Top 10 Best Nursing Schools in Texas
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 prerequisites you’ll need to become a registered nurse (RN) in the Lone Star State. But not all nursing schools are the same, and you’ll want to pick the right school for you. That's why we've rounded up the best nursing schools in Texas to help you decide.
Popular Online RN-to-BSN Programs
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
WGU's award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE accredited, nonprofit university offering nursing bachelor's and master's degrees.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY, RI and CT. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
Top 10 Nursing Schools in Texas
This is a panel-reviewed selection based on several factors, including,
- Reputation
- NCLEX pass rate
- Tuition
- Acceptance rate, when available
- Only ACEN or CCNE-accredited schools are eligible
Our selection panel includes 5 Registered Nurses with over 55 years of combined nursing experience and 8 nursing degrees.
- Tracy Everhart, MSN, RN, CNS
- Tyler Faust, MSN, RN
- Chaunie Brusie, BSN, RN
- Kathleen Gaines, MSN, RN, BA, CBC
- Leah Helmbrecht, BSN, RN
Because nursing careers take different forms, the top 10 Texas nursing schools are ranked in no particular order.
Based in Central Texas, the University of Texas at Austin emphasizes helping the local community. This philosophy is grounded in its nursing programs, and many nurses continue working in these communities.
This university offers two BSN pathways, a traditional 4-year degree and an internal transfer BSN, for UT Austin students who want to switch to nursing. Since UT Austin's nursing school is highly competitive, students should also apply to a few backup schools.
- Public or Private? Public
- Acceptance Rate: 31%
- Percent Enrolled Online: 1%
- In-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $544
- Out-of-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $1,900
- Address: 110 Inner Campus Drive, Austin, TX
- Website
- Retention Rate: 95%
- Median Earnings 2 Years After Completing a BSN: $64,593
Schreiner University is a private school founded on Presbyterian values. While the school was founded in 1923, Schreiner has only recently started seeing huge growth. The nursing school and the BSN degree are both relatively young and don’t have many graduates.
However, nursing students who have earned their degrees from Schreiner boast a high NCLEX 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.
- Public or Private? Private
- Acceptance Rate: 85%
- Percent Enrolled Online: 10%
- In-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $1,600
- Out-of-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $1,600
- Address: 2100 Memorial Blvd, Kerrville, TX
- Website
- Retention Rate: 62%
- Median Earnings 2 Years After Completing a BSN: $69,338
Texas Christian University is a private school with a strong educational background. The university's high standards warrant equally high tuition rates, which may be worth it to prospective nurses who want to attend one of the best nursing schools in Texas.
BSN students start clinicals in their sophomore year, providing them with plenty of experience by graduation. The university also offers an accelerated BSN for aspiring nurses with bachelor’s degrees in another field. The ABSN is 19 months and ranks as one of the top second-degree programs in the country.
- Public or Private? Private
- Acceptance Rate: 56%
- Percent Enrolled Online: 2%
- In-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $2,280
- Out-of-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $2,280
- Address: 2800 S University Dr, Fort Worth, TX
- Website
- Retention Rate: 92%
- Median Earnings 2 Years After Completing a BSN: $66,737
Popular Online RN-to-BSN Programs
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
WGU's award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE accredited, nonprofit university offering nursing bachelor's and master's degrees.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY, RI and CT. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
Texas A&M is the largest university in the nation, and its nursing school is proportionately sized. Not only is Texas A&M home to one of the best ABSN programs in Texas, but it also offers a traditional BSN and RN to BSN pathway.
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 required to complete the degree, so graduates can start their nursing career in less than four years.
- Public or Private? Public
- Acceptance Rate: 88%
- Percent Enrolled Online: 25%
- In-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $205
- Out-of-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $637
- Address: 6300 Ocean Dr., Corpus Christi, TX
- Website
- Retention Rate: 63%
- Median Earnings 2 Years After Completing a BSN: $62,422
>> Related: Top RN to BSN Programs in Texas
Based in the northern part of the state, the University of Texas at Arlington* has over 40,000 students enrolled. This includes their distance learners, some of whom complete their BSN online. This online program has an even lower tuition for in-state students than what’s listed, although nursing students must complete their clinicals in person.
For traditional students, Arlington offers a four-year BSN or RN-BSN. No matter your option, this is an affordable nursing degree for Texas residents.
- Public or Private? Public
- Acceptance Rate: 81%
- Percent Enrolled Online: 31%
- In-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $366
- Out-of-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $987
- Address: 701 S. Nedderman Dr., Arlington, TX
- Website*
- Retention Rate: 74%
- Median Earnings 2 Years After Completing a BSN: $72,515
Despite its name, TWU welcomes applicants of all genders, not just women. The university is highly regarded for its research in areas like women's health and patient outcomes, making it an enticing school for graduate nursing students.
The university offers traditional full and part-time BSN degrees, as well as an online RN-to-BSN bridge. Graduate students can select from several MSN and doctorate programs to advance their nursing careers.
- Public or Private? Public
- Acceptance Rate: 94%
- Percent Enrolled Online: 40%
- In-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $234
- Out-of-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $642
- Address: 304 Administration Dr, Denton, TX
- Website
- Retention Rate: 73%
- Median Earnings 2 Years After Completing a BSN: $65,924
The University of Texas at Tyler is another excellent school in the University of Texas public system. Students can attend UT Tyler's undergraduate nursing program at its distance sites in Longview or Texas, expanding its statewide reach.
UT Tyler offers undergraduate nursing students a traditional BSN, RN-to-BSN, and concurrent ADN-BSN degree. Graduate students can select from several MSN and DNP options, including nurse practitioner, nurse educator, and administrative nursing degrees.
- Public or Private? Public
- Acceptance Rate: 94%
- Percent Enrolled Online: 29%
- In-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $367
- Out-of-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $852
- Address: 3900 University Blvd, Tyler, TX
- Website
- Retention Rate: 61%
- Median Earnings 2 Years After Completing a BSN: $59,904
Named for the patron saint of universities and students, the University of St. Thomas has established itself as a top private school in Texas. Located in Houston, nursing students can take advantage of the urban setting and some of the state's top hospitals for clinical experiences. The city is also a great place to find a job after graduation.
Undergraduate nursing students without a prior degree can attend the traditional BSN program. Alternatively, those with a bachelor's degree in another field can attend the ABSN program and complete it in just 12 months.
- Public or Private? Private
- Acceptance Rate: 97%
- Percent Enrolled Online: 16%
- In-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $1,133
- Out-of-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $1,133
- Address: 3800 Montrose Blvd, Houston, TX
- Website
- Retention Rate: 71%
- Median Earnings 2 Years After Completing a BSN: $63,997
Abilene Christian University, or ACU, opened its current campus 90 years ago. The BSN curriculum structure is meant to create servant-leaders in the community, a great basis for nurses who might want to attend graduate school at some point.
The university offers an on-campus BSN and an online BSN. Students in nursing programs can participate in mission trips and volunteer opportunities around the world.
- Public or Private? Private
- Acceptance Rate: 66%
- Percent Enrolled Online: 30%
- In-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $1,675
- Out-of-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $1,675
- Address: Abilene, TX
- Website
- Retention Rate: 79%
- Median Earnings 2 Years After Completing a BSN: $58,522
The University of Mary Hardin–Baylor is the oldest continuous college in Texas. Most nursing students at UMHB are enrolled in the BSN program, although MSN and Doctor of Education in Nursing programs are also available. 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.
- Public or Private? Private
- Acceptance Rate: 96%
- Percent Enrolled Online: 4%
- In-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $980
- Out-of-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $980
- Address: 900 College St, Belton, TX
- Website
- Retention Rate: 64%
- Median Earnings 2 Years After Completing a BSN: $61,643
Texas Nurse Salary and Job Outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS),
- Texas employs 231,060 nurses, making it the second-highest employer for nurses in the nation.
- The annual registered nurse salary in Texas was $84,320 in 2022, just above the national average.
While it isn’t the highest-paying state for nurses, Texas is 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 you’re interested in and are ready to start applying. But before applying, you should spend more time researching each school to make sure it’s a good fit. 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. 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 additional information, such as volunteer experience and/or 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 take factors like tuition into account.
Additional 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’s 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 Nursing 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 41 other states.
To become an RN, you’ll need to:
Enrollment: Nationwide Enrollment: Nationwide WGU's award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE accredited, nonprofit university offering nursing bachelor's and master's degrees. Enrollment: Nationwide Enrollment: Nationwide When you earn an ASU nursing degree, you are gaining skills from a respected and accredited institution. Our online nursing degrees are accredited by the Arizona State Board of Nursing and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Enrollment: NationwidePopular Online RN-to-BSN Programs
CCNE
Online
RN Required
CCNE
Online
RN Required
CCNE
Online
RN Required
CCNE
Online
RN Required
CCNE
Online
RN Required
FAQs
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 41 states!
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