Exploring the Best Campus and Online BSN Programs in Texas

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio offers two BSN programs through their UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing: Traditional Track is designed for students who are not registered nurses but who have completed two years of a bachelor’s degree, including general education and prerequisite credits. This program allows students to obtain their degrees in just 22 months. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing: Accelerated Track allows students to earn a nursing degree in 15 months. This program is for individuals who already have a bachelor’s degree but who are not registered nurses.

With more than 100 nursing scholarships available, both programs are among the best and most affordable BSN programs in the state. They also boast some of the best NCLEX-RN passage rates in Texas with a passage rate for first-time test takers exceeding 98%.

The University of Texas at Tyler has two Nursing BSN Degree programs and both result in a BSN degree. One track is for students who are already registered nurses while the other is for students who do not possess their RN credentials.

The Nursing BSN Degree track for non-RNs provides the entire curriculum at the Longview or Palestine campuses. Students complete clinicals at approved facilities close to the home campus. Hands-on training also comes through state-of-the-art simulation labs while under the supervision of highly experienced RN preceptors (i.e., clinical nurse instructors). Students receive top-notch training with an NCLEX-RN first-time passage rate well above the national average.

The Nursing RN-BSN Track requires incoming students to already be RNs, and the curriculum is entirely online. While no campus visits are needed, a limited amount of clinical experience is required to graduate. Students choose between part-time and full-time study with full-time students graduating in just one year.

Students seeking a bachelor’s degree in nursing have four undergraduate nursing programs to choose from at Texas Tech University. All of them are part of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing, which was selected as a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League of Nursing.

The Traditional BSN track is for those who have neither RN licensing nor a bachelor’s degree. The RN to BSN program is for RNs who want a BSN but currently have an ADN degree. The Second Degree program is for non-nurses who already have a bachelor’s degree and want to switch careers. Lastly, the Veteran to BSN program is designed for students with prior medical experience obtained through military service.

Regardless of track, students are trained by some of the best faculty and preceptors from any of the BSN programs in Texas, as evidenced by a first-time NCLEX-RN passage rate of 95%. Students also have access to excellent career and academic services like the Students SUCCESS Program.

At Concordia University Texas, prospective nursing students can enroll in a 16-month accelerated hybrid BSN program. This program does not require any medical experience; however, at least 60 prior college credits are needed before entry to graduate in the anticipated time frame. To provide the highest quality nursing training in the most flexible manner possible, the 63 credit curriculum is broken down into three components.

The first component is classroom training, which is delivered online. This coursework is the same as what traditional nursing students complete with the same overall time frame. The second component is the hands-on simulations and is completed in-person at the Concordia University Texas learning site in Austin. Third are the clinical rotations, which students complete at a partner hospital. This learning format is very effective with an NCLEX-RN passage rate as high as 100%.

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) has three undergraduate nursing programs available. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Second Degree Accelerated Option Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs follow the traditional learning model with students attending class on campus. Students interested in learning online will appreciate the RN to BSN online program. Consisting of 27 credits, this accelerated program allows most students to graduate in one year. For added flexibility, classes last just seven weeks.

Because students are already licensed registered nurses, much of the curriculum covers high-level concepts like leadership, management, and organizational concepts and theories. Specific courses include Professional Mobility, Issues in Nursing, Leadership in Nursing, Research, and Community Health.