Ranked by NCLEX pass rates, affordability, and graduate earnings — with program-level data for every approved Texas LVN school.
Texas projects over 5,800 LVN job openings annually through 2032, with a median salary of $48,770. That demand supports a broad network of training options; 29 accredited LPN programs are compared based on net price, graduate earnings, and completion rates. Costs and outcomes vary sharply across the state: in-district tuition at some colleges stays under $2,000, while net price at others can exceed $10,000 after aid. Graduate median earnings range from around $34,000 to more than $45,000, depending on region. Choosing an LVN program in Texas is therefore as much a financial calculation as an academic one. Your first few years of income will reflect the program you pick.
Below are ten Texas vocational nursing programs worth a close look in 2026, ordered by overall value. Each school listing highlights costs, licensure pass rates, clinical experiences, and institution-wide outcomes, but final costs depend on your aid package and residency status.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Laredo College | Laredo, TX | $5,000 – $10,000/yr (est.) | South Texas students wanting low-cost start | |
Laredo College's one-year Vocational Nursing Certificate II is one of the most affordable paths in South Texas, with total program tuition near $5,300 plus books and fees. The program reports a 95% licensure pass rate and emphasizes clinical preparation in fundamentals, medical-surgical, maternity/pediatric, and psychiatric nursing. Institution-wide graduation rate is about 30%, and the estimated average net price after aid is around $5,800; former students report median earnings near $34,000. This is a strong option if you want a campus-based, Texas Board of Nursing approved program with a late January application open date for fall starts.
| |||||
| #2 | Alvin Community College | Alvin, TX | ~$9,000/yr (est.) | Houston-area learners needing clinical rotation breadth | |
Alvin Community College offers a 44-credit LVN certificate that can be completed in one year, with total program tuition about $7,100 including books and supplies. The program includes HESI exam preparation workshops and clinical rotations at affiliated Houston-area hospitals and long-term care facilities. The institution-wide graduation rate is roughly 24%, the estimated average net price after aid is around $8,525, and former students report median earnings near $45,800; program materials also cite median LVN earnings of about $54,840 in the Woodlands/Houston/Sugar Land area. Campus-based delivery makes this a fit for students who can attend in person.
| |||||
| #3 | South Texas College | McAllen, TX | $5,000 – $8,000/yr (est.) | Students needing fall and spring start options | |
South Texas College stands out for its very low estimated average net price after aid, around $1,750, making it one of the most affordable LVN options in the Rio Grande Valley. The one-year, three-semester Vocational Nursing certificate uses a competitive HESI-based admission process and offers both fall and spring starts. The institution reports a graduation rate of roughly 27% and former-student median earnings near $36,800; program-level earnings are not yet available. Clinical experiences cover adult, maternal, pediatric, and geriatric care, capped by a practicum.
| |||||
| #4 | Midland College | Midland, TX | ~$5,000/yr (est.) | ||
Midland College's Vocational Nursing Program is a campus-based, one-year accelerated schedule with small cohorts of about 30 students. The program reports a 100% first-time NCLEX-PN pass rate in recent years and includes clinical rotations across Midland, Odessa, Big Spring, and Monahans. A partnership with Midland Memorial Hospital offers full scholarships covering tuition, fees, books, and supplies, and an LVN to RN bridge is available. The institution-wide graduation rate is around 23%, with an estimated average net price after aid near $4,500 and former-student median earnings about $44,000.
| |||||
| #5 | Victoria College | Victoria, TX | $3,000/yr (est. net price) | ||
Victoria College offers a one-year Vocational Nursing program in Victoria, Gonzales, and Hallettsville, making it a practical choice for students across the Crossroads region. Admission requires an ATI TEAS exam score of 60% or higher and a minimum GPA of 2.0, with hands-on clinical practice in real healthcare settings. The college's institution-wide graduation rate is around 29%, and the estimated average net price after aid is about $3,000; former students report median earnings near $42,400. The program is approved by the Texas Board of Nursing.
| |||||
| #6 | Galveston College | Galveston, TX | ~$8,000/yr (est.) | ||
Galveston College runs a summer-start Vocational Nursing certificate that can be finished in one calendar year with 46 credits. Enrollment is capped around 20 students to keep classes small, and admission requires a 2.7 GPA plus passing HESI A2 scores. The college reports a 32.7% institution-wide graduation rate and an estimated average net price after aid near $8,400; former-student median earnings are about $37,200. Clinical rotations and pharmacology, gerontology, pediatrics, and maternal-neonatal coursework provide a broad foundation.
| |||||
| #7 | Lamar State College-Port Arthur | Port Arthur, TX | ~$3,000/yr (est.) | ||
Lamar State College-Port Arthur's LVN certificate is a one-year, full-time program with a reported 98% licensure pass rate and strong job placement in the Golden Triangle. The program covers patient assessment, medication administration, and maternal-neonatal and pediatric nursing, with clinical rotations at area facilities. The institution-wide graduation rate is about 45%, the estimated average net price after aid is roughly $2,850, and former-student median earnings are around $37,100; program materials cite median earnings of $57,007 for graduates. An LVN to ADN pathway supports career advancement.
| |||||
| #8 | McLennan Community College | Waco, TX | $4,000 – $6,000/yr (est.) | ||
McLennan Community College offers a one-year Vocational Nursing certificate with a straightforward application window from January 5 to June 15 for fall starts. Prerequisite English 1301 is required, and the program emphasizes workforce skills like punctuality along with clinical rotations. The college's institution-wide graduation rate is nearly 39%, the estimated average net price after aid is about $5,050, and former-student median earnings are around $39,200. Campus-based delivery provides direct access to Waco-area clinical sites.
| |||||
| #9 | San Jacinto Community College | Pasadena, TX | $2,000 – $7,000/yr (est.) | ||
San Jacinto College's Vocational Nursing Level 2 Certificate is a 45-credit, one-year program with 448 clinical hours and a capstone NCLEX-PN review. The program is stackable into an AAS degree for future advancement and is offered at North and South campuses. The institution has an open admission policy and a 30% institution-wide graduation rate; estimated average net price after aid is about $12,100, and former-student median earnings are near $43,100. Campus-based delivery suits students who can attend in person.
| |||||
| #10 | Lone Star College System | The Woodlands, TX | $3,000 – $9,000/yr (est.) | ||
Lone Star College's Vocational Nursing Certificate Level II is a one-year program offered at three campuses: LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Tomball, and the LSC-Tomball Health Sciences Building. The program is approved by the Texas Board of Nursing and prepares students for Texas LVN licensure, with a printable program plan to help with scheduling. The institution-wide graduation rate is 21%, the estimated average net price after aid is about $11,250, and former-student median earnings are around $42,500. Campus-based options in the north Houston area make this accessible for local students.
| |||||
LVN programs in Texas range widely in both sticker price and out-of-pocket cost after financial aid. The figures below show in-state and out-of-state tuition alongside net price and graduate debt, helping you compare value. Note that median earnings reflect all institution graduates and may not represent LVN-specific outcomes.
| School | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Net Price (After Aid) | Median Graduate Debt | Median Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| College of the Mainland | $3,450 | $4,140 | $1,342 | $5,960 | $39,639 |
| Lamar State College-Orange | $2,832 | $13,824 | $1,655 | $10,959 | $36,587 |
| South Texas College | $5,220 | $7,620 | $1,751 | N/A | $36,788 |
| Victoria College | $4,440 | $5,328 | $3,043 | $10,500 | $42,382 |
| Texas Southmost College | $3,748 | $4,948 | $3,085 | $9,000 | $41,900 |
| El Paso Community College | $3,274 | $5,314 | $3,206 | $6,566 | $35,212 |
| Del Mar College | $5,000 | $6,050 | $3,399 | $5,500 | $38,656 |
| Coastal Bend College | $4,776 | $5,226 | $4,237 | N/A | $35,086 |
| St Philip's College | $5,542 | $9,952 | $4,273 | $9,500 | $38,224 |
| Tarrant County College District | $3,537 | $8,370 | $4,337 | $9,104 | $42,727 |
| Midland College | $4,920 | $6,180 | $4,512 | $10,670 | $43,958 |
| San Antonio College | $5,542 | $9,952 | $4,585 | $10,500 | $39,711 |
| Amarillo College | $3,168 | $4,704 | $4,600 | $15,000 | $41,302 |
| Wharton County Junior College | $4,656 | $5,904 | $4,666 | $7,703 | $44,960 |
| McLennan Community College | $4,200 | $5,910 | $5,051 | $10,500 | $39,163 |
Becoming a licensed vocational nurse in Texas follows a clear sequence regulated by the Texas Board of Nursing. The process typically takes 12–18 months and combines classroom instruction, clinical training, and two exams.
Texas LVN licensure follows a clear path: complete an approved program, pass the NCLEX-PN, and apply to the Texas Board of Nursing. The process is standardized but requires attention to prerequisites and exam preparation.
In Texas, the title is Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN), while most other states use Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). The scope of practice, education, and NCLEX-PN exam are identical. If you earn your license in Texas as an LVN and later move, you will be recognized as an LPN in other states. The terms are interchangeable in job postings and nursing discussions.
Admission to an LVN program in Texas typically requires:
Some programs also require CPR certification, physical exam, or drug screening before clinical rotations. Check individual program websites for exact criteria, as community colleges and private schools may set different cutoffs.
Approved LVN programs blend classroom instruction, hands-on lab work, and supervised clinical rotations. The curriculum covers fundamentals of nursing, pharmacology, medical-surgical nursing, pediatrics, obstetrics, and mental health. Lab sessions let you practice skills like inserting catheters, administering injections, and wound care on manikins. Clinical rotations then place you in hospitals, long-term care facilities, or clinics under the supervision of an RN or LVN instructor. Total clinical hours typically range from 500 to 800, giving you real patient care experience before graduation.
After completing your program, you must pass the NCLEX-PN to obtain licensure. The exam is computerized and adapts to your performance, typically administering 85 to 150 questions. It uses multiple-choice and alternate format questions (like select-all-that-apply) to test your nursing judgment. The passing standard is set by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). Registration is done through Pearson VUE after your program sends your eligibility to the Texas Board of Nursing.
Texas LVN programs consistently produce strong first-time pass rates. For 2024, the statewide first-time NCLEX-PN pass rate was 93.25%. Among all Texas LVN programs, 69 had pass rates of 90% or higher, and 35 achieved a perfect 100%. For example, Alvin Community College, Angelina College at Lufkin (both traditional and MEEP tracks) all reported 100% of graduates passing on their first attempt. Rates vary by program, and prospective students can compare published pass rates as one factor in choosing a school. For instance, Arlington Career Institute reported a 73.33% first-time pass rate, which is below the state average.
Once you pass the NCLEX-PN, you submit a licensure application to the Texas Board of Nursing. The process includes:
You may work as a graduate nurse under a temporary permit while awaiting results, but rules are strict. Once licensed, plan to renew every two years with continuing education requirements.
The most condensed LVN programs in Texas currently run 12 months, as no school advertises a 9-month track for 2025-2026. Standard vocational nursing programs in the state typically take 12 to 18 months, but a handful of colleges compress the curriculum into three consecutive terms with no extended breaks.
Accelerated LVN programs achieve a faster timeline primarily through year-round scheduling. Instead of following traditional fall and spring semesters with a long summer hiatus, these programs stack fall, spring, and summer terms back-to-back. Some also condense semesters from 16 weeks to 12 or 13 weeks, fitting the same content into a tighter window. For example, Wharton County Junior College structures its licensed vocational nursing program as three continuous terms. Collin College follows a similar model, though its prerequisite course BIOL 2404, which must be completed before application, adds an additional semester, so total time from prerequisite start to licensure may exceed 12 months.
Several institutions currently offer LVN completion in 12 months. They represent both community college and private vocational pathways:
All of these programs are approved by the Texas Board of Nursing and prepare graduates for the NCLEX-PN licensure exam.
A shorter timeline comes with a heavier weekly workload. Because clinical hour requirements remain identical to longer programs, the Board of Nursing does not reduce clinical competencies for accelerated tracks, the curriculum is simply packed into fewer weeks. Students often attend clinical rotations four or five days a week, leaving less time for part-time jobs or family obligations. Admission requirements may be stricter, with higher prerequisite GPAs or standardized test scores expected. For instance, Collin College’s prerequisite alone can act as a filter, requiring a strong science foundation before entering the nursing core.
If you can commit to an intensive schedule and want to enter the workforce quickly, a 12-month LVN program can be a direct route to a nursing career. It demands excellent time management and a reliable support system, but it offers the same license as a longer program. Before enrolling, verify each school’s exact clinical schedule, prerequisite requirements, and total costs, as they can vary even among accelerated tracks.
LVN program completers go on to earn competitive wages in Texas. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for LVNs in the state is $48,770.
Texas is projected to add over 5,800 LVN job openings annually through 2032, with total employment expected to grow 12.45% during that period. The largest nursing markets are concentrated in Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston, while median pay varies significantly across the state's metro areas.
| Metro Area | Total Employment | Annual Median Wage | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 13,490 | $61,930 | $58,910 | $69,120 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 11,260 | $61,700 | $57,430 | $68,990 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 6,010 | $60,740 | $55,200 | $63,290 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 3,390 | $63,100 | $60,180 | $71,140 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | 2,070 | $50,020 | $45,830 | $57,180 |
| El Paso, TX | 1,620 | $56,740 | $50,740 | $60,800 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | 1,280 | $60,940 | $52,040 | $70,120 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | 1,240 | $54,050 | $47,510 | $57,350 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | 1,000 | $57,040 | $46,850 | $61,270 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 990 | $58,290 | $49,880 | $61,240 |
Can you complete LVN training entirely online in Texas? The short answer is no: the Texas Board of Nursing mandates in-person clinical rotations and hands-on skills labs for licensure eligibility.1 However, a handful of accredited LPN programs let you complete the didactic (theory) portion online, blending flexibility with the required in-person practice.
Among dozens of campus-based LVN programs in the state, only a few have adopted a hybrid delivery model. State regulations require that every program include on-site skills labs and clinical experiences.1 Two community colleges stand out with structured hybrid options:
Most other Texas LVN programs, including those at Tarrant County College, El Paso Community College, and San Jacinto College, remain entirely campus-based. Always check with the school for the most current delivery format, as programs may expand hybrid offerings over time.
A hybrid LVN program typically lets you study lectures, readings, and assignments on your own schedule, but you must attend scheduled on-campus sessions for skills labs, proctored exams, and clinical rotations. Clinicals are arranged at partner hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics and often require travel, sometimes up to an hour from your home. This model is especially valuable for working adults who need to reduce commute time during the theory phase, or for students in rural areas who would otherwise drive long distances daily. However, you will still need reliable internet, a computer with a webcam, and the flexibility to meet in-person obligations.
Before enrolling, confirm with the program coordinator:
A hybrid LVN pathway is not a shortcut; clinical hours and hands-on skill validations are just as rigorous as in a traditional program, but for the right student, the blend of online convenience and in-person training can make a demanding schedule far more manageable.
Open-enrollment community colleges keep their doors wide, but nursing programs almost always add a second layer of screening. Texas LVN programs illustrate the tension: you can enroll in a school, but you still have to compete for a seat in the vocational nursing cohort. Limited clinical spots, high interest, and a statewide push for strong NCLEX-PN pass rates mean most programs are selective, even at institutions where general admission is guaranteed.
While each program sets its own bar, most Texas LVN programs share a common floor. Here’s what you’ll typically need:
Admission selectivity varies significantly across Texas. Larger metro programs, like those at Collin College, Tarrant County College, and St. Philip’s College, often receive far more qualified applicants than they have seats. Collin College uses a point-based ranking system that awards credit for TEAS scores, grades in prerequisites, and other factors, making the effective cutoff higher than the published minimums. Tarrant County College labels its program “selective admission,” and its 100% NCLEX pass rate likely draws strong competition.
In contrast, some smaller or rural programs may be less crowded. Alvin Community College describes its LVN admission as “more open,” and regional colleges like Southwest Texas Junior College and Northeast Texas Community College set their TEAS composite minimum at 58.7%, at the lower end of the state range. However, even these programs may fill quickly, so a higher score strengthens your application everywhere.
If you’re searching for “easiest LPN programs to get into,” focus on open-enrollment community colleges that do not maintain long waitlists or point-based rankings. But remember: an easier entry doesn’t mean an easier curriculum, and your NCLEX preparation still depends on the program’s rigor.
Planning ahead and treating the application like a job interview can make the difference between waiting a semester and starting right away.
Facing a critical shortage of registered nurses, Texas nursing schools have streamlined the transition from licensed vocational nurse to RN, condensing what was once a fragmented process into clear, credit-saving bridge pathways.
Most aspiring RNs start with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) through an LVN-to-ADN bridge at a Texas community college. These programs build on your existing license and nursing experience, typically taking 12 to 18 months of full-time study. Coastal Bend College, for example, offers a 12-month LVN-to-ADN track requiring 60 credit hours total, while North Central Texas College and Texas State Technical College both run 12-month transitions. Admission is competitive and usually requires an unencumbered Texas LVN license. Other common prerequisites include a minimum TEAS score, Collin College and Baptist Health System School of Health Professions each set 65% as the cutoff, and a minimum GPA, such as Collin’s 2.5 threshold. Some programs, like the one at Baptist Health System, also stipulate that prerequisite science courses must have been completed within the last seven years.
For nurses aiming to bypass the ADN and earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) directly, several four-year universities in Texas offer LVN-to-BSN bridges. These programs take longer, typically around two years, but award the BSN degree, which is often required for leadership, public health, or graduate study. While exact curricula vary, the BSN path can enhance long-term career mobility and, in some employers’ eyes, meet a preference for baccalaureate-prepared nurses.
Bridge programs are relatively short: most ADN bridges span three to four semesters, and many community college options keep tuition affordable through public funding. Applicants should plan to meet testing and course requirements before deadlines. For instance, Collin College’s LVN-to-RN bridge has a firm application deadline of April 15, 2026, and requires a TEAS exam score no older than one year. Checking each program’s website for updated deadlines and prerequisite validation periods is essential.
The financial incentive to bridge into the RN role is substantial. While specific salary figures vary by region and employer, registered nurses in Texas earn significantly higher median wages than licensed vocational nurses, often 30% to 50% more, with the gap widening in metropolitan hospitals and specialized units. Given that bridge programs build on existing nursing education, the return on investment, in both career growth and income, makes them a compelling next step for LVNs ready to advance.
Choosing the right LVN program in Texas means weighing time, cost, and format options. These answers address the most common questions aspiring nurses ask before applying.
The programs below sit beyond the main ranking and are grouped by Texas region, so you can start with the part of the state where you want to live and work. Each entry gives the city, the delivery format, and a detail or two that sets the program apart. Where a college publishes an average net price, that figure is included as a starting point for budgeting.
