Top registered nursing (RN) programs in Texas

Registered nurses (RNs) perform a variety of duties from administering treatment and medications to performing diagnostic tests and analyzing results. RNs operate medical equipment; start, maintain, and discontinue intravenous lines; establish patient care plans; and educate patients and the public about various medical conditions. Some RNs even manage health screening and immunization clinics, blood drives, or public seminars on conditions. To ensure that you have the skills needed to deliver exceptional patient care, you must earn a diploma or degree from an approved school of professional nursing, and you must successfully pass the NCLEX-RN national licensure examination. It is important to note that most top hospitals and healthcare providers prefer a bachelor’s degree or higher.

The Texas Board of Nursing (BON) lists one approved hospital diploma program, almost 70 approved associate’s degree in nursing (ADN) programs, and dozens of approved bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) and master of science in nursing (MSN) programs. An ADN program typically takes 2-3 years to complete, while a BSN program takes up to four years to complete. Most MSN programs take a minimum of 18-24 months of full-time study.

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Newly licensed Texas RNs can expect an excellent job outlook and high salaries. Registered nurses in the state earn a median salary of $67,310 per year, nearly $2,000 above the national median of $65,470. Expected employment growth for RNs is 19% for the 2012-2022 decade.

Below is a list of accredited Texas schools that offer some of the region’s top registered nursing programs. We’ve ordered these schools by their recent NCLEX test scores within each of the state’s major metropolitan areas.