The first step to becoming a nurse is getting an education, and the school where you earn your degree in nursing is going to have a big impact on your future nursing career.
Whether you are looking to study in the South or are a local taking advantage of lower tuition, there are plenty of great nursing schools in Texas.
Texas nursing school adheres to Texas standards for nursing, so earning an education in Taxes is an excellent way to end up with a nursing job in the state. See Cameron University Acceptance Rate.
The field of nursing helps scholars to start their careers more quickly than in other professions. It takes about a year to become an LPN and 15 months to two years for a resident nurse.
Scholars learn in diverse settings that include classrooms, laboratories, and clinical trials. Nursing Schools in Texas make these settings available to give scholars a well-rounded education that gets them ready for working in live healthcare settings.
Nursing programs in Texas encourage scholars to take the NCLEX exam in order to gain an adequate nursing license from the state of New Jersey.
To become a nurse in Texas, the best course of action is to earn a nursing degree from a local school.
Earning a degree from an accredited Texas school will satisfy any requirements you will need to become a registered nurse (RN) in the Lone Star State.
But not all nursing schools are the same, and you will want to be picking the right school for you. That is why we have summarized the best nursing schools in Texas to help you in your decision.
Below are the top 10 Nursing Schools in Texas
1. University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin places an emphasis on helping the local community. This is based on Central Taxes.
This philosophy is grounded in their nursing programs and many nurses go on to work in these types of communities. See University of Texas at Austin Acceptance Rate
The BSN program is the highlight of the University of Texas at Austin’s program, and the school admits that entry is highly competitive. Students should definitely apply to this school, but make sure you apply to others in Texas as well.
Annual In-State Tuition: $12,040 | NCLEX Pass Rate: 96.03%
Traditional: Yes
Online: No
Accelerated: Yes
Bridge: Yes
2. Schreiner University
Schreiner University is a private school instituted on Presbyterian values. While the school was established in 1923, Schreiner has only presently commenced seeing extraordinary growth. The nursing school and the BSN degree are both relatively young and don’t have many graduates.
However, nursing students that have earned their degree from Schreiner boast a high NCELX pass rate and good job placement. The annual tuition is high, but many students earn some type of financial aid to help keep costs low.
Annual Tuition: $33,927 | NCLEX Pass Rate: 100%
Traditional: Yes
Online: No
Accelerated: No
Bridge: No
3. Texas Christian University
A high tuition rate is to be expected from a private university with a background as strong as Texas Christian University.
But the cost of the tuition is well worth it to nursing students, especially those who want to become nurse anesthesiologists. See Texas Christian University Acceptance Rate.
Of course, most students are going to focus on earning their BSN first. BSN students will start their clinical assignment at the beginning of their sophomore year, so you’ll have plenty of experience by the time you graduate.
Annual Tuition: $51,570 | NCLEX Pass Rate: 95.16%
Traditional: Yes
Online: No
Accelerated: Yes
Bridge: No
4. Texas A&M University
It is difficult not to immediately notice Texas A&M’s perfect NCLEX pass rate! One of the things that made Texas A&M University more impressive is that Texas A&M is the largest university in the nation, and its nursing school is proportionately sized.
One cool part about the BSN is that students can earn it year-round, taking courses in the winter and summer.
This reduces the time it takes to complete the degree, so graduates can start their nursing careers in less than four years. See Texas A&M University Acceptance Rate.
Annual In-state Tuition: $12,340 | NCLEX Pass Rate: 100%
Traditional: Yes
Online: No
Accelerated: Yes
Bridge: No
5. University of Texas at Arlington
Based in the northern part of Texas, the University of Texas at Arlington has over 59,000 students enrolled. This enrollment includes distance learners, some of which are completing their BSN entirely online.
This online program has even lower tuition for in-state students than what’s listed, although nursing students will be required to complete their clinical in person.
For traditional students, the four-year BSN or RN-BSN is offered in Arlington. No matter which option you pick, this is an affordable nursing degree for Texas residents.
Annual In-state Tuition: $10,700 | NCLEX Pass Rate: 94.38%
Traditional: Yes
Online: Yes
Accelerated: Yes
Bridge: Yes
6. Texas Woman’s University
Texas Woman’s University is a school that is primarily made up of women. Texas Woman’s University (TWU) is also one of the top schools in the state for nursing research, with research being conducted in areas like women’s health and quality patient outcomes.
This school is worth paying attention to for anyone looking to get a graduate degree. But their focus on graduate studies doesn’t mean they don’t also have a BSN – and yes, men are welcome to apply to Texas Woman’s University’s nursing program, too.
Annual In-state Tuition: $13,578 | NCLEX Pass Rate: 95.70%
Traditional: Yes
Online: No
Accelerated: No
Bridge: Yes
7. University of Texas at Tyler
The University of Texas at Tyler is another excellent school that’s part of the University of Texas public system.
One benefit of the University of Texas at Tyler is that their undergraduate nursing program can also be completed at their distance sites in Longview and Palestine.
This means that some locals might not have to relocate in order to earn one of the top BSNs in Texas. An accelerated BSN track is also available for students who want to get their degree sooner than others.
Annual In-state Tuition: $9,060 | NCLEX Pass Rate: 91.75%
Traditional: Yes
Online: No
Accelerated: No
Bridge: Yes
8. University of St. Thomas
University of St. Thomas was named the patron saint of universities and students. The University of St. Thomas has established itself as a top private school in Texas.
Situated in Houston, nursing students can take advantage of the urban setting and many nearby hospitals while earning clinical experience and looking for a job after graduation. St. Thomas only offers a BSN program and DNP program, so this school is best suited for undergraduate students.
Annual Tuition: $31,560 | NCLEX Pass Rate: 87.50%
Traditional: Yes
Online: Yes
Accelerated: Yes
Bridge: Yes
9. Abilene Christian University
Abilene Christian University, or ACU, opened its current campus 90 years ago. Since then, ACU has grown into one of the top private schools in Texas, and home to a top nursing school in the region.
The BSN curriculum structure is meant to create servant-leaders in the community, a great basis for nurses that might want to attend graduate school at some point. An online pre-nursing track, as well as a DNP program, are also available through ACU.
Annual Tuition: $39,350 | NCLEX Pass Rate: 89.39%
Traditional: Yes
Online: Yes
Accelerated: Yes
Bridge: Yes
10. University of Mary Hardin – Baylor
The University of Mary Hardin – Baylor has the distinguished honor of being the oldest continuous college in Texas. Interestingly, the school was originally a female college and has since grown to include nearly 4,000 students.
Most nursing students at UMHB are enrolled in the BSN program, although there are MSN and Doctor of Education in Nursing programs available as well.
Future nursing students who live in Texas can find a more affordable education at a state school, but the high NCLEX pass rate is hard to ignore.
Annual Tuition: $38,730 | NCLEX Pass Rate: 95.92%
Traditional: Yes
Online: Yes
Accelerated: No
Bridge: Yes
4 Key Factors That Affect Nursing School Tuition
Keep in mind that colleges and universities reserve the right to change tuition rates at any time. The yearly tuition rates listed here will vary for each individual student depending on various factors including,
- Transfer credits
- Completed competency exams
- Amount of credits taken per year
- Financial aid awards
- Check with the specific school for current tuition rates.
What is Nurse Salary and Job Outlook?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Texas employs 219,330 nurses making it the second-highest employer for nurses in the nation.
Nurses in Texas earned an annual mean wage of $76,800 in 2020, just below the national average. While it isn’t the highest paying state for nurses, Texas is handily one of the largest employers for nurses.
However, Texas is a relatively affordable state, and the average home price is well below the national average. Money can go much further in Texas than it can in other high-employment states like California or New York.
Texas is also home to large, urban areas and some of the nation’s most famous hospitals. Nurses can gain valuable experience, and many choose to continue their education and specialize in their careers to find higher-paying positions.
Next Steps:
You’ve found schools that you’re interested in and you’re ready to start applying. But before you send that application, you should spend more time researching each school to make sure it’s a good pick.
College is a huge, timely, and expensive life decision, and picking the right school can set you up for the rest of your life.
Here are the next steps:
Contact each school’s admissions offices. Admissions offices are an excellent resource, and they can answer any questions you might have about the nursing program, the school, and everything in between.
Find out what the nursing school requirements are. Applying to a school and applying to a nursing program are two very different things.
Nursing programs usually have stricter requirements; for example, a college may require a 2.5 GPA while a nursing program at that school would require a 3.0 GPA.
Check what the requirements are so you don’t end up at a school where you aren’t eligible to earn a BSN.
Submit your application(s). Even if you know what school you want to go to, you should always apply to more than one school. You never know what scholarships might be offered to you!
Most college applications will require the following:
- High school transcript (GPA)
- ACT and/or SAT scores
- College entrance essay(s)
- Letter(s) of recommendation
Some universities might require other information, such as volunteer experience and extracurricular activities you’ve participated in.
If at any point you feel confused or lost, contact an admissions representative. Their job is to help you through the application process.
Important considerations when comparing schools
Super low tuition is tempting, but picking the cheapest school isn’t necessarily the best thing to do. That being said, you should always keep factors like tuition into account.
Factors you should look at when comparing schools include:
- Annual tuition and total program cost (these can be different)
- Acceptance rate (both for the school and the nursing program)
- Length of the program
- Benefits of each specific nursing program
- Distance from home (will you have to commute or live on campus?)
- Distance from hospitals (will you have to commute for clinicals?)
- Scholarships or grants offered by the school
- Accreditation (regional and national)
Why you should care about the Nursing Program Accreditation
You might not know much about accreditation, but it’s critical when looking at nursing schools. If a school doesn’t have the right accreditation, you won’t be eligible to take the NCLEX and become a registered nurse. Also, finding a job could prove to be much more difficult.
The two nursing accreditation organizations to look for are
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
If a school is accredited by one of these institutions, then its nursing program adheres to strict national standards.
Getting a License in Texas
Texas is part of the Enhanced Nursing Licensure Compact (eNLC), so becoming an RN in Texas means you’re also eligible to work as a nurse in 24 other states.
To become an RN, you’ll need to:
- Take and pass the NCLEX-RN
- Pass a criminal background check
- Apply to become a nurse in Texas
The NCLEX and application both cost money (between $100-$200 each), but other than that there isn’t much more to the application process. Earning your degree is the hard part, so it’s fitting that the rest isn’t so bad!
What is the number one nursing school in the state of Texas?
U.S News ranked the University of Texas-Austin as one of the top nursing schools in Texas.
Is nursing good in Texas?
Texas is a great state to work as a nurse, with relatively high wages and a low cost of living. Additionally, it’s a great state to train as a nurse, with many teaching hospitals and nursing programs for students.
How long is RN school in Texas?
ADN programs take around 2-3 years while BSN programs take around 4-5 years in Texas. Accelerated programs can take around 1-2 years.
What is the fastest way to become a nurse in Texas?
If you have a Bachelor’s in another field, you can take an accelerated nursing program in as little as one year in Texas. If you don’t have a Bachelor’s, however, an ADN program may be completed in 2-3 years.
How much does it cost to go to nursing school in Texas?
Cost really varies by school and program, but as one example, Texas Tech University’s BSN’s program costs around $13K per year.
What prerequisites do I need for nursing in Texas?
Each school sets its own prereqs, but in general, expect good grades in anatomy and physiology, chemistry, and microbiology to be required for any nursing program.
Conclusion
With over 200,000 nurses, Texas is a top employer for nurses, including recent grads. Thanks to the many renowned hospitals in the area, BSN graduates should have no trouble finding a position in Texas.
There are plenty of excellent public and private schools to choose from, and Texas residents can take advantage of low annual tuition at public schools. Once you become an RN, you’ll be eligible to work as a nurse in 25 states.
If you are interested in studying Nursing, studying in one of the Nursing Schools in Texas won’t be a bad idea.
The 10 Best Nursing Schools in Texas that you are expected to know have been listed and discussed in this article to serve as a complete guide to you on your decision on selecting the Nursing that is best for you.
Last Updated on July 13, 2023 by Admin