Best ADN Programs in Texas (2026 Rankings)

Galen College of Nursing's San Antonio campus offers a 2-year, on-campus Associate Degree in Nursing built around a clinical-focused curriculum. The program runs entirely on campus with hands-on clinical training baked in from day one, and it admits new students four times per year, so you are not stuck waiting for a single fall cohort. A separate LPN/LVN-to-ADN Bridge track is available for licensed practical or vocational nurses who want to advance to RN without starting from scratch. Admission requires proof of high school graduation or equivalent, an entrance assessment (Galen accepts the TEAS among others), and for bridge applicants, proof of active PN/VN licensure. Graduates sit for the NCLEX-RN and earn the same registered nurse license as any BSN graduate.

Galen is a private, for-profit institution, so tuition runs $16,848 per year regardless of residency. The program's 81% graduation rate is notably strong for a for-profit ADN program and is the primary driver of its Hakia Score of 88.8, the top rank in this Texas ADN set. The trade-off is cost: at roughly $33,700 in tuition over two years, Galen costs far more than a Texas community college ADN, so weigh that against the scheduling flexibility and the multi-campus network. For students who want four entry points per year and an LVN bridge option without the community-college waitlist, Galen's structure is a genuine differentiator. Once working as an RN, the national median wage is $97,550 per year according to BLS.

Rio Grande Valley College in Pharr offers an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (ADN) that the school states takes approximately 45 weeks to complete across 60 semester credit hours. The curriculum emphasizes clinical reasoning, evidence-based practice, patient care technologies, and coordinating care with interdisciplinary teams. The program is on campus; a prelicensure ADN requires in-person clinical training and this program is no exception. Graduates become eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam and, upon passing, hold a full registered nurse license.

RGV College is a private, for-profit institution. Tuition data is not included in the available figures, so prospective students should contact the college directly to confirm current costs and financial aid options. The program's Hakia Score of 88.3 places it second in this Texas ADN ranking, though its 72% graduation rate is the key metric to watch: roughly 7 in 10 students who start the program finish it. No NCLEX pass rate is stated on the scraped program page, so that figure should be requested directly from the admissions office before enrolling. The national median RN wage is $97,550 per year per BLS, the same credential outcome an ADN delivers as a BSN.

Northeast Texas Community College in Mount Pleasant runs a four-semester (fall/spring/fall/spring), 60-credit-hour Associate of Applied Science in Nursing. The program follows a concept-based curriculum covering pathophysiology, clinical judgment, patient safety, pharmacology, and evidence-based practice. Prerequisites include Anatomy and Physiology I and II, Microbiology, Introductory Statistics, an English or Speech course, a Philosophy course, and Lifespan Growth and Development, so plan for pre-nursing coursework before the nursing semesters begin. Clinical rotations are in person and integrated across all four semesters. Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN and earn a full registered nurse license. No LPN-to-RN bridge track is mentioned on the program page.

As a Texas public community college, NTCC charges $2,808 per year in-state tuition and $3,960 per year out-of-state, making it one of the most affordable accredited ADN programs in this ranking. The Hakia Score of 86.3 reflects that value alongside program quality indicators. The graduation rate of 56% is lower than the other schools in this set, meaning roughly half of admitted students complete the program on time, which is worth discussing with an advisor before you apply. No NCLEX pass rate is stated on the program page; contact the nursing department directly for the most recent cohort results. RNs earn a national median of $97,550 per year according to BLS, the same figure whether the credential is an ADN or a BSN.

Lee College in Baytown operates an ACEN-connected Associate Degree Nursing program with two distinct tracks: a generic (traditional) track for students new to nursing and an LVN-RN Transition track for licensed vocational nurses. Both tracks are built around four semesters of nursing coursework layered onto 24 credits of prerequisites including two semesters of Anatomy and Physiology, Microbiology, English Composition, General Psychology, Lifespan Development, and an arts or humanities elective. Clinical hours run through affiliates across the Houston-Galveston region, with clinical courses in each of the four nursing semesters totaling hundreds of contact hours. LVN students entering the transition track receive a waiver for first-semester skills and clinical courses and rejoin the sequence at Semester 2. The program page notes that the curriculum meets Texas state education requirements for the ADN license; it also meets requirements in all states except Minnesota, Nebraska, and New York. Graduates sit for the NCLEX-RN for a full registered nurse license.

At $3,915 per year in-state and $4,295 out-of-state, Lee College is priced squarely within the community-college range and serves one of the largest, most active healthcare labor markets in the country. The Hakia Score of 85.4 is anchored by that cost and regional placement strength. The 53% graduation rate is the lowest in this group, so ask the nursing department about completion timelines and support resources before committing. No specific NCLEX pass rate is published on the program page. The national median RN wage is $97,550 per year per BLS, earned with an ADN just as with a BSN.

Brazosport College's two-year ADN program in Lake Jackson, TX launches each Summer II and runs Monday through Thursday, blending on-campus coursework with clinical rotations at CHI St. Luke's Health Brazosport, UTMB-Angleton Hospital, Sweeny Hospital, Matagorda Regional Medical Center, and Memorial Hermann-Pearland. Clinicals run 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and cover adult, pediatric, and maternal nursing care under experienced faculty supervision. Admission is competitive: applicants must earn a minimum HESI Conversion Score of 85 and attend an in-person nursing information session within six months of the December application window.

At $2,613 in-state tuition per year, Brazosport is one of the most affordable ADN paths in Texas. The program posted an 89% completion rate in both 2024 and 2025, and its NCLEX-RN first-time pass rates were 75% in 2024 and 83% in 2025 (unofficial). A 56% institutional graduation rate and a Hakia Score of 84.7 place it fifth among Texas ADN programs in this ranking. The 81% transfer rate into four-year programs in 2025 makes it a strong launchpad for an RN-to-BSN bridge once you are working as a licensed nurse.

Texas State Technical College's ADN program in Waco is a specialized LVN-to-RN Transition program, not a generic associate entry point. You must already hold an LVN license to enroll. The 20-month hybrid program runs as day classes at two campus locations, Harlingen and Sweetwater, and combines classroom instruction with hands-on clinical training designed to build on your existing vocational nursing foundation. Upon completing the program's requirements, graduates become eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN and earn a full RN license. The Fall 2026 application window runs April 1 through July 10.

The estimated all-in program cost is $18,420, with in-state tuition listed at $7,212 per year through IPEDS. TSTC's institutional graduation rate is 46%, and the program carries a Hakia Score of 83.6. TSTC backs the program with a money-back guarantee: if a graduate does not receive a job offer within six months of completing the program, TSTC refunds tuition. The national median RN salary is $97,550 per year per BLS. This program fits experienced LVNs ready to advance their license without starting over in a traditional two-year ADN.

McLennan Community College's two-year ADN program in Waco leads to an Associate of Applied Science degree and prepares graduates to sit for the NCLEX-RN. The program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and approved by the Texas Board of Nursing. MCC admits a new cohort every fall and every spring, giving applicants two entry points per year. Licensed Vocational Nurses may apply for advanced placement into the program, with additional requirements applying. All applicants must pass the HESI A2 RN Entrance Exam and complete TSI assessment in reading, writing, and math before the application deadline. Small class sizes mean spots fill quickly each cycle.

In-state tuition is $3,720 per year per IPEDS. The program's institutional graduation rate is 39%, and MCC holds a Hakia Score of 80.0, placing it seventh among Texas ADN programs in this ranking. The scraped program page does not publish a current NCLEX pass rate, but ACEN's public disclosure requirements mean that data is available directly through ACEN. Graduates earn the same RN license as BSN holders and may continue to a bachelor's degree via RN-to-BSN transfer. The national median RN salary is $97,550 per year according to the BLS.

Tarrant County College's Associate of Applied Science in Nursing is housed at the Trinity River Campus East in Fort Worth and is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and approved by the Texas Board of Nursing. The 60-credit-hour program prepares graduates to sit for the NCLEX-RN. Nursing is a selective-admission program at TCC: after general admission to the college, students submit a separate nursing application and must meet additional entry requirements. The program is approved by the Texas Veterans Commission, so VA educational benefits apply. TCC also supports concurrent enrollment, letting students pursue an RN-to-BSN at a partner university while completing the AAS.

Total program tuition for in-county students is $4,440 across 60 credit hours, with in-state tuition at $3,537 per year per IPEDS. Published student achievement data show a first-time NCLEX pass rate of 83% for the Spring 2021 cohort and 87% for Fall 2021 (149 of 171 students). On-time completion rates were 51% and 62% for those same cohorts. TCC's institutional graduation rate is 34%, and it carries a Hakia Score of 79.8. With an enrollment of nearly 44,000, TCC offers scale, resources, and multiple transfer pathways that smaller community colleges cannot match. The national median RN salary is $97,550 per year per the BLS.

The College of Health Care Professions (CHCP) offers its on-campus LVN-to-ADN program at the Houston-Northwest campus as a full-time, concept-based curriculum designed for currently licensed vocational nurses ready to expand their scope of practice. The approximately 20-month program combines classroom instruction, simulation and skills labs, and hands-on clinical rotations covering assessment, clinical judgment, and care coordination across the lifespan. There is no traditional open-admissions track; applicants must hold an active Texas LVN license to enroll. Graduates earn an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing and become eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN, the same licensing exam required of every registered nurse regardless of degree level.

CHCP is a private for-profit institution with an enrollment of roughly 4,530 students across its Texas campuses. The program carries a Hakia Score of 79.8, which anchors its rank among the top ADN programs in Texas for 2026. The reported graduation rate is 47%. Tuition figures are not published on the program page; prospective students should request a net price estimate directly. Because this track is restricted to LVNs, it is the wrong fit for applicants without vocational nursing credentials. For those who do qualify, it offers a structured, employer-connected path from LVN to fully licensed RN in under two years. BLS wage data puts the national median for registered nurses at $97,550 per year.

Odessa College's Associate Degree Nursing program, housed in the School of Health Sciences, runs two parallel tracks at its Odessa and Andrews campuses. The traditional track is open to applicants without prior nursing licensure and completes in 17 months. The LVN-to-RN transition track awards advanced placement credit for selected nursing courses and finishes in 12 months for currently licensed Texas LVNs. Both tracks share the same non-nursing prerequisite coursework and deliver clinical education at hospitals, health care agencies, and community organizations throughout the region. The program is approved by the Texas Board of Nursing and holds ACEN Continuing Accreditation, the national standard for associate-degree nursing programs. Admission requires passing the HESI A2 exam in person and attending a mandatory program information session before submitting an application.

Odessa College is a public community college serving roughly 9,981 students, which keeps costs low: in-state tuition is $3,240 per year, one of the most affordable ADN options in West Texas. The program carries a Hakia Score of 78.4 and a reported graduation rate of 37%, reflecting the competitive, clinically intensive nature of nursing education. No NCLEX pass rate is published on the program page. Graduates sit for the same NCLEX-RN as every other RN candidate and earn a full registered nurse license. The BLS national median for RNs is $97,550 per year. The dual-track structure and low tuition make Odessa College particularly practical for West Texas students who want to enter nursing quickly and, if desired, complete an online RN-to-BSN bridge later while working as an RN.