Nursing Programs in Austin, TX

UT Austin's Bachelor of Science in Nursing is a four-year, full-time, on-campus program offering direct entry to upper-division nursing courses for qualified freshmen and transfers (fall admission only). The curriculum integrates nursing, biological, and behavioral sciences with extensive clinical rotations in Austin hospitals and community settings. Students develop evidence-based practice, clinical judgment, and interprofessional collaboration. No ACT, SAT, HESI, or TEAS entrance exams are required. An honors program supports undergraduate research. The BSN prepares graduates for the NCLEX-RN and diverse careers, with recent pass rates of 89.68% (2023) and 93.27% (2024). Ranked #31 nationally by U.S. News, this rigorous program also provides a foundation for graduate study.

• No entrance exam required
• 4-Year program
• Full-time enrollment
• Starts fall
• Prerequisite courses required
• Prepares for NCLEX-RN
• Focus on critical thinking and clinical judgment
• Prepares for diverse clinical settings
• Foundation for graduate nursing degrees
• Clinical experiences in hospital and community

Austin Community College District's online RN-to-BSN builds on an ADN or diploma to prepare Texas nurses for leadership roles. The ACEN-accredited curriculum tackles health policy, community health, informatics, and evidence-based practice, blending remote lectures with hands-on clinicals across central Texas. You can finish in 12 months via 8-week courses on full- or part-time schedules, with two starts per year. Priority admission goes to ACC's own ADN graduates; applicants must hold an active Texas RN license, a 2.5 GPA, and one recommendation, with prerequisites required. No SAT/ACT or other entrance exam is noted—admission hinges on licensure and academic record. For context, ACC's associate degree nursing program posted a 93.06% NCLEX pass rate in 2024.

• Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) accredited
• Complete in in as little as 12 months
• Full-time and part-time options
• 2 start dates per year
• Starts fall/spring
• 2.5 GPA minimum
• 1 letters of recommendation (minimum)
• Prerequisite courses required
• Fully online lecture courses
• Clinical courses in central Texas

Concordia University Texas offers a Christ-centered Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with Traditional, Direct Entry, and Accelerated tracks. Students study pre-nursing sciences and humanities before professional courses and clinical rotations at Austin-area hospitals. The curriculum emphasizes compassionate, ethical care in fields like pediatrics, critical care, and public health, preparing graduates for the NCLEX-RN. Requiring the TEAS entrance exam, a 3.0 GPA, and prerequisites, the CCNE-accredited program boasts recent NCLEX pass rates of 79.86% (2023) and 97.18% (2024). With small classes, supportive faculty, and a faith-based community, Concordia equips nurses to make a difference in healthcare.

• Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accredited
• 3 concentration options
• Entrance exam required
• Exams: TEAS
• 4-Year program
• 3.0 GPA minimum
• Prerequisite courses required
• Prepares for NCLEX-RN
• Financial aid available
• Three distinct tracks offered

Saint Edward's University offers a four-year, full-time Traditional BSN that integrates rigorous nursing science with a social-justice perspective. This competency-based program stresses critical thinking, clinical reasoning, healthcare leadership, and special topics, with hands-on training in the Simulation Learning and Resource Center featuring pre-briefing and debriefing sessions. Faculty serve as mentors, guiding students through active learning strategies. Graduates are prepared for the NCLEX-RN and RN licensure. The CCNE-accredited program requires no entrance exams (including ACT/SAT), offers rolling admissions, and sets a minimum prerequisite GPA of 2.5. Graduates pursue diverse careers in hospitals, clinics, and community settings.

• Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accredited
• No entrance exam required
• 4-Year program
• Rolling admissions
• Starts fall
• 2.5 GPA minimum
• Prepares for NCLEX-RN
• Simulation Learning and Resource Center
• Competency-based curriculum
• Social-justice mindset

Galen Health Institutes-Austin Campus offers a three-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) for students new to nursing. This campus-based, accelerated program blends nursing theory with hands-on clinical experiences in modern learning labs, building strong skills in patient care, critical thinking, and evidence-based practice. A TEAS entrance exam is required for admission; no ACT or SAT is mentioned. The program features four annual start dates, a free application, no essays, and personalized support such as academic advising and on-demand tutoring. Students prepare for the NCLEX-RN licensure exam and careers in hospitals, clinics, and community health centers, with a pathway to graduate nursing degrees. Scholarships, grants, and federal aid are available.

• Entrance exam required
• Exams: TEAS
• 3-Year program
• 4 start dates per year
• $0 application fee
• Prepares for NCLEX-RN
• Financial aid available
• Scholarships available
• Personalized academic advising throughout program
• Clinical learning labs for hands-on practice