Online RN to BSN Programs in Texas: Best Schools for Current RNs
Are you a registered nurse in Texas looking to advance with a BSN? This EduMed guide walks you through the state’s best online RN to BSN bridge programs. It includes details on how these programs work, admission requirements, tuition, and answers to frequently asked questions.
The following professionals lent their expertise to this article:
Healthcare Education Nursing Pre-Nursing Editorial Senior Care Dementia Care
Nursing Nursing Ed.How They Work: Online RN to BSN Programs in Texas
With an online RN to BSN program in Texas, RNs with an associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a diploma in nursing can advance their careers, qualify for leadership positions, become more competitive in the job market, and boost their earnings.
These programs have 100% online coursework, though many require in-person practicums completed on campus, at a third-party facility, or through an employer.
Let’s take a closer look at some of today’s best online RN to BSN programs in Texas, including how much they cost, how you can get in, and how they work online.
RN to BSN – Sam Houston University
The RN to BSN program at Sam Houston University has fully online nursing courses that can be completed in just three semesters. Both part-time and full-time options are available.
This program is designed for current students or graduates of community college ADN programs who have passed or will be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN.
Earning this BSN will open doors for RNs who want positions of leadership, enhanced career advancement opportunities, and the potential to pursue higher education.
Duration: 1 year
Mode: Online
Cost: $6,740 per semester
Admissions Requirements:
- Unencumbered Texas RN license
- Cumulative GPA of 2.5
- Compliance with readiness requirements
Curriculum:
- Mathematics for Managerial Decision Making
- Older Adult Health Management
- Introduction to Research
- RN-to-BSN Transition
- Community Nursing
- Leadership and Management
- Legal and Ethical Issues in Nursing
- Informatics
- Rural Health Nursing
- Nursing Genetics and Genomics
Programs that might interest you:
RN to BSN – Texas A&M University-College Station
Texas A&M University’s RN-to-BSN program is a 30-hour curriculum that includes multiple clinicals within the community. Admission takes place in the spring and summer terms each year.
Learning outcomes for this flexible, online program include enhanced ability to provide nursing care, nursing leadership skills, and participation as a valuable member of the healthcare profession. Transfer students, including those completing their ADNs through a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) to RN, paramedic bridge, or diploma program need to already have 35 transferable nursing credits.
Duration: 3 to 4 semesters
Mode: Online
Cost: $5,775 per semester
Admissions Requirements:
- Prerequisite, nursing, and associate degree GPA minimums
- Timed verbal responses and written assessments
- Community service
- Leadership, extracurricular, and professional activities
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score for international applicants
Curriculum:
- Nursing Dimensions and Informatics
- Application of Evidence-Based Practice
- Health Promotion Across the Lifespan
- Leadership and Management
- Pathophysiology and Pharmacology
- Health Assessment
- Community Health
- Care of Older Adults
- Professional Practice Issues
RN to BSN Online – Lamar University
The RN to BSN online program at Lamar University is flexible enough for RNs to continue working while going to school.
The program prepares RNs for professional nursing practice in a variety of healthcare settings while giving them the knowledge, ability, and confidence to pursue high-level positions.
Flexible project-based practicum experience leads to mastery of industry-relevant tasks, and existing skills are enhanced for pursing a master’s degree. Lamar even allows you to complete just three courses before attempting your NCLEX-RN.
Duration: 13 months
Mode: Online
Cost: $10,356
Admissions Requirements:
- Online application
- Current RN license
- Cumulative GPA of 2.5
Curriculum:
- Holistic Health Assessment
- Nursing Theories and Online Education
- Nursing Inquiry and Evidence-Based Practice
- Care of Communities
- Leadership and Management
- Synthesis in Professional Nursing
- Compromised Multiple Health States
Responding to FAQs for Texas RN to BSN Students
Since most students in your shoeshave similar questions about RN to BSN online programs, we have provided answers to the most commonly asked questions below. Included are those related to cost, program length, and admissions qualifications in addition to information on online learning and income potential.
Can I earn my Texas RN to BSN online while working full time?
Absolutely. Some RN to BSN programs are completely online with no on-campus requirements. Many courses are asynchronous, so working RNs can schedule their studies around other responsibilities.
The ability to take 2-4 classes at a time depending on what your schedule allows is another way these programs are flexible for busy RNs. Most programs, though online, also have students engage in discussions and interactive activities to not just demonstrate learning of the material but also provide the connection and support most students need to be successful in school and in their nursing careers.
Hands-on practicums can usually be completed at a healthcare facility where you already work as an RN.
Expert Insight
While it’s great to plan ahead, keep an open mind. I planned to work full-time as an RN throughout my online graduate studies. But as my course load became heavier, I had to switch gears and go part-time at work. This ended up working out better for me in the long run. Being flexible is essential when navigating your educational journey.
How much do online RN to BSN programs cost in Texas, and how long do they take?
The cost of tuition for an RN to BSN program varies, but expect to pay $10,000 to $20,000 for the entire program if you’re a Texas resident. Cost and program length depend on tuition, obviously, but also on how many transfer credits you have and how many classes you take at a time.
These programs can take as little as a year when taken full time and two or three years when taken part time. Program structure also affects length with accelerated programs taking the least amount of time but requiring concentrated effort for that period.
What are the requirements to get into an online RN to BSN program in Texas?
You need an ADN or a diploma in nursing and a current RN license to complete an RN to BSN bridge program. Most schools also have minimum GPA as one of their requirements for admissions.
While some schools only admit students with active RN licenses, others allow students — who plan to take the NCLEX-RN soon — to enroll in up to three classes in their RN to BSN programs before they need a license.
Some schools also have requirements that include community service, leadership, extracurricular, and professional activities. There are also some programs that have no prerequisite requirement, but you might still need letters of recommendation and a certain amount of professional nursing experience.
What is the potential for an RN after completing an RN to BSN program in Texas?
The potential for an RN who completes an RN to BS bridge program include increased career prospects with better job opportunities and higher salaries.
Jobs that include more leadership opportunities are also more available to RNs with BSNs. Some employers, especially hospitals, are more likely to hire RNs that have bachelor’s degrees over those with an ADN or nursing diploma because they know patient outcomes are impacted positively the more BSNs they have on staff. This is because RNs with bachelor’s degrees have improved critical thinking skills, can take on more complex patient care responsibilities, and have a wider base of knowledge.
Are all online RN to BSN programs in Texas alike?
Yes and no. All online RN to BSN bridge programs in Texas build on the foundational knowledge and skills RNs already have through their training and experience. Program overlap is found mainly in the general education requirements, core nursing courses, and flexible coursework.
Differences among the RN to BSN bridge programs include how each emphasizes topics like leadership and community health, for example. Also, some programs place more emphasis on readiness for higher education, such as pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Nurse Practitioner education, or even a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).
Salary Outlook with a BSN in Texas
Texas is big enough that its nursing market splits several different ways depending on where you land. Major systems like Houston Methodist, Baylor Scott & White, and UT Southwestern have gotten choosier about requiring a bachelor's degree for specialty and supervisory roles, and that competition pulls pay toward the top tier of this range. Cross into the state's many rural and border communities, though, and the priority shifts to simply keeping units staffed. Associate-degree RNs land work fast there, usually in the bottom half of this range.
Texas also belongs to the Nurse Licensure Compact, making it easy for nurses trained elsewhere to start working immediately.
Registered Nurses
| Area | 10th Percentile | Median | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene, TX | $63,890 | $80,240 | $100,710 |
| Amarillo, TX | $65,690 | $86,850 | $122,700 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $73,440 | $97,890 | $127,510 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $63,280 | $81,180 | $106,710 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $60,020 | $81,090 | $115,050 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $64,830 | $83,090 | $118,140 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $62,710 | $82,690 | $99,280 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $73,400 | $101,420 | $129,710 |
| Eagle Pass, TX | $58,670 | $73,660 | $101,930 |
| El Paso, TX | $61,230 | $86,100 | $117,220 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $74,860 | $99,830 | $130,440 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $75,130 | $93,440 | $119,390 |
| Laredo, TX | $60,830 | $77,050 | $95,510 |
| Longview, TX | $61,610 | $80,330 | $107,610 |
| Lubbock, TX | $69,990 | $81,480 | $107,180 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $64,110 | $80,540 | $99,470 |
| Midland, TX | $64,400 | $82,120 | $103,990 |
| Odessa, TX | $71,690 | $81,370 | $104,080 |
| San Angelo, TX | $66,270 | $80,080 | $117,600 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $66,430 | $94,370 | $122,990 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | $70,260 | $83,700 | $103,290 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $60,960 | $80,610 | $99,370 |
| Texas | $67,120 | $95,970 | $127,950 |
| Tyler, TX | $62,740 | $80,340 | $98,160 |
| Victoria, TX | $65,150 | $83,680 | $103,510 |
| Waco, TX | $69,690 | $92,890 | $118,460 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | $62,870 | $83,280 | $103,990 |
Source: Registered Nurses, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2025
Showing 1 – 10 of 27 entries | Data does not reflect school-specific information.
