GCU’s Nursing Program in St. Louis

16-Month Accelerated Nursing Program (ABSN) in St. Louis¹

Work to become a nurse by completing your accelerated nursing program in St. Louis. In your nursing program, you will experience immersive learning through online coursework, in-person skills, simulation labs and clinical rotations located in the St. Louis area. GCU has a clinical partnership with Mercy in Missouri, where you can complete a majority of your clinical rotations throughout your ABSN program.

GCU’s St. Louis ABSN Benefits

This accelerated nursing option may be ideal for those with a previous non-nursing college background who are looking to make a career switch or take on a new role in the healthcare field.

  • Online Courses: Complete your ABSN coursework online.2
  • Simulation and Skills Labs: Apply yourself during skills labs and immersive simulation experiences.
  • Clinical Experience: Gain experience working with patients while attending your clinical rotations, with the oversight of experienced nursing faculty.
St. Louis ABSN Scholarship Offer
Up to $8,000 nursing scholarship available for those who qualify.³

Enroll in our accelerated BSN pre-nursing program in St. Louis and receive a $2,000 scholarship per semester toward your tuition, if you qualify.3 Learn more about this scholarship opportunity.

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Nursing Career Outlook in St. Louis

As is the case in many states across the country, Missouri is experiencing a shortage of registered nurses. Healthcare organizations are constantly seeking ways to bring more educated nurses into the workforce. As of January 2023, there were 33,178 registered nurses working in the state of Missouri, and 6,982 open nursing positions.4

St. Louis provides ample opportunity for aspiring nurses looking to establish themselves in the healthcare profession. There are about 80 general hospitals located in the greater St. Louis metropolitan area, employing over 79,944 people.5 As of 2022, there were 10,224 nursing students enrolled in nursing programs in the state of Missouri.4 As an ABSN student in St. Louis, you have the opportunity to help close workforce gaps and positively contribute to the overall health of your community.

$80,760

In May 2023, nurses in St. Louis had a median annual salary of $80,760, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.6

St. Louis arch

Choose the Accelerated Nursing Program in St. Louis

The second largest community in Missouri, historic St. Louis has much to offer to ABSN students.7 You can explore numerous must-see attractions, including many parks, museums of all kinds and the world-famous Gateway Arch. If you’re a sports fan, you can look forward to attending games year-round; including a professional hockey, baseball and soccer team, along with 16 Division I NCAA sports teams.8

When you’re not studying, you can explore St. Louis’ food scene, night life, neighborhoods and entertainment venues. Along with plenty of public transportation, these are just a few of the many reasons to pursue your ABSN degree in the lively city of St. Louis.7

If you’re ready to begin your nursing career in St. Louis, request more information.

Apply for GCU’s Nursing Program in St. Louis

The ABSN program at GCU offers a hybrid format for you to complete your BSN degree in 16 months,1 while providing you the opportunity to feel prepared to enter the workforce as a nurse after graduation. When pursuing your ABSN degree, you will also complete nursing coursework that is taught with a Christian worldview in mind, emphasizing the role of nurses as servant leaders.

GCU is an institutionally accredited university,9 offering an accredited nursing program that can prepare you for the nursing workforce. Along with three start dates a year and the education that GCU provides its students, there are several more attributes of our accelerated nursing program that make it an ideal option for aspiring nurses.

Understanding the cost of attendance is important for those who are exploring nursing schools in St. Louis. GCU is dedicated to helping provide aspiring nurses with an affordable opportunity to earn their BSN degree. To learn more about how much our ABSN program will cost for you, visit our ABSN tuition page.

With multiple nursing pathways available, GCU’s accelerated BSN program in St. Louis is designed for individuals who have either a non-nursing degree or for those with transfer credits or no prior coursework. There are also pre-requisite course requirements that must be met. To learn more about eligibility and get in contact with a university counselor, fill out the form on this page.

St. Louis ABSN Learning Site

721 Emerson St.
St. Louis, MO 63141

View our Postsecondary State Authorizations and SARA and State Disclosures information for Missouri.

St. Louis Accelerated Nursing Program FAQs

If you’re looking forward to becoming a nurse, read though our frequently asked questions to learn more about enrolling in the ABSN program from GCU.

The accelerated BSN program is designed for students who have a minimum of 60 transferable college credits from an accredited institution (applies to all current, prior and prospective GCU students). You must also meet the GPA requirements and complete all pre-requisite course requirements. To view a list of all requirements, please refer to the University Policy Handbook.

Choosing St. Louis is a popular choice among nurses located in Missouri. As of May 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, of the 70,440 RNs that are currently in Missouri,10 32,240 of them are located in St. Louis.11

Salary expectations are not negligible when looking at where to complete your nursing studies as well. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, registered nurses in St. Louis had a median annual salary of $80,760 in May 2023.6

While completing your accelerated BSN program, you should expect to spend a considerable amount of your time dedicated to your studies. With this, it may be challenging to balance work with your academic obligations, such as your in-person labs, immersive simulations and clinical rotations. For more information regarding working while in your ABSN program, contact a university counselor.

If you are thinking about applying for GCU’s nursing program, it is recommended to get in contact with a university counselor. Your university counselor will be able to answer any additional questions, review your transcripts and provide you with next steps in the application process. To get in contact, fill out the form on this page.

GCU ABSN St. Louis students talking

If you’re ready to begin your nursing career in St. Louis, request more information.

1 Secondary Applicants must transfer a minimum of 60 of the required 123 credits or have completed a baccalaureate degree which includes nine prerequisite courses/labs and 10 general education courses prior to starting the core nursing courses, which can be completed in as few as 16 months. Direct Entry Applicants that do not transfer 60 credits but meet the minimum requirements can complete these credits through GCU prior to starting the core nursing courses. Depending on the state where student has enrolled or intends to complete the program, student may require additional courses. This may include, but is not limited to, additional general education courses, courses in the major, clinical courses, or a different course sequence. See University Policy Handbook.

2 While all courses are completed online, you will need to attend proctored exams, immersive simulations and clinical hours in person.

3 MOU ABSN St. Louis Scholarship: This scholarship applies to tuition and fees only and is valued at $2,000 per semester for the Fall 2024 semester. The accelerated BSN Pre-Nursing St. Louis Scholarship is only valid for those applicants who meet all admissibility requirements including secondary acceptance into the clinical portion of your program. You must be enrolled full-time as a Ground Traditional student into the ABSN program and a clinical participant at the St. Louis location. Scholarship is renewable each semester, not to exceed $8000 in total. This scholarship cannot be used in conjunction with any other GCU scholarships.

4 Williams, J. (2023, May 31). 2023 Workforce report. Missouri Hospital Association. Retrieved Jan 29, 2024.

5 Cause IQ. (n.d.). St. Louis general hospitals. Retrieved Jan. 29, 2024.

6 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”), Registered Nurses, as of May 2023, retrieved on May 1, 2024. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as registered nurses, nor does it reflect earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc., against a pool of candidates.

7 St. Louis, MO Real Estate & Demographic Data. (n.d.). Neighborhood Scout. Retrieved on May 23, 2023.

8 25 Things to Do in St. Louis. (n.d). Explore St. Louis. Retrieved on May 23, 2023.

9 For more information on the accreditation of nursing programs and other university approvals, please visit our University Accreditation and Regulations page.

10 United States Department of Labor. (n.d.). Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates Missouri. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved on May 23, 2023.

11 United States Department of Labor. (n.d.). Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2022 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates St. Louis, MO-IL. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved on May 23, 2023.