LVN first or straight to RN in El Paso? What each path costs and pays
Starting as an LVN costs less up front at the El Paso area programs that publish costs.
The short answer
- El Paso Community College at Mission Del Paso LVN costs $8,242, less than the lowest-cost RN route, El Paso Community College ADN, at $10,698.
- The LVN route pays a El Paso median of $58,770. RNs here earn $86,100, a gap of $27,330 a year.
- No program in the area lists an LVN-to-RN bridge yet, so the full LVN-to-RN total is still missing.
Which path fits depends on how soon you need income and whether you have your prerequisites done. We don't recommend one.
Side by side
| LVN first | RN, ADN | RN, BSN | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Program | El Paso Community College at Mission Del Paso LVN | El Paso Community College ADN | Western Technical College BSN |
| Cost | $8,242 to $8,796 | $10,698 | $75,295 |
| Time in school | 3 semesters (traditional track); 5 semesters (evening/weekend track) | 4 semesters (60 credit hours) after prerequisites | 32 months (128 weeks, 120 credits) |
| Pass rate, latest year | 87.5% (42 of 48) | 86.0% (135 of 157) | 83.3% (30 of 36) |
| Local median wage | $58,770 | $86,100 | $86,100 |
| Payback time | 1.4 to 1.5 yrs | 1.2 yrs | 8.7 yrs |
The two paths, step by step
LVN first
Step 1: LVN program
$8,242
3 semesters (traditional track); 5 semesters (evening/weekend track)
El Paso Community College at Mission Del Paso LVN. Then take the NCLEX-PN.
Step 2: work as an LVN
$58,770 a year
El Paso median
Optional, while you finish prerequisites.
Straight to RN
Step 2: RN program
$10,698 to $75,295
5 choices in the area
Then take the NCLEX-RN.
Step 3: work as an RN
$86,100 a year
El Paso median
Payback in 1.2 to 8.7 years, depending on the program.
When each path tends to make sense
Built from the numbers above, not a recommendation.
Programs on each path
LVNEl Paso Community College at Mission Del Paso LVN$8,242 to $8,796 · 87.5% pass (42 of 48)RNEl Paso Community College ADN$10,698 · 86.0% pass (135 of 157)RNWestern Technical College BSN$75,295 · 83.3% pass (30 of 36)RNSouthwest University ADNCost coming soon · 79.7% pass (51 of 64)RNTexas Tech Health Science Center – Gayle Greve Hunt School of Nursing BSNCost coming soon · 81.1% pass (120 of 148)RNUniversity of Texas at El Paso BSNCost coming soon · 88.8% pass (293 of 330)
How to read this
- Costs are each school's published estimate and include licensing fees where the school lists them.
- Payback time is cost divided by 10% of the local median wage. Why we use 10%
- Pass rates under 20 test takers are marked as small groups.
Sources and dates
- El Paso Community College, ADN Approximate Costs AY2026-2027 (PDF), 2026-27 estimate.
- Western Technical College, Catalog Addendum REV. 6.2026 (PDF), 2026-27 estimate.
- El Paso Community College, VN Approximate Costs AY2026-2027, Traditional Track (PDF), 2026-27 estimate.
- 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), El Paso, TX, May 2025.
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