Question 1

How many accredited nursing programs are in Texas?

Accepted Answer

Texas has dozens of accredited nursing programs across community colleges and four-year universities, listed in full on this page. Every school on this page is verified in the federal IPEDS database and carries either CCNE or ACEN accreditation. The map above plots each program's location and the sortable table below shows in-state tuition, program length, and completion rate for direct comparison.

Question 2

Which Texas nursing program has the highest NCLEX-RN pass rate?

Accepted Answer

The Texas Board of Nursing publishes annual first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates for every approved program in the state. Rates fluctuate year to year. Our NCLEX pass rates guide compiles the most recent state-level and top-program data for Texas and every other state, updated after each board release. Check the current annual report from Texas Board of Nursing before your final enrollment decision.

Question 3

What is the average cost of nursing school in Texas?

Accepted Answer

Public community college ADN programs in Texas typically cost between $3,000 and $8,000 per year for state residents. Public university BSN programs run $8,000 to $15,000 per year in-state and $22,000 to $35,000 per year out-of-state. Private university BSN programs charge $28,000 to $45,000 per year regardless of residency. Institutional aid, state grants, and federal Pell grants substantially reduce out-of-pocket cost for most students.

Question 4

Do Texas hospitals hire ADN-prepared nurses or require a BSN?

Accepted Answer

Most Texas hospitals hire ADN registered nurses for medical-surgical, long-term care, and outpatient settings. Larger urban systems and magnet-status facilities increasingly prefer or require a BSN for hospital positions, especially in specialty units like ICU, ER, and OR. If you start at ADN level, plan for an online RN-to-BSN completion within three years of your first job. Most hospitals offer tuition reimbursement for this bridge.

Question 5

How does Texas RN licensure work?

Accepted Answer

After graduating from a Texas Board of Nursing approved program, apply for RN licensure through Texas Board of Nursing, complete a criminal background check, and register for the NCLEX-RN through Pearson VUE. Once approved to test, you have 90 days to schedule your exam. See the how-to-become-a-nurse guide for the complete step-by-step process, including timing, fees, and endorsement rules for nurses moving to Texas from other states.

Question 6

Is Texas part of the Nurse Licensure Compact?

Accepted Answer

Compact membership varies by state and changes as legislatures act. Once you hold a compact-state RN license, you can practice in any of the 41 other compact states without additional licensure. Check the current status of Texas in the Nurse Licensure Compact through Texas Board of Nursing before assuming multi-state privileges. Non-compact states require endorsement application and fees for each additional state you plan to practice in.

Question 7

What is the RN salary in Texas?

Accepted Answer

Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows RN median wages in Texas vary significantly by metro area, hospital type, and specialty. Statewide medians typically fall between $65,000 and $90,000 per year. Urban acute care and specialty units pay above the state median. Rural and long-term care settings pay below. Travel nursing contracts in Texas commonly pay $2,000 to $2,800 per week. Full salary breakdown by specialty and years of experience is on the nurse salary guide.

Question 8

Are there online nursing programs available to Texas residents?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Texas residents can enroll in any CCNE-accredited online BSN, RN-to-BSN, or MSN program that accepts out-of-state students. Six commonly-available accredited online programs are compared on the online nursing programs page, including options that place students at local Texas hospitals for clinical rotations. Online programs are particularly popular for working nurses in Texas who need scheduling flexibility around 12-hour shift work.

Question 9

What prerequisite classes do I need before applying to a Texas nursing program?

Accepted Answer

Nursing programs in Texas typically require the same core prerequisites: Anatomy and Physiology I and II with lab, Microbiology with lab, General Chemistry, Nutrition, English Composition, College Algebra or Statistics, Introduction to Psychology, Developmental Psychology, and Sociology. Community colleges in Texas offer these prerequisites at low cost and credits transfer directly to state university BSN programs. Plan for two full semesters to complete prerequisites before applying to your first-choice program.

Question 10

How long does nursing school take in Texas?

Accepted Answer

Timing depends on the program type. Practical nurse (LPN) diploma programs run 12 to 18 months. Associate degree (ADN) programs at community colleges run two years. Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs at four-year universities take four years. Accelerated BSN options for students who already hold a bachelor's degree in another field can finish in 12 to 16 months. RN-to-BSN and RN-to-MSN bridge programs for working nurses typically take 12 to 24 months of part-time study.


Abilene Christian University	Abilene, TX	$44,200	Private non-profit	59%
Abilene Christian University-Undergraduate Online	Addison, TX	$14,520	Private non-profit	Not reported
Alvin Community College	Alvin, TX	$1,906	Public	24%
Amarillo College	Amarillo, TX	$2,136	Public	32%
Angelina College	Lufkin, TX	$3,430	Public	29%
Angelo State University	San Angelo, TX	$8,460	Public	44%
Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas	Dallas, TX	$23,987	Private for-profit	Not reported
Austin Community College District	Austin, TX	$2,550	Public	20%
Baptist Health System School of Health Professions	San Antonio, TX	$13,760	Private for-profit	Not reported
Baylor College of Medicine	Houston, TX	Not reported	Private non-profit	Not reported
Baylor University	Waco, TX	$58,100	Private non-profit	80%
Blinn College District	Brenham, TX	$4,890	Public	11%
Brazosport College	Lake Jackson, TX	$2,388	Public	56%
Central Texas College	Killeen, TX	$3,750	Public	11%
Chamberlain University-Texas	Houston, TX	$20,380	Private for-profit	25%
Cisco College	Cisco, TX	$4,710	Public	30%
Clarendon College	Clarendon, TX	$3,720	Public	41%
Coastal Bend College	Beeville, TX	$2,916	Public	25%
College of the Mainland	Texas City, TX	$2,310	Public	31%
Collin County Community College District	McKinney, TX	$2,014	Public	20%
Concordia University Texas	Austin, TX	$23,500	Private non-profit	45%
Covenant School of Nursing and Allied Health	Lubbock, TX	Not reported	Private non-profit	Not reported
Dallas College	Dallas, TX	$2,730	Public	32%
Del Mar College	Corpus Christi, TX	$3,440	Public	11%
Denver College of Nursing-Houston	Houston, TX	Not reported	Private for-profit	Not reported
East Texas A&M University	Commerce, TX	$10,026	Public	43%
East Texas Baptist University	Marshall, TX	$30,680	Private non-profit	47%
El Paso Community College	El Paso, TX	$4,080	Public	24%
Galen College of Nursing-San Antonio	San Antonio, TX	$17,048	Private for-profit	81%
Galen Health Institutes-Austin Campus	Round Rock, TX	$17,048	Private for-profit	Not reported
Galen Health Institutes-Dallas	Richardson, TX	$17,048	Private for-profit	Not reported
Galen Health Institutes-Houston	Houston, TX	$17,048	Private for-profit	Not reported
Galveston College	Galveston, TX	$2,726	Public	33%
Grayson College	Denison, TX	$3,052	Public	40%
Hallmark University	San Antonio, TX	Not reported	Private non-profit	66%
Hardin-Simmons University	Abilene, TX	$32,960	Private non-profit	46%
Hill College	Hillsboro, TX	$3,570	Public	32%
Houston Christian University	Houston, TX	$39,430	Private non-profit	49%
Houston City College	Houston, TX	$2,040	Public	17%
Howard College	Big Spring, TX	$2,766	Public	35%
Howard Payne University	Brownwood, TX	$34,982	Private non-profit	28%
Jacksonville College-Main Campus	Jacksonville, TX	$8,850	Private non-profit	33%
Kilgore College	Kilgore, TX	$2,160	Public	39%
Lamar State College-Orange	Orange, TX	$3,540	Public	37%
Lamar State College-Port Arthur	Port Arthur, TX	$1,770	Public	45%
Lamar University	Beaumont, TX	$8,905	Public	37%
Laredo College	Laredo, TX	$3,300	Public	30%
Lee College	Baytown, TX	$2,520	Public	53%
LeTourneau University	Longview, TX	$37,160	Private non-profit	59%
Lone Star College System	The Woodlands, TX	$3,330	Public	21%
Lubbock Christian University	Lubbock, TX	$28,540	Private non-profit	51%
McLennan Community College	Waco, TX	$3,660	Public	39%
McMurry University	Abilene, TX	$32,340	Private non-profit	44%
Midland College	Midland, TX	$3,180	Public	23%
Midwestern State University	Wichita Falls, TX	$10,580	Public	43%
Navarro College	Corsicana, TX	$3,008	Public	23%
North Central Texas College	Gainesville, TX	$3,600	Public	35%
Northeast Texas Community College	Mount Pleasant, TX	$2,980	Public	56%
Northwest Vista College	San Antonio, TX	$3,412	Public	32%
Odessa College	Odessa, TX	$2,688	Public	37%
Panola College	Carthage, TX	$2,352	Public	43%
Paris Junior College	Paris, TX	$2,700	Public	38%
Prairie View A & M University	Prairie View, TX	$11,299	Public	43%
Ranger College	Ranger, TX	$2,766	Public	19%
Rio Grande Valley College	Pharr, TX	Not reported	Private for-profit	72%
Saint Edward's University	Austin, TX	$51,384	Private non-profit	63%
Sam Houston State University	Huntsville, TX	$9,228	Public	55%
San Antonio College	San Antonio, TX	$3,412	Public	26%
San Jacinto Community College	Pasadena, TX	$2,490	Public	30%
Schreiner University	Kerrville, TX	$39,266	Private non-profit	43%
South Plains College	Levelland, TX	$2,731	Public	29%
South Texas College	McAllen, TX	$4,920	Public	27%
South University-Austin	Round Rock, TX	$18,145	Private for-profit	0%
Southwest Texas College	Uvalde, TX	$2,646	Public	31%
Southwest University at El Paso	El Paso, TX	$16,000	Private for-profit	59%
Southwestern Adventist University	Keene, TX	$25,380	Private non-profit	52%
St Philip's College	San Antonio, TX	$3,412	Public	28%
Stephen F Austin State University	Nacogdoches, TX	$11,128	Public	53%
Sul Ross State University	Alpine, TX	$7,592	Public	30%
Tarleton State University	Stephenville, TX	$8,302	Public	48%
Tarrant County College District	Fort Worth, TX	$1,863	Public	34%
Temple College	Temple, TX	$3,000	Public	32%
Texarkana College	Texarkana, TX	$2,476	Public	47%
Texas A & M International University	Laredo, TX	$7,894	Public	46%
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi	Corpus Christi, TX	$9,748	Public	40%
Texas A&M University-Central Texas	Killeen, TX	$7,363	Public	Not reported
Texas A&M University-College Station	College Station, TX	$13,154	Public	84%
Texas A&M University-Texarkana	Texarkana, TX	$8,349	Public	30%
Texas A&M University-Victoria	Victoria, TX	$7,149	Public	26%
Texas Christian University	Fort Worth, TX	$61,740	Private non-profit	86%
Texas Lutheran University	Seguin, TX	$36,230	Private non-profit	54%
Texas Southmost College	Brownsville, TX	$3,148	Public	30%
Texas State Technical College	Waco, TX	$7,212	Public	46%
Texas State University	San Marcos, TX	$11,450	Public	55%
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center	Lubbock, TX	Not reported	Public	Not reported
Texas Tech University Health Scienes Center El Paso	El Paso, TX	Not reported	Public	Not reported
Texas Wesleyan University	Fort Worth, TX	$39,582	Private non-profit	32%
Texas Woman's University	Denton, TX	$8,640	Public	49%
The Chicago School-College of Nursing	Richardson, TX	Not reported	Private non-profit	25%
The College of Health Care Professions-Northwest	Houston, TX	Not reported	Private for-profit	47%
The University of Texas at Arlington	Arlington, TX	$11,950	Public	54%
The University of Texas at Austin	Austin, TX	$11,688	Public	89%
The University of Texas at El Paso	El Paso, TX	$9,744	Public	50%
The University of Texas at Tyler	Tyler, TX	$9,736	Public	54%
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston	Houston, TX	Not reported	Public	Not reported
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio	San Antonio, TX	Not reported	Public	Not reported
The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston	Galveston, TX	Not reported	Public	Not reported
The University of Texas Permian Basin	Odessa, TX	$9,236	Public	40%
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley	Edinburg, TX	$9,987	Public	51%
Trinity Valley Community College	Athens, TX	$2,640	Public	27%
Tyler Junior College	Tyler, TX	$2,400	Public	27%
University of Houston	Houston, TX	$9,717	Public	65%
University of Houston-Clear Lake	Houston, TX	$7,770	Public	52%
University of Houston-Downtown	Houston, TX	$7,708	Public	33%
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor	Belton, TX	$32,020	Private non-profit	49%
University of St Thomas	Houston, TX	$34,634	Private non-profit	69%
University of the Incarnate Word	San Antonio, TX	$37,090	Private non-profit	51%
Vernon College	Vernon, TX	$3,720	Public	21%
Victoria College	Victoria, TX	$2,976	Public	29%
Wayland Baptist University	Plainview, TX	$23,782	Private non-profit	19%
Weatherford College	Weatherford, TX	$5,250	Public	35%
West Coast University-Texas	Richardson, TX	$36,854	Private for-profit	31%
West Texas A & M University	Canyon, TX	$9,101	Public	55%
Western Technical College	El Paso, TX	Not reported	Private for-profit	72%
Western Texas College	Snyder, TX	$3,300	Public	53%
Wharton County Junior College	Wharton, TX	$3,192	Public	27%

Nursing Programs in Texas

All accredited programs in Texas

Top-completion nursing programs in Texas

The University of Texas at Austin

Texas Christian University

Texas A&M University-College Station

Galen College of Nursing-San Antonio

Baylor University

Becoming an RN in Texas

Paying for nursing school in Texas

Prefer to start online this month? Texas residents qualify for these programs.

Questions about nursing school in Texas

Compare programs in nearby states

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