Johnson County Community College (JCCC) is expanding its Registered Nursing (RN) program by introducing a second application cycle, allowing more students to begin their nursing education sooner. The new cycle will offer both fall and spring entry points, starting with the Spring 2027 cohort, for which applications are now open until August 1, 2026.
Meeting the Demand for Nurses
The expansion is a response to the growing demand for nurses across the region and requests from JCCC’s community clinical partners to admit more students. According to the University of Kansas Medical Center’s ‘State of Nursing in Kansas’ report, nearly 40% of RNs intend to exit the field within the next five years, equating to about 1.6 million nurses leaving the profession nationwide. Kansas specifically will need to fill more than 3,000 RN positions by 2030.
JCCC’s RN program, rated the No. 2 nursing school in Kansas for 2026, boasts a 93% to 100% NCLEX pass rate between 2022 and 2024. The program prepares students for a career in registered nursing through interactive, classroom simulation experiences and hands-on clinical learning. Students learn to provide patient care in various environments, including pediatrics, mental health, and obstetrics, in JCCC’s state-of-the-art Healthcare Simulation Center.
In addition to on-campus learning, JCCC partners with hospitals, clinics, and community sites across the Kansas City Metro for clinical training. Students complete clinical rotations with area healthcare providers, often leading to employment opportunities as they begin their careers. Once they graduate, students can sit for the NCLEX-RN exam for licensure.
For students interested in continuing their nursing education, JCCC partners with the University of Kansas to offer a track that allows students to dual-enroll in JCCC’s AAS program and KU’s BSN coursework. Students can complete both an Associate of Applied Science in nursing and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in four years.
Prospective students are encouraged to review eligibility criteria early and prepare application materials ahead of the August 1, 2026, deadline. More information about JCCC’s Registered Nursing program, admission requirements, and application deadlines is available at jccc.edu/nursing.
Original reporting: Johnson County Post (Overland Park) — read the source article.
