BSN Programs in Texas

By EveryNurse Staff on June 14, 2021

The state of Texas offers up a plethora of BSN programs from top-tier schools, making it an excellent place to study and practice nursing. A Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Nursing is a sound choice for young individuals who want to enter the field of nursing, and it lays the foundation for higher-level degrees. A BSN enables individuals to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses and to become licensed as an RN. The first step toward earning a BSN degree is to enroll in a high-quality nursing school.

Schools With BSN Programs in Texas

Abilene Christian University offers a BSN degree for those who are interested in becoming registered nurses. Taught by a Christian faculty, students get the benefit of classroom instruction paired with clinical and laboratory experiences. It’s a 128-credit hour program designed to be completed in just 4 years. Those who graduate the program will be eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN examination to gain RN licensure.

Individuals in or around the Dallas area can take advantage of Baylor University’s excellent nursing program. Students can earn their BSN degrees through the traditional track, which requires 125-credit hours; 66 of which are prerequisite courses and 65 of which are nursing coursework. The upper-division nursing coursework is designed to take 2 years to complete. Students can also choose to take the FastBacc track, which is an accelerated program for students who have a Bachelor’s degree in another field. This track is designed to take 12 months to complete.

Concordia University in Austin offers the traditional BSN degree, designed to take four years to complete. During the first 2 years, students earn their general education courses with clinical experiences introduced in the 2^nd year. During the 3^rd and 4^th years, students can apply to take the professional sequence of BSN courses, which will prepare them to become competent, qualified nurses. Those who complete the program will be eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam.

East Texas Baptist University is a perfect choice for individuals looking for a Christ-centered nursing program. Their BSN program is a 4-year program that covers the courses needed to become a competent nurse, from the general education courses in the first 2 years to various nursing topics in the junior and senior years. Students will earn approximately 15 credit hours per semester and upon completion, can take the NCLEX-RN exam and apply for their RN license in the state of Texas.

Men and women in the Abilene area have the option of Hardin Simmons University and the Patty Hanks Shelton School of Nursing. Their undergraduate nursing option gives individuals the chance to earn a BSN by combining classroom learning with clinical experiences and laboratory practice. It’s a four-year program that qualifies students to take the NCLEX-RN exam.

Houston Baptist University’s BSN program is a four-year program that allows individuals to earn prerequisites and core nursing courses all on one campus. Students have the possibility of being chosen for work-study programs that enable them to earn while they’re learning and receive scholarship support from the institution. Upon completion of the program, individuals will be able to take the NCLEX-RN examination in the state of Texas.

At Lamar University, individuals can choose from the traditional BSN track or the RN to BSN bridge program. The bridge program is designed to help registered nurses earn their Bachelor’s degree while they work, and the traditional BSN program is a four-year program that prepares students to “meet community and state needs for nurses.” Students are admitted into the program during the fall and spring, and upon completion of the program, will be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN exam.

Located in Houston, Prairie View A&M University offers three BSN programs for individuals: the traditional BSN program, the LVN to BSN and the RN to BSN. The traditional program is a 4 and ½ year program which features lower division and upper division training. Students who have already completed their prerequisites may be accepted as transfer students. As with most BSN programs, this one includes clinical experiences and laboratory experiences designed to make students more comfortable working with patients.

Southwestern Adventist University’s four-year BSN degree program offers individuals the chance to become a registered nurse, caring for patients in a variety of healthcare settings. In addition to the traditional BSN program, the school offers up completion tracks like the RN to BSN and LVN to BSN bridge programs. Accredited by the CCNE and approved by the Texas Board of Nursing, this program is an excellent choice for individuals in the Keene area.

At the Stephen F. Austin State University, individuals can take the traditional route and earn their BSN degree in four years. They can also take advantage of the RN to BSN program if they are registered nurses who want to earn their Bachelor’s degree. The traditional program is a 120-credit hour program designed to be completed in four years. In order to be admitted to the program, individuals must submit to a background check as well as a drug screening.

Those in the Stephensville area can take advantage of Tarleton State University, which is part of the Texas A&M University system. They offer a few different options for men and women who want to earn a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Nursing, including the traditional BSN option, the LVN to BSN or the RN to BSN. The traditional four-year program allows students to accumulate between 13 and 17 credit hours per semester. Upon completion of the program, individuals will be eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN examination.

Texas A&M University offers BSN degrees in several locations: Laredo, College Station, Round Rock, and Corpus Christi. Their four-year BSN program combines classroom instruction from highly-qualified professors as well as laboratory and clinical experiences. The program is accredited by the ACEN and approved by the Texas Board of Nursing.

Located in Ft. Worth, Texas Christian University’s nursing program offers a traditional BSN track as well as an accelerated BSN track. The program is spread out over four years, and students will progress throughout the program by maintaining a “C” at least. In the first year, students will study things like Anatomy & Physiology and Psychology, while the sophomore year will include classes like Microbiology and Genetics and Genomics. During the last 2 years, students will study a variety of different types of nursing. Upon completion of the program, students will be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN exam.

Texas Woman’s University provides an excellent four-year BSN degree which combines classroom learning with clinical experiences designed to create qualified, capable nurses. The college boasts an excellent NCLEX-RN pass rate, continuously exceeding state and national pass rate averages. Those who complete the program will be eligible to work in a variety of healthcare settings after passing the NCLEX-RN examination and earning their RN licensure. The program is offered at three different TWU locations: Dallas, Denton and Houston.

The University of Texas also has several locations that offer BSN degrees: Arlington, Austin, El Paso, Tyler, Houston, San Antonio, and Galveston. They offer a fantastic BSN degree, as well as bridge programs like the RN to BSN program for registered nurses who want to continue their education. In addition to campus-based study, the school offers online options for those who need a more flexible solution. With the hybrid program, students take classes online and meet occasionally on campus or for clinical experiences.

The University of Texas-Pan American offers an upper-division BSN program for those who have already completed their prerequisites. Individuals must have earned at least a 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale in order to be admitted into the program. They must also be up to date on vaccines, submit to a background check and drug screening and obtain CPR certification. Those who complete the program will be eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN examination.

Located in San Antonio, Wayland Baptist University gives individuals a flexible option for earning their BSN: online classes. It is a hybrid-format program, meaning that most of the learning individuals gain will be online although there will be occasional on-campus meetings and clinical experience must be completed in person. Once the prerequisites are out of the way, the nursing side of the program lasts 21 months and lectures will be given online. The school also offers an RN to BSN program for registered nurses.

Degree Guides

BSN Degree

RN to BSN Programs

Texas BSN Checklist

Enroll in an accredited and board-approved BSN program in the state of Texas and earn your BSN degree.
Sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses, earning a passing score.
Take the Texas Jurisprudence examination and pass.
Apply for your Registered Nurse (RN) license through the Texas Board of Nursing and include the required $125 application fee.
Maintain your license by earning 20 hours of continuing education every 2 years and renewing your license every 2 years as well.

Texas Nurse Salary & Job Outlook

Although nurses of all kinds are in high demand in the state of Texas, many potential employers will look more favorably upon those who have earned their BSN degree as opposed to those who haven’t. In the state of Texas, the annual median salary for registered nurses is $67,860 (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics), which is just slightly higher than the national average.