Nursing programs in the Rio Grande Valley area: what they cost and what they pay
14 Board-approved programs in Pharr, McAllen, Brownsville, Weslaco, Harlingen and Edinburg. RN programs with published costs range from $14,817 to $40,470, and registered nurses here earn a median $80,540.
The Valley has many nursing programs and a wide price range. The public colleges, South Texas College, Texas Southmost and TSTC Harlingen, publish totals of about $11,000 to $17,700. UTRGV in Edinburg is the public bachelor's program. Private schools run higher, from Valley Baptist's hospital-based LVN program at about $14,000 to Southern Careers Institute's associate degree at about $40,500. Texas School of Health Sciences lists $15,000 in tuition that can be forgiven for graduates who work at a partner hospital.
Every program in the area
Grouped by license, then sorted by cost. Missing numbers sort last.
| Program | City | Cost | Pass rate | Length | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas State Technical College- Harlingen ADN | Harlingen | $14,817 | 77.6%45 of 58 | 12 months | 1.8 yrs |
| Texas School of Health Sciences ADN | Weslaco | $15,000 | 57.7%15 of 26 | 18 months | 1.9 yrs |
| Texas Southmost College ADN | Brownsville | $17,122 | 85.7%24 of 28 | 2 years | 2.1 yrs |
| South Texas College ADN | McAllen | $17,666 | 99.4%174 of 175 | 5 semesters | 2.2 yrs |
| Southern Careers Institute ADN | Brownsville | $40,470 | Data coming soon | About 75 weeks full time (1,590 clock hours, 103 quarter credits) | 5.0 yrs |
| Rio Grande Valley College ADN | Pharr | Not published | 94.4%85 of 90 | Data coming soon | Can't calculate: cost |
| University of Texas Rio Grande Valley BSN | Edinburg | Not published | 87.0%200 of 230 | 120 credit hours (4-year degree) | Can't calculate: cost |
| Program | City | Cost | Pass rate | Length | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Southmost College LVN | Brownsville | $11,000to $13,000 | 85.7%12 of 14 | 12 months | 2.0 yrsto 2.3 yrs |
| Valley Baptist Medical Center LVN | Harlingen | $14,011 | 82.8%24 of 29 | 12 months | 2.5 yrs |
| Texas State Technical College LVN | Harlingen | $15,115 | 80.0%52 of 65 | 12 months | 2.7 yrs |
| South Texas College LVN | McAllen | $15,275 | 92.0%160 of 174 | 3 semesters | 2.7 yrs |
| Valley Grande Institute for Academic Studies LVN | Weslaco | $26,454 | 87.9%29 of 33 | About 52 weeks, full time (1,530 clock hours) | 4.7 yrs |
| Divine School for Healthcare Professionals LVN | Brownsville | Not published | 100%5 of 5 | Data coming soon | Can't calculate: cost |
| Rio Grande Valley College LVN | Pharr | Not published | 93.1%285 of 306 | Data coming soon | Can't calculate: cost |
Small groups: Divine School for Healthcare Professionals LVN had 5 test takers; Texas Southmost College LVN had 14 test takers. Pass rates: 1, 2
Quick findings
- Lowest-cost RN program: Texas State Technical College- Harlingen ADN, from $14,817.
- Highest RN pass rate with 20+ test takers: South Texas College ADN, 99.4% (174 of 175).
- Largest program: Rio Grande Valley College LVN, with 306 first-time test takers in 2025.
- Highest LVN pass rate with 20+ test takers: Rio Grande Valley College LVN, 285 of 306.
- RN vs LVN pay gap here: $24,290 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.
Texas State Technical College- Harlingen ADN, 12 months (LVN to RN transition). Median RN pay $80,540.
Texas Southmost College LVN, 12 months (3 semesters, 41 credit hours). Median LVN pay $56,250 while you bridge.
The local job picture
Programs here are in Brownsville, Edinburg, Harlingen, McAllen, Pharr, and Weslaco. The Valley spans the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission and Brownsville-Harlingen metro areas; wages shown are for McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, the larger one.
What changed
- Nov 2026Updated: South Texas College ADN, Southern Careers Institute ADN, Texas School of Health Sciences ADN, Texas Southmost College ADN, Texas State Technical College- Harlingen ADN, South Texas College LVN, Texas Southmost College LVN, Texas State Technical College LVN, Valley Baptist Medical Center LVN, Valley Grande Institute for Academic Studies LVN.
- Apr 2026Updated: Rio Grande Valley College ADN, South Texas College ADN, Texas School of Health Sciences ADN, Texas Southmost College ADN, Texas State Technical College- Harlingen ADN, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley BSN, Divine School for Healthcare Professionals LVN, Rio Grande Valley College LVN, South Texas College LVN, Texas Southmost College LVN, Texas State Technical College LVN, Valley Baptist Medical Center LVN, Valley Grande Institute for Academic Studies LVN.
- Apr 2025Updated: Rio Grande Valley College ADN, South Texas College ADN, Texas Southmost College ADN, Texas State Technical College- Harlingen ADN, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley BSN, Rio Grande Valley College LVN, South Texas College LVN, Texas Southmost College LVN, Texas State Technical College LVN, Valley Baptist Medical Center LVN, Valley Grande Institute for Academic Studies LVN.
- Apr 2024Updated: Rio Grande Valley College ADN, South Texas College ADN, Texas State Technical College- Harlingen ADN, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley BSN, Rio Grande Valley College LVN, South Texas College LVN, Texas Southmost College LVN, Texas State Technical College LVN, Valley Baptist Medical Center LVN, Valley Grande Institute for Academic Studies LVN.
- Apr 2023Updated: Rio Grande Valley College ADN, South Texas College ADN, Texas Southmost College ADN, Texas State Technical College- Harlingen ADN, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley BSN, Rio Grande Valley College LVN, South Texas College LVN, Texas Southmost College LVN, Texas State Technical College LVN, Valley Baptist Medical Center LVN, Valley Grande Institute for Academic Studies LVN.
- Apr 2022Updated: Rio Grande Valley College ADN, South Texas College ADN, Texas Southmost College ADN, Texas State Technical College- Harlingen ADN, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley BSN, Rio Grande Valley College LVN, South Texas College LVN, Texas Southmost College LVN, Texas State Technical College LVN, Valley Baptist Medical Center LVN, Valley Grande Institute for Academic Studies 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), McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX, May 2025.
- South Texas College, Associate Degree Nursing Program Cost (PDF), 2025-26 estimate.
- Southern Careers Institute, 2026 Catalog, Tuition by Program, 2026 catalog.
- Texas School of Health Sciences, 2025-2026 Student Catalog (PDF), 2025-26 estimate.
- Texas Southmost College, Associate Degree Nursing program page, Undated estimate.
- Texas State Technical College, SP27 RN Information Session Advisory Packet, LVN to ADN Transition estimated costs (PDF), Spring 2027 information packet.
- South Texas College, Prospective Student Guide for Vocational Nursing (PDF), 2026-27 estimate.
- Texas Southmost College, Licensed Vocational Nursing program page, Undated estimate.
- Texas State Technical College, LVN 26FA Information Session Advisory Packet, LVN Program Estimated Costs (PDF), Fall 2026 information packet.
- Valley Baptist Medical Center School of Vocational Nursing, Pre-Entrance Packet for Class of 2026 (PDF), Class of 2026 estimate.
- Valley Grande Institute, School Catalog Rev. 08.2024 (PDF), 2024-25 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