Compare tuition, NCLEX pass rates, and outcomes for San Antonio's highest-rated nursing programs.
San Antonio’s health care sector employs more people than any other local industry, and regional hospitals face a persistent nursing shortage. Texas will add tens of thousands of new RN positions over the coming decade, but employers are raising the bar: a growing number of facilities now only hire BSN-prepared nurses for bedside roles.
Twenty-nine BSN programs serve the metro, spanning traditional university pathways, accelerated options for second-degree seekers, and RN-to-BSN bridge tracks. This deep roster makes San Antonio a major nursing education hub.
Program outcomes are not uniform. NCLEX first-attempt pass rates, clinical placement capacity, and tuition vary enough that a school choice directly shapes your licensure timeline, first-job salary, and advancement potential in a market where the BSN has become the standard entry-level credential.
San Antonio’s nursing education landscape extends beyond city limits to include some of the state’s top BSN and ADN programs. This ranking highlights schools that serve the region with strong outcomes, affordability, and flexible formats, with special attention to the only campus physically located in San Antonio.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
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| #1 | Galen College of Nursing-San Antonio | San Antonio, TX | $29,000/yr | San Antonio locals launching RN careers | |
As the only school on this list with a campus in San Antonio, Galen College of Nursing offers a direct pipeline to local healthcare employers. Its ADN and 3-year BSN programs focus on practical training and clinical readiness, with four start times per year. The college is ACEN and CCNE accredited, and its dedicated San Antonio admissions office supports a regionally focused enrollment experience.
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| #2 | The University of Texas at Austin | Austin, TX | $20,000/yr | High achievers targeting national leadership | |
UT Austin’s BSN is a highly competitive four-year program that blends rigorous academics with extensive clinical rotations. The program emphasizes evidence-based practice, leadership, and critical thinking, preparing graduates for top-tier nursing roles and graduate study. With a strong graduation rate and high alumni earnings, it is a standout choice for students who can relocate to Austin.
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| #3 | Brazosport College | Lake Jackson, TX | $2,000 – $5,000/yr | Cost-sensitive students earning an ADN | |
Brazosport College provides an affordable ADN pathway for students aiming to become RNs without accumulating heavy debt. The two-year program includes hands-on clinical experiences and prepares graduates for the NCLEX-RN. With a low net price and high Pell Grant enrollment, it is an accessible option for economically diverse students in the Texas Gulf Coast region.
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| #4 | Texas A & M University-College Station | College Station, TX | $13,000 – $40,000/yr | ||
Texas A&M’s Traditional BSN is a two-year professional program requiring completion of 59 prerequisite credit hours. With a 3.3 GPA requirement and a strong HESI A2 score threshold, admission is selective. The curriculum emphasizes clinical judgment and evidence-based care, preparing students for the NCLEX-RN and careers in diverse healthcare environments. The university is designated an HSI.
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| #5 | Rio Grande Valley College | Pharr, TX | $15,000 – $20,000/yr | ||
Rio Grande Valley College offers a fast-paced, 45-week ADN program designed to prepare students for the NCLEX-RN in less than a year. With an emphasis on patient-centered care and clinical reasoning, the program is suited for students who want to enter the workforce quickly. The college enrolls a high percentage of Pell Grant recipients, reflecting its commitment to access.
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| #6 | University of Houston | Houston, TX | $10,000 – $23,000/yr | ||
The University of Houston’s Traditional BSN track provides a comprehensive nursing education with a blend of foundational sciences and clinical application. Students begin coursework at the main campus and transition to the Katy instructional site for advanced nursing classes. As a federally designated HSI, the university actively supports its large Hispanic student population.
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| #7 | Texas Christian University | Fort Worth, TX | $35,000 – $40,000/yr | ||
TCU’s BSN program offers both a traditional 29-month track and an accelerated 19-month option, featuring state-of-the-art simulation labs. With a strong graduation rate and high postgraduate earnings, the program is a premium choice for students seeking a private university experience. TCU’s curriculum emphasizes ethical leadership and clinical judgment, meeting licensure requirements in all 50 states.
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| #8 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | Edinburg, TX | $0 – $5,000/yr | ||
UTRGV’s BSN program offers multiple pathways: a traditional four-semester track, a second-degree option for career changers, and an online RN-to-BSN for working nurses. With one of the lowest net prices in Texas, the school is an exceptional value. As a longtime HSI with a high Pell enrollment, UTRGV is deeply committed to serving its majority-Hispanic student body.
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| #9 | Northeast Texas Community College | Mount Pleasant, TX | ~$7,000/yr (est.) | ||
Northeast Texas Community College’s ADN program is a 60-credit, four-semester track culminating in an A.A.S. degree. With a focus on clinical judgment and patient safety, it prepares graduates for the NCLEX-RN exam. The school’s HSI designation and high percentage of Pell students underscore its role as an accessible entry point into nursing for the East Texas community.
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| #10 | University of St Thomas | Houston, TX | $19,000/yr | ||
The University of St. Thomas in Houston offers a four-year BSN grounded in holistic, patient-centered care with a unique emphasis on healing approaches. The CCNE-accredited program prepares students for the NCLEX-RN through an on-campus curriculum with hybrid flexibility. As an HSI, it welcomes a diverse student body and combines a liberal arts foundation with professional nursing training.
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NCLEX pass rates measure the percentage of a program's graduates who pass the National Council Licensure Examination on their first attempt. This exam is the final gateway to becoming a registered nurse (RN), and a school's pass rate is one of the most direct indicators of how well it prepares students for licensure.
A high first-time pass rate signals strong curriculum alignment with the NCLEX-RN test plan, effective clinical training, and solid student support. Nursing programs that consistently perform above state and national averages often invest heavily in NCLEX preparation resources like adaptive testing, review courses, and remediation plans for struggling students. However, pass rates are a snapshot; they don't capture a program's culture, clinical placement quality, or graduate employment outcomes. Use them alongside other factors like graduation rates and employer reputation.
Among BSN programs in San Antonio, Hallmark University posted a 97.87% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate in 2023 (47 first-time candidates), far exceeding both state and national benchmarks. Galen College of Nursing's San Antonio campus followed with a 92.37% pass rate (118 candidates), landing just above the Texas average. Chamberlain University's San Antonio BSN program reported a lower 87.50% pass rate (64 candidates), dipping below the statewide RN average of 92.69% for 2024 and the national RN average of 91.16%. Prospective students should note that these figures reflect a single testing year; programs with small cohorts can see large percentage swings, so checking multi-year trends is smart.2
Texas RN programs as a whole achieved a 92.69% first-time pass rate in 2024, outpacing the national RN average of 91.16%.1 San Antonio's top BSN programs perform competitively within this landscape, but the range across schools shows that not all graduates have the same exam readiness. When comparing schools, verify that the pass rates you're reviewing are for the exact program type (BSN, ADN, or LVN), since provider-level pass rates often mix all program levels and can obscure BSN-specific performance.
San Antonio aspiring nurses can choose from several program formats tailored to their background and schedule. Traditional four-year tracks suit those starting college, while accelerated options at UT Health San Antonio and the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) help career changers earn a BSN in as little as 12 to 18 months. Hybrid models, like UIW's 16-month ABSN, blend online coursework with on-campus labs, ideal for students needing flexibility.
Admission to nursing school in San Antonio isn't just about meeting a GPA cutoff, it's a multi-step process that evaluates academic readiness, test performance, and often real-world healthcare experience. Each program sets its own thresholds, so understanding the landscape can help you target schools where you're a strong fit.
Most BSN programs in the San Antonio area require a minimum cumulative GPA between 3.0 and 3.5. At UT Health San Antonio, for example, applicants need at least a 3.01, while the competitive UTSA-UT Health Joint BSN Pathway demands a 3.5 in both overall and prerequisite coursework2. The ATI TEAS exam is a common requirement; UT Health sets its bar at 65 on the TEAS 7 and uses the highest score submitted1, while UIW permits up to two attempts within a 12-month window3. Check each program's policy carefully, some look at only the most recent score, and others superscore.
Before applying, you'll typically need to complete 50 or more credits of prerequisite courses. UT Health's traditional BSN requires 51 credits1, including sciences and general education. The UTSA joint pathway specifically lists Anatomy and Physiology, Microbiology, Nutrition, Psychology, Developmental Psychology, and Chemistry among its required courses2. These prerequisites not only build foundational knowledge but also factor heavily into many schools' admissions formulas, some programs calculate a separate prerequisite GPA that can make or break your application.
Selective programs often use criteria-based or holistic reviews that go beyond grades and test scores. UT Health San Antonio, for instance, uses NursingCAS with an embedded interview1, while UTSA explicitly notes that meeting minimums does not guarantee admission2. Some schools may value healthcare experience, such as working as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), or personal essays that demonstrate your motivation.
An associate degree in nursing can lead to RN licensure faster, but a bachelor's degree often unlocks higher earning potential and career mobility. While both pathways prepare you for the NCLEX, the return on your education investment differs by degree level, location, and employer demand.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports national wage estimates for registered nurses (SOC code 29-1141). In 2020, the median annual wage was $75,330. The bottom 10 percent earned about $53,410, while the top 10 percent earned more than $116,230. These figures reflect a wide range of settings, experience levels, and geographies, so treat them as a broad benchmark.
For a local picture, search the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics portal for the San Antonio-New Braunfels metropolitan area. Metro-level data often reveals whether nurses in your city earn more or less than the national median. If the BLS has not yet published recent metro figures, neighboring metropolitan areas (such as Austin-Round Rock) can serve as a rough proxy, but remember that cost of living and local demand for nurses can shift wages meaningfully.
Many San Antonio nursing schools publish graduate employment reports that include regional salary data and job-placement rates. Accreditation bodies like the CCNE or ACEN may also aggregate outcomes. Professional organizations such as the Texas Nurses Association and the American Nurses Association periodically release salary surveys and regional wage comparisons, which are worth checking for the most current insights.
The path to becoming a registered nurse in San Antonio follows a clear sequence of education, examination, and state licensure. Here's a step-by-step overview of what to expect.
Prospective nursing students often have many questions before choosing a program. Here are quick answers to some of the most common queries about nursing schools in San Antonio.
