1907:

Burge Deaconess Training School for Nurses was established with the admission of three students. Miss Janie Campbell completed her last course on December 31, 1909, and records have her comprising the Class of January 1910. May 6, 1909, Missouri's first licensure legislation was enacted and Miss Campbell's license is dated August 8, 1910.

1924:

The name was changed to Burge School of Nursing, however, the word "Deaconess" was on the school's pins until the 1930s. The federal government standards and the State Board of Nurse Examiners requested so many changes in nursing education that it became evident that only schools in large hospitals would be able to meet the new standards. Burge School of Nursing became inactive in 1945 with the last eight students graduating in 1948. From 1940-1948, the average graduation class was 12. A total of 224 students had graduated since 1910.

Because of the acute shortage of nurses following WWII, it was deemed advisable to reactivate the school. Under the guidance of Lester E. Cox, Burge Hospital now had all services required by the State Board of Nursing to provide adequate clinical facilities for a school of nursing, except psychiatry. Affiliation was used to enable students to meet the psychiatry experience requirement. In January 1951, Burge admitted 15 students and in September 21 were enrolled. In January 1954, the first class since the closing of the school in 1948 graduated 13.

1956:

The Nurses' Home opened for 100 students. Today's Fountain Plaza Room was the original lounge. The mural on the outside east wall, Helping Hands, became an icon to students who lived in "the dorm".

1976:

Burge School of Nursing attained its initial National League for Nursing accreditation.

1995:

Burge School of Nursing, long recognized for its high standard of nursing education and the quality of its graduates, evolved to Lester L. Cox College of Nursing and Health Sciences. More than 2,500 nurses graduated from Burge, with the final graduation being held in June 1996.

The Board of Directors of CoxHealth named the college for its long-time Chairman, Lester L. Cox. College initial approval for the nursing program was received from the Missouri State Board of Nursing in May 1995, and 49 students were admitted to the Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) degree program in 1995. Thirty-one students graduated at the first commencement on May 10, 1997.

1997:

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program opened, and the first BSN degree was conferred at the May 15, 1999 commencement. Health Science certificate programs in medical transcription and medical coding were added in 1999 and 2001 respectively.

1999-2000:

The college received initial accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission, a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

2002:

The ASN Program received initial accreditation from the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission.

2003:

The BSN Program received initial accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

2004-2005:

The college received continued accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission, a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The next comprehensive evaluation is scheduled for the 2014-2015 academic year.

2006:

A Dietetic Internship program was added to the Department of Health Sciences.

2008:

The Associate of Science in Medical Assisting Program was approved by the Higher Learning Commission, with the first class accepted in fall 2008. On July 15, 2008, the Board of Trustees of Lester L. Cox College of Nursing and Health Sciences voted to officially change the name of the college to Cox College.

2009:

Cox College was approved by the Higher Learning Commission to implement its first graduate degree, Master of Science in Nursing (MSN).

The Cox College pin retains the original design of the pin awarded in 1910 to the first graduate of Burge Deaconess Training School for Nurses. The design of the pin reflects the religious inspiration for the school of nursing that was established in 1907 by the hospital that has since evolved into CoxHealth. The design also connects nursing and other health care professions with their distant roots as sacred and altruistic vocations.

In this spirit, Cox College is committed to awarding this pin to graduates who are educationally prepared to be caring and competent health care professionals.

Approval from the Higher Learning Commission facilitated the transition of the School of Diagnostic Imaging from CoxHealth to Cox College. Seven Imaging certificates are offered: Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Diagnostic Medical Sonography-Echo, Mamography, Mammography-Breast Imaging, Computed Tomography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Interventional Radiography.