Top Nursing Schools in Texas Ranked by NCLEX Pass Rates

A nursing degree pays off only after the NCLEX-RN is behind you, and Texas programs differ sharply on that hurdle. In the Texas Board of Nursing's report on 2024 candidates, 92.69% of first-time test takers statewide passed, yet some programs here posted perfect first-attempt results while others fall below that mark.

The schools below are ordered by first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate, not reputation, and include both community college ADN programs and university BSN programs, spanning private vs public nursing schools. Career changers and recent high school graduates can compare them side by side on cost, region, admissions, and licensure as they prepare for nursing school.

A failed first attempt costs more than a retake fee. It brings a mandatory waiting period and pushes back the license and the first paycheck.

Texas Nursing Schools With the Top NCLEX-RN Pass Rates for 2027

Each program below earned its place mainly on how often its graduates pass the NCLEX-RN on the first try. In the Texas Board of Nursing's most recent published report, covering 2024 candidates, 92.69% of first-time Texas test takers passed compared with 91.16% nationally, and the schools listed here consistently sit at or above that line. Alongside the pass-rate story, every entry covers the program type, where it is offered, and what it costs, so you can weigh an ADN against a BSN without guesswork.

Why First-Try NCLEX-RN Results Drive This List

What Drives a School's Score

First-time NCLEX pass rates by school over the most recent three years make up about three quarters of each school's score. The results are weighted by the number of graduates who actually sat the exam, so one small cohort can't push a school up or down. The remainder rests mainly on programmatic accreditation, with a small share going to completion and retention.

Why does that mix serve you better than a ranking built on prestige or research dollars? Reputation and grant funding say very little about whether a nursing graduate can pass the licensing exam and start working. If your goal is an RN license, first-attempt results measure the outcome you are paying for.

Where the Numbers Fall Short

No single measure tells the whole story, so keep these limits in mind:

• Graduation rates: These are institution-wide, so they reflect the entire university rather than the nursing program alone.
• Net price: This is an average after aid, so your own cost will depend on your aid package and circumstances.
• Pass rates: A high figure can partly reflect selective admissions, or programs that hold back weaker students before they ever reach the exam.

A Practical Way to Use Pass Rates

Compare any school's first-time pass rate with the Texas statewide average using How to Read NCLEX-RN Pass Rate Data When Evaluating Nursing Schools, then look at the trend across several years rather than a single one. A program that stays above the state figure year after year, or keeps climbing, tells you far more than one standout result. A sudden dip is worth raising with the admissions office, and so is a program that won't share its multi-year numbers.

What Nursing School Costs in Texas: Net Price at Public vs. Private Schools

How much does nursing school cost in Texas? Among the schools ranked here, the average net price after grants runs from $1,751 a year at South Texas College to $6,706 at Northeast Texas Community College. Every school in this lowest-cost group is public, and community college ADN programs such as Lamar State College-Port Arthur, Victoria College, and Kilgore College cluster near the bottom of the range. Net price is an institution-wide average for aided students, not a quote for your nursing program, and residency matters at public universities: Texas A&M International University lists annual tuition and fees of $7,894 for Texas residents versus $19,454 for out-of-state students.

Three Texas Nursing Programs With the Strongest Return on Tuition

RN wages are fairly consistent from one Texas school to the next, so what you pay for your education matters more than the name on your diploma: every dollar you don't borrow shortens the time it takes to pay off school and keep more of your paycheck. The schools below pair low net prices, based on 2024 IPEDS and College Scorecard data, with NCLEX-RN pass rates above 95%. South Texas College stands out with an average annual net price under $2,000, less than a quarter of Angelina College's.

ADN or BSN in Texas? Choosing Your Route to the RN

A two-year Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) at a community college and a four-year bachelor's at a university take different roads to the same destination. Graduates of both sit for the NCLEX-RN and earn the same Texas RN license. The differences show up in cost, time to completion, and long-term hiring options.

Other Ways In

The ADN and the traditional BSN are not the only doors. Texas programs also offer:

• LVN-to-RN bridge: Licensed vocational nurses can step into an ADN program built for their experience, and some Texas schools run these as stand-alone tracks.
• RN-to-BSN completion: Working RNs add a bachelor's degree, often online and part-time, while staying employed.
• Accelerated BSN: People who already hold a bachelor's in another field can finish a nursing degree on a compressed timeline. Two alternate entry MSN programs in Texas serve a similar audience.³

What the Texas Workforce Data Says

The Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies projects that RN supply will not meet demand at any point from 2022 through 2036.¹ In 2022, it estimated about 239,447 full-time equivalent RNs against demand for roughly 284,125, a gap of about 44,678.¹ By 2036, it projects a gap of about 56,370.¹ These figures are planning estimates, and uncertainty grows the further out they reach.

That shortage means hospitals are hiring. Responding hospitals in the 2024 staffing study expected to bring on more than 9,300 RN FTEs in the next fiscal year.² The state data does not show how employment outcomes differ between ADN and BSN graduates, or how many hospitals require a bachelor's for new hires, so check the postings of employers you want to work for. Enrollment is shifting, though: BSN enrollment rose 13.6% from 2024 to 2025, while ADN enrollment slipped 1.1%.³

A Simple Way to Decide

Choose ADN first, then RN-to-BSN, if you need to limit cost, want to start earning sooner through ADN nursing jobs, or need to keep working while you study. Many employers help fund the bachelor's step.

Choose a direct BSN if you are aiming for a Magnet-designated hospital, expect to pursue a graduate degree such as nurse practitioner or nurse educator, or want leadership options without a later detour. An accelerated track may be the fastest path to the same goal if you already have a bachelor's in another field.

Top Picks by Metro: Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, and San Antonio

Where you train and where you plan to work don't have to match, and the pay gap between Texas's big metros is narrow enough that program fit usually matters more than the city. Wages below are BLS median annual figures for registered nurses as of May 2025.

Houston

For top nursing schools in Houston, the University of Houston's Traditional BSN Track leads with a 98.4 percent NCLEX-RN pass rate. It is followed by UTMB in nearby Galveston (97.7 percent) and UTHealth Houston (95.2 percent). UTHealth Houston's BSN is listed as a hybrid program, which helps students who can't be on campus every day. Houston RNs earn a median of $99,830, across 65,910 positions.

Dallas-Fort Worth

Texas Christian University in Fort Worth is the standout among nurse education programs near Fort Worth, Texas, with a 98.3 percent pass rate in an on-campus BSN. It is a private school, so check net price before you apply and compare nonprofit vs. for-profit nursing schools. Dallas-Fort Worth pays the highest median of the four metros at $101,420, and it has the most RN jobs, at 76,680.

Austin

Texas State University in San Marcos posts a 100 percent NCLEX-RN pass rate in its on-campus BSN. BLS includes San Marcos in the Austin metro area, so it works as the local pick. Austin RNs earn a median of $97,890, though the market is smaller, with 18,920 positions.

San Antonio

No school ranked here is based in San Antonio, so local students may need to commute or relocate for a top-rated program. Texas State in San Marcos sits between San Antonio and Austin and is worth a look. San Antonio RNs earn a median of $94,370, across 23,660 positions, so a graduate who trains elsewhere can still come home to a solid job market.

Texas Registered Nurse Pay

Licensure is the first milestone. Here is what registered nurses across Texas typically earn once they are working.

Typical Admission Requirements at Texas Nursing Programs

Requirements vary by school, and BSN programs generally set higher bars than ADN programs. Use these common benchmarks to gauge your readiness, then confirm details with each program.

1. Entrance exam (HESI A2 or ATI TEAS)

   Schools choose their own exam and minimums. UT Health San Antonio requires a TEAS score of 65. Texas A&M–Corpus Christi accepts a HESI A2 composite of 70 or a TEAS total of 60 and moves to TEAS-only in Fall 2027. Texas A&M International requires at least 75 on several HESI A2 sections.
2. Prerequisite and science GPA

   Minimums commonly fall between 2.5 and 3.0 for both BSN and ADN programs. Competitive BSN applicants at major publics often hold 3.3 to 3.7, and flagships routinely admit 3.7 or higher. Tarrant County College's competitive ADN GPA is about 3.4.
3. Completed prerequisite coursework

   Expect anatomy and physiology I and II, microbiology, English composition, and psychology. BSN programs often add chemistry, statistics, nutrition, and college algebra. A grade below C typically disqualifies a course, science credits often must be recent, and some schools limit repeat attempts.
4. Background check, immunizations, and CPR/BLS

   Plan for a criminal background check with fingerprinting, up-to-date immunizations, and current CPR/BLS certification before clinical placement.
5. TSI readiness or core curriculum

   At Texas public colleges, you may need to be TSI-ready or exempt, or to have finished core curriculum courses, before you apply.

Texas RN Licensure at a Glance

More Accredited Nursing Schools in Texas to Consider

Not every nursing student needs to relocate or chase a headline ranking. The Texas programs below are accredited options spread across the state, and many keep commutes short and tuition within reach. They are grouped by region so you can start with the schools closest to home, whether you are beginning with an ADN or going straight into a BSN.

Greater Houston

East Texas

Central Texas

DFW Metroplex

San Antonio Area

South Texas

West Texas

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