Compare Texas BSN programs by cost, NCLEX pass rates, admission requirements, and career outcomes to choose the right nursing school.
Texas is projected to add 16.8% more registered nursing jobs by 2034, outstripping national growth and deepening an already critical workforce shortage. For aspiring nurses, that demand creates opportunity, but also a crowded field of training providers.
The ranking below sorts 29 schools and 37 program listings by a mix of affordability, completion rates, and earnings outcomes. Net prices range from under $5,000 at public community colleges to over $35,000 at private universities, meaning the financial gap between the most and least expensive options is dramatic.
Where you enroll shapes not only your debt load but also your clinical placement geography and long-term career trajectory. In a state as vast as Texas, proximity to major hospital systems often matters more than a school's name.
This ranking highlights Texas BSN programs that excel in affordability, student outcomes, completion rates, and earning potential. The schools below offer strong returns on investment, blending academic rigor with practical training to prepare nurses for the state's growing healthcare demands.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | The University of Texas at Austin | Austin, TX | $20,000/yr | Competitive applicants pursuing research-intensive nursing | |
The University of Texas at Austin offers a flagship BSN program that combines rigorous academics with clinical experiences in a dynamic urban setting. As a public research university, it provides access to Dell Medical School partnerships and community clinics serving Central Texas. Graduates benefit from high median earnings and a strong reputation for preparing nurse leaders and future graduate students.
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| #2 | Brazosport College | Lake Jackson, TX | $2,000 – $5,000/yr | Budget-conscious students pursuing an associate degree | |
Brazosport College provides an affordable, career-focused associate degree in nursing near the Gulf Coast. With low net price and minimal median debt, it serves students across Brazoria County and surrounding areas. The program is designed to meet Texas workforce demands, with rigorous prerequisites and a TEAS readiness assessment to ensure student success.
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| #3 | Texas A & M University-College Station | College Station, TX | $13,000 – $40,000/yr | Prospective nurses targeting rural Texas communities | |
Texas A&M University's College Station campus offers a traditional BSN through its Health Science Center, emphasizing service to underserved and rural areas. The program integrates statewide clinical rotations and a strong Aggie network. With competitive admission standards and robust NCLEX preparation, it produces practice-ready nurses who often remain in Texas.
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| #4 | Rio Grande Valley College | Pharr, TX | $15,000 – $20,000/yr | ||
Rio Grande Valley College in Pharr delivers a fast-paced associate degree in nursing, specifically tailored to the South Texas border region. The program is campus-based and designed to quickly move graduates into the local nursing workforce, addressing critical shortages in the Rio Grande Valley. It emphasizes patient-centered care, clinical reasoning, and bilingual, culturally competent practice.
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| #5 | University of Houston | Houston, TX | $10,000 – $23,000/yr | ||
The University of Houston College of Nursing provides multiple BSN pathways across Katy and Sugar Land campuses, directly serving the Houston metropolitan area. With a public university's affordability and strong ties to Texas Medical Center partners, it emphasizes culturally sensitive care in one of the nation's most diverse cities. Accelerated and traditional tracks address varied student backgrounds and scheduling needs.
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| #6 | Texas Christian University | Fort Worth, TX | $35,000 – $40,000/yr | ||
Texas Christian University's Harris College of Nursing offers a highly regarded private BSN in Fort Worth, with traditional and accelerated options. The program features state-of-the-art simulation labs and clinical placements across DFW's major health systems. Emphasizing ethical leadership and community engagement, it prepares graduates for licensure in all 50 states, making it a strong choice for students seeking a values-driven education.
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| #7 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | Edinburg, TX | $0 – $5,000/yr | ||
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley serves as a Hispanic-Serving Institution with a mission to improve health in South Texas and border communities. Its BSN and second-degree BSN programs provide culturally and linguistically appropriate training through clinical experiences in the Rio Grande Valley. An online RN-to-BSN pathway extends access for working nurses across Texas.
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| #8 | Northeast Texas Community College | Mount Pleasant, TX | ~$7,000/yr (est.) | ||
Northeast Texas Community College in Mount Pleasant offers a practical, low-cost ADN program that serves rural Northeast Texas. The program prepares students for RN licensure with a focus on patient safety and clinical judgment suited to resource-limited settings. Graduates often enter the local workforce, helping to alleviate nursing shortages in small-town hospitals and clinics.
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| #9 | Galen College of Nursing-San Antonio | San Antonio, TX | $29,000/yr | ||
Galen College of Nursing in San Antonio focuses on efficient pathways to RN licensure through both ADN and BSN programs. With multiple start dates per year and a clinical-focused curriculum, it meets the demand for nurses in the San Antonio metro area. The college's strong NCLEX preparation and local hospital partnerships make it a practical choice for career changers and working adults.
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| #10 | University of St Thomas | Houston, TX | $19,000/yr | ||
The University of St. Thomas offers a CCNE-accredited BSN in Houston with a hybrid format and a faith-informed, holistic curriculum. Clinical rotations take place across the Texas Medical Center and community settings, providing urban nursing experience. Its Undergraduate Success Center supports first-generation and diverse students, with growing cohort sizes to meet Houston's demand.
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What makes one BSN program rank higher than another in Texas? Our rankings weigh multiple factors that reflect both affordability and return on investment, drawing on the most reliable public data available.
We combined six core metrics: net price (the actual cost after grants and scholarships), institution-wide graduation rate, program-level median earnings one year after graduation, median federal student loan debt, number of program completers, and a calculated return-on-investment ratio. Each metric was normalized and weighted, emphasizing earnings outcomes and affordability to identify programs that deliver strong financial value to nursing graduates.
The data comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (program-level earnings and debt) and IPEDS (tuition and institutional characteristics). Admissions statistics were pulled from institutional reports. One important limitation: graduation rates are institution-wide, not specific to the BSN program, a common constraint in educational rankings. This means a high overall graduation rate doesn't guarantee the same rate among nursing students, but it remains a useful proxy for institutional support and student success.
While not part of our internal scoring dataset, first-time NCLEX pass rates are a critical quality indicator. We've included a separate section later in this article where you can compare recent pass rates for top Texas programs. Strong NCLEX performance validates that a program's graduates are well-prepared for licensure, so use that table as a companion to our rankings.
Tuition is only part of the total cost of a BSN program. Students should budget for additional expenses like textbooks (often $1,200 to $5,300 depending on the school), clinical supplies and uniforms (typically $500 to $1,000 per year), nursing liability insurance (around $5,700 for the program at some institutions), and fees for technology, NCLEX prep, and background checks. The share of students receiving Pell Grants is a strong indicator of how affordable a program is for lower-income students, as these grants reduce the net price significantly.
| School | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Net Price After Aid | Pell Grant Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas College | $4,662 | $6,900 | $3,214 | 92% |
| Texas A & M International University | $7,894 | $19,454 | $3,637 | 88% |
| Tarrant County College District | $3,537 | $8,370 | $4,337 | 92% |
| Brazosport College | $3,286 | $4,711 | $4,732 | 96% |
| The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | $9,799 | $19,645 | $4,831 | 89% |
| McLennan Community College | $4,200 | $5,910 | $5,051 | 85% |
| Northeast Texas Community College | $4,468 | $5,620 | $6,706 | 91% |
| Lee College | $4,665 | $5,045 | $6,879 | 94% |
| The University of Texas at El Paso | $9,544 | $25,502 | $9,403 | 85% |
| Texas Woman's University | $8,640 | $18,480 | $11,963 | 68% |
Admission to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in Texas is a distinct, competitive process that goes far beyond general university acceptance. Nursing departments set their own academic benchmarks, exam requirements, and prerequisite coursework, and seats are limited by clinical placement capacity. Understanding these separate hurdles is key to submitting a strong application.
University-wide acceptance rates offer only a partial picture of how hard it is to get into a BSN track. For example, The University of Texas at Austin admits about 27% of overall applicants, while UT Arlington accepts roughly 93%. Yet at the nursing school level, competitive Texas BSN programs often admit only 15% to 30% of qualified applicants. The gap is stark: a high overall admission rate does not translate into an easy path into a nursing major. Even at campuses with open or broadly accessible undergraduate admissions, the nursing pre-licensure cohort is intensely selective. Keep in mind that published numbers like these reflect the entire institution, not the nursing program alone, but they illustrate why nursing candidates must aim well above minimum thresholds.
Minimum GPA requirements for well-regarded Texas BSN programs generally fall between 2.5 and 3.0, but successful applicants consistently present much stronger academic records. Competitive candidates typically hold cumulative GPAs in the 3.4 to 3.8 range. Texas Woman's University, for instance, reports that recent admitted cohorts averaged a 3.7 GPA. Some programs set explicit floors: UTMB requires a 2.75, while Texas A&M’s traditional BSN track expects at least a 3.3.
Entrance exams are another universal filter. Most schools require either the TEAS or the HESI-A2, though a growing number accept both. UTMB mandates the TEAS with a published minimum of 60, but competitive applicants surpass 70, and typical scores at top programs land between 80 and 89. HESI expectations are similar, often landing in the 80–90+ range. Texas A&M uses the HESI A2 and seeks a nursing-specific composite that demonstrates readiness. UT Austin took a distinct approach in 2026 by not requiring any entrance exam, which shifts evaluation weight even more heavily onto GPA, prerequisite grades, and personal statements.
All Texas BSN programs expect a substantial foundation of college-level prerequisites before students begin clinical nursing courses. The typical bundle includes anatomy and physiology, microbiology, chemistry, growth and development, nutrition, and psychology. UTMB explicitly requires 60 credit hours of pre-nursing coursework, and most four-year programs expect no less than 45–50 hours. Beyond grades and exams, applications often include personal essays, letters of recommendation, and background screenings. Some schools conduct interviews or require a resume detailing healthcare experience or volunteer hours. Because nursing school applications are typically evaluated on a point system, meeting the bare minimums rarely guarantees a seat. Students who exceed GPA averages, score near the top of the exam range, and complete prerequisites with strong science grades position themselves most competitively in a landscape where the acceptance rate for the nursing major often runs well below the university’s overall selectivity.
When evaluating nursing programs, some applicants fixate on a school’s NCLEX pass rate as an absolute figure, while savvy students compare it against state and national averages to gauge true performance. The right benchmark turns a raw percentage into a meaningful signal of how well a program prepares its graduates for licensure.
First-time NCLEX-RN pass rates reflect the share of BSN graduates who pass the exam on their initial attempt. This metric serves as a direct proxy for curriculum quality, clinical readiness, and faculty effectiveness. Consistently high rates suggest a program that builds strong foundational knowledge and test-day confidence; a pattern of low or declining rates may flag weaknesses in instruction or student support.
Below are first-time pass rates for select Texas BSN programs, drawn from the most recent reporting year.1 Use the state average and national benchmark to interpret each school’s standing.
The national first-time pass rate for all RN programs sits at 91.16%, while Texas BSN programs collectively outperform that mark at 92.69%.1 A “good” rate for an individual BSN program, then, generally falls above the national benchmark, ideally by several percentage points. Programs that maintain rates at or above 95% demonstrate exceptional consistency, while anything below 85% warrants careful scrutiny. Keep in mind that pass rates fluctuate year to year; a single-year dip may not signal a systemic issue, but multi-year trends are telling.
Several Texas schools deliver pass rates well above both state and national averages. Three programs achieved a perfect 100% first-time pass rate in 2024: LeTourneau University, Texas A&M University-Texarkana, and Texas State University.1 The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Hallmark University, Stephen F. Austin State University, and the University of Houston all posted rates of 97% or higher. UT Health San Antonio and UT El Paso, at 96%, also land solidly in top-tier territory. Graduates from these schools enter the job market with strong evidence that their training meets the licensure bar on the first try.
Texas nursing schools offer multiple pathways to a BSN, each tailored to different student backgrounds and career stages. Whether you are a first-time college student, a career changer with a degree in another field, or a working RN with an associate degree, there is a format that aligns with your timeline and goals.
| Traditional BSN | Accelerated BSN | Online/Hybrid RN-to-BSN |
|---|---|---|
| Typical Length | 4 years (full-time) | 12-18 months |
| Prerequisites | High school diploma; some programs require prerequisite courses and TEAS or HESI exam | Bachelor's degree in any field; all nursing prerequisites must be completed before starting |
| Clinical Requirements | Extensive hands-on clinical rotations in various healthcare settings throughout the program | Intensive clinical experiences, often completed in shorter, concentrated blocks |
| Best For | High school graduates or those new to nursing seeking a comprehensive, campus-based education | Career changers with a non-nursing bachelor's who want to enter nursing quickly |
| Example Texas Schools | UT Austin (campus), Texas A&M (campus), University of Houston (campus) | Baylor University (12 months, online with on-campus visits), Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (12 months, hybrid), Concordia University Texas (16 months, hybrid) |
Registered nurses in Texas earn a mean annual wage of about $90,010, with top earners making over $122,060, and job growth is projected at 16.8% across the state. Metro areas like Houston, Dallas, and Austin offer some of the highest pay. The chart below compares 10-year median earnings to median debt for graduates of top-earning Texas BSN programs, highlighting where the financial payoff is strongest.
Texas offers a wide array of BSN pathways, from traditional four-year degrees to fast-track options. Here are answers to common questions about costs, admissions, and program formats in the Lone Star State.
Beyond the top-ranked BSN programs, prospective students can explore these additional nursing schools across Texas, organized by region. Each listing includes the program format, net price, and a highlight to help you find a good fit.
With Texas projecting a 16.8% increase in nursing jobs, selecting a BSN program means balancing upfront costs against long-term earnings. A school with a lower sticker price but weak NCLEX outcomes may delay licensure and reduce your early-career salary boost. Start by comparing the top-ranked schools’ net prices and pass rates against Texas averages, then match location and format (traditional, accelerated, or online) to your life circumstances. The rankings and NCLEX tables on this page offer a clear, data-backed starting point for your shortlist.
