Most Affordable Nursing Programs in Texas (2026)

28 nursing programs at Texas schools and campuses list tuition — the lowest is Lamar University – Department of Nursing's Online RN to BSN at $8,340 total. Online programs from 39 more out-of-state schools also enroll Texas residents, from $8,100.

Key takeaways for Texas tuition

  • Tuition at Texas schools and campuses ranges from $8,340 to $76,000 total.
  • Compare tuition against the school's board-reported NCLEX pass rate — the cheapest program is not always the best value.

Compare tuition and financial aid for Texas nursing programs

The 5 lowest published tuitions at Texas schools and campuses, sorted low to high
ProgramTotal tuition
Lamar University – Department of NursingOnline RN to BSNOnline · 13 months$8,340
Texas A&M UniversityRN to BSNOnline · 15 months$9,000
Texas A&M International University – NursingMSN — Nursing AdministrationOnline · 10 months$11,377
University of Texas at ArlingtonRN to BSNOnline · 12 months$11,940
Texas State University – St. David's School of NursingOnline RN to BSN Completion ProgramOnline · 10 months$12,120

Partner programs in Texas.

Directory totals below remain the source. These listings are sponsored.

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More Texas nursing programs by tuition

Continued: the remaining 23 programs at Texas schools and campuses with published tuition, sorted low to high
ProgramTotal tuition
Texas A&M International University – NursingMSN — Family Nurse PractitionerOnline · 36 months$17,616
Lincoln College of TechnologyLPN (Practical Nursing)On Campus · 11 months$18,000
University of Texas at ArlingtonAccelerated BSNOn Campus · 16 months$22,000
Concorde Career CollegeLPN (Practical Nursing)On Campus · 11 months$22,000
University of Texas at ArlingtonMSN — AdministrationOnline · 24 months$24,120
University of Texas at ArlingtonMSN — EducationOnline · 24 months$24,120
University of Texas at ArlingtonMSN — InformaticsOnline · 24 months$24,120
Lincoln College of TechnologyADNOn Campus · 21 months$32,000
Concorde Career CollegeADNOn Campus · 22 months$35,000
University of Texas at ArlingtonOnline RN to MSN – Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse PractitionerOnline · 42 months$35,038
University of Texas at ArlingtonBSN (Traditional)On Campus · 48 months$36,000
Texas A&M UniversityDNPHybrid · 36 months$36,000
University of Texas at ArlingtonDNPOnline · 36 months$36,120
ECPI UniversityADNOn Campus · 20 months$38,000
University of Texas at ArlingtonRN to MSN — Family Nurse PractitionerOnline · 42 months$38,308
Galen College of NursingAccelerated BSNOn Campus · 15 months$46,860
Texas A&M UniversityBSN (Traditional)On Campus · 48 months$48,000
ECPI UniversityAccelerated BSNOn Campus · 15 months$52,000
Arizona College of NursingAccelerated BSNOn Campus · 28 months$56,000
Chamberlain UniversityBSN (Pre-Licensure)On Campus · 36 months$69,000
West Coast UniversityAccelerated BSNOn Campus · 18 months$72,000
Texas A&M UniversityPhD in NursingOn Campus · 60 months$72,000
West Coast UniversityBSN (Traditional)On Campus · 36 months$76,000

Source: MyNursingSchools program directory totals as of 2026-08-21. Programs without published tuition are omitted. Net price after aid may differ — confirm with each school.

Cheapest online programs open to Texas residents

These schools are based outside Texas but enroll residents online. Clinical hours are still completed locally, and some programs charge out-of-state rates — confirm with the school.

The 10 lowest online tuitions (one per school and credential), sorted low to high
ProgramTotal tuition
American Public University SystemRN to BSNOnline · 15 months$8,100
Florida State UniversityRN to BSNOnline · 12 months$9,000
University of South FloridaRN to BSNOnline · 15 months$9,600
University of Alabama at BirminghamRN to BSNOnline · 12 months$9,600
American Public University SystemMSN — Nursing LeadershipOnline · 24 months$9,720
Ohio State UniversityRN to BSNOnline · 12 months$9,900
Capella UniversityRN to BSN (FlexPath)Online · 18 months$10,400
Arizona State UniversityRN to BSNOnline · 15 months$10,570
University of CincinnatiRN to BSNOnline · 12 months$10,800
University of Maryland — BaltimoreRN to BSNOnline · 15 months$11,400

See all online nursing programs for Texas residents →

Value check: at Texas’s average RN salary of $91,690/year, a program that gets you licensed and working typically pays for itself within 2 months — even when it isn’t the cheapest option on the list.

Getting the Best Value from Nursing School in Texas

Affordable is not the same as cheapest. The best-value program in Texas is the one with the lowest cost per outcome — weigh tuition against the NCLEX first-time pass rate and job placement, not sticker price alone. A public in-state BSN or a community-college ADN with a strong pass rate often beats a rock-bottom program that graduates fewer of its students.

Net price is what matters, so stack aid against the sticker. Pell Grants, Texas state nursing scholarships, and hospital tuition reimbursement (RN-to-BSN is frequently employer-funded) move the real cost far more than a small difference in listed tuition. File the FAFSA before you enroll to see your true out-of-pocket number.

Measure payback, not price. At Texas’s average RN wage a well-chosen program typically pays for itself within a few years — so a mid-priced degree that gets you licensed and hired quickly can be the better financial decision than the cheapest option on the page.

Career Outlook for Texas Nurses

Affordability is only half the equation — demand and earning ceiling determine how quickly a program pays for itself.

Job Growth (2022–2032)
12.1%

Above the 6% national average — strong hiring conditions for new graduates.

Avg Hourly Rate
$44.08

Per hour (BLS). Overtime and travel nursing contracts pay a significant premium above this base.

NP Practice Authority
restricted

Texas requires career-long supervision for NPs. Graduates pursuing advanced practice should factor this into their career planning.

Job growth and hourly rate: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. NP practice authority: AANP 2024.

Already licensed? Next credentials for Texas nurses

Pass rates and sticker price are for the first license. Working RNs in Texas often stack an online RN-to-BSN, then an NP specialty. Online RN-to-BSN options serving Texas include Walden University at $27,710 listed total tuition in our directory. Texas is a restricted-practice state: state law requires nurse practitioners to practice under career-long supervision, delegation, or team management by another health provider for at least one element of practice, the most limited of the three AANP practice-environment tiers.

How much does nursing school cost in Texas?
Across 28 nursing programs at Texas schools and campuses with listed total tuition, the lowest listed total is $8,340 as of 2026-08-21. Online programs from out-of-state schools that enroll Texas residents start at $8,100. RN-to-BSN bridge options are often among the lower totals; traditional BSN and graduate pathways cost more. Confirm net price with each school after aid. Source: MyNursingSchools program directory as of 2026-08-21. Last verified 2026-08-21.
What are the cheapest nursing schools in Texas with financial aid?
The lowest listed total tuition among nursing programs at Texas schools and campuses is $8,340. Online programs from out-of-state schools that enroll Texas residents start at $8,100. Accredited programs can qualify for federal aid through FAFSA. Ask each school for a net-price estimate rather than relying on a generic aid flag. Source: U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); MyNursingSchools program directory as of 2026-08-21. Last verified 2026-08-21.
Are affordable nursing programs in Texas as good as expensive ones?
Price is not a quality ranking. Compare first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates — NCSBN reported 86.7% nationally in 2025 (91.2% in 2024). ACEN or CCNE accreditation is the floor for federal aid and licensure eligibility, regardless of sticker price. Source: NCSBN, 2025 NCLEX Examination Statistics (first-time, U.S.-educated candidates). Last verified 2026-08-26.
How strong is the nursing job market in Texas?
Registered nurses in Texas earn an average of $91,690 per year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024). National median RN pay is $93,600 (May 2024). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Last verified 2026-07-12.
What are the prerequisite requirements for nursing programs in Texas?
Prerequisite and admissions thresholds for Texas nursing programs vary by school. Among 83 programs with a published minimum GPA, cutoffs range from 2.00 to 3.60. Confirm current requirements with each program; fields without verified data are omitted here. Source: MyNursingSchools program directory admissions records as of 2026-08-21. Last verified 2026-08-21.

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