LVN first or straight to RN in Tyler-Longview? What each path costs and pays
Starting as an LVN costs less up front at the Tyler-Longview area programs that publish costs. Starting as an LVN gets you working after 12 months.
The short answer
- Trinity Valley Community LVN, Palestine costs $8,300, less than the lowest-cost RN route, Tyler Junior College ADN, at $9,796.
- The LVN route pays a Tyler-Longview median of $59,550 after 12 months. RNs here earn $80,340, a gap of $20,790 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 | |
|---|---|---|
| Program | Trinity Valley Community LVN, Palestine | Tyler Junior College ADN |
| Cost | $8,300 | $9,796 |
| Time in school | 1 year, 46 credit hours | 24 months (AM cohort) or 16 months (PM FastTrack) |
| Pass rate, latest year | 70.0% (7 of 10) | 91.0% (182 of 200) |
| Local median wage | $59,550 | $80,340 |
| Payback time | 1.4 yrs | 1.2 yrs |
The two paths, step by step
LVN first
Step 1: LVN program
$8,300
1 year, 46 credit hours
Trinity Valley Community LVN, Palestine. Then take the NCLEX-PN.
Step 2: work as an LVN
$59,550 a year
Tyler-Longview median
Optional, while you finish prerequisites.
Straight to RN
Step 2: RN program
$9,796 to $13,265
7 choices in the area
Then take the NCLEX-RN.
Step 3: work as an RN
$80,340 a year
Tyler-Longview median
Payback in 1.2 to 1.7 years, depending on the program.
When each path tends to make sense
Built from the numbers above, not a recommendation.
- LVN first if you need a paycheck within about 12 months. You can earn the LVN median, $59,550, while you bridge.
Programs on each path
LVNTrinity Valley Community LVN, Palestine$8,300 · 70.0% pass (7 of 10)LVNPanola College LVN$8,804 · 91.1% pass (41 of 45)LVNNortheast Texas Community College LVN$9,249 · 100% pass (22 of 22)LVNTyler Junior College LVN$10,205 · 93.1% pass (95 of 102)LVNKilgore College LVNCost coming soon · 100% pass (6 of 6)RNTyler Junior College ADN$9,796 · 91.0% pass (182 of 200)RNNortheast Texas Community College ADN$10,474 · 93.6% pass (73 of 78)RNPanola College ADN$13,265 · 94.4% pass (51 of 54)RNKilgore College ADNCost coming soon · 100% pass (40 of 40)RNEast Texas Baptist University BSNCost coming soon · 100% pass (43 of 43)RNLeTourneau University BSNCost coming soon · 100% pass (13 of 13)RNUniversity of Texas at Tyler BSNCost coming soon · 87.2% pass (430 of 493)
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
- Northeast Texas Community College, Estimated Cost for ADN Traditional Curriculum (PDF), Undated estimate.
- Panola College, Cost of ADN Program (PDF), Undated estimate.
- Tyler Junior College, Nursing Selective Admission Guidelines, revised June 2025 (PDF), 2025-26 estimate.
- Northeast Texas Community College, Estimated Cost for LVN Curriculum (PDF), Undated estimate.
- Panola College, Estimated Cost of VN Program, revised 6/2025 (PDF), 2025-26 estimate.
- Trinity Valley Community College, Vocational Nursing Program page, Undated estimate.
- Tyler Junior College, Nursing Selective Admission Guidelines, revised June 2025 (PDF), 2025-26 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), Tyler, 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