Amarillo College Nursing Programs: What to Know (2026)
On the Texas High Plains, Amarillo College runs selective, pre-licensure ADN and LVN programs plus an LVN-to-ADN transition—paired with simulation-heavy labs and regional clinical sites. This guide summarizes published 2024 NCLEX outcomes, 2025–26 tuition and fees from the college’s Cost of Attendance, and admissions checkpoints; confirm every detail with ACTX and the Texas Board of Nursing.
Contents
Quick Facts
Key Takeaway
Amarillo College emphasizes hands-on training in the Nursing Resource Center on the West Campus—mediated classrooms plus hospital-style labs and simulation—and reports that a large share of nurses in the Panhandle have trained here. Expect selective admission (entrance testing, prerequisites, and health/background requirements), not open enrollment into clinical nursing courses.
Overview & Why Students Choose Amarillo College
Amarillo College is a public community college serving the Texas Panhandle from multiple campuses, with nursing heavily concentrated on the West Campus (6222 W. 9th Ave., Amarillo). The Nursing Division prepares students for entry-level RN or LVN practice through Board-approved, ACEN-accredited ADN coursework and an LVN track, backed by regional clinical partnerships.
The college publicly states that many area nurses completed their training here and highlights renovated teaching spaces, a dedicated Nursing Resource Center, and simulation scenarios designed to mirror real patient care. These factors—plus comparatively affordable Texas community-college pricing—make AC a practical choice for Panhandle residents and transfer-minded students who want a clearly marked path to licensure.
On its ADN Program Outcomes page, Amarillo College reports a 93.96% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate for ADN graduates and a 90.91% first-time NCLEX-PN pass rate for LVN graduates in 2024. Confirm later cohorts on the same page and cross-check the Texas Board of Nursing Education Dashboard.
Reasons students choose Amarillo College
Published NCLEX performance
Transparent, year-by-year NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN pass rates on the college’s outcomes page help applicants benchmark recent graduate performance before they commit.
Simulation and skills labs
The Nursing Resource Center pairs classroom instruction with hospital-like skills practice and simulation, so students can rehearse assessments and safety habits before clinical rotations.
Multiple entry points
Traditional ADN, an LVN program, and an LVN-to-ADN transition let students match a timeline to their current credentials and career goals.
Regional clinical access
Official materials describe clinical experiences spanning hospitals, clinics, long-term care, schools, and medical offices across the community.
Affordable public tuition
2025–26 Cost of Attendance figures show meaningfully lower nine-month tuition and fees for in-district students than for out-of-district or out-of-state residents—even before scholarships and financial aid.
Nursing Programs Offered
Amarillo College does not award a BSN; nursing offerings focus on pre-licensure vocational nursing and associate-degree (RN) preparation, consistent with the Texas community-college mission. Program specifics below reflect the college’s public nursing pages, ADN catalog entry, and handbook links.
Traditional Associate Degree Nursing (ADN)
The generic ADN sequence spans prerequisites (anatomy & physiology, composition, medical terminology, etc.) plus four nursing semesters totaling about 60–61 semester credit hours depending on catalog version. Graduates take the NCLEX-RN. Students must hold CNA or PCT credential before the first day of nursing classes, and the catalog notes a CNA prerequisite effective 2024SP.
ADN Transition (LVN to RN)
The college offers an advanced-placement option for licensed vocational nurses who want to complete the ADN and qualify for NCLEX-RN. Advisors determine individualized course plans after reviewing LVN coursework and licensure status.
Vocational Nursing (LVN)
The LVN pathway prepares students to sit for NCLEX-PN (the NCLEX for practical/vocational nursing). Programming, timelines, and immunization/background requirements align with Texas Board of Nursing expectations—see the LVN handbook linked from the nursing site.
Texas nursing programs require immunizations, CPR, background checks, and Board-aligned clinical eligibility; applicants with criminal history or sanctions may need a declaratory order. In-program students must earn at least a C in required courses and may be dismissed after multiple failures—see the current ADN/LVN handbooks.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
According to Amarillo College’s published nursing outcomes, the 2024 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate for ADN graduates was 93.96%. The college also publishes multi-year tables (2016–2024) so readers can review trend data. For Board-reported statistics and program approval status, use the Texas Board of Nursing Education Dashboard.
NCLEX-PN (LVN) outcomes
The same outcomes page lists an LVN first-time NCLEX-PN pass rate of 90.91% for 2024, with historical values back to 2018.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN First-Time Pass Rate (ADN) | 93.96% (2024) — Amarillo College ADN Program Outcomes |
| NCLEX-PN First-Time Pass Rate (LVN) | 90.91% (2024) — Amarillo College ADN Program Outcomes |
| Source (school) | actx.edu/nursing/adn-program-outcomes |
| Source (regulatory) | Texas Board of Nursing Education Dashboard |
NCLEX outcomes change by cohort and reporting methodology. Confirm the latest first-time pass rates, tester counts, and program approval language with Amarillo College and the Texas Board of Nursing before using any figure in academic or licensing planning.
International Students & Internationally Educated Nurses
Requirements for international students and internationally educated nurses vary by institution and state. Use the points below as a checklist; verify everything with Amarillo College and the Texas Board of Nursing.
- English-language proficiency: TOEFL, IELTS, or other requirements and minimum scores for this school.
- Transcript / credential evaluation: WES, CGFNS, or other evaluators required by the school.
- Texas Board of Nursing: For RN licensure (with or without a U.S. degree), confirm NCLEX eligibility and document requirements with the Board.
- Immigration & visa: Program eligibility for F-1 or other visa types and impact on clinical placements.
Policies change frequently. Verify with Amarillo College’s international office and the Texas Board of Nursing.
Admissions: A Realistic Look
Admission to the college’s general courses is open, but nursing clinical programs are selective. Applicants must complete program prerequisites, meet health and immunization rules, pass criminal background screening for clinical agencies and the Texas Board of Nursing, and satisfy entrance testing requirements published by Health Sciences/nursing. Advisors also require attendance at application/orientation activities before file review.
Application timeline
| Entry Term | Deadline | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fall / Spring / Summer cohorts | Not publicly disclosed (see current application) | Deadlines differ by program and year. Download the Application Process instructions and cross-check the Health Sciences calendar. |
Admissions snapshot
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Acceptance Rate (Nursing) | Not publicly disclosed |
| Minimum GPA | Selective ranking criteria not published in detail here; catalog requires a grade of C or better in all required courses to progress once admitted. |
| Entrance exam (TEAS / HESI) | Required for selective programs; the ADN catalog references the HESI Admission Assessment, while Health Sciences TEAS information describes TEAS scheduling—confirm which exam is active for your admission cycle. |
| Clinical requirements | Immunizations, TB screening, CPR, CNA/PCT credential (ADN), background checks, possible Board CBC participation. |
Tips for applicants
Finish science prerequisites early with strong grades, complete CNA/PCT early enough to meet documentation deadlines, and schedule your entrance exam only after you understand which version (TEAS vs. HESI) your cycle requires. Keep copies of vaccination titers and communicate early with the Nursing Office if you have any prior citations or legal history that may require a Texas BON declaratory order.
Tuition & Cost of Attendance
Amarillo College’s 2025–2026 financial aid budget lists direct tuition and fees for a nine-month period built around 15 semester credit hours in fall and 15 in spring. Nursing students should also plan for books, uniforms, supplies, testing fees (e.g., Evolve REACH noted in the catalog), simulation fees, and immunization costs that are not rolled into the baseline schedule below.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Tuition & fees (9 months, 15+15 SCH) | In-district $2,670 · Out-of-district (Texas) $3,960 · Out-of-state $5,880 (direct costs subtotal from COA table) |
| Per-credit shorthand | Dividing the nine-month tuition-and-fee totals by 30 SCH yields about $89 / $132 / $196 per credit before nursing-specific fees—useful for rough estimates only. |
| Extra institutional fees | The catalog notes a $50 per credit hour surcharge for the third attempt of the same course content; nursing courses may carry additional clinical/testing fees. |
| Source | Amarillo College Cost of Attendance (2025–2026) · Tuition & Basic Fees |
Student Outcomes & Career Prospects
Amarillo College’s outcomes disclosures emphasize licensure examination results, completion, satisfaction, and employment metrics. This guide highlights the publicly posted NCLEX figures cited above; download the latest consumer information or nursing outcomes PDFs if you need completion or job-placement percentages for a specific year.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (ADN) | 93.96% (2024) — Amarillo College program outcomes |
| NCLEX-PN Pass Rate (LVN) | 90.91% (2024) — same source |
| Job placement / completion | Additional percentages may appear on the outcomes page or consumer information dashboards; confirm methodology and cohort year before comparing schools. |
Is Amarillo College the Right Fit for You?
Choose Amarillo College if you want a Texas public, ACEN-accredited ADN or LVN close to home in the Panhandle; look elsewhere if you need an on-campus BSN, fully online clinical nursing, or guaranteed open admission straight into nursing coursework.
✓ Good fit for students who—
- Live in or can establish Amarillo College District residency for the lowest tuition band, or can still afford the out-of-district/out-of-state schedule.
- Want a skills-heavy curriculum with simulation labs before high-acuity clinical rotations.
- Plan to become an RN via ADN or an LVN first and bridge later through the LVN-to-ADN option.
- Are organized enough to meet strict clinical compliance deadlines (shots, CPR, background checks).
✗ May not be ideal for students who—
- Expect automatic admission after general college acceptance—clinical nursing remains selective.
- Need a four-year BSN without transferring to another institution.
- Cannot relocate or commute to Amarillo-area clinical sites for long days.
- Are unwilling to complete CNA/PCT prerequisites before ADN coursework.
Local Healthcare Ecosystem
Amarillo anchors the Texas Panhandle health corridor, giving nursing students access to hospitals, multi-specialty clinics, rural health outposts, and long-term care partners across Potter and Randall counties and neighboring towns. Amarillo College states that students rotate through hospitals, physician offices, schools, clinics, and long-term care—exact contracts shift as agencies update student policies.
| Facility / system | Details |
|---|---|
| BSA Health System | Major nonprofit hospital network in Amarillo; frequent site for med-surg and specialty experiences. |
| Northwest Texas Healthcare System | Large acute-care provider in Amarillo offering varied inpatient units and support services. |
| Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (Amarillo) | Academic medicine presence that influences regional workforce demand and specialty rotations. |
| Community & rural partners | Clinics, school nurses, and extended-care organizations throughout the Panhandle supply primary care and public-health exposure. |
Student Experience & Campus Life
Nursing classes and labs are centered on the West Campus, where the Nursing Resource Center combines mediated classrooms with hospital-style learning stations and a simulation lab for repetitive, low-risk practice. Students also use main-campus student services (testing, advising, financial aid) even when clinical rotations pull them off site several days each week.
Campus life is largely commuter-style—there is no traditional on-campus housing, so many students juggle caregiving, part-time work, and rigorous clinical shifts. Look for nursing student organizations and professional-development events hosted through the Health Sciences division.
Resources & Next Steps
Contact & location
- Nursing office
- Phone: (806) 354-6010 · ADN Program Office same switchboard per outcomes page
- Nursing West Campus
- 6222 W. 9th Ave, Amarillo, TX 79106, US
- Enrollment / financial aid
- 724 W. 24th Ave, Amarillo, TX 79109 · (806) 371-5000
- Nursing chair email
- kacrowley@actx.edu (program leadership listed on public nursing about page)
- Website
- actx.edu
Official links
Your “Next 7 Days” checklist
- Visit the official Amarillo College nursing website and download the current program brochure or student handbook if available.
- Review the prerequisite course list in the school catalog and compare it to your transcripts.
- If required, register for the TEAS, HESI, or other entrance exam. Confirm on the admissions page which test and minimum scores apply for your target semester.
- Draft a list of questions for an admissions counselor or the nursing program advising office.
- Reach out to current nursing students or alumni (e.g. via LinkedIn) to ask about clinical experiences and satisfaction.
- Draft answers to likely interview or essay prompts if the application cycle requires them—Amarillo College focuses on pre-licensure ADN/LVN, not graduate nursing.
- Check the application deadline for your target term and set reminders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Amarillo College nursing accredited?
Yes—the ADN program lists ACEN unconditional continuing accreditation (most recent action through Fall 2027 on the college’s public nursing about page). The institution holds SACSCOC accreditation, and the Texas Board of Nursing approves the program for pre-licensure education.
What is the Amarillo College ADN NCLEX-RN pass rate?
The college’s ADN Program Outcomes page reports a 93.96% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate for 2024. Compare that figure with Board-published dashboards and newer cohorts as they are posted.
Does Amarillo College offer a BSN nursing degree?
No—Amarillo College awards associate-level credentials (AAS/ADN) and vocational nursing preparation. Students who want a BSN typically transfer to a university RN-to-BSN completion program after licensure.
Does Amarillo College ADN require CNA before classes?
Yes. Official nursing materials require CNA or PCT certification prior to the first day of nursing courses, and the catalog reinforces a CNA prerequisite effective 2024SP.
Is TEAS or HESI required for Amarillo College nursing?
Health Sciences operates TEAS testing, while catalog language for ADN still references the HESI A2. Entrance exams are required for selective programs—confirm which exam and cutoff scores apply to your application cycle before paying registration fees.
How much is tuition at Amarillo College for nursing students?
The 2025–26 Cost of Attendance lists nine-month tuition and fees of $2,670 in-district, $3,960 out-of-district, and $5,880 out-of-state, based on two 15-credit semesters. Nursing course fees and supplies add to that baseline.
Where will I do clinicals if I attend Amarillo College nursing?
The college places students in Amarillo-area hospitals (commonly cited regional systems include BSA Health System and Northwest Texas Healthcare System), clinics, long-term care, schools, and physician offices—exact rotations vary by semester.
What GPA do I need to stay in the Amarillo College nursing program?
Catalog policy requires a grade of C or better in every required course; integrated theory/clinical pairs must both be passed concurrently, and multiple failures may remove a student from the program. Entrance GPA cutoffs for selection are published separately in application materials.
References
- Amarillo College — Nursing Divisionactx.edu/nursing
- Amarillo College — Associate Degree Nursing (about / ACEN disclosure)actx.edu/nursing/associate-degree-nursing
- Amarillo College — ADN & LVN Program Outcomes / NCLEX tablesactx.edu/nursing/adn-program-outcomes
- Amarillo College — Cost of Attendance (2025–2026)actx.edu/fin/cost-of-attendance
- Amarillo College — Tuition & Basic Feesactx.edu/bus/tuition-basic-fees
- Amarillo College Catalog — ADN (A.A.S.) program requirementscatalog.actx.edu (ADN program)
- Amarillo College — Health Sciences TEAS Informationactx.edu/health_sciences/teas-exam
- Texas Board of Nursing — Education Dashboardbon.texas.gov Education Dashboard
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)ncsbn.org
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Registered Nursesbls.gov/ooh
Editorial Standards & Review
About the author: Francesco Di Siena, RN, writes evidence-based nursing education guides for NurseOnShift.
Review: This page was reviewed by Araceli Collado, RN, for NCLEX figure alignment with Amarillo College outcomes disclosures, tuition consistency with the 2025–26 Cost of Attendance, and program-pathway accuracy against the official catalog and nursing division pages.
Disclaimer: This page is for general reference only. It does not constitute professional, admissions, or financial advice. Requirements, deadlines, tuition, and policies change; always verify with the institution and the Texas Board of Nursing.
Published: April 1, 2026 · Last reviewed: April 1, 2026 · Medical Review Process · Editorial Policy