Compare the best ABSN programs in Texas by cost, format, NCLEX rates, and clinical placement quality.
Texas projects a 57,000-nurse shortfall by 2032 even as its RN workforce expands 39%, and accelerated BSN programs for career changers condense a nursing degree into 12 to 18 months. Placements feed into Houston’s Texas Medical Center, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Austin, the state’s major healthcare markets, and Texas’s Nurse Licensure Compact membership grants one license across 43 states. Competitive admissions and clinical placement logistics mean the program you choose shapes your timeline and budget as much as the NCLEX outcome.
For a quick overview of accelerated BSN options in Texas, the table below summarizes key characteristics including typical length, format availability, and state regulatory context.
| Factor | What to Know in Texas |
|---|---|
| Typical program length | 12 to 18 months, depending on the institution and cohort schedule. |
| Common formats | Campus, hybrid, and limited online coursework (clinicals and labs in person). |
| Prior degree required? | Yes, a non-nursing bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. |
| Common prerequisites | Anatomy & Physiology, Microbiology, Chemistry, Statistics, and Psychology (specific courses vary by school). |
| Major ABSN markets | Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio. |
| State board | Texas Board of Nursing (BON) |
| Compact status | Yes, Texas participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). |
The following schools represent the top ABSN options in Texas, evaluated based on program quality, cost, student outcomes, and NCLEX performance. Each offers an accelerated BSN track designed for second-degree students seeking a fast route to RN licensure. Use this ranking to identify programs that match your learning style, budget, and career goals.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Baylor University | Waco, TX | ~$41,000/yr (est.) | Texas residents seeking faith-based nursing | |
Baylor's Louise Herrington School of Nursing offers a 12-month hybrid Accelerated BSN for Texas residents with a non-nursing bachelor's. The faith-based curriculum includes 720 clinical hours and only two on-campus visits. With a 96% NCLEX first-time pass rate and CCNE accreditation, graduates earn a median annual salary of $67,996.
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| #2 | University of St Thomas | Houston, TX | $19,000/yr | Houston career changers valuing holistic care | |
University of St. Thomas in Houston provides a 12-month hybrid ABSN blending online coursework with labs and clinicals at top Houston facilities. The program emphasizes holistic patient care and offers three start dates per year. It's ideal for Houston-area career changers seeking a fast, flexible path to nursing.
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| #3 | The University of Texas at Arlington | Arlington, TX | $14,000/yr | Online learners prioritizing affordability | |
UT Arlington's online Accelerated BSN is a CCNE-accredited, 15-month program costing $21,675. Students complete clinicals at sites across Texas and practice in the Smart Hospital simulation lab. With multiple start dates and a Student Success Program, it's a strong choice for budget-conscious online learners.
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| #4 | Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas | Dallas, TX | $38,000/yr (net price) | ||
Arizona College of Nursing in Dallas offers a 3-year accelerated BSN pathway with night classes for general education and advanced simulation labs. The CCNE-accredited program includes hands-on clinical experiences and prepares students for the NCLEX-RN. Financial aid and scholarships are available.
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| #5 | University of the Incarnate Word | San Antonio, TX | $23,000/yr | ||
The University of the Incarnate Word's 16-month hybrid ABSN in San Antonio blends online coursework with clinical rotations at CHRISTUS and Methodist facilities. The values-based, holistic curriculum requires no healthcare experience and offers three annual start dates. Students benefit from CCNE accreditation and TEAS exam preparation.
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| #6 | Texas Lutheran University | Seguin, TX | $20,000 – $25,000/yr | ||
Texas Lutheran University's 16-month campus-based ABSN includes 945 clinical hours and is CCNE accredited. Designed for second-degree students, the program features small classes, TEAS exam admission, and options at New Braunfels and Houston campuses. The curriculum is approved by the Texas Board of Nursing.
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| #7 | Concordia University Texas | Austin, TX | $20,000 – $25,000/yr | ||
Concordia University Texas offers a 16-month hybrid ABSN in the Austin area with three start dates per year. The program boasts a 97.18% NCLEX pass rate and a $10,000 workforce scholarship. No prior healthcare experience is required, and online coursework complements hands-on clinicals.
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| #8 | Midwestern State University | Wichita Falls, TX | $12,000/yr (net price) | ||
Midwestern State University's Accelerated Second Bachelor's B.S.N. is a pre-licensure track for students holding a prior degree. It combines 42 core credits with 63 nursing credits, covering pathophysiology, pharmacology, health assessment, and clinical experiences. The public university format keeps costs lower.
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| #9 | The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio | San Antonio, TX | |||
UT Health San Antonio's 15-month accelerated BSN track is a campus-based program for non-nursing bachelor's holders. With over 40 scholarship opportunities and options for research distinction, students receive rigorous preparation for the NCLEX-RN. The program demands full-time continuous study.
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| #10 | Texas A & M University-College Station | College Station, TX | $13,000 – $40,000/yr | ||
Texas A&M's second-degree BSN is a 15-month program housed at the Round Rock campus. The curriculum combines face-to-face instruction with simulation and clinical experiences each semester. Admission requires a HESI exam and a 3.0 GPA, and the BSN Honors Program offers high-achieving students additional opportunities.
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| #11 | West Coast University-Dallas | Richardson, TX | $26,000/yr (net price) | ||
West Coast University's Dallas campus offers a 39-month accelerated BSN program. The full-time, campus-based curriculum includes advanced simulation labs, hands-on clinicals, and career services support. It is designed for students committed to an immersive nursing education path.
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| #12 | University of Houston | Houston, TX | $10,000 – $23,000/yr | ||
University of Houston's second-degree BSN is a 12-month intensive program at the Sugar Land campus starting each spring. The full-time, face-to-face format serves career changers with existing degrees, preparing them for RN licensure through a curriculum that synthesizes theory and clinical practice.
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| #13 | Saint Edward's University | Austin, TX | $26,000/yr | ||
St. Edward's University's 13-month ABSN is CCNE accredited and requires no TEAS or HESI exam. The campus-based program in Austin integrates a social-justice mindset and admits students with a 2.5 GPA. It starts each fall and offers a streamlined two-step application process.
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| #14 | Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center | Lubbock, TX | |||
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center provides both a Second Degree BSN and a Veteran to BSN pathway. Both are 12-month hybrid programs combining online coursework with local clinical coaching. They feature a holistic admission process, CCNE accreditation, and multiple Texas start locations.
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Ranking ABSN programs isn't about picking the most famous school. It's about pinpointing which programs reliably prepare students for the NCLEX, respect your budget, and lead to solid early-career outcomes. We focus on a few core signals that matter most to career changers: licensure readiness, affordability, and the earnings graduates actually see.
We evaluate each program using publicly available data that directly reflects student success and return on investment. Here are the primary factors:
We intentionally do not rank programs based on acceptance rates, admissions prestige, or public opinion. An ABSN is a professional pathway, and the numbers that count are how many graduates pass their licensing exam, how much they paid, and what they earn afterward.
An accelerated BSN is a significant financial and personal commitment. You're not just choosing a campus: you're choosing a launching pad for your nursing career. A program with strong NCLEX pass rates but a sky-high price tag may not offer the same long-term value as a lower-cost program with similar pass rates and solid earnings. By weighting affordability and graduate earnings equally with licensure results, we steer you toward programs that deliver both quality and financial sense.
We rely on the latest available figures from three main sources: the Texas Board of Nursing for NCLEX performance, IPEDS and College Scorecard for federal data on cost, completion, and earnings, and school-published program pages for current tuition and fees. Data years may lag slightly, but we verify against official reports released in 2024-2026. When program-level earnings are not yet reported, we note that and rely on institutional benchmarks.
How do you fit an accelerated nursing program into a life that doesn’t stop? Online and hybrid ABSN programs promise flexibility, but in Texas, “online” rarely means fully remote. Understanding the real blend of digital coursework and in-person obligations is the first step to choosing a program that works for you.
Several accredited schools now deliver the didactic portion of the ABSN through online or hybrid models, allowing students to complete theory courses from home while still meeting clinical requirements in person.
In nursing education, “online” or “hybrid” refers almost exclusively to the didactic portion of the curriculum: lectures, readings, and theory exams. The fundamental clinical training, which accounts for hundreds of hours, must occur in person at approved hospitals, clinics, or community settings. Furthermore, most Texas ABSN programs incorporate on-campus simulation labs or skills intensives where students practice procedures under faculty supervision. This means that even a program marketed as “online” or “distance” will require you to travel to campus or a designated lab site at some point. For example, UT Arlington’s students must attend on-campus simulations, and Baylor mandates two campus visits despite its distance designation.
If you live outside Texas, be especially cautious. Baylor’s Distance Accelerated BSN is open only to Texas residents, and other hybrid programs typically arrange clinical rotations exclusively within the state. While an online didactic component can reduce your commute for classes, you’ll still need to be physically present for clinicals. Out-of-state students are often expected to relocate for the entire program duration, and schools rarely guarantee clinical placements outside of Texas. Always ask the program directly about clinical placement policies for non-residents and verify whether you would have to move.
ABSN admission requirements in Texas establish the academic and application benchmarks you must meet before starting an accelerated nursing program. Because these tracks compress a BSN into roughly 12 to 18 months, schools look for strong evidence that you can handle an intense pace: both academically and professionally.
Every ABSN program in Texas is built for students who already hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. The major does not matter; programs regularly admit graduates from business, communication, biology, and the humanities. What matters is that the degree is complete before the program starts. Some schools may accept applicants in their final semester of their first degree, but you will not be able to begin nursing coursework without official transcripts showing the conferred credential.
GPA requirements vary, but most Texas ABSN programs want to see consistent prior academic performance. As a reference point, Baylor University’s accelerated track asks for a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 and a minimum prerequisite GPA of 3.0, with a 2.75 minimum in science prerequisites.12 Other Texas programs often set the bar at a 3.0 overall or above, especially when seats are limited. Keep in mind that published minimums are just that: minimums. Competitive cohorts frequently enroll students with GPAs well above the floor, so treating the baseline as a goal rather than a guarantee is a safer approach.
Texas ABSN programs typically admit for two or three start terms each year: fall, spring, and sometimes summer. Deadlines can fall 6 to 10 months before classes begin. For example, Baylor University’s 2026 application deadline was January 15 for both fall and spring cohorts.1 Other schools may set fall deadlines in February or March and spring deadlines around the preceding August. Because prerequisite completion timing is part of the picture, many applicants finish their remaining science courses in the term just before the deadline; check whether the program allows in-progress coursework at the time of application or requires final grades by a certain date.
A complete ABSN application in Texas almost always asks for more than transcripts. Expect to submit:
These pieces add up to an application that tells a school you can handle the academic load, understand the demands of nursing, and are genuinely committed to the field.
The Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies projects a shortage of 57,000 registered nurses by 2032, while the state's RN workforce is expected to grow 38.8 percent over the same period, according to Baylor University Online.
Which courses do Texas ABSN programs require before I can start? While each school publishes its own list, most accelerated BSN programs in the state expect applicants to complete a similar set of foundational science and liberal arts courses. Finishing these prerequisites with strong grades and within a reasonable time window is often the first concrete step toward admission.1
Accelerated tracks compress nursing coursework, so programs need you to arrive with a solid science base. The following courses appear on nearly every Texas ABSN checklist.
In addition to science labs, Texas ABSN programs ask for several courses that build communication and analytical skills.
Almost every Texas ABSN program enforces a recency policy for science prerequisites. The standard window is 5 to 10 years, meaning if your Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, or Chemistry credits are older than that, you will likely need to repeat them. Schools view recent science grades as a reliable predictor of success in intense nursing coursework. Non-science courses like Statistics or Psychology may be accepted regardless of age, but always verify.
As for grades, a C is the published minimum at many institutions, but admission is competitive. A transcript filled with Bs and As in prerequisite courses will position you far more favorably, especially at high-demand programs such as UTHealth and Baylor.
While the core prerequisites are remarkably consistent, some schools add their own twists. For instance, Baylor's transfer admissions require all prerequisites to be completed at a regionally accredited institution and expect a cumulative GPA that includes these courses. Texas Woman's University may accept certain courses from community colleges but requires an official transcript evaluation. UT Arlington's second-degree BSN often wants a pathophysiology course as an additional requirement. Always download the most current prerequisite grid from your target school's nursing admissions page and schedule a transcript review early.
Because missing a single prerequisite can delay your start by a semester, plan to complete outstanding courses at a regionally accredited college or university well before the application deadline. Many students finish leftover prerequisites through online or evening formats while working, but leave enough time for official transcript processing.
Program-specific earnings for the first year after graduation are not yet available, but long-term outcomes for Texas ABSN alumni are strong.
The cost of an ABSN in Texas varies significantly depending on whether you choose a public or private institution and your residency status. Private programs like Baylor University's Distance ABSN have a total estimated cost of $68,100, while public options such as UT Arlington's Accelerated Online BSN advertise a program tuition of about $21,675 for in-state students. Below is a snapshot of estimated total program costs and available financial support for select Texas ABSN programs.
| School | Program Format | Estimated Total Cost (In-State) | Estimated Total Cost (Out-of-State) | Financial Aid & Scholarship Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baylor University | Distance/Online (hybrid with 2 on-campus visits) | $68,100 | Same as in-state (private institution) | Clinical placement support provided; federal financial aid available. |
| University of Texas at Arlington | Online/hybrid | $21,675 (program tuition total, based on in-state rate; additional fees may apply) | Potentially higher; contact school for exact out-of-state total | Financial aid available; Student Success Program; pay-by-the-course tuition. |
Some nursing programs expect students to source their own clinical rotations; others guarantee every student a spot at partner hospitals from day one. In Texas, understanding how clinical placements work can shape your ABSN experience as much as the classroom curriculum. Clinical rotations translate theory into practice in real patient-care settings under instructor supervision, and they consume a significant portion of the accelerated timeline. Here is how they break down across the Lone Star State's major healthcare markets.
In an accelerated BSN, clinical hours are not optional add-ons. They are where you assess patients, administer medications, collaborate with care teams, and develop clinical judgment. ABSN programs in Texas embed rotations in specialties such as medical-surgical, pediatrics, obstetrics, mental health, and community health. The quality and variety of these sites directly shape your readiness for the NCLEX-RN and entry-level practice.
The DFW metroplex offers one of the most extensive clinical networks in the country. UT Arlington's College of Nursing and Health Innovation, for example, partners with more than a dozen major systems: - Acute care and specialty hospitals: Texas Health Resources, Baylor Scott & White Medical Center (including Baylor University Medical Center, All Saints, Irving), Methodist Dallas, Medical City Dallas/Plano/Denton/Wise, and UT Southwestern. - Public and safety-net facilities: Parkland Health & Hospital System and JPS Health Network. - Pediatric focused: Cook Children's Medical Center. - Veteran care: VA North Texas Health Care System.
These relationships give students exposure to Level I trauma centers, teaching hospitals, community hospitals, and children's hospitals.1 Concordia University Texas also runs ABSN clinical rotations at a Dallas location, connecting learners with similar urban-care settings.2
Houston houses the Texas Medical Center, the world's largest medical complex. Specific ABSN program partnerships in Houston can vary by school. If you are targeting a Houston-based program, ask admissions directly whether clinical placements are arranged for you and which facilities are currently under contract. Leading systems like Memorial Hermann, Houston Methodist, and CHI St. Luke's Health frequently train nursing students, but contractual ties differ per institution.
UT Arlington's ABSN program maintains clinical ties in both cities. In Austin, students train at Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin and Baylor Scott & White Lakeway. In San Antonio, the primary partner is Methodist Health System San Antonio.1 These sites reflect the region's mix of large nonprofit systems and community hospitals. Additional Austin-area and San Antonio-based ABSN programs often collaborate with St. David's HealthCare, University Health, or Baptist Health System, so checking your specific school's clinical list is essential.
Texas ABSN students also gain experience in smaller, rural facilities that serve unique populations. UT Arlington's placement map stretches to Texoma Medical Center, Paris Regional Medical Center, Titus Regional Medical Center, Christus Good Shepherd, the Amarillo VA, Pampa Regional Medical Center, Plainview, Hereford Regional, Hill Country Memorial, and Uvalde Medical Center.1 Rotating through a rural or community hospital can sharpen assessment skills, foster autonomy, and build cultural competence with underserved communities.
The most critical question to ask any ABSN program: do you assign clinical sites, or do I need to find my own? UT Arlington's ABSN states clearly that all clinical placements are school-arranged.1 Concordia University Texas likewise coordinates clinical rotations at its Dallas location.2 Many other Texas programs follow the same model, providing a guaranteed seat at partner hospitals so you can focus on learning rather than logistics. Before enrolling, confirm in writing that the program handles site sourcing and that placements align with your preferred geographic region. A school-arranged model removes a major source of stress and ensures your hours meet board requirements without interruption.
Start by checking any missing prerequisites and consider enrolling in a local community college to complete them. Then narrow your list to three to four programs using the ranking table, focusing on timeline, budget, and location. Contact admissions offices early because cohorts are small and fill quickly, especially at public universities with in-state tuition discounts.
Below, we answer the most frequently asked questions about ABSN programs in Texas, covering program length, prerequisites, costs, online options, and licensure.
