If you’re considering going to nursing school in Texas, you might be wondering what the cost will be. Not surprisingly, Texas has plenty of nursing programs at both public and private schools to choose from.
Additionally, many nursing schools will help with more than just the cost of your education. They’ll assist you through your licensure as well as with job placement in the future.
While that might not be money in your pocket, it’s still a big consideration when choosing a school.
While the cost of school is a factor for many students, nursing programs also offer several financial aid opportunities that make becoming a nurse more affordable. Before you make any decisions, file your FAFSA®. The FAFSA® will give you an idea of your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and the grants, scholarships, and loans you could be eligible for.
While the cost of nursing school impacts your education, don’t let it be the thing that holds you back. There are plenty of options and opportunities for financial assistance, no matter what school you choose.
What Nursing Programs Are Offered in Texas?
Texas offers many different nursing programs at various schools throughout the state. Once you have an idea of the specialty you’re interested in, and the degree program that makes sense for you, you’ll have plenty of options.
For students that aren’t sure where to begin or haven’t decided what kind of nursing program they want to choose, don’t worry. We’ve put together some information that might help you decide.
Below are some of the most popular nursing degree programs offered throughout the state of Texas. To see if your college or university provides the program you want, contact their admissions office.
Nursing Programs in Texas
| Registered Nurse Required Education: ADN or BSN (Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing) | Nurse Practitioner Required Education: MSN (Master’s of Science in Nursing) | Nurse Midwife Required Education: MSN (Master’s of Science in Nursing) |
| Licensed Practical / Vocational Nurse Required Education: Post-secondary non-degree awards | Clinical Nurse Specialist Required Education: MSN or DSN (Doctor’s of Science in Nursing) | Intensive Care Unit RN Required Education: ADN or BSN (Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing) |
| Travel Registered Nurse Required Education: ADN or BSN (Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing) | Dental Hygienist Required Education: ADN (Associate’s Degree in Nursing | Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Required Education: ADN (Associate’s Degree in Nursing) |
| Physician Assistant Required Education: MSN (Master’s of Science in Nursing) | Pediatric Nurse Required Education: ASN or BSN | Obstetric Nurse Required Education: ASN or BSN |
Keep in mind that every program comes with its own growth expectations, tuition costs, accreditation requirements, and length of time spent in school. When choosing a school, you’ll want to pay careful attention to their accreditation.
Be aware of whether or not the school you select is appropriately licensed and approved by the Texas State Board of Nursing.
Attending a school that is not approved by the state board will prevent you from taking the NCLEX licensure examination and make it difficult to become a licensed nurse. It may even require you to repeat your education at another school entirely. You can find the full list of approved nursing schools at the Texas Board of Nursing website.
Average Cost Per Nursing Program
in Texas
Tuition costs for nnursing school in Texas can vary greatly depending on many factors. If the school is public or private, the degree program you’re interested in, how much financial aid you get, and the school’s reputation all factor into the cost.
Here are the estimated tuition costs of various nursing programs in Texas.
| Diploma Nursing Programs Length: Depends  Total Cost: $18K – $40K | Nursing Assistant (NA) Program Length: 6 Months Total Cost: $9,000 | Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) Length: 4 Years Total Cost: $40k – $200k |
| Licensed Practical Nurse LPN/LVN Length: 13 Months Public Costs: $5k – $25k Private Costs: $20k – $40k | Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN) Length: 13 Months Public Costs: $6k-40k Private Costs: $30k-100k |
The above costs are estimates based on the information we collect from several nursing websites. If you want a more specific number that correlates to the schools or programs you’re applying to, it’s best to fill out your FAFSA® first. Once the FAFSA® is processed, you can contact the financial aid office at your college.
The financial aid office will be able to tell you more about the cost of attendance and any aid you might be eligible for. Be sure to ask if the estimated cost they provide you includes everything from tuition to living expenses and necessary supplies. Schools will not always include these in the cost of tuition, which means you could get hit with unexpected expenses.
Top 5 Nursing Schools in Texas
& Their Costs
From When choosing a college or university in Texas, one of the most important factors students consider is the cost. The cost of college doesn’t just stop at your tuition; it includes textbooks, school supplies, living expenses, administration fees, exam fees, and more.
With that in mind, knowing the cost of a college is helpful, but the best way to get a sense of your educational costs is to complete the FAFSA® and wait until it is reviewed by the university or college you’re hoping to attend. They will be able to provide you a more in-depth look at the cost of your education.
To give you an idea of the cost of nursing school in Texas, here are the top five schools and the estimated cost of tuition.
| The University of Texas at Austin Annual Tuition: $10,092 Programs Offered: BSN, ADN, MSN, AE-MSN, DSN | Schreiner University Annual Tuition: $27,750 Programs Offered: BSN, VN Certificate |
| Texas Christian University Annual Tuition: $42,670 Programs Offered: Nurse Anesthesiologist, BSN, MSN, DNP, and Ph.D. | Texas A&M University Annual Tuition: $11,036 Programs Offered: Certificates, RN to BSN, BSN, MSN | The University of Texas at Arlington Annual Tuition: $9,616 Programs Offered: RN to BSN, ADN to BSN, BSN |
Average Texas Nursing
Salary by Speciality
Becoming a nurse is a serious investment in the future. So, it makes sense that you want to know how much you have the potential to make if you decide to become a nurse. We researched the average nursing salaries in Texas for some of the most popular nursing specialties and put them all in one place.
These salaries are estimates provided by PayScale and have the potential to fluctuate depending on your years of experience, location in Texas, and other career-related factors.
If you’d like a more accurate understanding of your salary upon graduation, you can fill out a salary report on sites like PayScale and Glassdoor.
| Licensed Practical / Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN) Texas Salary Estimate: $38k – $57k | Registered Nurse (RN) Texas Salary Estimate: $48k – $66k |
| Nurse Practitioner (NP) Texas Salary Estimate: $79k – $108k | Nurse Midwife Texas Salary Estimate: $109k – $154k |
| Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Texas Salary Estimate: $93k – $113k | Intensive Care Unit RN Texas Salary Estimate: $56k – $99k |
| Physician Assistant Texas Salary Estimate: $77k – $111k | Obstetrics Nurse Texas Salary Estimate: $67k – 83k |
As you can see, the nursing specialty you select has a lot to do with the growth potential of your salary. With many nursing programs, you’re only certified in the state in which you took your licensure exam. If you move to another state, you will have to go through the certification process again.
The above salary estimates only factor in nurses working in salaries in the state of Texas.