Independent program data. Not affiliated with any school.Texas nursing data checked Nov. 1, 2026 · How we source every number

Wharton County Jr. College LVN costs $11,460. Here is what it pays back.

A vocational nursing (LVN) certificate in Wharton, 12 months (3 terms). In 2025, 20 of its 21 first-time test takers passed the NCLEX-PN.

Vocational Nursing (LVN) certificate · Wharton, Texas · Updated Nov. 1, 2026

Total cost
$11,460
School estimate 1
Pass rate
95.2%
20 of 21, 2025 2
Payback time
1.8 yrs
At 10% of local pay
Local wage
$63,670
LVN median, Houston 6
Compare with other Houston area programsGrad earnings: Data coming soon

The short version

  • Wharton County Jr. College LVN costs $4,380 more than Alvin Community College LVN, the lowest-cost LVN path in the area, and $19,040 less than The College of Health Care Professions LVN.
  • Its 2025 pass rate of 95.2% was 3.3 points above the Texas average. In 2024 it was 6.7 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

Three of every four dollars goes to tuition (in district). In-district total as stated by the school. Out of district is listed as $14,022 and out of state as $16,206.

ItemCost
Tuition (in district)$8,028
Testing$92
Criminal background check and drug screen$175
Physical exam and immunizations$250
Books$1,390
Supplies$550
Uniforms, shoes and lab coat$200
NCLEX-PN registration$200
Licensure application$75
Laptop$500
Total 1$11,460

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

When it pays you back

If you set aside 10% of the Houston LVN median wage, about $531 a month, the $11,460 cost is covered in about 1.8 years of work.

$6,367
Set aside per year (10% of $63,670) 6
$531
Per month
1.8 yrs
Until the $11,460 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.

PieceCostTime
Prerequisites (see requirements)Data coming soonData coming soon
Wharton County Jr. College LVN, including licensing fees$11,46012 months (3 terms)
Living costs while in schoolNot included
Total before living costs$11,460 + prerequisites12 months (3 terms) + prerequisites

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

Will graduates pass the NCLEX-PN?

In 2025, 20 of Wharton County Jr. College's 21 first-time test takers passed the NCLEX-PN. Its rate fell from 100% in 2024 to 95.2%, a larger drop than the statewide average. 2

Passed on the first try: 20Did not pass on the first try: 1

Bars start at 70% so small differences are visible. National rates are on the methodology page. Earlier years: 345

What LVNs earn around Houston

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

$63,670
LVN median wage, Houston metro 6
Data coming soon
25th to 75th percentile
Data coming soon
Projected yearly openings

How it compares in the Houston area

The 15 programs in the area that lead to an LVN license.

See all 43 Houston area programs

Similar programs

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

Lower cost, same licenseAlvin Community College LVNThe same LVN license for $4,380 less, in Alvin.$7,080 · 100% pass (20 of 20)Higher pass rateEdwin’s Healthcare Institute LVN100% passed on the first try in 2025, compared with 95.2% here.Cost coming soon · 100% pass (21 of 21)

Program facts

Length
12 months (3 terms)
Schedule
Full time, Monday through Friday, Wharton campus only
Starts
Fall
Before you apply
No prerequisite courses are listed; a program application is required.
Credential
Vocational Nursing (LVN) certificate, eligible for NCLEX-PN
Board approval status
Data coming soon
Accreditation
Data coming soon
Sector
Public community college
Visit Wharton County Jr. College'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): $11,460.
  • Apr 20262025 pass rate added: 95.2% (20 of 21).
  • Apr 20252024 pass rate added: 100% (16 of 16).
  • Apr 20232022 pass rate added: 96.2% (25 of 26).
  • Apr 20222021 pass rate added: 77.8% (21 of 27).

Sources and dates

  1. Wharton County Junior College, Licensed Vocational Nursing Program page, Undated estimate.
  2. Texas Board of Nursing, Report of 2025 NCLEX-PN Examination Pass Rates (Board Meeting, April 2026, item 3.2.12), April 2026.
  3. Texas Board of Nursing, Report of 2024 NCLEX-PN Examination Pass Rates (Board Meeting, April 2025, item 3.2.11), April 2025.
  4. Texas Board of Nursing, Report of 2022 NCLEX-PN Examination Pass Rates (Board Meeting, April 2023, item 3.2.6), April 2023.
  5. Texas Board of Nursing, Report of 2021 NCLEX-PN Examination Pass Rates (Board Meeting, April 2022, item 3.2.7), April 2022.
  6. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, 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