Texas BSN Programs: Best Nursing Schools In Texas In 2023

If you’re looking to enroll in an in-person, top-rated BSN program, then Texas is a great state to get your degree in.

In fact, the NCLEX exam pass rate for Texas programs is 86.7%, higher than the national average of 82.13%.

Additionally, Texas is one of three states with more than 10,000 first-time exam takers, the other two being California and Florida. There are 46 programs that had a pass rate of over 90% in 2021.

That doesn’t necessarily mean you should opt to get your degree from a traditional in-person program however. For example, the best online BSN programs provide you a way to obtain your degree that is typically more affordable and allows for a more flexible schedule.

However, if you are looking for a traditional, in-person program, we’ve ranked the top 10 BSN programs in Texas to help you decide if one of them may be a good fit for you!

While other sites use questionable ranking methods, we’ve based our rankings on hard numbers: namely, NCLEX pass rates for 2021.

What Is The Best BSN Program in Texas?

There is actually a three-way tie for the best BSN program in Texas. The top three schools are:

• LeTourneau University
• Texas A&M University (Texarkana)
• Texas State University

Each of these schools had an impressive 100% pass rate on the NCLEX exam in 2021.

However, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider when choosing a BSN program, so one of these three may not be the perfect fit for you.

To learn more about these schools and other top BSN programs in Texas, continue reading.

10 Best BSN Programs in Texas Ranked

The table below ranks each BSN program in Texas by NCLEX pass rate in 2021. Keep in mind that there was a three-way tie for first, so the top three schools are listed alphabetically.

To learn more about the top 10 schools on the list, keep reading.

School	NCLEX Exam Pass Rate (2021)
LeTourneau University	100%
Texas A&M University (Texarkana)	100%
Texas State University	100%
University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston	98.43%
Texas A&M HSC College of Nursing	98.15%
Hallmark University	98.04%
Stephen F. Austin State University	97.28%
University of Houston College of Nursing	96.88%
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio	96.33%
University of Texas at El Paso	95.88%

1. LeTourneau University

LeTourneau University is one of three schools claiming the top spot in our Texas BSN program rankings with a NCLEX pass rate of 100%. This means not a single student failed to pass!

Freshman and sophomore students in the nursing program at this school are considered Pre-Nursing students. After demonstrating academic competence by completing prerequisites, students can apply to the School of Nursing.

Once accepted into the School of Nursing, students can begin their clinical training. This degree prepares you role nursing roles such as:

• Occupational Health Nurse
• Clinical Consultant
• Medical Facility Staff Nurse
• Nurse Manager
• Public Health Nurse

According to GradReports:

• Impressively, the employment rate for graduates from this program is 100%
• Median debt after graduation is $20,750 (based on 21 students)
• Median alumni salary is $65,240 (based on 11 students)
• This salary outcome earned the school a 49/100 salary score

2. Texas A&M University (Texarkana)

Texas A&M University (Texarkana) also ranked at the top of our list with an NCLEX pass rate of 100%.

This school offers two pathways through which you can get your BSN:

• The Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing (BSN) – Traditional Track
• RN-to-BSN Track

To get into the traditional track BSN program, you’ll first need to earn a C grade or higher for each of your prerequisite courses and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.8

The RN-to-BSN track is designed for students that already have their Associates Degree and want to advance their education. Uniquely, you can earn credits if you’ve passed a national certification exam, including:

• Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN)
• Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN)
• Certified Medical-Surgical Nurse
• Certified Obstetric Nurse

According to GradReports:

• The employment rate for graduates from this program is 92%
• There was no median debt reported for this school
• Median alumni salary is $57,320 (based on 12 students)
• This salary outcome earned the school a 22/100 salary score

3. Texas State University

The third school on our list which featured a 100% NCLEX pass rate in 2021 is Texas State University.

Texas State University offers three different pathways to obtain your BSN:

• BSN Major in Nursing
• RN-to-BSN Online Completion Program
• RN-to-BSN-to-MSN in Leadership and Administration Concentration

The BSN Major in Nursing is a traditional program for students with no prior nursing work experience or education. It is competitive and admits only 100 students each Fall.

The RN-to BSN Online Completion Program is designed for students who currently hold an RN license. If you have your ADN, you’ll be awarded 30 semester credit hours toward the completion of your degree. You have three years to complete your degree requirements.

The RN-to-BSN-to-MSN program is designed for RNs who want to obtain their BSN and seamlessly transition into an MSN program. You’ll have three years to complete the BSN requirements and an additional five years to complete the MSN in Leadership and Administration. 

According to GradReports:

• Impressively, the employment rate for graduates from this program is 100%
• Median debt after graduation is $20,840 (based on 105 students)
• Median alumni salary is $59,350 (based on 117 students)
• This salary outcome earned the school a 28/100 salary score

4. University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston

Fourth on our list of top-rated BSN programs in Texas is University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston with a 2021 NCLEX pass rate of 98.43%.

This BSN program requires 60 hours of prerequisite courses and four semesters of coursework to complete. It also has a graduation rate of 91%.

University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston also boasts state-of-the-art simulation labs, interprofessional education, and optional clinical immersion experiences.

If you’re already an RN, you can also check out their:

• Fast-track RN-to-BSN program
• RN-to-BSN-MSN Dual program

If you opt for the Dual program, you can obtain your MSN as a:

• Clinical Nurse Leader
• Executive Nurse Leader
• Nurse Educator

According to GradReports:

• The employment rate for graduates from this program is 99%
• Median debt after graduation is $13,750 (based on 415 students)
• Median alumni salary is $68,640 (based on 409 students)
• This salary outcome earned the school a 61/100 salary score

5. Texas A&M HSC College of Nursing

Next on our list of top-rated BSN programs is Texas A&M HSC College of Nursing with a 2021 NCLEX pass rate of 98.15%.

This program requires 59 credit hours of prerequisite coursework which can be completed at any regionally accredited higher learning institution. For the traditional BSN program, you’ll need to complete 61 credit hours of professional nursing coursework to obtain your degree.

If you already have an undergraduate degree but want to transition into nursing, the school also offers an Accelerated Second Degree BSN degree track.

Finally, the school stresses that the program is highly competitive, so you’ll need to do well in your prerequisite courses if you hope to enroll in a program.

According to GradReports: 

• The employment rate for graduates from this program is 100%
• Median debt after graduation is $15,750 (based on 123 students)
• Median alumni salary is $64,420 (based on 146 students)
• This salary outcome earned the school a 46/100 salary score

6. Hallmark University

Number six on our list of top-rated BSN programs in Texas is Hallmark University with an NCLEX exam pass rate of 98.04%.

Unlike a lot of other schools, prerequisites are not required to apply to this program, though they are accepted. Additionally, the program lasts three years, meaning you can get your degree in less than three years. The university offers a year-round degree plan.

If you’re already an RN, this school also provides a BSN for RNs pathway. It’s completely online and can be completed in 10 months.

Unfortunately, GradReports has no data for Hallmark University. However, the most recent review on Niche.com was overwhelmingly positive:

“Hallmark really cares about its students. The classes are of perfect size and are very informative. The teachers are great and really have the best interest of the students in mind. They really want the students to succeed and will help in any way possible to make that happen. They help with finding you a ride to school, put food on the table at home, get the right attire for job interviews etc. So much more than any other school I have researched and they follow up with you when you miss a class just to make sure everything is ok with you and there isn’t anything you need from them.”

-Freshman Student (Spring 2022)

7. Stephen F. Austin State University

Stephen F. Austin State University is the next best BSN program in Texas with an NCLEX pass rate of 97.28%.

To apply to the nursing program, you first have to complete your prerequisite, which you can do in the school’s pre-nursing program. Once you complete at least three science classes and are in the last semester of your prerequisites, you can apply to BSN program.

If admitted to the BSN program at this school, you’ll need to complete 53 credit hours of both didactic and clinical courses.

For those that already have their RN license, the school offers an online ADN RN-to-BSN program. 

If you’re currently enrolled in an ADN program, you can also enroll in the university’s SONIC program. This allows you to take RN-BSN classes while you get your ADN degree.

According to GradReports: 

• The employment rate for graduates from this program is 100%
• Median debt after graduation is $22,570 (based on 149 students)
• Median alumni salary is $64,320 (based on 179 students)
• This salary outcome earned the school a 45/100 salary score

8. University of Houston College of Nursing

The eighth school on our list of top BSN programs in Texas is University of Houston College of Nursing with an NCLEX exam pass rate of 96.88%.

This school offers three different pathways through which you can get your BSN degree:

• Traditional BSN
• RN-to-BSN
• Second Degree BSN

University of Houston also has a pre-nursing program where you can complete your prerequisites before applying to the Traditional BSN program.

The RN-to-BSN option can be completed in person or online, and the Second Degree BSN is offered only in person.The Second Degree BSN pathway is also an accelerated track and typically takes about 12 months to complete.

According to GradReports: 

• The employment rate for graduates from this program is 100%
• Median debt after graduation is $19,650 (based on 94 students)
• Median alumni salary is $67,320 (based on 79 students)
• This salary outcome earned the school a 56/100 salary score

9. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

The next school in our Texas BSN program rankings is University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio with an NCLEX exam pass rate of 96.33%.

This university offers two different pathways to get your BSN:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing: Traditional Track
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing: Accelerated Track

Both tracks prepare graduates for general nursing practice and focus on promoting health as an act of social justice.

The Traditional Track is designed for those who have no undergraduate yet and can be completed in 22 months of continuous, full-time study.

Meanwhile, the Accelerated Track is designed for students who already hold a non-nursing undergraduate degree and can be completed in 15 months of continuous, full-time study.

After completing your prerequisites, you can apply

According to GradReports: 

• The employment rate for graduates from this program is 98%
• Median debt after graduation is $17,500 (based on 382 students)
• Median alumni salary is $58,800 (based on 442 students)
• This salary outcome earned the school a 27/100 salary score

10. University of Texas at El Paso

The final school in our list of top 10 BSN programs in Texas is University of Texas at El Paso with an NCLEX exam pass rate of 95.88%.

This university provides two different pathways to obtain your BSN:

• Traditional BSN
• RN-to-BSN Online Degree

The Traditional BSN is a four-year degree plan with four semesters of nursing curriculum. The nursing portion of coursework can be completed in 15 to 24 months. The school also boasts a state-of-the-art simulation lab, high percentage of minority faculty, diverse student population, and high student retention rate.

Meanwhile, the RN-to-BSN track is designed for Registered Nurses and can be completed in as little as two and a half semesters. All classes for this track are held online.

According to GradReports: 

• The employment rate for graduates from this program is 99%
• Median debt after graduation is $16,750 (based on 403 students)
• Median alumni salary is $58,820 (based on 428 students)
• This salary outcome earned the school a 27/100 salary score

What is the Average BSN Nurse Salary in Texas?

The average Registered Nurse salary in Texas is $76,800.

Altogether, the state currently employs about 219,330 RNs.

Is a BSN Program In Texas Right For You?

Like we mentioned at the beginning, if you’re set on attending classes in person to get your BSN degree, Texas is a great place to do it. The state has lots of high-quality programs and great overall NCLEX exam pass rates.

However, if you’re looking for a more flexible and affordable option, online degrees can also be a good option.

If you’re not sure where to find an online BSN program that’s right for you, then start looking here!