Ottawa University

Ottawa University provides a flexible yet rigorous nursing education tailored to adult learners and career changers. The Overland Park (Kansas City) campus recently expanded its portfolio to include a 16-month BSN Pre-Licensure program, specifically designed for students who have completed 60 hours of prerequisites. This program follows a year-round, accelerated format with starts in January, May, and August. For current RNs, Ottawa offers a 100% online RN-to-BSN completion track and a unique Concurrent Enrollment Program (CEP), which allows community college students to work toward their BSN while simultaneously finishing their associate degree.

At the graduate level, the Overland Park campus is the exclusive site for the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), which offers specializations in Nurse Educator and Nurse Leader. The curriculum emphasizes "servant leadership" and evidence-based practice, requiring 36 credit hours that can be shortened through an RN-to-MSN bridge option. Core graduate coursework includes Advanced Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, and Health Assessment, ensuring that leaders and educators possess a deep clinical foundation.

The program is defined by its high-touch faculty support and strong clinical integration. Pre-licensure students complete 600 clinical hours across various semesters, culminating in a 120-hour capstone experience. These rotations take place at prominent regional healthcare systems in the Kansas City area. Accredited by the CCNE, Ottawa University stands out for its affordability—often cited as costing thousands less than competing private programs in the region—and its commitment to addressing the nursing shortage through rapid, high-quality degree completion.