A new partnership with the University of Kansas School of Nursing will make it possible for McPherson College students to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, with courses beginning in the 2026-27 academic year. The collaboration strengthens McPherson College’s commitment to addressing healthcare needs in rural Kansas.
“McPherson College and the University of Kansas School of Nursing share the same goal of educating healthcare professionals to support the workforce needs of rural Kansas,” said McPherson College Executive Vice President Aaron Meis. “A critical nursing workforce shortage exists in many rural Kansas communities. Our collaboration with KU School of Nursing’s Salina campus will educate nurses interested in and committed to serving in rural settings, including those like the McPherson Center for Health.”
Students enrolling in the program will complete 60 credits of prerequisite nursing courses at the McPherson campus. They will be eligible for guaranteed admissions into the KU nursing program and complete the remaining 60 credits of nursing courses at the KU campus in Salina and online, while remaining at McPherson College. Nursing degrees will be awarded by KU.
“This program is designed for students interested in studying nursing at a strong, well-resourced public institution while retaining a small, residential liberal arts college experience,” Meis said.
Clinical experiences will be available at healthcare agencies located in rural communities, including Salina and McPherson.
“The KU School of Nursing is excited to partner with McPherson College to help more central Kansas students become nurses,” said Jean Foret Giddens, Ph.D., FAAN, dean of KU School of Nursing. “Our Salina campus community is ready to welcome, educate, and graduate nurses prepared to practice in rural communities and beyond.”
A report published last fall by the Kansas Nursing Workforce Center, based at the University of Kansas School of Nursing, found a direct correlation between the number of nurses per 1,000 residents and county health outcome rankings. “The number of nurses matters to the health and well-being of Kansans,” the report stated.
The report anticipates continued nursing shortages as 29% of registered nurses and 23% of licensed practical nurses in Kansas are planning to retire within the next five years, and enrollment in nursing education programs is down 39% over the past 10 years. Additionally, the Kansas Department of Labor predicts the state will need more than 28,000 nursing assistants, 18,000 registered nurses, and 6,000 home health aids in 2026.