Nursing Education Degree Programs in Springfield, MO (2026)

Quick answer: The Springfield metro employs about 140 nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing is set at the state level, through your state board of nursing and the programs you are targeting.

Compare nursing education programs enrolling now:

Licensing

Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. There is no separate license for nurse educators. The prerequisite is an active registered nurse license from a state board of nursing, and the qualification for the teaching role is set by the hiring program and its accreditor, CCNE or ACEN, rather than nationally. Faculty-qualification expectations differ substantially between community-college instruction and university appointments.

See the Missouri licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with your state board of nursing and the programs you are targeting.

Schools Near You

Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.

How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention. Advertising plays no part.

This page lists 2 schools within 184 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 2 of them carry a score.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%

Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal about the institution rather than about this subject. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.

#1

Central Methodist University-College of Graduate and Extended Studies

Fayette, MO 139.1 miles away BOC Score 54.2
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 8
  • Annual completions: 36
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $51,668 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

Missouri Baptist University

Saint Louis, MO 183.8 miles away BOC Score 36.5
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 47.9% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 10
  • Annual completions: 70
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $52,550 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

What Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary Earn in Springfield

Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary in the Springfield area earn a median $67,270 per year, below the national median of $80,250 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Nursing Education Pay in Springfield, MO

MetricSpringfield metroMissouriNational
Median annual wage$67,270$76,340$80,250
10th percentile$48,960$48,610$48,800
25th percentile$50,940$61,160$63,510
75th percentile$83,370$97,870$101,090
90th percentile$104,040$119,050$129,500
Employment1401,04077,960
Location quotient1.23-1.00

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Springfield, MO metropolitan statistical area.

What the Numbers Say About This Market

The Springfield median of $67,270 is below the national median of $80,250, and below the Missouri statewide median of $76,340 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

The metro’s location quotient of 1.23 means nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary are more concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.

Nurse educator demand follows the number and size of nursing programs in a region, which is why it does not track general healthcare employment closely.

Other Missouri Metro Areas

Metro areaMedian annual wageEmployment
St. Louis$79,630520
Kansas City$76,340420
Columbia$80,590100

Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025.


Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary make in Springfield?

The median annual wage for nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary in the Springfield, MO metro area is $67,270, below the national median of $80,250 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

How many nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary work in the Springfield area?

The Springfield, MO metro area employs about 140 nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Do nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary in Springfield need a license?

Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. There is no separate license for nurse educators. The prerequisite is an active registered nurse license from a state board of nursing, and the qualification for the teaching role is set by the hiring program and its accreditor, CCNE or ACEN, rather than nationally. Faculty-qualification expectations differ substantially between community-college instruction and university appointments. Confirm current requirements with your state board of nursing and the programs you are targeting.

Can I study nursing education online from Springfield?

The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies your state board of nursing and the programs you are targeting.

Is Springfield a better market than the rest of Missouri?

The Springfield metro median is $67,270 against a statewide median of $76,340 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.

Sources

  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary (SOC 25-1072), national, state and metropolitan estimates
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.