29 Best LVN-to-RN Programs in Texas – (Online & Campus-Based)


Written By: Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH

Is it a good idea to pursue an RN license in Texas if you’re already licensed as an LVN in the Lone Star State? That’s a highly personal decision that depends upon many factors, including your family life, your satisfaction with your career opportunities, and what you see yourself doing 10 or 15 years down the line. It’s not a question this article can answer, in other words.

What this article can (and does) do is give you clear, concise information about the 29 best LVN-to-RN programs in Texas for 2025, so that you’re in the best position to make an informed decision about what your options are and what your next career move should be. So, if you’ve been wondering, “What are the best LVN-to-RN programs in Texas?” keep reading! This article is for you.



RECOMMENDED ONLINE NURSING SCHOOLS

TOP 3 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD TRANSITION FROM LVN-TO-RN IN TEXAS


There are many advantages to becoming an LVN in Texas: For one thing, LVN training programs in the Lone Star State are far shorter than RN training programs, which means you’ll have much quicker access to the job market. But if you really love what you do, chances are, eventually, you’ll find yourself frustrated by the limitations in scope that go along with LVN licensure. RNs in Texas can provide much higher levels of patient care than LVNs. That’s one reason to pursue an LVN-to-RN program in Texas. Here are three others:

1. Your salary will soar:

Even as a new LVN-to-RN grad in the Lone Star State, straight out of school, your salary will be 17 percent higher than the average Texas LVN wages. And that figure will only keep rising! On average, RNs in Texas make 60 percent more than their LVN counterparts. That works out to an extra $31,470 every year. If you stick with your registered nursing career for 25 years, you’ll have an additional $786,750 in the bank by the time you decide to retire.

And salary is just one part of compensation. Many hospitals offer RNs generous signing bonuses that are not typically offered to LVNs. RNs also have employment benefits like tuition reimbursement, flexible scheduling, and training and development opportunities that LVNs don’t have access to.

2. Your career options will be more open-ended:

RNs in the Lone Star State have a far broader scope of practice than LVNs, so the demand for their services is higher, and they can work in a wider variety of practice settings. LVNs are far more circumscribed in their employment opportunities. The deployment of LVNs in hospitals and other acute care facilities throughout Texas has declined significantly in the last 20 years. These days, Texas LVNs are most likely to be employed in skilled nursing facilities and other types of long-term care settings. If this kind of pigeon-holing isn’t for you, one of the many LVN-to-RN programs in Texas is the way to go.

3. Your risk of injury will be lower:

While all nurses have a significantly higher risk of occupational injuries than members of the public, LVNs and LPNs have a higher risk than registered nurses. That’s because RNs typically care for far fewer patients than LVNs and LPNs, and for the most part, RNs leave the strenuous lifting, carrying, and repositioning to nurse’s aides. LVNs and LPNs are far more hands-on in the care they provide and thus, are far more likely to be hurt on the job. Your back will thank you for enrolling in one of the LVN-to-RN programs in Texas!



HOW LONG ARE LVN-TO-RN PROGRAMS IN TEXAS?


LVN-to-RN programs in Texas take between 12 months (one year) and 18 months to complete. But keep in mind that Lone Star State LVN-to-RN bridge tracks expect you to complete all prerequisites and general education requirements before you apply to their program.

In other words, you have to take 20 to 30 credits before you can even submit your application. Depending upon how you space out this required ADN degree coursework, you’re looking at one or two additional years of education.

So, while the description in the nursing college’s catalog may tell you your LVN-to-RN program will take a year to complete, this is nearly always an underestimate.

Thus, Navarro College’s LVN to RN Bridge option is described as a one-year program, meaning it will take 12 months to complete 36 credits of core nursing classes and co-requisites. But you’ll still have to find the time to take 24 credits of prerequisite classes.

Galen College of Nursing’s 18-month LPN/LVN to ADN Bridge program is one of the few LVN-to-RN programs in the Lone Star State that bundles prerequisites, co-requisites, and core nursing classes into a single curriculum. On paper, this program seems longer than those other year-long LVN-to-RN programs in Texas, right? But since those other programs aren’t counting how long it will take you to complete prerequisites, Galen College’s program is actually shorter.

Baptist Health System School of Health Professionals LVN to RN track is one of the few Texas bridge programs that accepts transfer credits. Though the program was designed to be completed in four semesters, students who are able to transfer credits may be able to complete it in three.



HOW MUCH DO LVN-TO-RN PROGRAMS IN TEXAS COST?


LVN-to-RN programs in Texas can cost anywhere between $3,000 and $31,220. Remember, however, that in most instances, LVN-to-RN program estimates do not include the price of the ADN prerequisites you must take to qualify for admission into the program you choose. Most Lone Star State schools that offer LVN-to-RN bridge tracks will not allow you to transfer credits. Chances are you will have to take your prerequisites at the same school where you enroll in your LVN-to-RN bridge program, which could easily double your total educational costs.

Twenty-six schools on our list of the Lone Star State’s 30 best LVN-to-RN programs are community colleges, and the cost of attending a Texas community college is low compared with the cost of attending other public and private institutions of higher learning throughout the state. Still, there is great variability in these programs’ overall affordability. In Texas, community college tuition and fees are based on residency, and each community college taxing district gets to establish its own rates.

Thus, if you enroll in Houston Community College’s LVN to RN Transition track, tuition, and fees will come to $84.50 per credit if you’re a resident of Houston Community College’s taxing district, $180.50 per credit if you’re a Texas resident living outside the taxing district, and $227 per credit if you live outside the state. But if you enroll in Odessa College’s LVN-RN Transition track, tuition and fees will come to $330 per credit if you’re a resident living within Odessa College’s taxing district, $489 per credit if you’re a Texas resident living outside the taxing district, and $732 per credit if you live outside the state.

Some community colleges in Texas have programs that help offset the costs of the education they provide. In Texas, there are high schools that offer licensed vocational nursing programs. If a graduate from an LVN high school program enrolls in Panola College’s LVN to RN Transition track, they may be able to offset the costs of attending this program through the Panola Promise Pledge.



WHAT ARE THE TYPICAL ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR LVN-TO-RN PROGRAMS IN TEXAS?



All Texas LVN-to-RN bridge programs require applicants to have an active, unrestricted LVN license, and approximately half the programs on our list want applicants to have at least six months of professional experience. All schools require students to sit for some type of standardized exam that will determine their preparedness for nursing studies. Most schools will not consider your application until you’ve completed all prerequisites.

Additionally, most Texas LVN-to-RN bridge programs require proof of all standard vaccinations and Basic Life Support (BLS) certification. All programs also require a criminal background check: The Texas Board of Nursing is vigilant when it comes to disqualifying candidates for licensure who’ve been convicted of crimes other than minor traffic violations, and Texas LVN-to-RN bridge programs do not want to invest educational resources in students who can’t ultimately be licensed.

Many LVN-to-RN programs in Texas have an admission requirement only found in the Lone Star State: the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) Assessment. TSI is part of a program designed to help Texas colleges determine whether prospective students have the reading, writing, and math skills necessary to tackle college-level work.

South Texas College uses a competitive point system to determine admissions. Your application won’t even be eligible for evaluation, however, unless you complete all prerequisite courses with a grade of “B” or higher, meet the college’s requirements for TSI, pass each section of the HESI A2 exam with a score of 75 percent or higher, and pass STC’s proprietary Dosage & Calculation Math Exam.

McLennan Community College’s LVN to ADN program has an unusual requirement: You must achieve a passing score on the Psychological Services Bureau Practical Nursing (PSB PN) Aptitude Exam before your application will be considered. Other requirements include completing all prerequisites and co-requisites with a minimum GPA of 2.8 and residency in McLennan County.



WHAT ARE THE BEST LVN-TO-RN PROGRAMS IN TEXAS (ONLINE AND CAMPUS-BASED)?

Based on our Ranking Methodology, the following are the 29 best campus-based and online LVN-to-RN Programs in Texas.


1. Galen College of Nursing – San Antonio


Galen College of Nursing LVN-to-RN Program Details: Galen College of Nursing offers a 99-quarter-credit LVN-to-RN program in Texas with a curriculum that’s explicitly tailored to the learning needs of licensed vocational nurses. The LPN/LVN to ADN Bridge program offers start dates in January, April, July, and September and takes most students 18 months to complete.

The six-quarter curriculum includes all prerequisite and co-requisite classes as well as core nursing courses like “LPN/LVN to RN Role Transition,” “Medical-Surgical Nursing Concepts,” and “Principles of Pharmacology.” Clinical experiences include learning skills intensives at Galen’s advanced nursing simulation lab and rotations in acute and extended care facilities and community service agencies throughout San Antonio and other communities in Bexar County.

For admission into this program, you must have an active, unrestricted LVN license with a GPA of 2.5 or higher in all LVN-related coursework. Applicants may be accepted into the program on the basis of qualifying scores on select standardized tests, including the ACT (18 or above), the SAT (980 or above), the multilevel PAX (90 or above), or the TEAS (52 or above.) Students graduate with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN.)


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Galen College of Nursing LVN-to-RN Students

• ADN graduates from Galen College of Nursing in San Antonio have an NCLEX-RN pass rate of 85 percent in 2021.
• Galen College of Nursing in San Antonio also offers a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree.
• During the 2019-2020 academic year, Galen College in San Antonio awarded 474 ADN and 90 BSN degrees.
• Galen College also offers this LVN-to-RN program in Texas at its campuses in Austin, Dallas, and Houston.


2. San Jacinto College - Pasadena


San Jacinto College LVN-to-RN Program Details: Sam Jacinto College’s LVN/Paramedic to AAS transition program will take you four terms to complete and leads to an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (AAS) degree. All classes take place in classrooms on the college’s South campus in Houston.

To earn your degree, you’ll take 30 credits of prerequisites and 30 credits of core nursing coursework. Core nursing classes include “Health Assessment,” “Concepts of Advanced Nursing Practice and Management,” and “Common Concepts of Adult Health.” This is one of the LVN-to-RN programs in Texas that incorporates a “Professional Nursing Review and Licensure Preparation” course into its official curriculum; this course also functions as a capstone experience.

San Jacinto College boasts a state-of-the-art simulation lab where nursing students learn and practice clinical skills. Many nursing courses have clinical components that allow you to practice your new clinical skills at hospitals and community agencies throughout Pasadena and other parts of the Houston/Woodlands/Sugar Land metropolitan area.

This LVN-to-RN program in Texas is only open to licensed vocational nurses or licensed paramedics in Texas. You must submit separate applications to San Jacinto College and the AAS transition program. San Jacinto College’s AAS transition program is considered one of the best LVN-to-RN programs in Texas, so competition for entry can be tough. No more than two prerequisite classes can be in progress when you submit your program application, and you must have a cumulative GPA of “C” or higher in your prerequisites.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential San Jacinto College LVN-to-RN Students

• In 2021, AAS graduates from San Jacinto College had an NCLEX-RN pass rate of 91 percent.
• Other nursing tracks at San Jacinto College include a traditional AAS and BSN program.
• San Jacinto College conferred 220 AAS in Nursing degrees throughout 2019-2020.
• San Jacinto College partners with the University of Houston-Clear Lake on an affordable AAS to BSN track.


3. St. Philip's College - San Antonio


St. Philip's College LVN-to-RN Program Details: St. Philip’s College’s A.D.N. Mobility Program is open to both LVNs and veterans who’ve worked in healthcare occupations while serving in the U.S. Military. This LVN-to-RN program in Texas is an advanced placement program: LVNs receive additional credits toward the completion of their AAS degree once their LVN licenses are verified.

The nursing core will take you three semesters (one year) to complete. Students accepted into the A.D.N. Mobility Program take classes alongside the traditional ADN cohort. The cohort size is limited to no more than 35 students. Clinical rotations take place at healthcare facilities in San Antonio, New Braunfels, and surrounding areas.

Applicants are admitted twice a year, at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters. The 60-credit curriculum consists of prerequisites, which must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher before you apply to the program, and core nursing courses like “Concept-based Transition to Professional Nursing Practice,” “Introduction to Health Care Concepts,” and a capstone course, “Clinical: RN Health Care Concepts IV.”

Because of its exceedingly high NCLEX-RN pass rates, St. Philip’s College has a reputation as one of the best LVN-to-RN programs in Texas. You’ll need to score at least 65 percent on the ATI TEAS test to apply. For admission into this program, LVNs will require current, unrestricted licensure and at least one year of direct care experience. Students are admitted on the basis of a multicriteria scoring system that evaluates GPAs, ATI TEAS scores, work experience, and references.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential St. Philip's College LVN-to-RN Students

• St. Philip’s College had a perfect NCLEX-RN pass rate of 100 percent in 2021.
• Twenty-seven students received AAS in Nursing degrees from St. Philip’s College during the 2019-2020 academic year.
• Although St. Philip’s College is the largest historically Black college in the nation, it is also a designated Hispanic Serving Institution and admits students from many different racial and ethnic backgrounds.


4. El Paso Community College - El Paso


El Paso Community College LVN-to-RN Program Details: El Paso Community College offers a 60-credit LVN to RN Transition track. Students with current LVN licenses from Texas or a compact state will receive credit for the first two semesters of the Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing degree and join the existing AAS cohort in their third semester of studies. EPCC’s LVN to RN Transition track admits students in the fall and spring semesters.

Prerequisites and core nursing courses are bundled into a single curriculum. You’ll take core nursing classes “Health Assessment,” “Foundations for Nursing Practice,” and “Pharmacology.” This LVN-to-RN program in Texas has a high-fidelity nursing simulation laboratory where you’ll learn clinical competencies, which you’ll then hone further through clinical rotations at major hospitals, healthcare facilities, and patient care clinics throughout El Paso and El Paso County.

Applicants must attend a mandatory Nursing Specialized Admissions Orientation and score 80 percent or higher on the orientation quiz. Additionally, they must score 57 percent or above on the TEAS Version V and 90 percent or higher on the ATI PN Comprehensive Predictor. Successful candidates will also have at least six months of LVN work experience and a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher on all relevant schoolwork.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential El Paso Community College LVN-to-RN Students

• Eighty-five percent of El Paso Community College's graduates passed the NCLEX-RN in 2021.
• During the 2019-2020 academic year, 132 AAS in nursing degrees were awarded to EPCC students.
• EPCC’s nursing programs have articulation agreements with The University of Texas at El Paso, Grand Canyon State University, and Western Governors University, allowing AAS students to transfer credits seamlessly toward a BSN program.


5. The College of Health Care Professions - Houston


The College of Health Care Professions LVN-to-RN Program Details: It will take you 80 weeks to complete the College of Health Care Professions’ 60-credit LVN to ADN program. This curriculum is unique among LVN-to-RN programs in Texas in that it is divided into modules. CHCP’s unique curriculum structure means it may be difficult to transfer credits earned at this school to other schools.

Modules I through IV are dedicated to prerequisite coursework; you’ll begin core nursing classes during Module V with a “Transition to Professional Nursing” that focuses on clinical decision-making, evidence-based practice, and other key concepts related to your new RN role. Other core nursing courses include “Professional Nursing Skills for Articulating Students,” “Nursing Informatics,” and “Concepts of Professional Nursing Practice for Articulating Students I, II, & III.”

This LVN-to-RN program in Texas uses a hybrid model that blends classroom teaching and online coursework. You’ll be able to access your online coursework at your own pace, which makes this program ideal for students with family or professional obligations.

CHCP’s LVN to ADN program is open to LVNs with active, unencumbered licenses. You must take the HESI LVN to RN Entrance exam and the HESI A2 exam. You’ll also need to complete a panel interview with the nursing program acceptance committee and tour the school.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential The College of Health Care Professions LVN-to-RN Students

• Of the College of Health Care Professions graduates who took the NCLEX-RN in 2021, 70 percent passed.
• CHCP gave out 29 AAS in Nursing degrees in 2020.


6. Coastal Bend College - Beeville, Alice, Kingsville, & Pleasanton


Coastal Bend College LVN-to-RN Program Details: Coastal Bend College’s LVN to RN Bridge program uses a hybrid teaching model that combines distance learning and face-to-face experiences. You will receive 17 credits toward the completion of the college’s AAS degree upon verification of your accredited LVN education and license and join the college’s AAS cohort for the final two semesters (eight months) of the traditional nursing curriculum.

You’ll take core nursing courses like “Health Assessment Across the Lifespan,” “Common Concepts of Adult Health,” and “Pharmacology.” The final semester includes a class that evaluates capstone skills. All prerequisites must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher before you apply to the program. Clinical experiences occur in hospitals, home healthcare agencies, and schools throughout Bee, Jim Wells, Kleberg, and Atascosa Counties.

This LVN-to-RN program in Texas admits students twice a year in the spring and fall semesters. You must have an active, unencumbered LVN license to apply. For consideration, you must score 70 percent or higher on the TEAS exam and fulfill the college’s TSI requirements.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Coastal Bend College LVN-to-RN Students

• Coastal Bend College’s AAS graduates had a 63 percent pass rate on the NCLEX-RN in 2021.
• In 2020, Coastal Bend College awarded 90 AAS in Nursing degrees.


7. Navarro College - Corsicana


Navarro College LVN-to-RN Program Details: Interested in Navarro College’s LVN to RN Bridge option? You’ll have to get passing grades in both the lecture and clinical components of the “Concepts of Nursing Practice for Articulating Students” course before you can apply to this LVN-to-RN program in Texas. The program itself takes two semesters (one year) to complete and includes core nursing coursework like “Integrated Care of the Patient With Complex Health Care Needs” and “Integrated Client Care Management.” Clinical rotations will occur at healthcare facilities in Corsicana and other parts of Navarro County. You’ll graduate with an AAS degree.

Navarro College's high NCLEX-RN pass rates and attention to making certain its LVN to RN Bridge students are prepared to succeed make it one of the best LVN-to-RN programs in Texas. The program is only open to applicants with a current, unrestricted LVN license and at least six months of direct patient experience. You must satisfy all general education requirements with a grade of “C” or better before you apply to the program, and you must score 66 percent or higher on the TEAS exam.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Navarro College LVN-to-RN Students

• Of the Navarro College graduates who took the NCLEX-RN in 2021, 90 percent passed.
• In 2019-2020, 141 students received AAS in Nursing degrees from Navarro College.
• Navarro College maintains relationships with the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Texas at Tyler, Texas Tech University, Texas Women’s University, Lamar University, Chamberlain University, Tarleton State University, and Western Governors University that facilitate the transfer of credits and completion of a BSN degree at these schools.


8. Panola College - Carthage


Panola College LVN-to-RN Program Details: Panola College’s 60-credit LVN to RN Transition track is a hybrid program that offers online classes and face-to-face clinical rotations scheduled at healthcare facilities within a 70-mile radius of Carthage, Texas. You’ll also be expected to be on campus for nursing simulation experiences and skills labs and in the field for clinical rotations. Most clinical rotations are scheduled either on weekends or on swing shifts from 3 pm to 11 pm.

The program will take three semesters (one year) to compete and includes 36 credits of core nursing courses, such as “Transition to Professional Nursing Competencies,” “Health Care Concepts,” and “Professional Nursing Concepts.” At the end of your first semester of classes, you’ll receive 11 equivalency credits toward your ADN degree for your RN license.

Panola College’s LVN to RN Transition track is one of the best LVN-to-RN programs in Texas, so admission criteria are highly selective. The program is only open to applicants with active, unencumbered LVN licensure. You must apply separately to Panola College and its Department of Associate Degree Nursing. You must fulfill all TSI requirements. All prerequisites must be completed before you apply to the program with grades of “C” or better. The LVN to RN Transition track at Panola College uses the HESI A2 test as an assessment tool; you must score a minimum of 80 on reading comprehension and math and a minimum of 75 on grammar.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Panola College LVN-to-RN Students

• The NCLEX-RN pass rate for Panola College graduates in 2021 was 94 percent.
• Forty students graduated from Panola College in 2019-2020 with an ADN degree.
• Panola College collaborates with the University of Texas at Tyler on a concurrent ADN-BSN degree.


9. Ranger College - Ranger


Ranger College LVN-to-RN Program Details: Ranger College’s approach to its 60-credit LVN to RN Bridge track is qualitatively different from the advanced placement model many other LVN-to-RN programs in Texas use. Instead of giving LVNs the opportunity to skip the first two semesters of the traditional ADN curriculum, Ranger College combines the first two semesters of the traditional ADN curriculum into a single semester. LVN Bridge students then join the ADN cohort for the third and final semester of the traditional ADN program.

This LVN-to-RN program in Texas admits new students in the spring semester. Classes take place at the college’s Brown County Center. Core nursing coursework will include “Heath Care Concepts” and “Professional Nursing Concepts.”

Applicants must hold current, unrestricted LVN licenses. You’ll need to pass the TEAS test with a proficient score, and your TSI scores must meet Ranger College requirements. You must apply separately to Ranger College and the Associate Degree Nursing Program and ensure each receives your transcripts. You must complete prerequisite courses with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Ranger College LVN-to-RN Students

• In 2021, Ranger College’s ADN graduates had an NCLEX-RN pass rate of 70 percent.
• Forty-seven individuals received ADN degrees from Ranger College during the 2019-2020 academic year.


10. Odessa College - Odessa


Odessa College LVN-to-RN Program Details: In the first semester of Odessa College’s LVN-RN Transition track, LVN students take a course entitled “Adaptation to the Role of the Professional Nurse,” which acquaints them with the RN scope of practice. Upon subsequent verification of their Texas LVN licenses, students are then granted 14 credits toward the completion of their 60-credit ADN degrees.

This program takes a year (three semesters) to complete. Its hybrid format, access to multiple RN to BSN pathways, and consistently high NCLEX-RN scores place it among the best LVN-to-RN programs in Texas for licensed vocational nurses who want to keep working while enrolled in school.

Core nursing coursework includes classes like “Complex Concepts of Adult Health,” “Mental Health Nursing,” and “Professional Nursing: Leadership and Management.” Many nursing classes have lecture and clinical components that mirror one another, thereby reinforcing the nursing theory students need to learn. You’ll pursue your clinical education at hospitals, healthcare agencies, and community organizations throughout Odessa and other communities in Ector County.

This LVN-to-RN program in Texas is selective about the students it admits and ranks them according to multiple criteria. Minimum criteria for admission include completion of all prerequisites with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher and an overall score of 57.8 percent on the TEAS test.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Odessa College LVN-to-RN Students

• Odessa College ADN graduates had an 88 percent pass rate on the NCLEX-RN in 2021.
• Odessa College gave out 61 ADN degrees during 2019-2020.
• Odessa College has articulation agreements with the University of Texas at Permian Basin, the University of Texas at Tyler, The University of Texas at Austin, Angelo State University, Western Governors University, Bellevue University, Texas Tech University, and Texas A&M University that may make pursuing a BSN easier.


11. South Texas College - McAllen


South Texas College LVN-to-RN Program Details: South Texas College’s 60-credit Transition LVN or EMT Paramedic to ADN Track can be completed in three semesters. All courses are taught in classrooms at South Texas College’s campus in McAllen. This LVN-to-RN program in Texas admits LVNs in the spring and summer semesters and EMR paramedics in the fall semester.

This is one of the LVN-to-RN programs in Texas that uses a competitive point system to determine admission. For example, to be considered for entry into this program, you must complete all prerequisite courses with a grade of “B” or higher before you apply, but the higher your prerequisite course grades are, the more points you’ll accumulate toward admission. At a minimum, you must meet the college’s requirements for TSI and pass each section of the HESI A2 exam with a score of 75 percent or higher. You must also pass a Dosage & Calculation Math Exam.

Upon verification of your LVN license in good standing, you will be awarded 10 credits toward your ADN degree. During your first semester, you’ll take “Concepts of Professional Nursing Practice for Articulating Students,” a course designed to introduce you to the differences between LVN and RN scopes of practice. Other core nursing courses include “Complex Concepts of Adult Health,” “Advanced Concepts of Adult Health,” and “Professional Nursing: Leadership & Management.” Clinical experiences are scheduled at hospitals and community settings throughout McAllen and Hidalgo County.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential South Texas College LVN-to-RN Students

• In 2021, South Texas College’s NCLEX-RN pass rate was 82 percent.
• STC also has an RN-to-BSN program.
• In 2019-2020, South Texas College awarded 244 ADN and 10 BSN degrees.


12. Howard College - Big Spring


Howard College LVN-to-RN Program Details: Howard College’s Transition Associate Degree Nursing Program admits new students in the spring and summer semesters. You can complete this 60-credit LVN-to-RN program in Texas in 12 months. Upon completion of a course called “Adaptation to the Role of Professional Nurse” during the first semester of the core nursing curriculum, LVN students will merge with the second-year traditional ADN cohort.

Other core nursing classes like “Mental Health Nursing” and “Care of Children and Families” focus on the care needs of the specific demographics LVN students will work with once they become registered nurses. All lecture classes are taught online. Clinical rotations take place at hospitals and clinics in Big Spring, San Angelo, and the surrounding areas.

Howard College’s flexible class hours, great instructors, emphasis on teaching hands-on skills, and outstanding NCLEX-RN scores have earned the college a reputation as one of the best LVN-to-RN programs in Texas. Competition for entry can be fierce. You must complete all prerequisites with a grade of “C” or above. You must meet Howard College’s TSI requirements and take the TEAS. Attendance at one of Howard College’s Health Professions Orientations is mandatory. This program is only open to LVNs with current, unrestricted licenses.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Howard College LVN-to-RN Students

• The NCLEX-RN pass rate for Howard College ADNs in 2021 was 97 percent.
• In 2020, Howard College handed out 60 ADN degrees.
• Howard College has an articulation agreement with the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center that will allow you to transfer your ADN credits to the university’s BSN program.


13. McLennan Community College - Waco


McLennan Community College LVN-to-RN Program Details: McLennan Community College’s LVN to RN Transition Program is an accelerated option that offers advanced placement in the college’s traditional ADN program. Upon successful completion of a transition course designed to evaluate an LVN applicant’s clinical skills and their ability to distinguish between the licensed vocational and registered nursing roles, applicants may qualify to enter the second year of McLennan’s traditional two-year ADN program.

The transition course is only offered when space is available in the second year of the ADN program, and it has some unusual requirements. MCC is one of the few LVN-to-RN programs in Texas that requires the Psychological Services Bureau Practical Nursing (PSB PN) Aptitude Exam; if you want to take the transition course, you must score a minimum of 25 percent in all five exam categories before you can enroll. This requirement helps ensure that McLennan’s ADN graduates are temperamentally suited to a registered nursing career and is one of the reasons why this program is considered one of the best LVN-to-RN programs in Texas. Additionally, you must complete prerequisites and co-requisites with a minimum GPA of 2.8, and residents of McLennan County are given preference for admission.

This LVN-to-RN program in Texas uses a concept-based curriculum. The 50-credit curriculum consists of seven prerequisites and co-requisites and 14 core nursing classes. You’ll take courses like “Professional Nursing Concepts I, II, & III,” “Lifespan Growth & Development,” and “Microbiology for Non-Science Majors.” Transitioning LVNs will also be able to participate in McLennan’s Clinical Transition Practicum, a clinical rotation specifically customized to an LVN’s learning needs.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential McLennan Community College LVN-to-RN Students

• Eighty-eight percent of McLennan Community College’s ADN graduates passed the NCLEX-RN in 2021.
• McLennan Community College awarded 60 ADN degrees during the 2019-2020 academic year.
• MCC offers a unique LVN to BSN program with Tarleton State University.
• McLennan Community College partners with the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center on an online BSN degree.


14. Cisco College - Cisco


Cisco College LVN-to-RN Program Details: Cisco College’s 60-credit LVN to RN program admits new students in the spring semester and takes three semesters (12 months) to complete. Your first nursing class will be “Transition to Professional Nursing,” which emphasizes how LVN and RN scopes of practice differ. Other courses in the core nursing curriculum include “Professional Nursing Concepts,” “Principles of Clinical Decision-Making,” and “Professional Nursing Review.”

This LVN-to-RN program in Texas only admits a small number of students every year, so its entrance criteria are highly selective. The program is only open to applicants who hold active, unrestricted Texas LVN licensure. You must complete all prerequisites with a “C” or better grade before you can begin classes. You must satisfy Cisco College’s TSI requirements.

Cisco College uses the HESI A-2 Admissions Assessment; to optimize your chances of being admitted into this program, you must pass the HESI A-2 Admissions Assessment with a score of 75 percent or above. Once Cisco College has determined whether your application meets its minimum acceptance standards, it will evaluate your application using a system that assigns the highest points for high prerequisite GPAs and HESI scores.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Cisco College LVN-to-RN Students

• Cisco College students had a pass rate of 78 percent on the NCLEX-RN in 2021.
• During the academic year 2019-2020, Cisco College awarded 83 ADN degrees.
• All graduates of Cisco College’s LVN to RN program are guaranteed a spot in Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center’s RN to BSN program.


15. Alvin Community College - Alvin, TX


Alvin Community College LVN-to-RN Program Details: Why is Alvin Community College’s Nursing LVN to ADN program widely reputed to be one of the best LVN-to-RN programs in Texas? Because of its high NCLEX-RN scores and its careful attention to making sure LVNs have the clinical skills they need when they start the next phase of their professional careers.

This LVN-to-RN program in Texas admits students in the summer semester, but not every qualified candidate will be invited to join the program. Applicants are ranked on the basis of the number of prerequisite classes they’ve completed, their prerequisite grade point averages, and their HESI A2 scores. Preference is given to students who reside in the Alvin Community College tax district.

During the final semester of the three-semester program, you’ll spend half your time participating in a mentored clinical experience. ACC’s LVN to ADN program has clinical affiliates throughout Houston and Galveston, including the prestigious Texas Medical Center. At the end of your first semester, you’ll receive 12 credits toward completing your 60-credit AAD degree. Core nursing coursework will include classes like “Transition to Professional Nursing,” “Integrated Care-Common Needs,” and “Integrated Care-Complex Needs.”


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Alvin Community College LVN-to-RN Students

• Alvin Community College ADN graduates had a high rate of success on the NCLEX-RN in 2021, with 97 percent of them passing the exam.
• One hundred and twenty-six students received ADN degrees from Alvin Community College in 2019-2020.
• Alvin Community College and the University of Houston-Clear Lake have an articulation agreement that streamlines the transition between the college’s associate nursing degree program and the university’s BSN program.


16. North Central Texas College - Gainesville


North Central Texas College LVN-to-RN Program Details: The bulk of the direct patient care experiences you’ll be participating in as a student in North Central Texas College’s LVN to ADN Transition Program are scheduled as a concentrated five-week practicum toward the end of the 12-month program. That way, you’ll be able to apply what you’ve learned in your lecture classes to your direct patient care experiences. You’ll be required to pass a Clinical Math Exam as part of this practicum.

Lecture courses are taught in eight-week blocks. Throughout that time, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to learn and practice hands-on skills at the college’s Leo & Mabel Scott Health Science and Simulation Center. Core nursing coursework included as part of the 60-credit LVN to ADN Transition Program features classes like “Integrated Patient Care Management,” “Psychiatric Nursing,” and “Integrated Care of the Patient With Complex Health Needs.”

You must complete all prerequisites for this LVN-to-RN program in Texas with a grade point average of 2.5 or higher. This is one of the LVN-to-RN programs in Texas that requires the TEAS test. This program is only available to licensed vocational nurses with current, unencumbered licenses.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential North Central Texas College LVN-to-RN Students

• In 2021, North Central Texas College ADN graduates passed the NCLEX-RN at a rate of 86 percent.
• ADN graduates of North Central Texas College numbered 109 during the 2019-2020 academic year.
• Through the Consortium for the Advancement of Baccalaureate Nursing Education in Texas (CABNET) agreement, NCTC’s LVN to ADN Transition Program partners with Midwestern State University, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, and Texas Woman’s University to smooth the transition between ADN and BSN degrees.


17. South Plains College - Levelland


South Plains College LVN-to-RN Program Details: South Plains College’s LVN to RN Transition track is an advanced placement program. This LVN-to-RN program in Texas grants credits toward the 60-credit traditional ADN based on an LVN student’s previous nursing education and nursing experience after that LVN student completes a “Health Assessment” class and the lecture and clinical components of an “Adaptation to the Role of Professional Nurse” course. Credits are assigned individually, and the highest number of credits you can receive is 10.

Other core nursing courses in SPC’s LVN to RN Transition curriculum include “Legal and Ethical Issues for Nurses,” “Nursing Care of the Childbearing and Child Rearing Family,” and “Complex Concepts of Adult Health.” Students will learn clinical competencies through interactive learning simulations, virtual IV trainers, and computer-assisted instruction at South Plains College’s Center for Clinical Excellence. They will hone these skills further through practicums at healthcare facilities throughout Lubbock and other communities in Lubbock and Hockley Counties.

For admission into this LVN-to-RN program in Texas, you must be TSI compliant and have completed all prerequisites with a grade of “C” or higher. You must achieve a passing TEAS score. You must possess an active, unrestricted Texas LVN license and be a graduate of an accredited LVN nursing program.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential South Plains College LVN-to-RN Students

• In 2021, ADN graduates of South Plains College had a 64 percent NCLEX-RN pass rate.
• South Plains College gave out 68 ADN degrees throughout 2019-2020.


18. Northeast Texas Community College - Mt Pleasant


Northeast Texas Community College LVN-to-RN Program Details: Northeast Texas Community College’s Transition to Professional Nursing, AAS track is open to paramedics as well as licensed vocational nurses. Upon successful completion of designated transition coursework, you’ll receive credit toward your AAS degree for your previous LVN education, allowing you to join the ADN cohort in their second semester. The 60-credit curriculum can be completed in three semesters (one year.)

You’ll take core nursing courses such as “Health Care Concepts” and “Professional Nursing Concepts.” Core nursing courses must be taken in a specific sequence. NTCC’s NCLEX-RN pass rates are impressive enough to have earned this Transition to Professional Nursing track a reputation as one of the best LVN-to-RN programs in Texas.

This LVN-to-RN program in Texas is only available to individuals with current, unrestricted LVN or paramedic licenses. You’ll have to submit at least one reference letter. This is one of the few LVN-to-RN programs in Texas that require applicants to take the ATI RN Fundamentals test. Applicants who don’t complete prerequisites with an overall GPA of 2.75 or higher won’t be considered for entry.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Northeast Texas Community College LVN-to-RN Students

• In 2021, 88 percent of Northeast Texas Community College’s graduating AAS students passed the NCLEX-RN.
• Northeast Texas Community College gave out 75 AAS degrees in 2019-2020.
• While NTCC doesn’t have a BSN program in place or articulation agreements with a university that facilitates RN-to-BSN transfers, it does offer a pre-BSN curriculum.


19. Baptist Health System School of Health Professions - San Antonio, Rio Grande Valley


Baptist Health System School of Health Professions LVN-to-RN Program Details: Baptist Health System School of Health Professionals offers its 60-credit LVN to RN track at two campuses. BHSHP’s program is one of the best LVN-to-RN programs in Texas for LVNs who want to keep working while they’re in school because, in addition to daytime classes, the program offers evening, weekend, and online courses. At BHSSHP’s San Antonio campus, you can enroll in daytime or evening classes, and distance learning classes use both synchronous and asynchronous technology.

Daytime classes on the San Antonio campus typically meet one or two days a week between 8 am and 5 pm; your clinical rotations will occur between 6:30 am and 7:15 pm and may be scheduled for any day of the week. Evening classes at the same campus meet between 4:40 pm and 9:30 pm two or three days a week; clinical rotations typically consist of one 12-hour shift scheduled between 6:30 am and 11:30 pm, most often on weekends. Students enrolled in the Rio Grande Valley’s online LVN-to-RN program in Texas typically do two clinical practicums per week between 6:30 am and 10:30 pm.

This is an advanced placement program, and qualified LVNs will be given credit for the educational work they’ve already completed as part of their LVN studies. The program is designed to be completed in four semesters, though students who qualify for transfer credits may be able to finish it in three semesters. You’ll graduate with an AAS degree. Core nursing coursework includes “Lifespan Growth & Development,” “Advanced Concepts of Adult Health,” and a capstone class called “Management of Client Care.” Corequisite theory and clinical courses must be taken concurrently.

All applicants must have an active, unencumbered LVN license. All prerequisites must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher. The LVN to RN program at Baptist Health System School of Health Professionals requires the TEAS exam; you must score 65 percent or higher to qualify for entry.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Baptist Health System School of Health Professions LVN-to-RN Students

• In 2021, AAS graduates from Baptist Health System School of Health Professionals had a pass rate of 85 percent on the NCLEX-RN.
• Baptist Health System School of Health Professionals offers an RN to BSN program.
• During the 2019-2020 academic year, Baptist Health System School of Health Professionals awarded 234 AAS and 12 BSN degrees.


20. Tyler Junior College – Tyler, Jacksonville


Tyler Junior College LVN-to-RN Program Details: Small class sizes, caring instructors, state-of-the-art facilities, and high NCLEX-RN pass rates make Tyler Junior College’s LVN-ADN Transition track one of the best LVN-to-RN programs in Texas. This LVN-to-RN program in Texas offers three cohorts: daytime and evening class cohorts at the Tyler campus and a daytime class cohort at the Jacksonville campus. Students enrolled in the daytime cohorts will do 6- to 12-hour clinical rotations one or two days a week, Mondays through Thursdays; students enrolled in the evening cohort will do 10- to 12-hour clinical rotations once a week on Saturdays and Sundays.

TJC’s program is an accelerated track that offers 12 credits toward completing your AAS degree upon successful completion of four nursing classes designed to help you gain a more in-depth understanding of the differences between the LVN and RN professional roles. The 60-credit curriculum can be completed in three semesters and one summer session. Core nursing courses include “Health Care Concepts,” “Professional Nursing Concepts,” and “Microbiology for Non-Science Majors.”

You must complete all prerequisites and general education courses with a grade of “C” or higher before you apply to this program. Your minimum GPA from all college-level classes must be 2.5 or higher. You must achieve a passing score on the ATI RN Fundamentals and the ATI Critical Thinking exams. This LVN-to-RN program in Texas uses selective admission; points are assigned based on grades and test scores, and preference is given to candidates with the highest number of points.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Tyler Junior College LVN-to-RN Students

• Tyler Junior College’s ADN Transition program is open to licensed paramedics as well as licensed vocational nurses.
• The NCLEX-RN pass rate for Tyler Junior College AAS graduates was 94 percent in 2021.
• Nine students graduated from Tyler Junior College’s LVN-ADN Transition program in 2021.
• Tyler Junior College and the University of Texas at Tyler partner in a concurrent RN to BSN program.


21. Texas Health School - Houston


Texas Health School LVN-to-RN Program Details: Texas Health School’s 16-month LVN-to-ADN track is divided into eight 8-week terms. It’s an accelerated course of study that enables you to take all required general education courses online while you take core nursing courses at the school’s campus in Houston. This 60-credit LVN-to-RN program in Texas includes 384 clinical hours and 256 laboratory hours.

Core nursing courses include classes like “Common Concepts of Adult Health,” “Nursing Informatics,” and “Childbearing and Childrearing Family.” The curriculum also includes a clinical capstone course and an NCLEX-RN and licensure review class. Only LVNs with active, unrestricted licenses can apply to this LVN-to-RN program in Texas.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Texas Health School LVN-to-RN Students

• Texas Health School’s first LVN-to-ADN cohort started classes in April 2023.


22. Clarendon College – Childress, Pampa


Clarendon College LVN-to-RN Program Details: Clarendon College is another one of the LVN-to-RN programs in Texas that offers an accelerated track for licensed vocational nurses seeking to become registered nurses. Upon successful completion of transition courses focusing on the skills and competencies RNs are expected to demonstrate in the workplace, students in Clarendon’s ADN Bridge Program will get 10 credits toward completing their ADN degree.

The 60-credit program takes three semesters to complete and culminates with a clinical nursing leadership class that serves as a capstone experience. Other core nursing classes in the curriculum of this LVN-to-RN program in Texas include “Complex Concepts of Advanced Health,” “Advanced Concepts of Advanced Health,” and “Human Growth and Development.”

Classes occur at Clarendon College’s campuses in Childress or Pampa on Wednesdays and Thursdays between 8 am and 5 pm. Clinical rotations are scheduled for healthcare facilities in Borger, Amarillo, Quanah, or Vernon on Mondays and Tuesdays from 6 am to 6 pm.

You must comply with Clarendon College’s TSI requirements to be accepted into this program. You must complete all prerequisites with a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or higher. This is another one of the LVN-to-RN programs in Texas that use the HESI A2 as its entrance examination. Only applicants with current unrestricted Texas LVN licensure are eligible to apply to this program.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Clarendon College LVN-to-RN Students

• In 2021, 67 percent of Clarendon College’s ADN graduates passed the NCLEX-RN.
• Clarendon College has an agreement with West Texas A&M University that allows Clarendon ADN students to transfer up to 90 credits toward WTAMU’s BSN degree.
• Clarendon College and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center have an articulation agreement that offers students enrolled in Clarendon College’s ADN program concurrent enrollment in Texas Tech’s BSN program.


23. Lee College - Baytown


Lee College LVN-to-RN Program Details: Lee College LVN-RN transition track is a 60-credit program that begins each fall and takes 3.5 semesters to complete. Three core nursing class requirements will be waived upon completion of a transition course specifically designed to impart the critical thinking and clinical decision-making skills registered nurses need in their work. The remaining core nursing courses for this LVN-to-RN program in Texas include “Integrated Care of Patient with Common Health Care Needs,” “Integrated Care of Patient with Complex Health Care Needs,” and “Professional Nursing: Leadership and Management,” which functions as a capstone course.

For admission into this program, you must meet Lee College’s TSI requirements. You must apply separately to Lee College and its Nursing Division. You’ll have to take the HESI exam and complete all prerequisites with a minimum GPA of 2.5. If your application meets the college’s minimum requirements, it will be evaluated using a system that assigns points for high test scores and grades. Lee College’s LVN-RN transition track is only available to applicants with current, unrestricted LVN licenses.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Lee College LVN-to-RN Students

• In 2021, 83 percent of Lee College’s ADN graduates passed the NCLEX-RN.
• Thirty-four students received ADN degrees from Lee College in 2019-2020.
• Lee College offers a Healthcare Spanish course for nurses who will be interacting with Spanish-speaking patients.
• Lee College has articulation agreements with Lamar University, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Texas Women's University, and Chamberlain University to facilitate seamless transition into these universities’ BSN programs.


24. Brazosport College - Lake Jackson


Brazosport College LVN-to-RN Program Details: Brazosport College’s 60-credit LVN to ADN track is a three-semester program that begins in the summer and ends the following spring. Brazosport College grants credit to students for skills they already learned in their LVN licensure program if students are able to demonstrate their mastery of those skills through examination or substitution.

One of the first classes you’ll take is a transition class that concentrates on the competencies you’ll need in your new role as an RN. Other core nursing classes include “Health Assessment,” “Pharmacology,” and “Professional Nursing: Leadership & Management.” All core nursing classes must be taken in sequence. Plan to spend three hours studying for every hour you spend in the classroom.

There are always more applicants to this LVN-to-RN program in Texas than there are spaces, so the admission process is highly competitive. You must submit separate applications to Brazosport College and the LVN to ADN track. At a minimum, you’ll need to complete all prerequisites with a grade of “C” or higher and get a passing score on your HESI exam. But most students admitted into this program have a GPA that’s 3.0 or above and high scores on their HESI exams. Only students with a current, unencumbered LVN license can be accepted into this program.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Brazosport College LVN-to-RN Students

• In 2021, 85 percent of Brazosport College ADN graduates passed the NCLEX-RN.
• In 2020, Brazosport College awarded 25 ADN degrees.
• Brazosport College participates in Texas’s Reverse Transfer Initiative (TRTI), which is designed to allow students to pursue ADN degrees and BSN degrees concurrently at public, four-year universities in Texas.


25. Hill College – Hillsboro


Hill College LVN-to-RN Program Details: The LVN to ADN Transition program at Hill College is generally considered one of the best LVN-to-RN programs in Texas because its NCLEX-RN rates are consistently high. But it’s also considered to be one of the best LVN-to-RN programs in Texas for working LVNs in particular because one of its options is a hybrid format means that students will not be required to take off as much time from work. Under the hybrid model, Hill College’s lecture classes are offered online, and face-to-face requirements only include major exams (at a center on campus) and 12 hours of clinical practicum each week.

This LVN to ADN is an accelerated program. Once you’ve completed a course called “Clinical-Licensed Vocational Nursing (LVN) Training,” you’ll be given credit for your LVN education equivalent to the first semester of Hill College’s traditional ADN curriculum. Other courses in the core nursing curriculum include “Complex Concepts of Adult Health,” “Advanced Concepts of Adult Health,” and “Nursing in Health and Illness.” The program is offered at Hill College’s Johnson County campus for students who start the program in even years and at Hill College’s Hill County College for students who start the program in odd years.

This LVN-to-RN program in Texas is open to paramedics as well as licensed vocational nurses. You must meet Hill College’s TSI requirements, take the TEAS exam, and complete prerequisites with a grade of “B” or higher. LVN applicants must hold active, unencumbered Texas LVN licensure.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Hill College LVN-to-RN Students

• In 2021, Hill College’s ADN graduates had a 95 percent NCLEX-RN pass rate.
• Hill College gave out 20 ADN degrees in 2021.
• Hill College partners with Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center on an RN to BSN program that allows qualified ADN graduates to attain their BSN degrees in as few as two semesters.


26. Del Mar College - Corpus Christi


Del Mar College LVN-to-RN Program Details: Del Mar College’s 60-credit LVN/Paramedic to RN Transition track accepts 10 to 20 students every year. Classes begin in the fall semester, and the entire course of study takes three semesters to complete. Upon completing three nursing courses that focus on core concepts essential to RN practice, students pursuing this track will advance to the second year of the traditional ADN curriculum. The required curriculum includes courses like “Introduction to Ethics,” “Professional Nursing Concepts,” and a capstone class called “Health Care Concepts IV.”

This accelerated LVN-to-RN program in Texas awards students 14 credits toward their ADN degree at the end of their third semester through an evaluation of their professional credentials. Clinical rotations typically entail one eight-hour or 12-hour practicum every week and take place at Christus Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi and other healthcare facilities throughout Corpus Christi.

This program is only open to LVNs and paramedics with active, unrestricted licenses in Texas. All prerequisites must be completed with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher. You must meet the college’s TSI readiness requirements and pass the ATI TEAS. You must also be able to show proof that you’ve had professional experience in your field of licensure.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Del Mar College LVN-to-RN Students

• Del Mar College’s NCLEX-RN pass rate in 2021 was 82 percent.
• In addition to its LVN/Paramedic to RN Transition and traditional ADN tracks, Del Mar College also offers an online RN to BSN program.
• Del Mar College gave out 147 ADN degrees during the 2019-2020 academic year.


27. Blinn College – Brenham


Blinn College LVN-to-RN Program Details: Entry into Blinn College’s LVN-Transition Program is highly competitive because the program is widely lauded as one of the best LVN-to-RN programs in Texas. All prerequisite classes must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher before you begin this program, but if you want to optimize your entry chances, you’ll maintain at least a “B” average and complete as many of your co-requisites as you can before you apply. You’ll also need to be TSI-compliant and score “Proficient” or higher on the TEAS exam. All applicants must have a current, unrestricted Texas LVN license and at least one year of professional experience working as a licensed vocational nurse.

You’ll be awarded five credits upon verification of your active, unrestricted Texas LVN license. However, this credit won’t be put toward the completion of your 60-credit ADN degree until you’ve completed six credits of core nursing classes during your first semester. Core nursing courses you’ll take during subsequent semesters of this LVN-to-RN program in Texas include “Complex Concepts of Adult Health,” “Advanced Concepts of Adult Health,” and “Professional Nursing: Leadership and Management.”

Students will develop clinical competencies through training exercises utilizing the Blinn College District Simulation and Clinical Labs. You’ll also spend at least two days a week in clinical rotations at hospitals and other healthcare facilities throughout Brenham and adjacent communities in Washington County and other parts of east-central Texas.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Blinn College LVN-to-RN Students

• Blinn College’s NCLEX-RN pass rate in 2021 was 94 percent.
• In 2023, Blinn College gave out 59 ADN degrees.
• The Aggie Student-Centered Express Nursing Degree (ASCEND) Program is a partnership between Blinn College and the Texas A&M School of Nursing to facilitate RN to BSN transitions.
• In conjunction with Sam Houston State University, Blinn College offers an online RN to BSN program.


28. College of the Mainland - Texas City


College of the Mainland LVN-to-RN Program Details: You can’t apply to College of the Mainland’s LVN-RN transition track until you complete all prerequisite courses with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher. Other admission criteria include a score of 75 percent or higher on the Math, Reading, Grammar, Basic Vocabulary, and A&P sections of the HESI A2 and either attendance at a Nursing Information Session or a meeting with one of College of the Mainland’s Nursing Advisors.

Once admitted into this LVN-to-RN program in Texas, you’ll begin coursework in either the summer or fall semester. College of the Mainland’s LVN-RN transition track is an accelerated program; after you complete the lecture and clinical components of a transition course designed to highlight the differences between LVN and RN practice, you’ll be awarded 14 credits toward the completion of the college’s traditional ADN degree.

Core nursing coursework focuses on the specific needs of the patient demographics you’ll be caring for in your new role. You’ll take classes like “Mental Health Nursing,” “Nursing Care of the Childbearing and Childrearing Family,” and “Complex Concepts of Adult Health.” It will take you three semesters to complete COM’s 60-credit curriculum.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential College of the Mainland LVN-to-RN Students

• In 2021, the NCLEX-RN pass rate for College of the Mainland ADN graduates was 82 percent.
• Eighty-three students graduated from College of the Mainland with ADN degrees throughout 2019-2020.
• COM offers a hybrid RN to BSN track.


29. Lamar State College-Port Arthur - Port Arthur


Lamar State College-Port Arthur LVN-to-RN Program Details: The 60-credit Upward Mobility Nursing Program at Lamar State College-Port Arthur is thought to be one of the best LVN-to-RN programs in Texas because of its consistently high NCLEX-RN scores and also because it’s one of the few LVN to RN programs expressly developed to meet the unique learning needs of licensed vocational nurses. Lecture courses meet Monday through Wednesday at Lamar State College’s campus in Port Arthur. The program takes one year (three semesters) to complete.

You’ll spend the year before you officially enter the program completing prerequisites. During your first semester, you’ll take “Concept-based Transition to Professional Nursing Practice,” a course introducing you to the essential differences between licensed vocational and registered nursing. During subsequent semesters, your coursework will include “Microbiology,” “Health Care Concepts,” and “Professional Nursing Concepts.” To continue in this program, you must maintain an overall average score of 75 percent.

You must earn a grade of “C” or higher to be considered for admission into this program. You must score 75 percent or higher on HESI Admission Assessment (A2) exam. This program is only available to students with active, unencumbered LVN licenses. New students enter this LVN-to-RN program in Texas in the spring semester.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Lamar State College-Port Arthur LVN-to-RN Students

• The NCLEX-RN pass rate in 2021 for Lamar State College-Port Arthur was 91 percent.
• Lamar State College-Port Arthur awarded 47 ADN degrees during the 2019-2020 academic year.


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WHAT IS THE STARTING SALARY FOR NEW GRADUATES OF LVN-TO-RN PROGRAMS IN TEXAS?


The average starting wage for graduates of LVN-to-RN programs in Texas is $61,950. This works out to $29.78 an hour, $1,191 a week, or $5,160 a month.

Hourly$29.78
Weekly$1,191
Monthly$5,160
Annual$61,950
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)



WHAT IS THE AVERAGE SALARY FOR GRADUATES OF LVN-TO-RN PROGRAMS IN TEXAS?


Graduates of Texas LVN-to-RN programs average $84,320 annually. This is equal to $40.54 an hour, $1,622 a week, or $7,030 a month. LVN-to-RN grads typically hit this benchmark in their 12th year of RN practice.

Hourly$40.54
Weekly$1,622
Monthly$7,030
Annual$84,320
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)



HOW MUCH DOES THE AVERAGE SALARY GROW WITH EXPERIENCE FOR GRADUATES OF LVN-TO-RN PROGRAMS IN TEXAS?


As graduates of LVN-to-RN programs in Texas gain experience, they also acquire more knowledge and skills, which allows them to provide more specialized care, thereby making them more highly prized employees. An RN with one to four years of experience earns 8 percent more than an RN freshly out of a Texas LVN-to-RN program, while an RN with five to nine years of experience earns 29 percent more. By the time you’ve acquired 20 or more years of experience, you can expect to make 70 percent more than an RN in Texas who has recently transitioned from practicing as an LVN.

Level of Experience Hourly Weekly Monthly Annual
Entry-Level $29.78$1,191$5,160$61,950
1-4 Years of Experience $32.12$1,285$5,570$66,810
5-9 Years of Experience $38.38$1,535$6,650$79,830
10-19 Years of Experience $46.26$1,851$8,020$96,230
20 Years or More Experience $50.61$2,024$8,770$105,270
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)



LVN VS. RN SALARY IN TEXAS: HOW MUCH MORE CAN YOU EARN AS AN RN?


In Texas, registered nurses make salaries that are 60 percent higher than the salaries licensed vocational nurses earn.

RN Average
Annual Salary
LVN Average
Annual Salary
Difference
Number %
$84,320$52,850+$31,470+59.55%
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)



METRO WISE LVN VS. RN SALARY IN TEXAS: HOW MUCH MORE CAN YOU EARN AS AN RN?


The salary differential between RNs and LVNs in Texas is most pronounced in the cities of College Station and Bryan (73 percent), Texarkana (62 percent), Victoria (61 percent), and Houston, the Woodlands, and Sugar Land (60 percent.) That salary differential is smallest in the cities of Longview (43 percent), Tyler (48 percent), Odessa (48 percent), and Midland (48 percent.)

Metro RN Average
Annual Salary
LVN Average
Annual Salary
Difference
Number %
Abilene $71,440 $47,680 +$23,760 +49.83%
Amarillo $78,800 $49,460 +$29,340 +59.32%
Austin-Round Rock $86,720 $56,510 +$30,210 +53.46%
Beaumont-Port Arthur $78,980 $49,560 +$29,420 +59.36%
Brownsville-Harlingen $72,950 $47,690 +$25,260 +52.97%
College Station-Bryan $78,180 $48,000 +$30,180 +62.88%
Corpus Christi $77,050 $51,000 +$26,050 +51.08%
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington $87,850 $55,320 +$32,530 +58.80%
El Paso $75,630 $47,730 +$27,900 +58.45%
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land $88,880 $55,420 +$33,460 +60.38%
Killeen-Temple $82,040 $53,320 +$28,720 +53.86%
Laredo $76,390 $48,740 +$27,650 +56.73%
Longview $71,500 $49,930 +$21,570 +43.20%
Lubbock $77,710 $49,590 +$28,120 +56.70%
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission $75,800 $47,730 +$28,070 +58.81%
Midland $81,820 $54,610 +$27,210 +49.83%
Odessa $78,090 $52,680 +$25,410 +48.23%
San Angelo $75,010 $49,470 +$25,540 +51.63%
San Antonio-New Braunfels $83,040 $53,940 +$29,100 +53.95%
Sherman-Denison $75,770 $50,460 +$25,310 +50.16%
Texarkana $72,610 $44,930 +$27,680 +61.61%
Tyler $74,800 $50,510 +$24,290 +48.09%
Victoria $80,560 $50,110 +$30,450 +60.77%
Waco $79,780 $52,270 +$27,510 +52.63%
Wichita Falls $74,130 $48,390 +$25,740 +53.19%
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)



LVN VS. RN JOB OUTLOOK IN TEXAS: WHO HAS A BETTER JOB OUTLOOK?


Over the next decade, employment opportunities for Texas-based registered nurses will be slightly better than employment opportunities for Texas-based licensed vocational nurses (17.1 percent versus 16.8 percent.)

Occupation Employment New Employment
Growth (2020-2030)
2020 2030 Number %
LVN 69,68081,350+11,670+16.75%
RN 220,980258,720+37,740+17.08%
(Source: Careeronestop.org)




LVN VS. RN JOB OPENINGS IN TEXAS: WHO HAS MORE JOB OPENINGS?


RNs in Texas have more annual job openings than LVNs, both in terms of the creation of new jobs and of filling existing vacancies: 16,210 jobs versus 6,870 jobs.

Occupation New Replacement Annual Job Openings
(New + Replacement)
LVN 1,1675,7036,870
RN 3,77412,43616,210
(Source: Careeronestop.org)




BONUS! IS AN LVN-TO-RN PROGRAM WORTH IT IN TEXAS?


From a strictly monetary point of view, LVN-to-RN programs in Texas definitely pay off. Most LVN-to-RN Bridge tracks in the Lone Star State can be completed in fewer than two years at a cost of less than $10,000. At your very first job, straight out of school, you will be making $9,100 (17 percent) more than the average LVN salary. At that rate, it’s not unreasonable to think you can recoup the cost of your education in four years or less.



MY FINAL THOUGHTS


This article has provided an in-depth answer to the question, “What are the best LVN-to-RN programs in Texas?” by giving you a comprehensive guide to the 30 best LVN-to-RN programs in Texas for 2025. The ball is in your court now.

One thing to keep in mind as you mull over your options is that you won’t be giving up any of the things you love about nursing by transitioning from licensed vocational to registered nursing. Rather, you’ll be building upon skills and competencies you already have to give yourself more flexibility and authority to pursue the things you love about nursing. And that’s a move well worth making!



FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY OUR EXPERT


1. WHO ACCREDITS LVN-TO-RN PROGRAMS IN TEXAS?

The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredit Texas-based LVN-to-RN programs.



2. HOW MANY ACCREDITED LVN-TO-RN PROGRAMS ARE THERE IN TEXAS?

There are 50 accredited LVN-to-RN programs in Texas.

50


3. HOW MUCH MORE CAN I MAKE PER HOUR AFTER COMPLETING MY LVN-TO-RN IN TEXAS?

You’ll make $15.13 more per hour after you complete an LVN-to-RN bridge program in Texas.

RNLVNDifference
$40.54$25.41+$15.13


4. HOW MUCH MORE CAN I MAKE PER MONTH AFTER COMPLETING MY LVN-TO-RN IN TEXAS?

As a graduate of a Texas-based LVN-to-RN program, you’ll earn $2,630 more a month.

RNLVNDifference
$7,030$4,400+$2,630


5. HOW MUCH MORE CAN I MAKE PER YEAR AFTER COMPLETING MY LVN-TO-RN IN TEXAS?

Once you complete your LVN-to-RN training in Texas, you can expect to earn $31,470 more per year on average.

RNLVNDifference
$84,320$52,850+$31,470


6. LVN-TO-RN SALARY IN TEXAS VS. LVN-TO-RN SALARY IN THE NATION: WHO EARNS MORE?

Graduates of Texas LVN-to-RN programs earn 5 percent less on average than graduates of LVN-to-RN programs throughout the nation as a whole.


Average Texas
LVN-to-RN Annual Salary
Average National LVN-to-RN
Annual Salary
Difference
Number %
$84,320$89,010-$4,690-5.27%


Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH
Pattie Trumble is a nurse who worked in both California and New York for many years as an emergency room nurse. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and an Associate Degree in Nursing from the Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing. After 10 years of providing direct care, she went back to school and earned concurrent Master’s degrees in both public policy and public health from the University of California, Berkeley. Thereafter, she worked for various public health agencies in California at both the community and state levels providing economic and legislative analysis.



Best LPN/LVN to RN Programs in other States
  • Arkansas
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Illinois
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Louisiana
  • Maryland
  • Minnesota
  • Missouri
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • North Carolina
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  • Oklahoma
  • Tennessee
  • Virginia
  • Washington
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