Sam Houston State University BSN costs $34,700. Here is what it pays back.

A bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) in Huntsville, 5 semesters (2.5 years) after about 1.5 years of pre-nursing. In 2025, 169 of its 177 first-time test takers passed the NCLEX-RN.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) · Huntsville, Texas · Updated Nov. 1, 2026

Total cost

$34,700

School estimate ¹

Pass rate

95.5%

169 of 177, 2025 ²

Payback time

3.5 yrs

At 10% of local pay

Local wage

$99,830

RN median, Houston ⁷

Compare with other Houston area programsGrad earnings: Data coming soon

The short version

Sam Houston State University BSN costs $28,367 more than Lee College ADN, the lowest-cost RN path in the area, and $66,380 less than Chamberlain College of Nursing BSN, Houston.
Its 2025 pass rate of 95.5% was 6.9 points above the Texas average. In 2024 it was 1.3 points above.

These findings are generated from the numbers on this page and change when the data does. How we write them

Where the money goes

The school's estimate. The school states the BSN is approximately $34,700 in tuition and fees for the last 62 hours of nursing courses, excluding pre-nursing and lower-level prerequisites. The file name says 2026 but the slides carry only a template footer reading 2024, so the estimate is treated as undated.

Item	Cost
Tuition and fees, last 62 hours of nursing (NURS) courses	$34,700
Total ¹	$34,700

Not included: prerequisite courses and living costs. Undated estimate.

When it pays you back

If you set aside 10% of the Houston RN median wage, about $832 a month, the $34,700 cost is covered in about 3.5 years of work.

−$34,700

End of school

−$24,717

After year 1

−$14,734

After year 2

−$4,751

After year 3

+$5,232

After year 4

$9,983

Set aside per year (10% of $99,830) ⁷

$832

Per month

3.5 yrs

Until the $34,700 is covered ¹

Before taxes and loan interest, and assuming work starts right after licensing. Red is money still owed to yourself; green is money ahead. Why we use 10%

The real cost of getting licensed

The program price is not the whole bill. Here is what stands between today and a license, with what we know and what we don't.

Piece	Cost	Time
Prerequisites (9 courses, plus an entrance exam)	Data coming soon	Data coming soon
Sam Houston State University BSN	$34,700	5 semesters (2.5 years) after about 1.5 years of pre-nursing
Living costs while in school	Not included
Total before living costs	$34,700 + prerequisites	5 semesters (2.5 years) after about 1.5 years of pre-nursing + prerequisites

We will add typical prerequisite costs at nearby colleges once collected. How we count cost

Will graduates pass the NCLEX-RN?

In 2025, 169 of Sam Houston State University's 177 first-time test takers passed the NCLEX-RN. Its rate rose from 94.0% in 2024 to 95.5%. ²

Passed on the first try: 169Did not pass on the first try: 8

2025

This program95.5%

Texas88.6%

2024

This program94.0%

Texas92.7%

2023

This program93.6%

Texas91.2%

2022

This program94.4%

Texas84.3%

2021

This program94.7%

Texas86.7%

Bars start at 75% so small differences are visible. National rates are on the methodology page. Earlier years: ³⁴⁵⁶

What nurses earn around Houston

Payback time uses the middle wage. Here is the wider picture.

$99,830

RN median wage, Houston metro ⁷

Data coming soon

25th to 75th percentile

Data coming soon

Projected yearly openings

How it compares in the Houston area

The 28 programs in the area that lead to an RN license.

Program	Cost	Pass rate	Payback
Lee College ADN	$6,333	95.1%39 of 41	0.6 yrs
Alvin Community College ADN	$8,100	95.3%81 of 85	0.8 yrs
Lone Star ADN, CyFair	$9,378to $12,517	94.6%53 of 56	0.9 yrsto 1.3 yrs
Lone Star ADN, Kingwood	$9,378to $12,517	89.1%90 of 101	0.9 yrsto 1.3 yrs
Lone Star ADN, Montgomery	$9,378to $12,517	92.3%48 of 52	0.9 yrsto 1.3 yrs
Lone Star ADN, North Harris	$9,378to $12,517	84.9%90 of 106	0.9 yrsto 1.3 yrs
Lone Star ADN, Tomball	$9,378to $12,517	92.9%39 of 42	0.9 yrsto 1.3 yrs
Wharton County Junior College ADN	$11,178	94.7%54 of 57	1.1 yrs
Galveston College ADN	$11,879	91.2%31 of 34	1.2 yrs
Sam Houston State University BSN (this program)	$34,700	95.5%169 of 177	3.5 yrs
The College of Health Care Professions ADN	$42,500	64.3%9 of 14	4.3 yrs
University of St. Thomas Accelerated BSN	$66,845	71.0%164 of 231	6.7 yrs
Chamberlain College of Nursing BSN, Pearland	$97,420	81.0%136 of 168	9.8 yrs
Chamberlain College of Nursing BSN, Houston	$101,080	84.7%155 of 183	10.1 yrs
Brazosport College ADN	Not published	83.7%36 of 43	Can't calculate: cost
College of the Mainland ADN	Not published	84.1%69 of 82	Can't calculate: cost
Houston City College ADN	Not published	Data coming soon	Can't calculate: cost
San Jacinto ADN, Central	Not published	93.0%174 of 187	Can't calculate: cost
San Jacinto ADN, South	Not published	95.7%67 of 70	Can't calculate: cost
Texas Health School ADN	Not published	90.9%10 of 11	Can't calculate: cost
Denver College of Nursing BSN	Not published	66.7%32 of 48	Can't calculate: cost
Houston Christian University BSN	Not published	97.8%45 of 46	Can't calculate: cost
Prairie View A&M University BSN	Not published	91.9%57 of 62	Can't calculate: cost
University of Houston College of Nursing BSN	Not published	100%67 of 67	Can't calculate: cost
University of St. Thomas School of Nursing BSN	Not published	76.9%40 of 52	Can't calculate: cost
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston BSN	Not published	95.4%209 of 219	Can't calculate: cost
University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston BSN	Not published	95.6%263 of 275	Can't calculate: cost
Western Governors University BSN	Not published	75.2%109 of 145	Can't calculate: cost

See all 43 Houston area programs

Similar programs

Picked by rule from programs with published data, never by payment.

Lower cost, same licenseLee College ADNThe same RN license for $28,367 less, in Baytown.$6,333 · 95.1% pass (39 of 41)Shorter programUniversity of St. Thomas Accelerated BSNAbout 12 months, compared with about 30 here.$66,845 · 71.0% pass (164 of 231)Higher pass rateUniversity of Houston College of Nursing BSN100% passed on the first try in 2025, compared with 95.5% here.Cost coming soon · 100% pass (67 of 67)Degree optionAlvin Community College ADNGraduate with an ADN instead, for $26,600 less at its lowest published price.$8,100 · 95.3% pass (81 of 85)

Program facts

Length: 5 semesters (2.5 years) after about 1.5 years of pre-nursing
Schedule: Full time, in person at SHSU The Woodlands Center
Starts: Fall and spring
Before you apply: Anatomy and Physiology I and II, Microbiology, Chemistry, College Algebra, Statistics, Nutrition, General Psychology and Lifespan Growth and Development, plus a TEAS 7 score of at least 70 overall.
Entrance exam: TEAS
Credential: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), eligible for NCLEX-RN
Board approval status: Data coming soon
Accreditation: Data coming soon
Sector: Public university

Visit Sam Houston State University's program page ↗

LVN first, or straight to RN?

The lowest-cost RN program ($6,333) costs less than the lowest-cost LVN program ($7,080).

Compare the two paths

What changed

Nov 2026Total cost recorded from the school's estimate (undated estimate): $34,700.
Apr 20262025 pass rate added: 95.5% (169 of 177).
Apr 20252024 pass rate added: 94.0% (125 of 133).
Apr 20242023 pass rate added: 93.6% (147 of 157).
Apr 20232022 pass rate added: 94.4% (117 of 124).
Apr 20222021 pass rate added: 94.7% (125 of 132).

Sources and dates

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