RN Programs in Texas
Texas RN Programs at a Glance
RN Programs Offered in Texas
- ADN Programs: 62
- BSN Programs: 44
ADN Program Stats
- NCLEX-RN Average: 85%
- NCLEX Rate Range: 54% to 100%
- Average Net-Price $6,891.42
- Net-Price Range: $1,483.00 to $17,190.00
- Average Student Loan: $6,486.61
BSN Program Stats
- NCLEX-RN Average: 87%
- NCLEX Rate Range: 68% to 98%
- Average Net-Price $16,288.97
- Net-Price Range: $6,089.00 to $39,975.00
- Average Student Loan: $17,420.00
Texas RN Program Guide
The health care reform is pushing for safe, high quality, and inexpensive care. Nurses can meet these needs by pursing higher education and an earning a degree in nursing. There are many high quality nursing programs in Texas can help to prepare you for the challenges of the new roles in nursing. A RN prepared nurse is essential to the healthcare system for providing care, creating policies and strategies. Nurses who are serious about long-term success and career security are encouraged to apply to an accredited nursing program in Texas.
In our Texas RN program guide, you will find both ADN and BSN Degree program rankings, tuition costs, enrollment information, NCLEX passing rates, and more. You will find key Texas RN Program information to help you compare programs metrics and apply to best RN program(s) for the advancement of your career.
The State of Texas offers 103 RN programs in 70 different cities. Public institutions offer 81 of the RN programs in the state while there are 6 private, for-profit and 16 private, not-for-profit schools that make up the rest.
In the State of Texas, nurses are helping to change the face of healthcare. To ensure that they have the best education and preparation for future health care challenges, registered nurses need to graduate from a state-approved associate’s degree in nursing program or a BSN degree program.
Nurses who graduate from an RN program are able to then obtain certification in over 100 nursing specialties.
Find your ideal program from information and data in our guide to Texas RN Programs.
ADN Programs in Texas
There are a wide variety of nursing school options in Texas. Many community colleges offer both RN and BSN options on-campus – subsequently, they also offer LVN to ADN options. The RN programs are designed to be completed quickly because there is a need for nurses in the workforce.
NCLEX Passing Rates for Texas ADN Programs
Houston Baptist University has the highest NCLEX-RN rate in Texas of 100.00%. Attending this stellar school will cost you about $8,624.00 a year.
- ADN Programs Offered in Texas: 62
- Average NCLEX-RN Passing Rate: 84.55%
- NCLEX Passing Rate Range: 54.06% to 100.00%
How Much Do ADN Programs Cost in Texas?
We compiled the net-price costs for RN Programs in Texas so that you can find RN programs to meet your budget expectations.
When comparing ADN vs BSN programs, the average net-price per year for an Associate Degree in Nursing program is considerably less than for a Bachelor Degree in Nursing.
The lowest cost ADN program in Texas is offered by South Texas College at about $1,483.00 and has an average NCLEX-RN passing rate of 86.21%. The highest cost ADN program is offered by Texas State Technical College-West Texas and it will cost about $17,190.00 and has an average NCLEX-RN passing rate of 85.02%.
- Average Net-Price for ADN Programs inTexas: $6,891.42
- Net-Price Range for Texas ADN Programs: $1,483.00 to $17,190.00
Median Student Borrowing for ADN Programs
- Average Student Borrowing for Texas Schools: $6,486.61
- Student borrowing range for ADN programs in Texas: $2,334.00 to $13,588.00
ADN Programs at Public or Private Institutions
- Public Institutions: 59
- Private For-Profit Institutions: 2
- Private Not-for-Profit Institutions: 1
BSN Programs in Texas
BSN programs are very beneficial to nurses in Texas. Registered nurses with an advanced education often display enhanced critical thinking, diagnostic reasoning, and assessment skills. Executive positions need to be filled by highly educated nurses. Some courses that may be included in a BSN program may include:
- Advanced assessment and diagnostic skills
- Health policy and professional issues
- Educators
- Sociology, psychology, and public health nursing
- Medical technology
A program can typically be completed in 19-20 months. Earned pre-requisites can be adjusted towards the degree credit as the 60 credits of an associate’s degree in nursing.
NCLEX Passing Rates for Texas BSN Programs
Texas State University wins the highest NCLEX-RN passing rate for BSN programs offered in Texas with a score of 97.56%. Attending this influential program will cost you about $12,358.00 a year.
- BSN Programs Offered in Texas: 44
- Average NCLEX-RN Passing Rate: 87.48%
- NCLEX Passing Rate Range: 67.60% to 97.56%
How Much Do BSN Degree Programs Cost in Texas?
We compiled the net-price costs for BSN Programs in Texas to give you an idea of how much nursing school will cost.
The lowest cost BSN degree program in Texas is offered by The University of Texas at El Paso and will cost you about $6,089.00 and has an average NCLEX-RN passing rate of 87.32%. The highest cost BSN degree program is offered by West Coast University-Dallas and will cost you about $39,975.00 and it has an average NCLEX-RN passing rate of 85.41%.
- Average Net-Price for BSN Programs in Texas: $16,288.97
- Net-Price Range for Texas BSN Programs: $6,089.00 to $39,975.00
Median Student Borrowing for BSN Programs
- Average Student Borrowing for Texas Schools: $17,420.00
- Student borrowing range for BSN programs in Texas: $9,500.00 to $42,032.00
BSN Programs at Public or Private Institutions
- Public Institutions: 25
- Private For-Profit Institutions: 4
- Private Not-for-Profit Institutions: 15
MSN Programs in Texas
RNs who wish to become advanced practice registered nurses will want to pursue any number of avenues to earn Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. Earning a Master of Science in Nursing consists of graduate-level coursework and clinical practice for those nurses who wish to direct patient roles such as a nurse practitioner. You can also pursue indirect patient roles such as teaching or leadership roles, or become involved in policy, state-wide health initiatives or community engagement. There are many clinical and non-clinical avenues that an RN with MSN can pursue.
Learn how to become a Nurse Practitioner (NP) and research schools in Texas offering the following high paying nurse practitioner specialties:
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
Learn about Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Degree.
Texas RN Licensing Requirements
Texas Board of Nurse Examiners
333 Guadalupe, Suite 3-460
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 305-7400
Fees:
Initial licensing fee, RN: $186
License renewal (every two years), RN: $70
Continuing Education Requirements:
20 contact hours per renewal period
RN Licensure by Exams
Candidates are encouraged to apply to the Texas Board of Nurses 120 days before graduation. The applications can be completed online and found on the Board website. There is a $139 that will be owed to the Board and a $200 fee that will be paid to the testing company, Pearson VUE. In addition to the fees, the candidate must also submit a criminal background check and an official form signed by the dean or director of the program. The candidate will apply to take the NCLEX exam and will be able to register when he/she has received authorization to test. There is a 75-day period in which the candidate will be able to schedule the exam. Candidates are allowed to take the NCLEX exam as often as needed but they will need to submit an application to the board and pay the associated fees. The last application must be made within 120 days before eligibility ends.
RN License by Endorsement
Nurses who obtained licensure in one of the other 50 states will be eligible to apply for licensure by endorsement in the state of Texas. Before licensing can be obtained, the candidate will be required to take the online jurisprudence exam before receiving permanent licensure. Nurses who are not currently practicing will be required to take a refresher course before they can be licensed.
RN License for Nurses Educated Abroad
Nurses who obtained licensure outside of the United States may be eligible for licensure. They will need to submit a credential evaluation report as well as verification of licensure. If the nursing program was completed in a language other than Michigan, the candidate will also need to provide English proficiency scores through a company such as TOEFL.
RN Salaries in Texas
There are many opportunities for registered nurses in Texas to continue working while making a decent salary. Advanced practice nurses may work in high-end and exciting roles such as:
- Nurse educators
- Nurse directors and administrators
- Informatics
Nursing programs have responded to the need to fill nursing positions in order to avoid a shortage. They have designed RN to BSN programs across the state. Nurses need to be prepared for the challenges that will present themselves in order to make a positive impact in healthcare.
Texas Registered Nursing Salaries
The Dallas-Forth Worth metropolitan area has the largest number of registered nurses employed by a large margin. However, it is the Houston metropolitan area that has the highest hourly mean wage and annual median wage.
| Area name | Employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual median wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene, TX | 1,730 | $29.01 | $58,810 |
| Amarillo, TX | 2,610 | $28.02 | $57,270 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 13,550 | $31.42 | $65,130 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | 2,360 | $29.53 | $61,130 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | 2,480 | $32.33 | $66,770 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | 1,990 | $30.60 | $61,340 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 3,190 | $31.39 | $64,610 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 52,570 | $34.50 | $71,300 |
| Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division | 36,640 | $34.57 | $71,620 |
| El Paso, TX | 5,460 | $31.21 | $63,700 |
| Fort Worth-Arlington, TX Metropolitan Division | 15,930 | $34.32 | $70,630 |
| Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX | 43,460 | $36.30 | $75,340 |
| Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood, TX | 3,630 | $31.97 | $65,970 |
| Laredo, TX | 1,280 | $35.43 | $64,300 |
| Longview, TX | 2,230 | $28.69 | $59,790 |
| Lubbock, TX | 3,630 | $29.11 | $57,930 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | 4,980 | $31.38 | $63,150 |
| Midland, TX | 1,050 | $31.16 | $60,950 |
| Odessa, TX | 1,120 | $29.34 | $60,110 |
| San Angelo, TX | 1,030 | $27.03 | $54,870 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 17,160 | $31.91 | $65,630 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | 1,450 | $28.91 | $59,140 |
| Texarkana-Texarkana, TX-AR | 1,260 | $26.33 | $54,590 |
| Tyler, TX | 3,420 | $28.16 | $58,000 |
| Victoria, TX | 1,310 | $27.64 | $56,300 |
| Waco, TX | 1,420 | $31.26 | $61,280 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | 1,270 | $27.62 | $55,910 |
| Northwestern Texas nonmetropolitan area | 3,230 | $27.94 | $57,610 |
| North Central Texas nonmetropolitan area | 960 | $30.39 | $61,630 |
| Eastern Texas nonmetropolitan area | 4,840 | $28.09 | $57,680 |
| Central Texas nonmetropolitan area | 2,190 | $29.64 | $61,170 |
| Southern Texas nonmetropolitan area | 920 | $40.51 | $68,500 |
| Gulf Coast Texas nonmetropolitan area | 1,840 | $31.27 | $64,270 |
Source: http://www.dol.gov/, 2014 Data
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