Compare costs, NCLEX pass rates, schedules, and outcomes for Dallas-area vocational nursing programs
Choosing between a twelve-month private LVN certificate and a two-year public college track presents a classic trade-off between speed and debt. Dallas-area hospitals and skilled nursing facilities employ thousands of licensed vocational nurses, but the cost of training ranges from under $2,000 at a community college to over $30,000 at a proprietary school.
The stakes rise when you compare NCLEX-PN pass rates: a cheaper program that leaves graduates underprepared for the licensing exam costs more in lost wages and retakes. In a metro area with 30-plus hospitals and a large geriatric population, employer demand is steady, but hiring managers gravitate toward graduates from clinically intensive programs with a track record of first-time pass success.
Selecting a vocational nursing program near Dallas calls for a close look at costs, clinical training, and licensing exam preparation. We evaluated seven Texas schools that offer LPN/LVN certificates within a commutable or relocation-friendly distance, ranking them on affordability, student outcomes, and program quality. The profiles below highlight what makes each option distinctive.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Hallmark University | San Antonio, TX | $13,000/yr (net price) | Driven career changers seeking rapid entry | |
Hallmark University, a private institution in San Antonio, offers an intensive 12-month Vocational Nursing Program with small, limited-enrollment classes. Clinical rotations take place at top area hospitals, and the program holds Texas Board of Nursing approval plus ACEN accreditation candidacy as of 2025. Multiple start dates per year and hands-on training prepare students thoroughly for the NCLEX-PN.
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| #2 | Grayson College | Denison, TX | $6,000/yr | North Texas locals needing affordable tuition | |
Grayson College, a public community college in Denison, serves the North Texas region and is one of the most geographically accessible LVN options for Dallas-Fort Worth residents. Its Vocational Nursing Program combines science and compassionate care, with a point-based competitive admission process. Students complete clinical placements in diverse settings and graduate ready for the NCLEX-PN.
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| #3 | Laredo College | Laredo, TX | $5,000 – $10,000/yr | Bilingual students targeting South Texas markets | |
Laredo College, a public community college near the U.S.-Mexico border, serves a multicultural student body with its Vocational Nursing Certificate II program. The 12-month, clinically intensive curriculum boasts a 97.4% NCLEX-PN pass rate and an unusually low total program cost of around $5,300 plus fees. Graduates are well-prepared for entry-level roles with a median salary near $52,850 for Texas LVNs.
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| #4 | Galen College of Nursing-San Antonio | San Antonio, TX | $29,000/yr | ||
Galen College of Nursing-San Antonio is a private, nursing-focused institution offering a Practical Nursing program that can be completed in 12 months full-time or 21 months part-time. The quarter-based curriculum emphasizes practice-based training, with on-campus classes and modern clinical labs. Students benefit from academic advisors, on-demand tutoring, and four start dates per year.
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| #5 | Northeast Texas Community College | Mount Pleasant, TX | ~$7,000/yr (est.) | ||
Northeast Texas Community College, a public college in Mount Pleasant, provides a three-semester Vocational Nursing Certificate with small class sizes and a required TEAS score of 58.7%. The curriculum spans medical-surgical, maternal-neonatal, pediatric, and mental health nursing, supported by clinical experiences at multiple healthcare sites. Its Northeast Texas location puts it within commuting distance for some eastern Dallas-area residents.
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| #6 | Victoria College | Victoria, TX | $3,000/yr (net price) | ||
Victoria College, a public community college, offers a one-year Vocational Nursing program across multiple South Texas locations, though none in the Dallas area. Admission requires an ATI TEAS score of 60% and a 2.0 GPA, and the program is fully approved by the Texas Board of Nursing. With a net price of $3,043 after aid, Victoria College is among the most affordable options for students willing to relocate.
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| #7 | College of the Mainland | Texas City, TX | ~$1,000/yr (est.) | ||
College of the Mainland, a public community college in Texas City, serves the Houston-Galveston region with a 12-month Vocational Nursing program known for small class sizes and strong NCLEX pass rates. The college boasts the lowest net price on this list at $1,342 after aid, making it an extremely affordable route for in-state students who can relocate. Admission requires a HESI A2 exam and is only offered in the spring.
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The table below compares tuition, net price, and median debt for the seven LVN programs near Dallas, sorted from lowest to highest average net price. The most affordable option, College of the Mainland, has a net price of just $1,342, while the highest, Galen College of Nursing, stands at $29,104, a spread of over $27,000. Keep in mind that net price is an institution-wide average and individual financial aid packages can vary considerably.
| School | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Net Price (Avg.) | Median Debt at Completion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| College of the Mainland | $3,450 | $4,140 | $1,342 | $5,960 |
| Victoria College | $4,440 | $5,328 | $3,043 | $10,500 |
| Laredo College | $4,500 | $5,748 | $5,798 | $2,959 |
| Grayson College | $4,500 | $6,300 | $5,880 | $12,250 |
| Northeast Texas Community College | $4,468 | $5,620 | $6,706 | $10,946 |
| Hallmark University | N/A | N/A | $12,513 | $25,438 |
| Galen College of Nursing-San Antonio | $17,048 | $17,048 | $29,104 | $24,166 |
A program's NCLEX-PN pass rate is the single most transparent measure of how well it prepares students for the licensing exam and entry-level practice. Because rates reflect the percentage of graduates who pass on their first attempt, they cut through marketing claims and reveal actual outcomes. For Dallas LVN programs, the data is public but scattered across several sources; knowing where to look and how to compare numbers saves time and leads to a more informed enrollment decision.
The Texas Board of Nursing is the authoritative source for LVN program pass rates statewide. Each year, the Board publishes an education report that lists first-time NCLEX-PN pass rates for every approved program, broken down by examination year. You can download these PDFs directly from the BON website; recent reports typically cover the last three to five years, so look for the 2025 edition if it has been released, or the most current data posted.
Individual school websites often post pass rates under sections like Outcomes, Accreditation, or Consumer Information. Programs that perform well tend to highlight their numbers prominently, but always verify against the Board’s report, because schools may cherry-pick the most favorable annual rate or use a different calculation method. If a program’s site omits pass rates or buries them in a hard-to-find location, treat that as a red flag.
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing offers a free online pass rate search tool that lets you filter by state, year, and program type. This tool draws from the same official exam vendor data that state boards rely on, making it a convenient cross-check. Select Texas and the relevant years, then scan for Dallas-area school names to compare results side by side.
Focus on first-time pass rates, not repeat-attempt figures, because first-time performance better indicates how well the curriculum prepared graduates right out of school. A rate consistently above the state average signals a strong program. Look at multiple years, not just a single snapshot; a program that dips one year but recovers the next may still be solid, but a downward trend over three years warrants caution.
The Texas Board of Nursing also publishes the statewide average NCLEX-PN pass rate in its annual reports. This figure provides a baseline: programs that lag behind the Texas average year after year may struggle with instruction, clinical placements, or student support. While a below-average pass rate does not automatically disqualify a school, it calls for closer investigation into class sizes, remediation policies, and recent curriculum changes. Contact the program directly and ask how they are addressing performance gaps before making a commitment.
Admission requirements for Dallas LVN programs shift annually, so start with each school's latest catalog. Dallas College, for example, often asks for a minimum TEAS score and completed prerequisites in anatomy and physiology. Galen College of Nursing and Concorde Career College may set their own thresholds, while CTK Healthcare has specific entrance exam and GPA requirements. Always verify directly with the admissions office.
Most Dallas-area programs require a high school diploma or GED, a passing TEAS score, and a minimum GPA, typically 2.5 or higher. Common LPN prerequisites include courses in biology, math, and English composition. The Texas Board of Nursing maintains a list of approved programs and can clarify accreditation status. Some schools, like Collin College, may also require a criminal background check and drug screening before clinicals begin.
Admission competitiveness varies. Dallas College and Collin College often use a points-based system that rewards high TEAS scores and GPAs, making entry competitive. In contrast, private schools like Galen and Concorde may offer rolling admissions or multiple start dates, though seats can still fill quickly. CTK Healthcare typically runs a cohort model with limited slots. Checking the Texas Nurses Association website can provide insight into application timelines and program capacity.
Program flexibility is key for working students. Dallas College and Collin College usually offer day tracks that span 12 to 15 months of full-time study. Galen College of Nursing sometimes adds evening or weekend options, which may extend the program to 18 months or more. Concorde Career College and CTK Healthcare often provide accelerated day tracks that can be completed in under a year, but part-time evening formats may also be available. Always confirm current schedule offerings and exact duration on the program's "Class Schedules" page, as these change based on clinical site availability.
Application deadlines align with academic calendars, typically fall, spring, and summer starts. Cross-reference these with BLS and Department of Labor resources if you're exploring broader LVN career pathways, and contact the school directly for the most precise cutoff dates.
Program-level earnings data one year after completion is not yet published in the College Scorecard for the LVN schools near Dallas. The Scorecard metric would reflect all completers, not only those who passed the NCLEX-PN. Instead, we turn to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which reports that LVNs in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan area earned a mean annual wage of $59,580 as of May 2023.
Transitioning from LVN to RN is one of the quickest ways for licensed vocational nurses in Dallas to increase their earning potential and career scope. Local community colleges and private nursing schools have built dedicated bridge tracks that honor prior nursing education, cutting down total program time to as little as 12 months.
Several Dallas-area colleges offer LVN-to-RN bridge options leading to an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). Dallas College runs an Advanced Placement ADN track at its El Centro, Mountain View, and North Lake campuses, requiring 60 credits for completion. Collin College's LVN-to-RN Bridge admits students each year with a deadline of April 15, 2026, and expects a TEAS composite of 65% along with prerequisite courses in anatomy and physiology. Galen College of Nursing in Dallas provides an 18-month LPN/LVN to ADN Bridge with a blend of online and on-campus learning and four start dates per year. Farther west, North Central Texas College compresses its LVN to ADN Transition into 12 months, while Tarrant County College offers a fast-track option for qualified LVNs.
An LVN-to-BSN pathway is equally accessible, often through articulation agreements between two-year colleges and university partners. Navarro College’s bridge program, for instance, holds formal partnerships with UT Arlington, Texas Woman’s University, Texas Tech, and several others, enabling seamless transfer into a BSN program. Many of these BSN completion programs offer fully online coursework, a practical choice for working LVNs balancing employment and study. The statewide LVN programs page includes a wider list of Texas schools with bridge and advanced placement options, should you need to explore beyond DFW.
Bridge program lengths typically range from 12 to 18 months, depending on transfer credits and whether you pursue an ADN or BSN. Admission usually demands an active Texas LVN license, a minimum GPA (often 2.5), and standardized exam scores. Some programs, like Navarro’s, also ask for 6 months of clinical work experience. Because prerequisites such as microbiology and anatomy are common, planning ahead to complete these courses can shorten your overall timeline.
As nursing education grows more data-conscious, the best LVN rankings now weigh measurable outcomes over reputation alone.
We assigned scores using five weighted factors:
The graduation rate we use covers the entire school, not just the vocational nursing program. A low figure may hint at institutional challenges, but it does not always predict LVN student success. We include it because supportive campus environments tend to lift all students.
Data points come from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard, the Texas Board of Nursing (for NCLEX-PN results), and institutional reporting. Program-level earnings are federally sourced but may not isolate LVN cohorts specifically.
This list is an editorial starting point, not an endorsement. We encourage you to visit campuses, talk to admissions staff, and verify the latest figures before enrolling.
Below are answers to common questions about LVN programs in Dallas, based on data from Texas Board of Nursing reports, school websites, and graduate outcomes. If you don’t see your question here, explore the rankings and tables above for more details.
