
Why Choose This Program
• Need help with tuition? Washburn Tech LPN grads who sign on to work at Stormont Vail Health after they pass the NCLEX-PN exam can get part or all of their educational expenses covered.Program Details: With Salina Area Technical College’s LPN program in Kansas, you can earn your licensed practical nursing technical diploma in just two semesters (nine months) if you enroll full-time. The college also recently launched a part-time LPN track that will take four semesters to complete. The full-time track involves approximately 50 hours per week, while the part-time track involves two to three days a week for five or six hours at a time, not including clinical rotations. Although Salina Tech’s LPN curriculum does comprise the first year of the associate degree nursing curriculum, students who complete that first year are not automatically considered part of the ADN program.
You’ll need to complete 14 prerequisite credits before you can be considered for admission into this program. All applicants must be active CNAs in Kansas. Salina Area Technical College uses the TEAS test as its entrance exam. You must also submit one professional reference from a healthcare supervisor and write a one-to-two-page essay addressing your professional goals.
Nursing courses are divided into lecture classes and clinical sessions. You’ll take matching pairs of courses like “Foundations of Nursing/Foundations of Nursing Clinical” and “Maternal Child Nursing/Maternal Child Nursing Clinical.” Salina Tech’s nursing simulation lab provides a safe setting to learn those essential hands-on skills you’ll use throughout your career. Clinical rotations are scheduled at Salina Regional Health Center and other medical facilities throughout north central Kansas.
Why Choose This Program
• Ready to level up with your nursing skills? Salina Area Technical College’s offers a customized LPN-to-RN Bridge program.Program Details: Hutchinson Community College understands that many people interested in licensed practical nursing education also juggle work and family obligations, so it offers full-time and part-time LPN tracks. The full-time track begins in August and takes 10 months to complete, while the part-time track starts in January and takes 18 months to complete.
Both tracks comprise 47 credits of prerequisites and courses like “Foundations of Nursing,” “Nursing Care of Adults I & II,” and “Leadership, Roles, and Issues.” Clinical courses mirror didactic classes from the perspective of practical application. Hutchinson Community College partners with the Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System to provide a state-of-the-art simulation lab fully equipped with task trainers, hospital technology, and programmable manikins. You’ll participate in practicums and other clinical experiences at facilities associated with the Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System and other healthcare providers throughout Reno County.
This program is only available to applicants who are active certified nurse aides on the Kansas Registry. You must complete all prerequisites before you apply. This licensed practical nursing program in Kansas uses the Accuplacer as an entrance examination. You must submit three professional references as well as an essay that speaks to your nursing goals.
Why Choose This Program
• At 95 percent, Hutchinson Community College’s NCLEX-PN pass rate is one of the highest in the Sunflower State.S.No. | Accrediting Body |
1 | Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) |
Hourly | $20.29 | ||||
Weekly | $812 | ||||
Monthly | $3,520 | ||||
Annual | $42,200 | ||||
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
Hourly | $26.74 | ||||
Weekly | $1,069 | ||||
Monthly | $4,630 | ||||
Annual | $55,610 | ||||
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
Average Kansas LPN Annual Salary | Average National LPN Annual Salary | Difference | |||
Number | % | ||||
$55,610 | $60,790 | -$5,180 | -8.52% | ||
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
Metro | Hourly | Weekly | Monthly | Annual | |
Lawrence | $26.27 | $1,051 | $4,550 | $54,650 | |
Manhattan | $26.16 | $1,047 | $4,540 | $54,420 | |
Topeka | $26.94 | $1,078 | $4,670 | $56,040 | |
Wichita | $25.68 | $1,027 | $4,450 | $53,410 | |
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
Occupation | Employment | New Employment Growth (2020-2030) | |||
2020 | 2030 | Number | % | ||
LPN | 6,940 | 7,320 | +380 | +5.48% | |
(Source: Careeronestop.org) |
Occupation | New | Replacement | Annual Job Openings (New + Replacement) | ||
LPN | 38 | 542 | 580 | ||
(Source: Careeronestop.org) |