Top Texas Nursing Schools – Information and Resources

As you navigate the path to a nursing license in Texas, you may discover that there are dozens of options when it comes to schools. Whether you want to become a licensed practical nurse, a registered nurse, or a nurse practitioner, there are nursing schools in Texas that can get you on the right track. The large state of Texas is home to thousands of health care providers, from private clinics and community clinics to hospitals and retail quick care centers. They all have one thing in common: they rely heavily on the expert care provided by health care professionals like registered nurses and LPNs.

Compare nursing programs in Texas to figure out which type of program is a good fit for your education, long-term goals, and skills.

Featured Programs:

Nursing Schools in Texas

Nursing colleges in Texas offer you the chance to complete a wide variety of challenging and engaging nursing courses to get your degree. By meeting with your student advisor when you enroll, you can learn about the proper course sequence and get as much as possible out of your education. BSN nursing programs in Texas are quite popular, and offer a great way to enter the profession. Courses that may be part of your curriculum include Health Assessment Skills, Adult Health Nursing, Clinical Nursing Skills, Genetics in Health Care, and Contemporary Nursing Issues. When it comes to getting your nursing degree Texas adheres to state and federal guidelines for coursework and accreditation.

Don’t forget about the importance of clinical hours in this field. By the time you graduate, you may have completed more than 600 hours in hospitals, clinics, and other health care settings. This experience puts your knowledge to work and helps you start building professional connections in your community. Many colleges for nursing in Texas have differing clinical sites, so be sure to check into each nursing school for details.

Depending on which part of Texas you live in, you may qualify for a variety of scholarships and grants intended solely for nursing students. Methodist Health System is one local health care employer that funds scholarships for hardworking nursing students. Through the Texas Nurses Association, you may be able to apply for an entire range of grants. The Good Samaritan Foundation is another scholarship resource.

Nursing Colleges in Texas can be found by clicking your city below.

2018 Career Outlook for Nursing Professions

Once you’ve earned your degree at one of the nursing colleges in Texas, you should be ready to apply for your license. This process goes through the Texas Board of Nursing. You must pass the NCLEX-RN, a nationally required exam that tests your knowledge of basic nursing theories and skills.

The good news is that the demand for nurses is growing rapidly in Texas. In most nursing career paths, the need for nurses far exceeds the ability of schools to produce nursing graduates. By the year 2024, job openings for licensed practical nurses may increase 27% in Texas (O*Net, 2017). Registered nurses may see a 31% boost in job openings by 2024 (O*Net, 2017). A staggering 48% increase in nurse practitioner job openings may occur between 2014 and 2024 (O*Net, 2017).

Salaries in Texas tend to be fairly close to national averages. Graduates of licensed practical nursing degree programs bring in an average of $46,110 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2017). At the RN level, the average salary is $70,390 per year (BLS, 2017). For nurse practitioners, the mean annual income in Texas is $110,060 (BLS, 2017).

When you decide to focus on healthcare for your career, you have a lot of decisions to make. One of the biggest decisions is which type of healthcare facility you’d like to work in. Many new nursing professionals get started in nursing homes or emergency rooms, both of which tend to have a fairly high turnover rate. Both are excellent places to build your confidence as a nurse and learn how to communicate with patients.

If you earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing or a Master of Science in Nursing, you may go into more specialized care settings. Potential places of employment include mental health facilities, private clinics, and OB/GYN wards. A lot depends on which part of Texas you decide to work in. In Austin, the healthcare industry has seen major boosts to its employment numbers as established facilities add new departments and locations (My Statesman, 2017).

As you learn how to become a nurse in Texas, you should get an idea of local employment options through your clinical work.

Nursing Degree Programs in Texas

Use the links below to find out information about each specific nursing program in the state of Texas. There you can also find and request information from colleges in Texas for nursing that have classes in your area.

Nursing Bridge Programs

Graduate Nursing Programs

Entry Level Nursing Programs

Texas LPN Programs

Must have a high school diploma and clean criminal record prior to admission
Programs require between 30 and 45 credit hours
Online training unavailable due to the need for clinical hours for licensure
Must pass the NCLEX-PN to earn your licensed practical nursing certification

Licensed practical nurses serve an important role in healthcare. They take on more duties than CNAs but still work to support registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and physicians. You may be able to complete this type of program in as little as one year if you have the prerequisite courses done.

BSN Programs in Texas

General information about BSN Programs in TX include:

You must have a high school diploma, a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and a clean criminal record
Credit requirements range from 120 credit hours to 135 credit hours
You may be able to complete some courses online, but in-person clinical work is mandatory
A passing score on the NCLEX-RN is mandatory

BSN programs in Texas lead to a standard four-year bachelor’s degree. This in-depth training may give you the chance to work in long-term care, specialized areas of healthcare, and leadership roles.

Texas MSN Schools

Must have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a current nursing license
Credits range from 30 credit hours to 60 credit hours
Some programs are available online, particularly those in nursing leadership and nursing informatics
National certification required for those who wish to become nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, or clinical nurse specialists

At the graduate level, Texas nursing schools have numerous options for advanced study. Some students opt to focus on informatics, a technologically advanced nursing specialty that involves the use of healthcare data to improve nursing practice. Others go into direct care as nurse practitioners, while others offer pain relief as nurse anesthetists.

DNP and PhD Nursing Programs in Texas

A Bachelor of Science in Nursing and/or a Master of Science in Nursing, as well as a current nursing license
Programs require an average of 80 credits
Some coursework and dissertation work may be completed online
Licensure is the same as what is required at the Master’s degree level

A doctorate in nursing may allow you to take your career goals to the next level. Those who earn a DNP or PhD may work as nursing instructors, nurse executives, and nurse researchers. While you may use a doctorate to continue your clinical practice, many who pursue this degree focus instead on administration and research.

Nursing Colleges in Texas with Nursing Bridge Programs

At many nursing colleges in Texas, bridge programs are available to working nurses or those who have already earned an undergraduate degree. If you have an Associate’s degree in nursing, you may want to explore the opportunities available to Bachelor’s-level or Master’s-level nurses.

With a bridge program, you may finish your BSN in as little as 18 months or your MSN in as little as three years. In this bridge program, you complete minimal clinical work due to the experience you already have as a nurse.

Another option that is growing in popularity is the second BSN program. This degree permits those who already have a Bachelor’s degree to work toward a BSN in less than two years. Accelerated BSN programs require full-time work, putting students into theory courses and clinical settings for up to 40 hours per week. Some schools allow you to earn your BSN in as little as one year via this route.

Bridge programs for aspiring Master’s-level nurses are common. This type of degree allows a student with a Bachelor’s degree in another field to move through the courses required for a BSN as quickly as possible before moving on to graduate courses.

Tips for Choosing the Top Nursing Schools in Texas

Now that you know which type of nursing degree you want to earn, you need to find a school that is a good fit for you. As you explore different options, you should find a number of statistics that make it easy to assess the strengths of each program.

As you contact local schools, look for the following features to discover a high-quality training program.

What Traits Should You Look for to Find the Best Nursing Schools in Texas?

Accreditation through the ACEN or CCNE
High NCLEX pass rate
Clinical hours that go above and beyond state-required minimums
Diverse clinical experience options that allow you to develop your skills in different settings
Additional study options for students preparing for the NCLEX
Job search support for graduating nurses
Assistance during the licensure process

One of the best ways to figure out which RN programs in Texas are a good choice for you is to visit them in person. Talking to current students may help you decide if each potential school fits your learning style.

Find out if you can sit in on nursing courses to get a feel for instructors’ teaching styles and nursing philosophy. By spending time at nursing colleges, you should be able to determine which one you’d like to attend. For more helpful interviews, articles, and FAQs, check out our resources page!