LVN first or straight to RN in Wichita Falls? What each path costs and pays
Starting as an LVN costs less up front at the Wichita Falls area programs that publish costs.
The short answer
- Vernon College LVN costs $9,288, less than the lowest-cost RN route, Vernon College ADN, at $18,297.
- The LVN route pays a Wichita Falls median of $60,330. RNs here earn $83,280, a gap of $22,950 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 | Vernon College LVN | Vernon College ADN |
| Cost | $9,288 | $18,297 to $20,289 |
| Time in school | 3 semesters | 2 years after prerequisites (5 to 6 semesters) |
| Pass rate, latest year | 90.9% (60 of 66) | 91.4% (74 of 81) |
| Local median wage | $60,330 | $83,280 |
| Payback time | 1.5 yrs | 2.2 to 2.4 yrs |
The two paths, step by step
LVN first
Step 1: LVN program
$9,288
3 semesters
Vernon College LVN. Then take the NCLEX-PN.
Step 2: work as an LVN
$60,330 a year
Wichita Falls median
Optional, while you finish prerequisites.
Straight to RN
Step 2: RN program
$18,297
2 choices in the area
Then take the NCLEX-RN.
Step 3: work as an RN
$83,280 a year
Wichita Falls median
Payback in 2.2 to 2.2 years, depending on the program.
When each path tends to make sense
Built from the numbers above, not a recommendation.
Programs on each path
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
- Vernon College, VC ADN RN Generic Program Cost Analysis Fall 2025 (PDF), 2025-26 estimate.
- Vernon College, Summer 2025 LVN Cost Sheet, Vernon Day (PDF), Summer 2025 cohort 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), Wichita Falls, 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