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

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

6 Board-approved programs in Hillsboro, Waco and Mexia. RN programs with published costs range from $10,149 to $10,149, and registered nurses here earn a median $92,890.

6 programs · 2 RN, 4 LVN · Updated Nov. 1, 2026

About this area

McLennan Community College lists about $10,100 for its associate degree before prerequisites. Navarro College's LVN program in Mexia is about $11,600, and Hill College in Hillsboro runs both programs without posting a total.

Programs

2 RN · 4 LVN

RN cost range

$10,149 to $10,149

Published estimates

RN median wage

$92,890

Waco metro ³

LVN median wage

$62,070

Waco 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
McLennan Community College ADN	Waco	$10,149	95.3%82 of 86	About 2 years after prerequisites (4 levels, 36 nursing credit hours)	1.1 yrs
Hill College ADN	Hillsboro	Not published	74.5%35 of 47	Data coming soon	Can't calculate: cost

LVN programs

Program	City	Cost	Pass rate	Length	Payback
Navarro LVN, Mexia	Mexia	$11,624	100%21 of 21	3 semesters	1.9 yrs
Hill College LVN	Hillsboro	Not published	91.3%21 of 23	3 semesters	Can't calculate: cost
McLennan Community College MEEP LVN	Waco	Not published	100%16 of 16	Data coming soon	Can't calculate: cost
McLennan Community College – Traditional LVN	Waco	Not published	93.1%27 of 29	One year	Can't calculate: cost

Small groups: McLennan Community College MEEP LVN had 16 test takers. Pass rates: ¹, ²

Quick findings

Lowest-cost RN program: McLennan Community College ADN, from $10,149. It also had the highest RN pass rate in the area in 2025, 95.3%.
Largest program: McLennan Community College ADN, with 86 first-time test takers in 2025.
Highest LVN pass rate with 20+ test takers: Navarro LVN, Mexia, 21 of 21.
RN vs LVN pay gap here: $30,820 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 $10,149

McLennan Community College ADN, About 2 years after prerequisites (4 levels, 36 nursing credit hours). Median RN pay $92,890.

LVN first, then bridge

$11,624 to start

Navarro LVN, Mexia, 3 semesters (fall, spring, summer; 50 credit hours). Median LVN pay $62,070 while you bridge.

Compare the two paths in detail

The local job picture

$92,890

RN median ³

$62,070

LVN median ³

Data coming soon

Projected yearly RN openings

Programs here are in Hillsboro, Mexia, and Waco. Wages are for the Waco, TX metropolitan area.

What changed

Nov 2026Updated: McLennan Community College ADN, Navarro LVN, Mexia.
Apr 2026Updated: Hill College ADN, McLennan Community College ADN, Hill College LVN, McLennan Community College MEEP LVN, McLennan Community College – Traditional LVN, Navarro LVN, Mexia.
Apr 2025Updated: Hill College ADN, McLennan Community College ADN, Hill College LVN, McLennan Community College MEEP LVN, McLennan Community College – Traditional LVN, Navarro LVN, Mexia.
Apr 2024Updated: Hill College ADN, McLennan Community College ADN, Hill College LVN, McLennan Community College MEEP LVN, McLennan Community College – Traditional LVN, Navarro LVN, Mexia.
Apr 2023Updated: Hill College ADN, McLennan Community College ADN, Hill College LVN, McLennan Community College MEEP LVN, McLennan Community College – Traditional LVN, Navarro LVN, Mexia.
Apr 2022Updated: Hill College ADN, McLennan Community College ADN, Hill College LVN, McLennan Community College MEEP LVN, McLennan Community College – Traditional LVN, Navarro LVN, Mexia.

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), Waco, TX, May 2025.
McLennan Community College, Expenses in the ADN Program, Undated estimate.
Navarro College, LVN Estimated Program Cost 2026-2027, 2026-27 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