Guide to Top Online Nursing Degree Programs in TX
If you live in Texas and are interested in pursuing or advancing your registered nursing career, aspiring registered nurses (RNs) will have a variety of degree options from which to choose, but earning a nursing degree online could be your best option. Learn more about your program options, Texas licensing requirements, see our ranking of top schools, and gain insights into salary and career prospects in this guide.
Exploring Different Types of Online Nursing Programs in Texas
Online RN programs combine the flexibility of distance learning with classroom work and hands-on clinicals. Many of the more academically-oriented courses take place online, while group and/or patient-centered activities — including your school’s clinical requirements — occur at medical facilities. This combination makes online RN programs “hybrid” or “blended” in nature. While some post-licensure programs can be taken fully online, nearly all pre-licensure nursing programs with an online component are partially online.
Which nursing pathway is best for you? Below, learn more about the diverse menu of online nursing programs you’ll find in Texas — from entry-level certifications to undergraduate and graduate degrees as well as post-graduate certification options.
Online Undergraduate Degree Programs
Texas offers a range of undergraduate nursing degree options, ideal for students who are wanting to try out the nursing profession without a serious investment of time or money. You’ll find a description of these certificates, licenses, associate degrees and bachelor’s degrees below.
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
If you’re interested in an entry-level healthcare career, you’ll find the lowest investment of time and money when you study to become a CNA. CNAs are instrumental in providing patients with their basic care needs in a range of healthcare settings. In this role, you’ll be supervised by RNs and other medical professionals.
Example: Navarro College Certified Nurse Aide
- Cost: $778 (tuition + fees)
- Length: Approximately 4 weeks
- Mode: Hybrid
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Many prospective nurses decide to go down the certification path with an LPN program, sometimes called LVN (Licensed Vocational Nursing) programs. LPNs have many of the same duties as CNAs and entry-level nurses, and you may even supervise CNAs due to your extra education. Becoming an LPN/LVN means you’ll perform basic patient care duties such as monitoring vitals, communicating with patients and other members of the healthcare team, and interacting with patients and their families.
Example: North Central Texas College LVN
- Cost: $8,559 – $17,169, depending on residency status and campus location
- Length: 12 months
- Mode: Hybrid or in person
Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
ADN programs in Texas provide students with basic nursing competencies and qualify graduates to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). ADN programs include general education course requirements and typically require two years of full-time study to complete. While online ADN programs aren’t common in Texas, many schools offer general education courses that can be taken online.
Example: Blinn College District Associate Degree in Nursing
- Cost: $11,372.34
- Length: 2 years
- Mode: Mostly in person, but some theory courses throughout the program are blended and/or online
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
If you’re thinking of a more traditional path toward nursing education, a BSN is a standard undergraduate degree that prepares future nurses for practice as an RN. You’ll take a combination of core and nursing classes, giving you a well-rounded education. Hybrid programs are common, with many of your core coursework bring offered completed online with nursing-specific topics mostly covered in more hands-on lab settings.
Example: Chamberlain University BSN
- Cost: $705 to $755 per credit, depending on campus
- Length: 3 years
- Mode: Online, hybrid, or in person
Accelerated BSN (ABSN)
The best accelerated BSN programs are structured to allow pre-licensure students to earn a BSN in less time than the four years typically required. There are two basic types of accelerated BSN programs available in Texas that feature online coursework: One program is for students who currently hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing major, while the other is for students who haven’t earned a bachelor’s degree but have earned a substantial number of transferable college credits.
Example: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center’s Second Degree BSN Accelerated Program
- Cost: $222.43 per credit (tuition only) for residents, $632.43 per credit, per credit (tuition only) for non-residents
- Length: 3 semesters
- Mode: Hybrid
Graduate and Post-Graduate Degree Programs
If you’re interested in a graduate or post-graduate nursing program, you may be coming into it with a bachelor’s degree in nursing, but it’s also possible to pursue these advanced programs with a degree in a completely unrelated field. You may likely want to specialize your nursing education, or you’re looking to earn more money by receiving an advanced degree. Regardless of where you’re at, explore master’s degrees, doctorates, and post-master’s certificate programs below.
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
Looking to establish yourself in nurse administration, healthcare leadership, or as a nurse educator? You may want to consider an MSN. Graduates of these programs can specialize as a consultant, forensic nurse, nurse manager and more. In one to three years, you’ll have a graduate degree in hand and the credentials to set yourself apart from your nursing peers.
Example: Tarleton State University Online MSN
- Cost: $509.27 to $775.37 per credit, depending on residency
- Length: 12 to 24 months
- Mode: Online with two mandatory practicums
DNP and PhD Doctoral Programs
If you’re considering advanced education, you can choose between a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing. Both are terminal degrees, but nurses who receive a DNP are usually interested in working in practice with patients, while PhD nurses often prefer research or educational roles.
Example: University of Texas Rio Grande Valley DNP
- Cost: $749.40 to $1,159.40 per credit, depending on residency
- Length: 2.5 to 4 years, depending on part- or full-time status
- Mode: Online
Post-Master’s Certificate Programs
If you already have your master’s degree but are looking to specialize in a particular area to either advance your skills or earn more money, post-graduate certificates are an ideal solution. These programs are typically shorter in duration than degrees, subsequently costing you less money. Another major perk is that post-master’s programs give you specialized skills that may make you more attractive to employers.
Example: University of Texas at Arlington’s Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate (Post-Master’s)
- Cost: $654 per credit
- Length: 6 months to 2 years, depending on scheduling
- Mode: Online
Bridge Degree Programs
If you’re looking to level-up your nursing experience and education, RN bridge programs allow you to use your previous school and work experience toward your next degree level. This means you’ll spend less time (and money) than starting from scratch. Review the following bridge program options to see if one fits your education and background.
LPN to RN and LPN to BSN
If you’re already an LPN, let your experience and education work for you by joining either an LPN to RN or LPN to BSN bridge program. In these bridge programs, you’ll earn the credentials you need to qualify for an RN license and a wide range of BSN-level nursing positions.
Example: Tarleton State University LVN to BSN
- Cost: $423.59 to $709.88 per credit, depending on residency
- Length: 18 months
- Mode: Hybrid
RN to BSN
RN to BSN programs are designed to provide currently employed RNs who’ve already earned a nursing associate degree or diploma a convenient and time-saving way to earn their bachelor’s degree. Coursework for these programs is often completed entirely online with clinical requirements completed through the student’s current employment.
Example: Sam Houston State University RN to BSN
- Cost: $741.85 per credit (tuition only) for Texas residents, $1,151.85 per credit for non-residents
- Length: 2 to 4 years, depending on background
- Mode: Online
RN to MSN
Online RN to MSN bridge degree programs are designed for currently licensed RNs who are interested in streamlining their education and moving quickly into advanced practice and leadership positions. Most RN to MSN programs essentially act as combined BSN/MSN programs, where students are awarded the BSN credential upon completion of either the program’s undergraduate requirements or at the end of the entire degree program alongside the MSN.
Example: University of Texas at Arlington online RN to MSN
- Cost: $19,500 to $38,308, depending on specialization
- Length: 36 to 42 months
- Mode: Online
BSN to DNP
In today’s resource-lacking healthcare landscape, nurse practitioners are in high demand. Online BSN to DNP programs prepare BSN-holding nurses with the skills to sit for national certification to become a Family Nurse Practitioner upon completion of the DNP degree.
Example: Texas Tech University BSN to DNP
- Cost: $2,385 to $6,165 per semester, depending on residency
- Length: 3 to 4 years
- Mode: Hybrid
Direct-Entry MSN
Direct-entry MSN programs are ideal for non-nursing bachelor’s degree holders to ascend to an advanced level of nursing relatively quickly. This option allows students to essentially bypass the need of earning a BSN by acquiring the skills and knowledge they’ll need to pursue higher nursing roles in a more condensed format. It’s important to note that there are no online direct-entry MSN programs available in Texas, so the featured school below is conducted in-person.
Example: Texas Lutheran University Master of Science in Nursing (Direct-Entry)
- Cost: $825 per credit hour
- Length: 5 months
- Mode: In-person
Licensing Information & Requirements for Registered Nurses in Texas
There is more than one path that you can take to becoming a fully licensed RN in Texas. It doesn’t make a difference if the program is completed online or on campus, as long it is properly accredited and prepares you to meet all of the state’s RN licensing requirements. Here’s a look at the key steps that online nursing degree students need to follow to reach their goal of becoming a Texas RN.
1 – Earn an Accredited Nursing Degree
The first step toward becoming a licensed RN in Texas is to enroll in a properly accredited nursing degree or diploma program that qualifies you to sit for the NCLEX-RN examination. The degree program must be accredited by either the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Your Texas online degree program should additionally be approved by the Texas Board of Nursing.
2 – Pass the NCLEX-RN Exam
The NCLEX-RN is a written exam consisting of between 75 and 365 multiple-choice questions covering four major nursing-practice categories and eight subcategories. The exam must be taken in-person at one of over 240 Pearson Professional Centers located throughout the U.S. Passing the exam is a requirement for Texas RN licensure. For more information on the NCLEX-RN exam and useful advice and tips for passing it, check out our Beginner’s Guide to the NCLEX and our Essential Study Skills Guide for Healthcare Students.
3 – Apply for State Licensure
Before beginning any nursing degree or diploma program leading to Texas RN licensure, be sure you clearly understand exactly what will be required of you to obtain your license. All states have different licensing requirements. In Texas, initial RN licensing and licensing renewals in Texas are administered through the Texas Board of Nursing (BON). Below, find a quick overview of the major requirements for obtaining a Texas RN license.
4 – Maintain and Renew Licensure
The initial RN licensure period in Texas is between six and 29 months, depending on the license holder’s birthdate. Subsequent license periods are two years in length. License renewal requires the holder to either demonstrate maintenance of a BON-approved national nursing certification or, more commonly, complete a minimum of 20 contact hours of continuing nursing education (CNE) in the holder’s area of practice. A clean criminal record during the licensing period must also be maintained. Detailed information on RN continuing education and license renewal requirements can be found on the BON Education – Continuing Competency Requirements webpage.
5 – Pursue Specialty Certifications (Optional)
Some aspiring nurses choose to specialize in order to focus on specific areas of interest, set themselves apart from their peers, and potentially make more money. The first step is determining your nursing niche, which then could lead you down the path toward a specialization such as cardiac, clinical nursing, pediatric nursing, and many more.
Top-Rated Online Nursing Programs in Texas
Ready to review our list of the top online four-year and two-year nursing programs in Texas? The following analysis uses data from The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). With this data, our team of data scientists ranked schools based on diverse metrics, some of which include:
- Number of online programs in the subject area
- Percent of total students taking at least one distance education class
- Average in-state tuition for undergraduate students studying full time
- Average amount of institutional grant aid awarded to full-time, first-time undergraduates
- Student/faculty ratio
Review the rankings below to see if your program of interest made the list.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Lubbock, Texas
Public
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Edinburg, Texas
Public
West Texas A & M University
Canyon, Texas
Public
Stephen F Austin State University
Nacogdoches, Texas
Public
Texas A & M University-College Station
College Station, Texas
Public
The University of Texas Permian Basin
Odessa, Texas
Public
Lamar University
Beaumont, Texas
Public
Texas Woman’s University
Denton, Texas
Public
The University of Texas at Tyler
Tyler, Texas
Public
The University of Texas at Arlington
Arlington, Texas
Public
Sam Houston State University
Huntsville, Texas
Public
The University of Texas at El Paso
El Paso, Texas
Public
Midwestern State University
Wichita Falls, Texas
Public
Texas A & M International University
Laredo, Texas
Public
Texas A&M University-Central Texas
Killeen, Texas
Public
Hardin-Simmons University
Abilene, Texas
Private
University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, Texas
Private
Angelo State University
San Angelo, Texas
Public
Abilene Christian University-Undergraduate Online
Addison, Texas
Private
Schreiner University
Kerrville, Texas
Private
Weatherford College
Weatherford, Texas
Public
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
Belton, Texas
Private
Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, Texas
Private
The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
Galveston, Texas
Public
Panola College
Carthage, Texas
Public
Amarillo College
Amarillo, Texas
Public
Salary & Career Path for Registered Nurses in Texas
The data on Registered Nurses (RNs) in Texas reveals promising salary potential and job growth. RNs in Texas earn an average of $85,110 annually, with the 10th percentile earning around $64,580 and the 90th percentile reaching up to $115,740. Salary ranges vary significantly by location, with cities like Austin and Dallas offering higher wages, especially for experienced nurses. For instance, RNs in Austin earn a median salary of $93,470, while those in rural areas like Brownsville-Harlingen make a median of $72,830.
The job outlook for RNs in Texas is also robust, with a projected 14.6% growth in RN positions, adding over 34,000 new jobs by 2031. This growth is significantly higher than the national average of 5.6%, suggesting a strong demand for RNs in the state. With a high number of annual openings (16,900), Texas offers substantial opportunities for individuals pursuing a nursing career.
| Area | 10th Percentile | Median | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | $64,580 | $85,110 | $115,740 |
| Abilene, TX | $63,510 | $73,610 | $84,370 |
| Amarillo, TX | $64,830 | $80,680 | $105,890 |
| Austin-Round Rock, TX | $69,600 | $93,470 | $117,990 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $62,600 | $80,180 | $102,330 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $52,430 | $72,830 | $94,750 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $63,290 | $80,300 | $94,640 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $61,050 | $79,840 | $100,190 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $66,560 | $93,300 | $117,390 |
| El Paso, TX | $60,570 | $77,950 | $113,690 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | $67,810 | $93,330 | $115,460 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $62,400 | $85,380 | $109,410 |
| Laredo, TX | $59,090 | $74,650 | $91,240 |
| Longview, TX | $60,720 | $78,160 | $99,900 |
| Lubbock, TX | $63,790 | $76,780 | $98,920 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $59,180 | $76,160 | $93,270 |
| Midland, TX | $63,530 | $81,790 | $102,740 |
| Odessa, TX | $58,330 | $80,850 | $103,870 |
| San Angelo, TX | $63,720 | $77,690 | $93,850 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $63,480 | $83,740 | $108,660 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | $65,750 | $77,710 | $95,900 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $51,660 | $75,220 | $101,510 |
| Tyler, TX | $63,230 | $78,050 | $94,690 |
| Victoria, TX | $61,620 | $80,900 | $96,130 |
| Waco, TX | $62,650 | $79,740 | $104,060 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | $62,700 | $83,820 | $85,460 |
Source: Registered Nurses, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.
| Area | Curr. Jobs | Proj. Jobs | New Jobs | Growth % | Avg. Ann. Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 3,172,500 | 3,349,900 | 177,400 | 5.60% | 193,100 |
| Texas | 233,850 | 267,980 | 34,130 | 14.60% | 16,900 |
Source: Projections Central
Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.
