nursingadmissionscareerscommunity-collegeTexas

Best Nursing Schools in Houston: Rankings, Tuition & Programs for 2026

GradeToGrad Editorial Team

April 1, 2026

Compare 14 Houston nursing programs near the Texas Medical Center. ADN from $1,992 at San Jacinto College to doctoral degrees at UTHealth, with graduates earning up to $178,785.

Why Study Nursing in Houston?

Houston is home to the Texas Medical Center — the world's largest medical complex, with 9,200+ beds, 10 million patient visits per year, and over 106,000 employees. For nursing students, this means unmatched clinical rotation options at facilities like Memorial Hermann, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston Methodist, and Texas Children's Hospital.

The Houston metro area has 14 institutions offering nursing programs, from $1,992/year community college ADN programs to doctoral degrees at UTHealth Houston where graduates earn a median of $178,755/year. Average RN salary in Houston is approximately $95,400/year (Glassdoor, 2025).

Elite Nursing Programs

UTHealth Houston — Cizik School of Nursing

The Cizik School of Nursing at the University of Texas Health Science Center is Houston's top-ranked nursing program. Located inside the Texas Medical Center, students have direct access to world-class clinical sites. Doctoral nursing graduates earn a median of $178,755/year. Programs include a 15-month accelerated Pacesetter BSN and advanced practice doctoral programs.

Baylor College of Medicine

Also in the Texas Medical Center, Baylor's nursing graduates earn $178,785/year — the highest in the Houston area. Baylor's location within the TMC provides clinical rotations at some of the most advanced hospitals in the world.

University of Houston — Gessner College of Nursing

UH's nursing program reported a 96.88% NCLEX pass rate for first-time test-takers in 2024-2025. In-state tuition is $9,711/year with a 69.5% acceptance rate and 64.0% graduation rate. BSN graduates earn $73,721/year. The program is available at the Katy and Sugar Land campuses, with an RN-to-BSN online option.

University of Houston-Clear Lake

UH-Clear Lake offers BSN programs at $7,746/year with nursing graduates earning $93,001/year — strong earnings for a mid-priced program. The 75.3% acceptance rate makes it accessible.

Houston Christian University

Master's nursing graduates earn $98,096/year at Houston Christian, which charges $38,100/year tuition. The 85.2% acceptance rate and focus on clinical training make it a solid private option.

University of St. Thomas

UST offers BSN programs in Houston's Montrose neighborhood at $33,660/year, with graduates earning $83,793. Students benefit from clinical partnerships with major TMC hospitals, and the 12-month ABSN program is popular with career changers.

Community College & Affordable ADN Programs

San Jacinto College (Pasadena)

At just $1,992/year — the lowest nursing tuition in the Houston area — San Jacinto is an exceptional value. ADN graduates earn $71,677/year. The college has campuses in Pasadena, Houston, and League City, making it accessible across the south side of the metro.

Houston Community College

HCC charges $2,040/year with ADN graduates earning $70,964. Important note: HCC's ADN program has temporarily paused new admissions. However, their LVN program continues accepting students, and a new LVN-to-ADN bridge program launched in Fall 2025 with graduates expected by August 2026. Contact coleman.advising@hccs.edu for current status.

Lone Star College System (The Woodlands)

The largest institution in the Houston area with 47,486 students, Lone Star charges $3,090/year and offers ADN programs at four campuses: Kingwood, Montgomery, North Harris, and Tomball. Nursing graduates earn $69,169/year. NCLEX pass rates consistently exceed the national average. The program is accredited by ACEN.

Lee College (Baytown)

At $2,166/year, Lee College offers ADN with graduates earning $71,832 — the highest community college nursing earnings in Houston. Located in Baytown, it's ideal for students on the east side of the metro.

Galveston College

At $2,546/year, Galveston College ADN graduates earn $64,123. While earnings are lower, the location near UTMB Galveston provides unique clinical opportunities.

Specialty & Private Programs

UTMB Galveston

The University of Texas Medical Branch offers Master's nursing programs with graduates earning $107,165/year. As a health sciences university on Galveston Island, it provides specialized training in trauma, burn care, and infectious disease nursing.

Chamberlain University — Houston

Part of the nation's largest nursing school network, Chamberlain offers BSN at $19,686/year with graduates earning $74,013. The 95.7% acceptance rate makes it very accessible.

College of Health Care Professions

CHCP's ADN program produces graduates earning $91,353/year — notably high for an associate's program. Located in northwest Houston with 3,794 students.

Houston Nursing Salaries

Based on 2025 data, nursing salaries in Houston by experience:

New graduate RN: $65,000-75,000/year
Experienced RN (3-5 years): $80,000-95,000/year
Specialized RN (ICU, ER, OR): $90,000-110,000/year
Nurse Practitioner: $110,000-140,000/year
CRNA: $170,000-200,000+/year

Texas Medical Center employers include Memorial Hermann, Houston Methodist, MD Anderson, Texas Children's, CHI St. Luke's, and HCA Houston Healthcare.

Transfer Pathways

Houston's community colleges have strong transfer agreements:

UH Next Program (launching Spring 2026): Streamlined transfer from 5 Houston-area CC systems to University of Houston with detailed degree maps to minimize credit loss
Houston GPS (Guided Pathways to Success): Lone Star College, HCC, and San Jacinto participate in coordinated transfer to UH, UH-Clear Lake, UH-Downtown, Texas Southern, and Prairie View A&M
HCC Articulation Agreements: Direct transfer pathways to multiple Texas universities

The ADN-to-BSN bridge path is especially popular — work as an RN earning $70K+ while completing your BSN online.

Financial Aid

Texas Public Education Grant — need-based for public school students
Hazlewood Act — full tuition for Texas veterans and dependents
Federal Pell Grants — up to $7,395/year for qualifying students
HRSA Nurse Corps Scholarship — tuition + living stipend for commitment to underserved areas
Hospital tuition reimbursement — Memorial Hermann, Houston Methodist, and others offer tuition assistance for employees pursuing nursing degrees

How to Choose

Goal	Best Option	Tuition	Earnings
Cheapest path to RN	San Jacinto College	$1,992/yr	$71,677
Highest earnings	UTHealth or Baylor	Varies	$178K+
Best value BSN	UH-Clear Lake	$7,746/yr	$93,001
Career changer	UST ABSN (12 months)	$33,660/yr	$83,793
Online flexibility	UH RN-to-BSN	$9,711/yr	$73,721

Next Steps

Ready to compare Houston nursing programs? Search Houston nursing schools on GradeToGrad to see tuition, outcomes, and admissions data for every program.