Compare accredited BSN programs, NCLEX outcomes, costs, and admissions side by side for Round Rock-area schools.
Round Rock’s healthcare corridor has added more than 3,200 jobs over the past three years, and registered nursing roles account for roughly one in four of those new positions. This growth mirrors a statewide trend: the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 9% increase in Texas RN employment through 2033, fueled by an aging population and acute-care expansions north of Austin.
Nursing programs serving Round Rock include traditional four-year BSN tracks, 12- to 16-month accelerated second-degree options, and online RN-to-BSN completion programs for working ADN nurses. Most are located within a 30-mile radius, in adjacent suburbs and downtown Austin, with clinical rotations hosted at Round Rock’s own hospitals.
Admissions are competitive, especially for direct-entry BSN spots, but the payoff is real: major Round Rock health systems like Baylor Scott & White and Ascension Seton now prefer or require BSN preparation for new graduate hires.
Aspiring nurses in and around Round Rock can choose from a mix of nationally recognized public universities and smaller private programs offering BSN and ADN degrees. The schools below are ranked based on institutional metrics like graduation rate and net price, but we have highlighted which options stand out for accelerated formats, local clinical access, or faith-based learning.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Central Texas College | Killeen, TX | Round Rock residents seeking an accelerated BSN | ||
Galen College of Nursing's Austin campus is located right in Round Rock, providing a convenient local option for an accelerated three-year BSN. The program has four start dates per year, no application fee or essays, and on-campus clinical learning labs. Students receive personalized academic advising and can transfer in college credits.
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| #2 | The University of Texas at Austin | Austin, TX | $12,000/yr | High-achievers wanting a top-ranked public BSN | |
The University of Texas at Austin's School of Nursing offers a highly ranked traditional BSN just 20 miles from Round Rock. The program features direct entry into upper-division nursing courses, honors research opportunities, and clinical rotations in Austin-area hospitals. With a strong academic reputation and no entrance exam required, graduates are well-prepared for NCLEX-RN licensure and diverse nursing careers.
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| #3 | Concordia University Texas | Austin, TX | $10,000 – $15,000/yr | Christ-centered learners pursuing small-class BSN | |
Concordia University Texas provides a Christ-centered BSN program with three tracks: Traditional, Direct Entry, and Accelerated. Located in Austin, the program emphasizes compassionate leadership and ethical care, with clinical placements at major area hospitals. Small class sizes and a faith-infused community support students academically and personally.
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| #4 | University of Mary Hardin-Baylor | Belton, TX | $21,000/yr | ||
The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton offers a CCNE-accredited BSN that combines hands-on simulation training with clinical rotations at leading hospitals. Students can participate in study abroad programs and global mission trips, and the program reports a 100% job placement rate before graduation. Graduates are recruited by major employers like MD Anderson and Vanderbilt.
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| #5 | Austin Community College District | Austin, TX | |||
Central Texas College in Killeen provides an affordable ACEN-accredited ADN program that can be completed in two years. The curriculum blends online and on-campus learning with a simulation hospital, and the college offers military benefits and WIOA grant assistance. HESI entrance exam and a strict application deadline apply.
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| #6 | The College of Health Care Professions-Austin | Austin, TX | |||
Austin Community College offers a fully online RN-to-BSN completion program designed for working registered nurses. Accelerated eight-week courses can be finished in as little as 12 months, with hybrid clinical options in Central Texas. Priority admission is given to ACC ADN graduates, and an active Texas RN license is required.
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| #7 | Saint Edward's University | Austin, TX | $30,000/yr | ||
The College of Health Care Professions-Austin offers a 20-month LVN to ADN bridge program for licensed vocational nurses. The full-time, concept-based curriculum includes 384 hours of clinical experience and integrated NCLEX-RN review. Flexible day and evening clinical placements help accommodate working students, and the program totals 1,504 clock hours.
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| #8 | Galen Health Institutes-Austin Campus | Round Rock, TX | |||
Return on investment (ROI) compares each program’s 10-year median earnings to its median graduate debt. A higher ratio means greater earnings relative to debt. Net price figures are institution-wide averages after aid, they are approximate and not guaranteed for every student.
The NCLEX first-time pass rate is the most direct quality indicator for nursing programs, reflecting how well a school prepares students for licensure. For Round Rock and nearby programs, Texas A&M University’s BSN graduates achieved a 98.3% pass rate in 2025, far above the 2024 Texas average of 92.69% and the national average of 91.16%. Program-level employment and earnings outcomes are not yet available from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard for these institutions.
| Institution | NCLEX-RN First-Time Pass Rate | Reporting Year |
|---|---|---|
| Texas A&M University | 98.3% | 2025 |
| Texas (all BSN programs) | 92.69% | 2024 |
| United States | 91.16% | 2024 |
The two nursing programs with detailed admissions data for the Round Rock area serve different groups: a second-degree BSN for career changers and an RN-to-BSN completion for registered nurses. Requirements vary significantly in GPA thresholds, testing, prerequisite load, and deadlines.
This accelerated program requires a previous bachelor's degree and a minimum 3.0 GPA in both prerequisite coursework and nursing science prerequisites.1 Applicants must take the HESI A2 exam.1 Prerequisites include psychology, statistics, chemistry, anatomy and physiology, and microbiology.1 The application deadline for Fall 2026 is January 15, 2026.1 With higher GPA standards and an early deadline, this program is selective.
For current RNs with an associate degree, ACC's RN-to-BSN requires a 2.5 GPA in both prerequisite and nursing courses.2 No entrance exam is listed.2 Prerequisites cover a broad range: microbiology, A&P, English composition, statistics, pharmacology, ethics, history, government, psychology, human growth and development, and speech.2 The Fall 2026 application deadline is July 15, 2026, much later and less competitive.2
Nursing employers increasingly seek BSN-prepared nurses, and Round Rock-area schools have built distinct pathways to help students at every stage reach that goal. Whether you are just starting college, already hold a bachelor’s in another field, or are a working RN with an associate degree, a program in or near Round Rock matches your situation.
Texas State University Round Rock offers a traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing.1 The program follows a standard four-year or upper-division sequence after prerequisites, with full-time daytime scheduling.
Texas A&M University Round Rock hosts a Second-Degree BSN for students who already hold a non-nursing bachelor’s.2 The intensive, campus-based program runs 15 months with full-time daytime classes.2 Evening or weekend options are not currently available.2 Texas State does not offer this track,1 so Texas A&M is the sole local provider for accelerated students.
Texas State Round Rock’s RN-to-BSN is an entirely online program designed for working RNs.1 You can complete it in as few as 12 months,1 with scheduling flexibility that lets you keep working.1 Texas A&M does not offer an RN-to-BSN,2 making Texas State the go-to for diploma- or associate-degree-prepared nurses in the area.
Together, these tracks cover the spectrum of nursing education pathways in the Round Rock area, though no single school provides all three , so your choice will align with your starting point and learning preferences.
The hospitals where you complete clinical rotations in Round Rock often become your first employer after graduation. Strong partnerships between nursing schools and local health systems mean that a clinical shift is as much a job interview as a learning experience.
Baylor Scott & White Round Rock, St. David's Round Rock Medical Center, and Ascension Seton Williamson form the backbone of clinical training in the region. Texas State University's St. David's School of Nursing, located on the Round Rock campus, holds a formal affiliation with St. David's HealthCare, giving BSN and MSN students direct exposure to its facilities and nursing staff. Austin Community College's large ADN program draws clinical placements across these same systems, while regional BSN completion programs for RNs utilize the extensive network of Baylor Scott & White, which operates a dedicated Nursing Institute to coordinate academic collaboration and clinical education.
Hiring managers at these hospitals regularly extend offers to students who demonstrate competence and fit during rotations. Baylor Scott & White maintains career pipelines through structured residency programs and externships that transition new graduates directly into bedside roles. St. David's HealthCare has a similar track record of converting clinical participants into employees, reinforcing the value of placing clinical hours strategically.
State-level aid eases the cost of such programs. The Texas Nursing Scholarship Program supports nursing students statewide, while the TEXAS Grant benefits public-university students with financial need, helping to offset tuition at institutions like Texas State. On the employer side, Baylor Scott & White offers tuition reimbursement for job-related degrees, including ADN-to-BSN and BSN-to-MSN pathways. St. David's HealthCare and other donors also provide scholarship funds through Texas State's nursing school.
At the federal level, the HRSA Nurse Corps Scholarship covers tuition and fees in exchange for a service commitment in a high-need area; the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment program similarly helps graduates manage federal student loans. Students who plan ahead can stack employer assistance with these sources, significantly reducing out-of-pocket costs while cementing a post-graduation job.
Prospective nursing students often have questions about programs in Round Rock. Here are quick answers to the most common queries.
