Nursing programs in the Houston area: what they cost and what they pay

Name: Nursing programs in the Houston area: cost, pass rate and local pay
Creator: Program Outcomes

43 Board-approved programs in Houston, Galveston, Alvin and 13 nearby towns. RN programs with published costs range from $6,333 to $101,080, and registered nurses here earn a median $99,830.

43 programs · 28 RN, 15 LVN · Updated Nov. 1, 2026

About this area

Houston has more nursing programs than any other area in this guide, and most of the low-cost ones are at community colleges. Lone Star College posts one cost sheet for all five of its campuses that run an associate degree, about $9,400 to $12,500 in district, and Lee, Alvin and Wharton County publish their own estimates in the same range. Houston City College (formerly Houston Community College), San Jacinto and College of the Mainland list per-credit tuition only. The public bachelor's programs are UTHealth Houston, UTMB in Galveston, Prairie View A&M and the University of Houston, and none of them posts a program total. At the top of the range, Chamberlain's two campuses list about $97,000 to $101,000 for the full degree, and The College of Health Care Professions charges $30,500 for its LVN certificate.

Programs

28 RN · 15 LVN

RN cost range

$6,333 to $101,080

Published estimates

RN median wage

$99,830

Houston metro ³

LVN median wage

$63,670

Houston metro ³

Compare LVN and RN paths here

Every program in the area

Grouped by license, then sorted by cost. Missing numbers sort last.

RN programs

Program	City	Cost	Pass rate	Length	Payback
Lee College ADN	Baytown	$6,333	95.1%39 of 41	2 years	0.6 yrs
Alvin Community College ADN	Alvin	$8,100	95.3%81 of 85	2 years	0.8 yrs
Lone Star ADN, CyFair	Cypress	$9,378to $12,517	94.6%53 of 56	Data coming soon	0.9 yrsto 1.3 yrs
Lone Star ADN, Kingwood	Kingwood	$9,378to $12,517	89.1%90 of 101	Two-year program (Basic Track)	0.9 yrsto 1.3 yrs
Lone Star ADN, Montgomery	Conroe	$9,378to $12,517	92.3%48 of 52	4 semesters	0.9 yrsto 1.3 yrs
Lone Star ADN, North Harris	Houston	$9,378to $12,517	84.9%90 of 106	Data coming soon	0.9 yrsto 1.3 yrs
Lone Star ADN, Tomball	Tomball	$9,378to $12,517	92.9%39 of 42	Data coming soon	0.9 yrsto 1.3 yrs
Wharton County Junior College ADN	Wharton	$11,178	94.7%54 of 57	2 years	1.1 yrs
Galveston College ADN	Galveston	$11,879	91.2%31 of 34	Data coming soon	1.2 yrs
Sam Houston State University BSN	Huntsville	$34,700	95.5%169 of 177	5 semesters	3.5 yrs
The College of Health Care Professions ADN	Houston	$42,500	64.3%9 of 14	About 20 months (80 weeks, ten 8-week modules, 61.5 semester credits)	4.3 yrs
University of St. Thomas Accelerated BSN	Houston	$66,845	71.0%164 of 231	12 months	6.7 yrs
Chamberlain College of Nursing BSN, Pearland	Pearland	$97,420	81.0%136 of 168	9 semesters	9.8 yrs
Chamberlain College of Nursing BSN, Houston	Houston	$101,080	84.7%155 of 183	9 semesters	10.1 yrs
Brazosport College ADN	Lake Jackson	Not published	83.7%36 of 43	Data coming soon	Can't calculate: cost
College of the Mainland ADN	Texas City	Not published	84.1%69 of 82	About 4 semesters (60 credits)	Can't calculate: cost
Houston City College ADN	Houston	Not published	Data coming soon	2 years	Can't calculate: cost
San Jacinto ADN, Central	Pasadena	Not published	93.0%174 of 187	2 years	Can't calculate: cost
San Jacinto ADN, South	Houston	Not published	95.7%67 of 70	2 years	Can't calculate: cost
Texas Health School ADN	Houston	Not published	90.9%10 of 11	Data coming soon	Can't calculate: cost
Denver College of Nursing BSN	Houston	Not published	66.7%32 of 48	15 to 18 months	Can't calculate: cost
Houston Christian University BSN	Houston	Not published	97.8%45 of 46	Data coming soon	Can't calculate: cost
Prairie View A&M University BSN	Houston	Not published	91.9%57 of 62	Four and a half year program including lower-division prerequisites	Can't calculate: cost
University of Houston College of Nursing BSN	Sugar Land	Not published	100%67 of 67	Junior and senior years in the nursing major after two pre-nursing years at UH	Can't calculate: cost
University of St. Thomas School of Nursing BSN	Houston	Not published	76.9%40 of 52	Four-year program	Can't calculate: cost
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston BSN	Houston	Not published	95.4%209 of 219	15 months	Can't calculate: cost
University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston BSN	Galveston	Not published	95.6%263 of 275	4 semesters	Can't calculate: cost
Western Governors University BSN	Houston	Not published	75.2%109 of 145	1 to 4 pre-nursing terms plus 4 clinical terms (six-month terms)	Can't calculate: cost

LVN programs

Program	City	Cost	Pass rate	Length	Payback
Alvin Community College LVN	Alvin	$7,080	100%20 of 20	3 semesters	1.1 yrs
Galveston College LVN	Galveston	$8,865	75.0%9 of 12	One calendar year (46 credit hours)	1.4 yrs
Wharton County Jr. College LVN	Wharton	$11,460	95.2%20 of 21	12 months	1.8 yrs
The College of Health Care Professions LVN	Houston	$30,500	100%16 of 16	About 48 weeks (three 16-week semesters, 1,422 clock hours)	4.8 yrs
Brazosport Community College LVN	Lake Jackson	Not published	91.7%11 of 12	Data coming soon	Can't calculate: cost
College of the Mainland LVN	Texas City	Not published	95.8%23 of 24	About 3 semesters (42 credit hours)	Can't calculate: cost
Edwin’s Healthcare Institute LVN	Stafford	Not published	100%21 of 21	Data coming soon	Can't calculate: cost
Graduate America LVN	Houston	Not published	50.0%1 of 2	Data coming soon	Can't calculate: cost
Houston Community College LVN	Houston	Not published	86.2%106 of 123	3 semesters	Can't calculate: cost
Lone Star College North Harris MEEP LVN	Houston	Not published	100%7 of 7	Data coming soon	Can't calculate: cost
Lone Star LVN, Kingwood	Kingwood	Not published	92.9%13 of 14	One year	Can't calculate: cost
Lone Star LVN, Tomball	Tomball	Not published	94.7%18 of 19	One year	Can't calculate: cost
San Jacinto LVN, North	Houston	Not published	100%41 of 41	3 semesters	Can't calculate: cost
San Jacinto LVN, South	Houston	Not published	100%41 of 41	3 semesters	Can't calculate: cost
Texas Health School LVN	Houston	Not published	93.2%68 of 73	Data coming soon	Can't calculate: cost

Small groups: Texas Health School ADN had 11 test takers; The College of Health Care Professions ADN had 14 test takers; Brazosport Community College LVN had 12 test takers; Galveston College LVN had 12 test takers; Graduate America LVN had 2 test takers; Lone Star College North Harris MEEP LVN had 7 test takers; Lone Star LVN, Kingwood had 14 test takers; Lone Star LVN, Tomball had 19 test takers; The College of Health Care Professions LVN had 16 test takers. Pass rates: ¹, ²

Quick findings

Lowest-cost RN program: Lee College ADN, from $6,333.
Highest RN pass rate with 20+ test takers: University of Houston College of Nursing BSN, 100% (67 of 67).
Largest program: University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston BSN, with 275 first-time test takers in 2025.
Highest LVN pass rate with 20+ test takers: Alvin Community College LVN, 20 of 20.
RN vs LVN pay gap here: $36,160 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.

Straight to RN

From $6,333

Lee College ADN, 2 years (4 levels) after prerequisites. Median RN pay $99,830.

LVN first, then bridge

$7,080 to start

Alvin Community College LVN, 3 semesters (44 credit hours). Median LVN pay $63,670 while you bridge.

Compare the two paths in detail

The local job picture

$99,830

RN median ³

$63,670

LVN median ³

Data coming soon

Projected yearly RN openings

Programs here are in Alvin, Baytown, Conroe, Cypress, Galveston, Houston, Huntsville, Kingwood, Lake Jackson, Pasadena, Pearland, Stafford, Sugar Land, Texas City, Tomball, and Wharton. Wages are for the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metropolitan area.

What changed

Nov 2026Updated: Alvin Community College ADN, Galveston College ADN, Lee College ADN, Lone Star ADN, CyFair, Lone Star ADN, Kingwood, Lone Star ADN, Montgomery, Lone Star ADN, North Harris, Lone Star ADN, Tomball, The College of Health Care Professions ADN, Wharton County Junior College ADN, Chamberlain College of Nursing BSN, Houston, Chamberlain College of Nursing BSN, Pearland, Sam Houston State University BSN, University of St. Thomas Accelerated BSN, Alvin Community College LVN, Galveston College LVN, The College of Health Care Professions LVN, Wharton County Jr. College LVN.
Apr 2026Updated: Alvin Community College ADN, Brazosport College ADN, College of the Mainland ADN, Galveston College ADN, Lee College ADN, Lone Star ADN, CyFair, Lone Star ADN, Kingwood, Lone Star ADN, Montgomery, Lone Star ADN, North Harris, Lone Star ADN, Tomball, San Jacinto ADN, Central, San Jacinto ADN, South, Texas Health School ADN, The College of Health Care Professions ADN, Wharton County Junior College ADN, Chamberlain College of Nursing BSN, Houston, Chamberlain College of Nursing BSN, Pearland, Denver College of Nursing BSN, Houston Christian University BSN, Prairie View A&M University BSN, Sam Houston State University BSN, University of Houston College of Nursing BSN, University of St. Thomas Accelerated BSN, University of St. Thomas School of Nursing BSN, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston BSN, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston BSN, Western Governors University BSN, Alvin Community College LVN, Brazosport Community College LVN, College of the Mainland LVN, Edwin’s Healthcare Institute LVN, Galveston College LVN, Graduate America LVN, Houston Community College LVN, Lone Star College North Harris MEEP LVN, Lone Star LVN, Kingwood, Lone Star LVN, Tomball, San Jacinto LVN, North, San Jacinto LVN, South, Texas Health School LVN, The College of Health Care Professions LVN, Wharton County Jr. College LVN.
Apr 2025Updated: Alvin Community College ADN, Brazosport College ADN, College of the Mainland ADN, Galveston College ADN, Lee College ADN, Lone Star ADN, CyFair, Lone Star ADN, Kingwood, Lone Star ADN, Montgomery, Lone Star ADN, North Harris, Lone Star ADN, Tomball, San Jacinto ADN, Central, San Jacinto ADN, South, Texas Health School ADN, The College of Health Care Professions ADN, Wharton County Junior College ADN, Chamberlain College of Nursing BSN, Houston, Chamberlain College of Nursing BSN, Pearland, Denver College of Nursing BSN, Houston Christian University BSN, Prairie View A&M University BSN, Sam Houston State University BSN, University of Houston College of Nursing BSN, University of St. Thomas Accelerated BSN, University of St. Thomas School of Nursing BSN, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston BSN, Western Governors University BSN, Alvin Community College LVN, Brazosport Community College LVN, College of the Mainland LVN, Edwin’s Healthcare Institute LVN, Galveston College LVN, Graduate America LVN, Houston Community College LVN, Lone Star College North Harris MEEP LVN, Lone Star LVN, Kingwood, Lone Star LVN, Tomball, San Jacinto LVN, North, San Jacinto LVN, South, Texas Health School LVN, The College of Health Care Professions LVN, Wharton County Jr. College LVN.
Apr 2024Updated: Alvin Community College ADN, Brazosport College ADN, College of the Mainland ADN, Galveston College ADN, Lee College ADN, Lone Star ADN, CyFair, Lone Star ADN, Kingwood, Lone Star ADN, Montgomery, Lone Star ADN, North Harris, Lone Star ADN, Tomball, San Jacinto ADN, Central, San Jacinto ADN, South, The College of Health Care Professions ADN, Wharton County Junior College ADN, Chamberlain College of Nursing BSN, Houston, Chamberlain College of Nursing BSN, Pearland, Houston Christian University BSN, Prairie View A&M University BSN, Sam Houston State University BSN, University of Houston College of Nursing BSN, University of St. Thomas Accelerated BSN, University of St. Thomas School of Nursing BSN, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston BSN, Western Governors University BSN, Alvin Community College LVN, Brazosport Community College LVN, College of the Mainland LVN, Edwin’s Healthcare Institute LVN, Galveston College LVN, Graduate America LVN, Houston Community College LVN, Lone Star College North Harris MEEP LVN, Lone Star LVN, Kingwood, Lone Star LVN, Tomball, San Jacinto LVN, North, San Jacinto LVN, South, Texas Health School LVN, The College of Health Care Professions LVN.
Apr 2023Updated: Alvin Community College ADN, Brazosport College ADN, College of the Mainland ADN, Galveston College ADN, Lee College ADN, Lone Star ADN, CyFair, Lone Star ADN, Kingwood, Lone Star ADN, Montgomery, Lone Star ADN, North Harris, Lone Star ADN, Tomball, San Jacinto ADN, Central, San Jacinto ADN, South, The College of Health Care Professions ADN, Wharton County Junior College ADN, Chamberlain College of Nursing BSN, Houston, Chamberlain College of Nursing BSN, Pearland, Houston Christian University BSN, Prairie View A&M University BSN, Sam Houston State University BSN, University of Houston College of Nursing BSN, University of St. Thomas Accelerated BSN, University of St. Thomas School of Nursing BSN, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston BSN, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston BSN, Western Governors University BSN, Alvin Community College LVN, Brazosport Community College LVN, College of the Mainland LVN, Edwin’s Healthcare Institute LVN, Galveston College LVN, Graduate America LVN, Houston Community College LVN, Lone Star College North Harris MEEP LVN, Lone Star LVN, Kingwood, Lone Star LVN, Tomball, San Jacinto LVN, North, San Jacinto LVN, South, Texas Health School LVN, The College of Health Care Professions LVN, Wharton County Jr. College LVN.
Apr 2022Updated: Alvin Community College ADN, Brazosport College ADN, College of the Mainland ADN, Galveston College ADN, Lee College ADN, Lone Star ADN, CyFair, Lone Star ADN, Kingwood, Lone Star ADN, Montgomery, Lone Star ADN, North Harris, Lone Star ADN, Tomball, San Jacinto ADN, Central, San Jacinto ADN, South, The College of Health Care Professions ADN, Wharton County Junior College ADN, Chamberlain College of Nursing BSN, Houston, Chamberlain College of Nursing BSN, Pearland, Houston Christian University BSN, Prairie View A&M University BSN, Sam Houston State University BSN, University of Houston College of Nursing BSN, University of St. Thomas Accelerated BSN, University of St. Thomas School of Nursing BSN, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston BSN, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston BSN, Western Governors University BSN, Alvin Community College LVN, College of the Mainland LVN, Edwin’s Healthcare Institute LVN, Galveston College LVN, Graduate America LVN, Houston Community College LVN, Lone Star College North Harris MEEP LVN, Lone Star LVN, Kingwood, Lone Star LVN, Tomball, San Jacinto LVN, North, San Jacinto LVN, South, Texas Health School LVN, The College of Health Care Professions LVN, Wharton County Jr. College 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), Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX, May 2025.
Alvin College, Nursing (ADN) program page, Undated estimate.
Galveston College, Nursing Department overview FAQ (in-district prices as of Fall 2024), Fall 2024 prices.
Lee College, Nursing Programs Packet (PDF), Undated estimate.
Lone Star College, Integrated Nursing Program Approximate Costs 2025-26 and Other Associated Costs of ADN Programs 2025-26 (PDFs, linked from Nursing Program Costs), 2025-26 estimate.
Lone Star College, Integrated Nursing Program Approximate Costs 2025-26 and Other Associated Costs of ADN Programs 2025-26 (PDFs, linked from Nursing Program Costs), 2025-26 estimate.
Lone Star College, Integrated Nursing Program Approximate Costs 2025-26 and Other Associated Costs of ADN Programs 2025-26 (PDFs, linked from Nursing Program Costs), 2025-26 estimate.
Lone Star College, Integrated Nursing Program Approximate Costs 2025-26 and Other Associated Costs of ADN Programs 2025-26 (PDFs, linked from Nursing Program Costs), 2025-26 estimate.
Lone Star College, Integrated Nursing Program Approximate Costs 2025-26 and Other Associated Costs of ADN Programs 2025-26 (PDFs, linked from Nursing Program Costs), 2025-26 estimate.
The College of Health Care Professions, Houston Northwest campus catalog addendum, Tuition and Fee Schedule (PDF), Rates effective Jan 1, 2026.
Wharton County Junior College, ADN Program page, Undated estimate.
Chamberlain University, Houston campus page, Tuition & Fees, Rates effective July 2026.
Chamberlain University, Pearland campus page, Tuition & Fees, Rates effective July 2026.
Sam Houston State University School of Nursing, information session slides (PDF), Undated estimate.
University of St. Thomas Houston, ABSN Tuition page, Undated estimate.
Alvin College, Traditional LVN Program Costs, Undated estimate.
Galveston College, Nursing Department overview FAQ (in-district prices as of Fall 2024), Fall 2024 prices.
The College of Health Care Professions, Houston Northwest campus catalog addendum, Tuition and Fee Schedule (PDF), Rates effective Jan 1, 2026.
Wharton County Junior College, Licensed Vocational Nursing Program page, Undated estimate.

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