Cheapest Nursing School in Texas

We all know that attending school has a price tag. But do you know what else is true? Having an education is priceless. Here at College Choice, we’ve kept your budget in mind in making this list. You’ll find only the most affordable nursing programs in Texas.

Get more information regarding Cheapest Nursing School in Texas, how much is nursing school in Texas, cheapest nursing school near me, top nursing schools in texas 2022, online nursing programs in Texas & weekend nursing programs in texas

Top 10 Most Affordable Nursing Degrees in Texas

Additionally, with the knowledge that affordable online options are increasingly available, now may be the perfect time to jump in! Take a look at our list of the top Online Colleges and Universities if you’re interested in learning from afar.

RANK	SCHOOL	LOCATION
1	The University of Texas of the Permian Basin	Odessa, TX
2	University of Houston-Victoria	Victoria, TX
3	Texas A & M University-Central Texas	Kileen, TX
4	Texas A & M University-Commerce	Commerce, TX
5	Texas A & M University-Texarkana	Texarkana, TX
6	Tarleton State University	Stephenville, TX
7	Texas A & M International University	Laredo, TX
8	University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio	San Antonio, TX
9	Angelo State University	San Antonio, TX
10	West Texas A&M University	Canyon, TX

How much money can you earn with a Nursing degree in Texas?

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the number of registered nurses in Texas is about 198,650. That means Texas RNs place second after California in terms of the sheer numbers. The hourly mean wage for registered nurses working in the state of Texas is $33.60. That translates into around $69,890 per year.

Even though there are lots of existing RNs in Texas, that doesn’t mean the jobs are all taken up. In fact, job opportunities for registered nurses are expected to increase by 16% between 2014 and 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

What are the Most Affordable Nursing Degrees in Texas?

If you hail from the Lone Star State and are interested in pursuing a career in nursing, look no further than this list. We’ve distilled the 10 Most Affordable Bachelor’s Degrees in Nursing in the state of Texas. .

The 10 colleges profiled are filtered from the 44 that appear in the NCES (National Center for Education Statistics) database as offering such programs in Texas. Although the data is the most recent that NCES published, note that some undergrad nursing programs in Texas have since been suspended or terminated, and some colleges have closed. The programs listed in this article, however, have been verified as still active at time of publication.

Rankings

See our rankings methodology page.Collapse All Expand All

1. The University of Texas of the Permian BasinLOCATIONOdessa, TXTUITION$$$$$
2. University of Houston-VictoriaLOCATIONVictoria, TXTUITION$$$$$
3. Texas A & M University-Central TexasLOCATIONKileen, TXTUITION$$$$$
4. Texas A & M University-CommerceLOCATIONCommerce, TXTUITION$$$$$
5. Texas A & M University-TexarkanaLOCATIONTexarkana, TXTUITION$$$$$
6. Tarleton State UniversityLOCATIONStephenville, TXTUITION$$$$$
7. Texas A & M International UniversityLOCATIONLaredo, TXTUITION$$$$$
8. University of Texas Health Science Center at San AntonioLOCATIONSan Antonio, TXTUITION$$$$$
9. Angelo State UniversityLOCATIONSan Antonio, TXTUITION$$$$$
10. West Texas A&M UniversityLOCATIONCanyon, TXTUITION$$$$$

Online Nursing Programs in Texas

If you are looking at online nursing programs in Texas, you might be wondering, “Can I get my RN degree online?” You should know that it is not possible to attain a nursing degree 100 percent online. But it is possible to enroll in a program that includes online coursework instead of the traditional university lecture format. And as with any nursing program, you will participate in hands-on labs and clinicals.

Why should you consider hybrid online nursing programs in Texas? Online/hands-on hybrid nursing tracks like the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) track at Concordia University Texas (CTX) can provide a quality nursing education more quickly. We also allow for a greater number of students each year by offering three start dates — in January, May, and August.

We’ll dive into all the details of online nursing programs in Texas, so you’ll know how they work and how to choose the right program for you.

How Do Online-Based ABSN Programs Work?

Traditional nursing programs use in-person lectures to teach foundational nursing topics. By moving much of the traditional in-class content to Concordia’s online learning management system (LMS), CTX decreases the number of classrooms needed, thereby making room for more students. Delivering this content online also allows students to adjust when and where they study according to their preferences.

See the differences between a traditional and accelerated BSN.

When online learning first began, little interactivity was available. Slow internet speeds and limited computer processing power made classes text-heavy and often boring. Today’s quick internet and processor speeds mean that online courses can include more interesting multimedia elements.

At ABSN@CTX, our intuitive online courses are taught by many of the same distinguished faculty who teach our campus-based nursing degrees. In addition to assigned textbook readings, students complete nursing theory coursework online through an e-Learning platform that lets you:

• Listen to, view, read, and interact with coursework materials.
• Submit assignments.
• Discuss coursework with other students using an online forum.
• Stay organized using its calendar function.

Hybrid Curriculum: You can’t become a nurse completely online.

Anyone who argues that you can’t learn to become a nurse solely through online classes is right. Nursing requires not only learning concepts and skills but also putting them into practice. As a result, CTX has created a hybrid learning experience. In addition to its online learning component, this model includes skills and simulation labs as well as a variety of clinical rotations with area healthcare organizations.

What is accelerated nursing school like at CTX? Here’s your guide to the ABSN program.

Skills Labs

In skills labs, you will learn to take blood pressure, insert catheters, start IVs, place nasogastric tubes, and more. You will practice some of these skills on task trainers and full-body medical manikins, while you’ll practice others, like vital signs and physical assessments, with classmates under the supervision of an instructor.

Simulation Labs

Simulation labs are designed to feel like a real-life healthcare environment without the fear of harming an actual patient. You will learn to complete basic examinations as well as care for patients with more complex needs.

Manikins in the simulation labs are more sophisticated than those used in skills labs. You will likely care for a manikin that breathes, blinks, talks, has heart sounds, and displays various other capabilities. They can even simulate symptoms and conditions you will be apt to encounter in a real healthcare setting.

As you practice with your manikin, your instructor will observe you through a two-way mirror. After each simulation lab, you will debrief with your classmates and instructor to learn how you can improve in the future.

Clinical Rotations

During your clinical rotations, you will work alongside experienced faculty to gain experience in various real-world healthcare settings. You’ll experience diverse patient care settings, ranging from outpatient clinics to community health centers to hospitals. You will first observe nurses interacting with patients; then you will learn to care for those patients yourself.

Nursing specialties where you’ll rotate can include:

• Adult health
• Mental health
• Obstetrics
• Pediatrics
• Intensive care
• Acute care
• Long-term care

Additionally, clinicals expose you to — and allow you to network with — potential employers in the Austin and Dallas areas.

Why Choose an Online Nursing Program in Texas?

Becoming a nurse in Texas is an excellent decision for many reasons. Let’s look specifically at the nursing employment outlook in the state of Texas.

Healthcare industry jobs are plentiful. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Texas ranks second of all the states for employment of registered nurses. That means you’ll likely have many job options after graduation.

Another benefit of pursuing nursing in Texas is the fact that it is a nurse compact state. This means that nurses earning licensure in Texas can work in any of the other nurse compact states using their license. This makes careers like travel nursing or telehealth nursing much simpler.

Learn more about how compact nursing licenses work.

And let’s not forget this benefit of pursuing an online nursing education in Texas: the BLS reports the state’s annual average wage for a registered nurse in May 2021 was $79,120.

Living in Texas

Choosing Texas for your nursing education and career means you get to enjoy living in an incredible state with a rich culture, natural beauty, and family values.

Our ABSN track has locations in Dallas as well as Austin, and our students enjoy both of these vibrant cities.

A few of the cultural highlights of living in the bustling city of Austin are:

• Texas State Capitol building.
• Many parks and places to reconnect with nature, such as the McKinney Falls State Park.
• Museums and history centers, including the Blanton Museum of Art.
• Amazing cuisine, including Tex-Mex, Asian, European, and more.
• Barton Springs Pool: a year-round natural swimming hole.

Dallas offers another flavor of Texas charm, and our students enjoy a range of local experiences, including:

• Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens.
• Museums including the Dallas Museum of Art and the Perot Museum of Nature and Science.
• Dallas World Aquarium.
• World-class cuisine, including Tex-Mex, barbecue, and ethnic foods.
• Dallas Zoo, home to more than 2,000 animals.

Now that you know the perks of choosing a nursing program in Texas, let’s look at why you should consider the ABSN track at CTX.

Choosing ABSN@CTX for Online Study

If you are considering earning a BSN through an accredited online nursing program in Texas, good for you! Students nationwide are pursuing online paths in record numbers. In light of the recent pandemic, an even greater number of schools have begun offering some form of online learning.

However, it is important to note that just because a college or university offers an online program, does not mean that the program is of high quality. To create a quality program, the school must have expert knowledge in instructional design, as well as the tech support students need.

Fortunately, at CTX in Austin, TX, online learning is not new to us. Our ABSN track for non-nurses has included a blend of online coursework and hands-on labs and clinicals since its inception, making ours among the best online nursing programs in Texas.

What are the steps to become an RN? Here’s the pathway to earning a BSN through an accelerated nursing program.

Let Your Nursing Journey Begin at CTX!

If you decide to pursue an online nursing program in Texas, you can earn a BSN from Concordia University Texas in as few as 16 months. That’s because we take your previous education into account, allowing you to graduate sooner. If you have at least 60 non-nursing college credits or a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, you may be eligible for the CTX ABSN track.

Top Nursing Schools in Texas 2022

Texas nursing schools offer five different undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The costs you incur will depend upon how long your program is, and whether-or-not you’re a Texas resident as community colleges, and public universities in Texas give TX residents a tuition break. Nursing education costs range between $2,560 and $58,880 on tuition, books, supplies, and fees if you’re training to become an LVN at a two-year state program to $16,270 to $122,990 if you’re completing a four-year nursing baccalaureate at a public or private university in the Lone Star State.

Type of Program	Program Length	Program Cost	What Can I Become?
Certificate or Diploma	12 to 18 Months	$2,560 – $29,790	LVN or CNA
Associate Degree (ADN)	2 years	$4,160 – $58,880	LVN or RN
Baccalaureate Degree (BSN)	4 years	$16,270 – $122,990	RN
Master’s Degree (MSN/MS)	2 years	$8,770 – $82,770	APRN certified as a Nurse Practitioner (NP) or Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) or Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) or Certified Nurse Specialist (CNS)
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Degree	4 to 6 years	$13,080 – $122,370	APRN or Nurse Educator

What are the Pros and Cons of Online Nursing Education in Texas?

If you’re juggling multiple personal and work obligations, and you want to enter the nursing profession, an online nursing school in TX can offer you the flexibility you need. Most online nursing programs in the Lone Star State don’t impose class credit minimums, so you can take as few or as many classes as you like and proceed at your own pace. Online courses are often less costly than campus classes, and innovative web-based technologies allow you to participate in classes on a real-time basis. Those are the pluses.

It’s likely you won’t experience the same feeling of Esprit de corps that you’ll have when you’re sitting in an actual classroom, and this can make staying on task difficult at times. Tracking down the high-tech simulation labs and clinical rotations at facilities that are local to you may also present challenges. These experiences play an important role in your nursing education, and your online university will support you. Nevertheless, you will have to be proactive here.

Following are the 10 Best Accredited Nursing Schools in Texas for 2022

Based on our Ranking Methodology, after thoroughly analyzing 134 Nursing Schools in the state of Texas, we have come up with a list of the best schools for pursuing Baccalaureate and Graduate degree programs in nursing.

1. Baylor University, Dallas

About Louise Herrington School of Nursing: If nursing is not just a job for you but also a calling, then Baylor University’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing may be just the learning environment you’ve been looking for. The School consistently ranks among the top nursing colleges in Texas and is particularly celebrated for its midwifery program. Founded in 1909 as a diploma program for nurses who planned to work at Baylor Hospital in Dallas, the School began granting baccalaureate degrees in 1952, making it one of the oldest BSN programs in the country. Baylor is a Baptist institution, and nursing is taught from a Christian perspective as exemplified by the School’s motto: Learn. Lead. Serve

The school of nursing is located in the heart of Dallas’s bustling downtown, right across the street from the Baylor University Medical Center complex. Its four-story building boasts a state-of-the-art simulation environment, affectionately known to faculty and students as the “Sim Lab.” The Sim Lab allows nurses at all levels of expertise from novice to professional to practice and perfect new skills before using them in a clinical capacity.

Financial Aid: Sixty-one scholarships are specially earmarked for undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at Louise Herrington School of Nursing. These scholarships are awarded on a combination of need and merit. Additionally, the state of Texas offers a Tuition Equalization grant to qualified residents, and students may be eligible for federal Pell and Supplemental Educational Opportunity grants upon completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.

2. Texas Christian University, Ft Worth

About Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences: Are you interested in global health issues? Do you believe the nursing profession has the potential to improve health outcomes for populations in all parts of the world? Harris College is a prominent nursing school in Texas that offers unique study abroad courses that give you up-close and personal looks at health care practices and policies in countries like Italy, Chile and Argentina. While Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences accepts students of all religious denominations, Christianity provides the foundation upon which much of the College’s teaching philosophy is based.

The college is located on campus in the Annie Richardson Bass Building, which features lecture halls with dual projection capabilities engineered into the walls so that students can actually interact with the multimedia presentations they watch. The Bass Building also has a high-tech lab with spaces designed to simulate med/surg, labor and delivery, pediatric, ICU and ER units. As part of their clinical training students will have the opportunity to hone their new skills further at hospitals, community agencies, clinics and schools throughout the greater Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area.

Financial Aid: A significant number of the University’s endowed scholarships are specifically designated for the support of nursing students. More information about these scholarships may be obtained from the University’s Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid. Qualified Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences may also be eligible for Texas Christian University grants, federal Pell Grants, federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants and the state of Texas’s own Tuition Equalization Grants.

3. University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

About Cizik School of Nursing: Collaboration is the name of the game at the Cizik School of Nursing; so, it’s hardly surprising that the School shares space with a medical school, a dentistry school and a school of public health at the University of Texas Health Science Center in downtown Houston. The School of Nursing and Student Community Center, which is an eight-story building with 20,000 square feet of classrooms, simulation labs and research facilities, has won numerous awards for its innovative “green” architectural design.

One of the oldest nursing schools in Texas, it was founded in 1890 as a hospital training program. “U.S. News and World Report” ranks its master’s nursing program number one in Texas’s Gulf Coast region and its Nurse Anesthesia program among the top ten in the entire U.S. Cizik School of Nursing maintains clinical affiliations with Houston Methodist Hospital, St. Joseph Medical Center and Texas Children’s Hospital as well as with community outpatient clinics, neighborhood health centers, city and county health departments and other health care providers throughout greater Houston.

Financial Aid: Twenty-three endowed scholarships and traineeships are available to undergraduate and graduate students at Cizik School of Nursing. Students pursuing the Pacesetter BSN curriculum may also be eligible for scholarships awarded to aspiring nurses within that track. Students applying for other types of financial aid such as federal Pell Grants and federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.

4. University of Texas, Austin

About University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing: The School of Nursing at University of Texas’s Austin campus offers one of the best nursing degrees in TX as well as one of the best in the nation, according to “U.S. News and World Report.” The school first began teaching nursing classes in 1960 and expanded these offerings into a full four-year BSN program in 1969. The school sponsors two clinics: A Family Wellness Center that provides more than 10,000 appointments every year to low-income men, women and children in Austin and Travis Counties, and a Children’s Wellness Center that provides primary health care for 3,000 children and families in Del Valle, TX. These two centers, which provide students with clinical experiences, are also instrumental to the School of Nursing’s many federally funded research projects.

A five-story building on the southeast edge of the campus houses the nursing school along with the St. David’s Center for Health Promotion & Disease Prevention Research in Underserved Populations and the Cain Center for Nursing Research. The school’s Simulation Lab is designed to resemble a hospital ward with hospital beds, over-bed tables, IV poles, simulated oxygen and suction, and other hospital-related equipment.

Financial Aid: Qualified nursing students are eligible to apply for more than 60 endowed scholarships, which are awarded on the basis of need and merit. Students must complete the School of Nursing Scholarship Application form for consideration; the deadline for submission is March 24. Students may also be eligible for federal and state grants for which they will need to fill out and submit a FAFSA form.

5. Texas Woman’s University, Denton

About TWU’s College of Nursing: Although Texas Woman’s University has been admitting male students since 1972, it’s still the largest institution of higher education in the U.S. that focuses primarily on the educational needs of women. The College of Nursing on the Denton campus occupies a floor of the Arts and Sciences building. Nursing undergraduate students spend their freshman and sophomore years completing lower division prerequisites at the university’s Denton campus before transferring to either Houston or Dallas for their final two years. In Houston, they’ll become affiliated with the Nelda C. Stark College of Nursing, which is housed in the Texas Medical Center; in Dallas, they’ll train under the auspices of the T. Boone Pickens Institute of Health Sciences.

The university’s nursing school is affiliated with the Center for Global Nursing, and nursing students have the opportunity to pursue research and other types of collaborative experiences with nursing students from Peru, Korea, the Netherlands and other parts of the world. The school’s curriculum also offers nursing education abroad electives in the UK, the Netherlands, Peru and Vietnam.

Financial Aid: More than 50 scholarships are available to nursing students at Texas Woman’s University. Students can apply by creating a Pioneer Portal Account on the university’s website and navigating to the TWU Pioneer Scholarship System. You can apply for scholarships before you’re formally accepted into the university. Out-of-state students who are awarded more than $1,000 in academic scholarship funds may be eligible to pay university tuition at the TX resident rate.

6. University of Texas, Arlington

About College of Nursing and Health Innovation: The College of Nursing and Health Innovation at the University of Texas in Arlington graduates more BSN students than any other nursing school in TX. Despite its size, however, this nursing school is committed to personalized learning, and faculty members function both as mentors and as teachers. Students learn basic nursing skills in a “Smart Hospital” environment that’s set up with its own Emergency Department, ICU, Labor and Delivery suite, pediatric unit, Neonatal ICU and adult medical/surgical beds; “patients” are life-sized, computerized models that have been programmed to respond in realistic ways. Once they have mastered necessary skills, students pursue experiential learning opportunities in hospitals, community health clinics and schools throughout the Arlington and Dallas/Fort Worth areas.

The college is a nationally recognized nursing research center and sponsors a number of specialized nursing research projects at the Center for Research and Scholarship, the Center for Hispanic Studies in Nursing and Health, the Rural Health Outreach Program and the Center for Healthy Living and Longevity. Nursing research is supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health as well as from private foundations.

Financial Aid: The College of Nursing recently transitioned to a centralized scholarship system called the Mav ScholarShop. Students logging on to this database will be able to review details and application deadlines for 63 discrete nursing scholarships. Additionally, student nurses can apply for federal and state grant support by filling out and submitting the FAFSA form.

7. Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi

About College of Nursing and Health Sciences: Want to go to nursing school in paradise? Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi, is the only university in the U.S. that’s located on its own lush, semitropical island. The College of Nursing and Health Sciences makes a special effort to reach out to high-potential students from groups that have been historically under-represented in the provision of health care. The college also has an innovative eLine Military Program that’s specially designed for the needs of individuals who gained prior medical experience and training through their service in the military.

The Nursing College shares Island Hall with the College of Education’s kinesiology program. In a simulated hospital ward on the third floor, students get a hands-on introduction to the clinical skills they’ll use in their subsequent nursing practice. Students will have the opportunity to hone these skills further when they participate in clinical rotations at hospitals, ambulatory care centers and community health agencies throughout the Corpus Christi area. Students also have the option of doing a clinical elective at the university’s Soltis Research Center in Costa Rica.

Financial Aid: The university awards 30 scholarships to nursing students each year. Scholarships are awarded based on academic excellence as well as more specific criteria such as county of residence or field of interest. The deadline for most scholarship applications is March 1. The Office of Student Financial Assistance can also help you apply for other types funding resources such as federal Pell grants and Texas State Tuition Equalization grants.

8. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock

About Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing: Are you serious about confronting risk factors that, when left ignored, too often result in chronic diseases? Then the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing may be right for you. The school is affiliated with the Larry Combest Community Health & Wellness Clinic, which is a federally qualified health center that specializes in the management of chronic diseases like obesity, hypertension and diabetes that may have behavioral components. The Combest Clinic serves families throughout Lubbock and surrounding areas.

The School of Nursing at the Lubbock campus was founded in 1979 in response to critical nursing shortages throughout the western part of Texas. Its clinical coach training model provides a fast track for military veterans who want to translate their frontline medic experience into a nursing degree. The school’s interprofessional, multimodality simulation center gives students a safe way to acquire and practice the clinical skills they will need for success when they move on to clinical placements in hospitals, community clinics and other health care environments in Lubbock and the surrounding areas.

Financial Aid: Students must file an enrollment questionnaire with the Office of Financial Aid and submit a FAFSA form before they will be considered for scholarships. The FAFSA form may also help you qualify for other federal, state or university financial aid as well as for outside scholarships.

9. UTMB (University of Texas Medical Branch), Galveston

About the UTMB School of Nursing: The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston is the site of the Lone Star State’s oldest medical school. Its School of Nursing is one of the oldest in the southwest, too, having been established in 1890 as the John Sealy Hospital Training School for Nurses. The Galveston campus houses the John Sealy Hospital as well as the newer, $438-million Jennie Sealy Hospital, both of which are part of UTMB’s Level 1 trauma system. This gives aspiring nurses plenty of opportunities to seek clinical experiences that will challenge them and help them develop first-class, patient-centered skills.

Classrooms and simulation labs are located in the School of Nursing and Rebecca Sealy Buildings on campus. Nursing students practice skills side by side with other student health care providers, thereby laying the foundations for the interdisciplinary teamwork that will sustain aspiring nurses throughout their professional careers. The School of Nursing is also a noted research center; its research facilities include the Sealy Center on Aging, the Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center and the Institute for Translational Sciences.

Financial Aid: More than 90 scholarship awards are available to UTMB’s nursing students. While some of these are awarded upon the demonstration of academic excellence, some are based upon financial need, whereas others may include more specific stipulations—for example: residence in a particular Texas county. Other types of financial aid are also available, and UTMB’s Financial Aid staff is very proactive in helping students fill out the FAFSA forms, which are necessary prerequisites for federal grants.

10. Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls

About Wilson School of Nursing: Have you set your heart on attending nursing school in Texas even though you didn’t grow up there? According to “U.S. News and World Report,” the Wilson School of Nursing at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls has one of the least expensive out-of-state tuition rates in the nation. Midwestern State University is the only public liberal arts university in TX, and the Wilson School of Nursing uses a variety of teaching methodologies in the nursing education it provides that build upon this liberal arts foundation.

Graduates of this school will be taught a holistic approach to nursing care that focuses on identifying the complex physiological, psychosocial, political and economic factors that often affect an individual’s health status. Learners acquire new skills in the J.S. Bridwell Regional Simulation Center, which is a 13,000-square-foot facility equipped with a practice hospital environment and lifelike manikins. The Simulation Center is staffed by nurse educators with master’s degrees. A new Health Sciences and Human Services Building is set to open in the fall of 2019.

Financial Aid: The Wilson School awards a number of scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students. The Student Affairs Committee meets each spring to review applications; scholarship candidates are selected primarily on the grounds of academic performance. Interested students must fill out the online scholarship application and submit it between January 1 and March 1. Students may also be eligible for needs-based federal and state financial aid; this will be determined by the information contained in the FAFSA forms they submit.

Following are the 10 Best Nursing Schools in Texas Offering ADN Programs

Based on our Ranking Methodology, after thoroughly analyzing 134 schools approved by the Texas Board of Nursing, we have come up with a list of the best schools for pursuing an associate degree program in nursing .

1) Laredo Community College – Laredo

Laredo Community College is one of the nursing schools in Texas that offers aspiring registered nurses with two options to complete an associate degree in nursing. The traditional track is open to students with no prior healthcare experience, whereas if you are a licensed LVN, paramedic, or healthcare care professional with direct patient care experience you can enter-into the bridge program. The bridge program builds upon your past professional knowledge, allowing you to complete it in four semesters as against the five semesters for the traditional track. Regardless of the track you enter, the program includes clinical experiences and prepares you for the NCLEX-RN.

2) Howard College – Big Spring

With a rich experience of 50 years in nursing education, Howard College has been offering its RN program in Texas since 1976 and has over the years established strong connections with hospitals and clinics in the Big Spring, San Angelo, and surrounding areas. This benefits students as they are provided with varied opportunities for clinical experiences. Not only that, the college facilities an easy transfer to four-year colleges due to its agreements with major universities in the state of Texas. You are eligible for this associate degree if you hold an active CNA license. The program spans across two years, with the second year mainly comprising online didactic sessions.

3) Amarillo College – Amarillo

Completing an associate degree in Nursing at Amarillo College, a public community college prepares you to take the NCLEX-RN exam and thereafter practice entry-level nursing at community clinics and hospitals. This program has been an offering since 1970 and is ably supported by a dedicated faculty, and exceptional lab and classroom facilities. The program is offered to non-nursing students as a traditional track and to current LVNs as a transition program. While the traditional option requires 5 semesters to complete the transition track can be completed in just 3 semesters.

4) Blinn College – Brenham

Becoming an RN in Texas can be a prudent career move as there is an increasing demand for caregivers to cater to health needs of the state’s huge population. Blinn College realizes this potential and prepares professional nurses with its two-year associate degree in a traditional and LVN to RN bridge format. The college stays committed to student success and provides them with ample practice experiences at its state of art simulation lab, after which they work on real-time patients during clinical rotations. While the traditional track requires attending three to four classes per week and is more demanding in terms of class schedule and study time, the bridge program offers some flexibility with classes held mostly on Fridays and clinicals approximately two days a week.

5) Lone Star College – Kingwood, Montgomery, and Tomball

If you find a calling in caring for the sick, then Lone Star College’s two-year associate in nursing can be considered. You can enter this program either as a new student or as a licensed LVN or paramedic professional. The curriculum requires completing 60 credits panning over four semesters. Before you start the first semester, you must complete prerequisite courses in human anatomy, physiology, and English composition. To hone professional skills, towards the end of the coursework, you will complete a five-credit capstone course. Should you plan to enter a four-year college later, you can easily transfer your credits, as Lone Star has transfer agreements with twelve major colleges and universities across the state.

6) Alvin Community College – Alvin

You can start your career as a nurse or advance it with Alvin Community College’s ADN program that comes in a traditional as well as LVN to ADN transition format. While the former takes two years, the latter is completed on an accelerated pace in one year as some credits from your LVN coursework are transferred towards this degree. The program helps you function as an efficient member of an interdisciplinary healthcare team by teaching nursing concepts, patient care & safety, and ethics of nursing practice. Clinical experiences at various sites throughout the Houston-Galveston region and the Texas Medical Center form an integral part of your overall learning experience.

7) Austin Community College – Austin

A career as a registered nurse can be fulfilling in terms of helping the sick feel better as well as rewarding, salary-wise. Austin Community College offers two options if you are keen on becoming an entry-level RN. This two-year nursing program in TX is offered as a traditional and mobility track. The mobility track can be pursued by licensed LPNs and some specific health care professionals. The program is a combination of on-campus and online classes, lab exercises, and extensive clinical experiences. The RN coursework mainly centers on core nursing courses such as foundation of nursing practice, concepts of adult health & mental health, nursing care of the childbearing woman & family, and leadership & management in nursing.

8) Brookhaven College – Farmers Branch

Nursing education at Brookhaven is offered at an accelerated pace through its RN program that can be completed in just 16 consecutive months. The program is offered twice a year in fall and spring and admits a total of 100 students in both these cohorts. To begin with, the college requires you to complete pre-requisite courses in anatomy and physiology. Upon graduation, you can take the licensure exam and thereafter practice as a registered nurse. Additionally, if you plan to study further, you can simultaneously earn a BSN by concurrently enrolling at the partnering Texas Tech School of Nursing El Paso’s online BSN program.

9) Panola College – Carthage

If you are browsing through nursing schools in Texas, then Panola College prepares you as caring and competent registered nurse with its ADN program. It is offered in two options, the traditional format for students with no prior healthcare or nursing experience and the bridge program for licensed LPN’s who are keen on advancing their nursing career. The traditional coursework is mainly delivered on-campus, while the bridge track requires taking some classes online. The 60-credit hour coursework focuses on teaching your core nursing competencies to perform as a professional nurse, such as providing patient-centric care, advocating for patient safety, and efficiently collaborating with a healthcare team.

10) Mountain View College – Dallas

Mountain View College, a part of the DCCCD network, offers a full-time ADN program that combines clinical experience with theory. The program is rigorous in nature, with a combination of didactic classes and extensive clinical rotations. With an impetus on honing bedside skills, you start with wide-ranging clinical experiences at area hospitals from the first the semester itself. This 60 credit RN curriculum spans across five semesters and requires you to complete all courses with a minimum grade “C” or higher. As a graduate of this program, you will be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN and start your nursing career as a registered nurse.

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Career Options in Texas Post-Completion of My Nursing Education

One of the best things about a nursing degree is that it can be used professionally in many different ways, depending upon whether you prefer to be on the front line of patient care, whether you see yourself supervising and supporting a nursing staff, or whether there’s a specialty like midwifery or anesthesiology you particularly enjoy. Read on to find out more about seven dynamic career paths that will open up to you post completion of a Texas nursing program.

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

Requirements to work as a CNA in TX: The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) under the aegis of Texas Health and Human Services sets the specific guidelines under which CNAs work in the Lone Star State. Certification is required, and you can attain certification in several ways: You can either take the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) examination after completing a state-approved Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP), or you can transfer your out-of-state CNA certification by filling out a reciprocity application. CNAs must be at least 18 years old, have a clean criminal background check, be up to date with all current immunizations, test negative for TB exposure and be CPR-certified. The record of CNAs who are certified to provide care at long-term facilities throughout TX is maintained by the Nurse Aide Registry under the auspices of DADS.

Salary: On average, CNAs in the Lone Star State earn $12.99 per hour, which amounts to approximately $27,030 annually. CNAs in Houston, which is the largest city in TX, make $28,460 a year on average.

Type	Hourly	Monthly	Annual
Range	$9.79 – $17.57	$1,700 – $3,050	$20,360 – $36,540
Average	$12.99	$2,250	$27,030
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Annual Job Openings

New	Replacement	Annual Job Openings (New + Replacement)
1,771	10,989	12,760
(Source: careeronestop.org)