Nursing School

There are three pathways to become a registered nurse (RN).

1. Diploma of Nursing: This is offered through a hospital-based nursing program.
2. ADN (Associate’s Degree in Nursing): A two-year program offered through many community colleges. The ADN is the quickest and most popular pathway to become an RN; however, an RN without a BSN might not qualify for upper-level nursing positions.
3. BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing): While also a two-year program, this pathway requires a bachelor’s degree. RNs with a BSN typically qualify for upper-level nursing positions.

There are three programs that allow you to earn a BSN.

1. Traditional BSN: This program is for traditional degree-seeking undergraduate students, without a bachelor’s degree, who want to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. This normally takes 2 years.
2. Accelerated BSN: This is a fast-track program for students who already have a bachelor’s degree. These programs typically take 12-16 months to complete.
3. RN TO BSN: This program is for current RNs with an associate’s degree (ADN) who wish to obtain a bachelor’s degree.

There are two options to enter a traditional BSN program.

• Option one – Attend Texas A&M and only complete the pre-nursing prereqs (without receiving your bachelor’s degree), and then transfer into a nursing program to receive your BSN  degree (one degree).

• Option two – Attend Texas A&M and complete your bachelor’s degree, and then enter a nursing program, receiving your BSN degree. With this option, you earn two degrees. One from Texas A&M and the other one from the nursing school.
  • If you graduate from Texas A&M and majored in Allied Health, the bachelor’s degree you receive in Allied Health will be your first degree. Then if you transfer to the UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing, you will earn your BSN as your second degree. Now, you have a BS in Allied health and a BSN which equals two undergraduate degrees.

The BSN program typically takes two years to complete, and then students will be ready to take the NCLEX to receive their RN license.

Second Degree programs, also known as Accelerated BSN programs, are for individuals who already have a bachelor’s degree and want to become an RN.  Those who already have a degree can also apply to Traditional BSN Programs.

There are currently 14 programs in Texas that offer a second degree BSN:

• Angelo State University – San Angelo
• ​Baylor University – Dallas
• Concordia University – Austin or Dallas
• Midwestern State University (MSU)
• Texas A&M University – Round Rock only
• Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi
• Texas Christian University – Fort Worth
• ​Texas Lutheran University – Seguin
• Texas Tech Health Science Center – El Paso
• Texas Tech Health Science Center – Lubbock
• University of Houston – Sugar Land
• University of the Incarnate Word – San Antonio
• University of Texas Rio Grande Valley – Edinburg
• University of Texas Health Science Center – San Antonio

Texas nursing school prereqs can differ from school to school, whether it be a private or public school program.  Below is a list of common pre-reqs only. Our office recommends that you check with each school for specific prereq requirements.

Researching nursing programs can be very confusing and time consuming. You may not even know what you don’t know yet, and most schools differ slightly from each other. Below are a few questions you should know about each program before you apply.

Application requirements

• What are their prereqs (will they accept AP credit)
• What entrance exam do they require (HESI or TEAS)
• How do you apply to their program (NursingCAS and/or ApplyTexas)
• What terms do they admit students and what are those deadlines
• Do they require essays
• Are letters of recommendation are required
• How do they interview students (online or in-person)
• Do they have mandatory orientations

Other factors may include:

• Community service
• Leadership
• Extracurricular activities
• Healthcare experience

Research Resources:
AACN – use the American Association of Colleges of Nursing for programs in other states. You can sort by state or even by type of program.

NursingCAS can answer most of these questions for you. This application service allows students to research any of the nursing schools in their program. Even if you are not ready to apply, you should visit their website. Click on ‘apply now’ and do a search for the schools that interest you. If your school does not use NursingCAS, then we recommend you go directly to their website for information.

These are both formal standardized nursing entrance exams; however, some programs require the HESI, while others require the TEAS. Both tests include the following subjects: anatomy and physiology, biology, chemistry, English grammar, reading comprehension and mathematics.

*Institutions may limit how many times you can reattempt to take these exams per application period, check with each nursing programs for details.

NursingCAS is not just an application service that allows applicants to use a single online application and one set of materials to apply to multiple programs at participating schools, but it also allows you to research nursing programs. NursingCAS has all the program requirements for the schools that subscribe their service. Even if you are not ready to apply, you should visit their website and open your application.

Completing the NursingCAS application can be confusing, so we have created a step-by-step handout to help guide you through process. Also included are helpful links from NursingCAS.

NursingCAS Application Handout
TX Schools Using NursingCAS
NursingCAS Application FAQs

Required Admission Test: H = Hesi; T = Teas; E = Either; G = GRE; *Second Degree programs offered

Abilene Christian University (H) – Abilene
Angelo State University* (T) – San Angelo
Arizona College (H) – Dallas
Baylor University* (H) – Dallas
Chamberlain College of Nursing (H) – multiple locations
Concordia University Texas* (T) – Austin
East Texas Baptist University (T) – Marshall
Galen College of Nursing (E) – San Antonio
Hallmark University (T) – San Antonio
Houston Baptist University (H) – Houston
Howard Payne University (H) – Brownwood
Lamar University (H) – Beaumont
Letourneau University (H) – Longview
Midwestern State University* (H) – Wichita Falls
National American University (T) – Austin
Patty Hanks Shelton (H) – Abilene
Prairie View A&M University (H) – Houston
Sam Houston State University (T) – Huntsville
Schreiner University (T) – Kerrville
South University (T) – Round Rock
Southwestern Adventist University (T) – Keene
Stephen F. Austin State University (T) – Nacogdoches
Tarleton State University (T) – Stephenville
Texas A&M International University (H) – Laredo
Texas A&M University* (H) – College Station (traditional) and Round Rock (second degree)
Texas A&M University-Commerce  (H)
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi* (H)
Texas A&M University-Texarkana (T) – Texarkana
Texas Christian University* (H) – Ft. Worth
Texas Lutheran University* (T) – Sequin
Texas State University (T) – Round Rock
Texas Tech Health Science Center (T) – Abilene, Amarillo, Austin, Dallas, *Lubbock, Odessa, and San Antonio
Texas Tech Health Science Center* (H) – El Paso
Texas Woman’s University (T) – Denton, Katy
University of Houston* (H) – Sugar Land
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (T) – Belton
University of St. Thomas (H) – Houston
University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) (T) – Twelve locations across Texas
University of Texas (N/A) – Austin
University of Texas (alternate MSN entry) (G) – Austin
University of Texas (UTEP) (T) – El Paso
UTHealth (H) – Houston
UTHealth San Antonio* (T)
University of Texas at Tyler (T)
UTMB Health (T) – Galveston
University of Texas Permian Basin (T) – Odessa
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV)* (H) – Edinburg
University of the Incarnate Word* (T) – San Antonio
Wayland Baptist University (T) – San Antonio
West Coast University (E) – Dallas
West Texas A&M University (H) – Canyon
Western Governors University (WGU) (T) – BCS and multiple other locations
Western Tech (T) – El Paso