Nursing programs in the Abilene area: what they cost and what they pay
10 Board-approved programs in Abilene, Early, Sweetwater and Brownwood. RN programs with published costs range from $13,485 to $14,817, and registered nurses here earn a median $80,240.
Abilene trains BSN nurses at two places: Abilene Christian University runs its own program, and the Patty Hanks Shelton School of Nursing is a consortium school tied to Hardin-Simmons and McMurry. The published prices here come from the two-year colleges: Cisco College teaches nursing at its Abilene campus, where the associate degree is open only to licensed vocational nurses, and Texas State Technical College runs its LVN program in Sweetwater, about 40 miles west. Ranger College in Early and Howard Payne University in Brownwood are the options to the southeast.
Every program in the area
Grouped by license, then sorted by cost. Missing numbers sort last.
| Program | City | Cost | Pass rate | Length | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cisco College ADN | Abilene | $13,485to $13,845 | 97.1%33 of 34 | 3 semesters | 1.7 yrs |
| Texas State Technical College- West Texas ADN | Sweetwater | $14,817 | 63.4%26 of 41 | 12 months | 1.8 yrs |
| Ranger College ADN | Early | Not published | 91.7%22 of 24 | Data coming soon | Can't calculate: cost |
| Abilene Christian University BSN | Abilene | Not published | 97.2%35 of 36 | Data coming soon | Can't calculate: cost |
| Hardin-Simmons University BSN | Abilene | Not published | Data coming soon | Data coming soon | Can't calculate: cost |
| Howard Payne University BSN | Brownwood | Not published | 100%11 of 11 | Last two years of a four-year degree | Can't calculate: cost |
| Patty Hanks Shelton School of Nursing BSN | Abilene | Not published | 100%19 of 19 | Data coming soon | Can't calculate: cost |
| Program | City | Cost | Pass rate | Length | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cisco College LVN | Abilene | $12,838to $13,418 | 93.1%54 of 58 | 3 semesters | 2.1 yrsto 2.2 yrs |
| Texas State Technical College West Texas LVN | Sweetwater | $15,115 | 88.1%37 of 42 | 12 months | 2.5 yrs |
| Ranger College LVN | Early | Not published | 100%19 of 19 | Data coming soon | Can't calculate: cost |
Small groups: Howard Payne University BSN had 11 test takers; Patty Hanks Shelton School of Nursing BSN had 19 test takers; Ranger College LVN had 19 test takers. Pass rates: 1, 2
Quick findings
- Lowest-cost RN program: Cisco College ADN, from $13,485.
- Highest RN pass rate with 20+ test takers: Abilene Christian University BSN, 97.2% (35 of 36).
- Largest program: Cisco College LVN, with 58 first-time test takers in 2025.
- Highest LVN pass rate with 20+ test takers: Cisco College LVN, 54 of 58.
- RN vs LVN pay gap here: $19,290 a year at the median.
Generated from the table above. They change when the data does.
Two ways to become a nurse here
Using this area's real costs and wages.
Cisco College ADN, 3 semesters (LVN to RN). Median RN pay $80,240.
Cisco College LVN, 3 semesters. Median LVN pay $60,950 while you bridge.
The local job picture
Programs here are in Abilene, Brownwood, Early, and Sweetwater. Wages are for the Abilene, TX metropolitan area.
What changed
- Nov 2026Updated: Cisco College ADN, Texas State Technical College- West Texas ADN, Cisco College LVN, Texas State Technical College West Texas LVN.
- Apr 2026Updated: Cisco College ADN, Ranger College ADN, Texas State Technical College- West Texas ADN, Abilene Christian University BSN, Howard Payne University BSN, Patty Hanks Shelton School of Nursing BSN, Cisco College LVN, Ranger College LVN, Texas State Technical College West Texas LVN.
- Apr 2025Updated: Cisco College ADN, Ranger College ADN, Texas State Technical College- West Texas ADN, Abilene Christian University BSN, Howard Payne University BSN, Patty Hanks Shelton School of Nursing BSN, Cisco College LVN, Ranger College LVN, Texas State Technical College West Texas LVN.
- Apr 2024Updated: Cisco College ADN, Ranger College ADN, Texas State Technical College- West Texas ADN, Abilene Christian University BSN, Howard Payne University BSN, Patty Hanks Shelton School of Nursing BSN, Cisco College LVN, Ranger College LVN, Texas State Technical College West Texas LVN.
- Apr 2023Updated: Cisco College ADN, Ranger College ADN, Texas State Technical College- West Texas ADN, Abilene Christian University BSN, Howard Payne University BSN, Patty Hanks Shelton School of Nursing BSN, Cisco College LVN, Ranger College LVN, Texas State Technical College West Texas LVN.
- Apr 2022Updated: Cisco College ADN, Ranger College ADN, Texas State Technical College- West Texas ADN, Abilene Christian University BSN, Howard Payne University BSN, Patty Hanks Shelton School of Nursing BSN, Cisco College LVN, Ranger College LVN, Texas State Technical College West Texas LVN.
Sources and dates
- Texas Board of Nursing, Report of 2025 NCLEX-RN Examination Pass Rates (Board Meeting, April 2026, item 3.2.13), April 2026.
- Texas Board of Nursing, Report of 2025 NCLEX-PN Examination Pass Rates (Board Meeting, April 2026, item 3.2.12), April 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Abilene, TX, May 2025.
- Cisco College, Estimated Educational Cost, LVN-RN (ADN) Nursing Program, 2024-2025 (PDF, updated June 8, 2024), 2024-25 estimate.
- Texas State Technical College, SP27 RN Information Session Advisory Packet, LVN to ADN Transition estimated costs (PDF), Spring 2027 information packet.
- Cisco College, Estimated Educational Cost, Vocational Nursing Program, 2026-2027 (PDF, updated March 6, 2026), 2026-27 estimate.
- Texas State Technical College, LVN 26FA Information Session Advisory Packet, LVN Program Estimated Costs (PDF), Fall 2026 information packet.
Every number was checked against its source on Nov. 1, 2026. Spot an error? Report it. Program Outcomes is independent and not affiliated with any school or the Texas Board of Nursing. Our independence policy