Baylor Louise Herrington School of Nursing: Programs, NCLEX & Requirements (2026)
Faith-integrated nursing education on the Baylor University Medical Center campus in Dallas, plus online Distance ABSN and graduate nursing degrees. This guide summarizes verified program names, published tuition snapshots, Texas Board of Nursing NCLEX reporting, and practical next steps for applicants.
Contents
Quick Facts
Key Takeaway
LHSON combines upper-division pre-licensure nursing on the Baylor University Medical Center campus in Dallas with a explicitly Christian mission, while also operating Distance ABSN and CCNE-accredited online MSN/DNP pathways—use the Texas Board of Nursing Education Dashboard for official, program-specific NCLEX outcomes rather than a single headline rate for every track.
Overview & Why Students Choose Baylor LHSON
Founded in Dallas as the Baptist Sanitarium Training School for Nurses in 1909, the Louise Herrington School of Nursing today operates the academic nursing building at 333 North Washington Avenue, adjacent to a large academic medical center environment that shapes clinical education for traditional and accelerated BSN students.
The school’s public-facing mission emphasizes preparing baccalaureate- and graduate-level nurses within a Christian community for practice, leadership, and global service. Pathways range from two years of upper-division pre-licensure coursework in Dallas (following pre-nursing work, often on Baylor’s Waco campus) to fully online graduate DNP tracks offered through Baylor University Online.
For program-level, first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates reported to regulators, use the Texas Board of Nursing Education Dashboard and locate Baylor University / Louise Herrington School of Nursing entries for your pathway. Separately, Baylor’s Distance ABSN marketing content cites a 96% first-time NCLEX pass rate for December 2023 graduates—confirm current cohort data with the school and the Board.
Reasons students consider LHSON
Dallas clinical ecosystem
Upper-division BSN students learn in Dallas on the Baylor University Medical Center campus, with LHSON highlighting proximity to a major teaching hospital and one of the country’s largest metropolitan healthcare labor markets.
Multiple BSN entry designs
Traditional BSN, 12-month FastBacc for second-degree students, and Distance ABSN each target different applicant profiles while leading to the same BSN credential.
CCNE-accredited graduate ladder
LHSON lists CCNE accreditation for its baccalaureate, master’s, and DNP programs and publishes online MSN Leadership and multiple DNP nurse-practitioner tracks.
Faith-integrated curriculum
Marketing and academic pages describe intentional integration of Christian worldview into nursing education—distinct among large Texas programs.
USAGPAN partnership
The U.S. Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing offers a specialized DNP anesthesia track tied to military eligibility requirements.
Nursing Programs Offered
Program names and descriptions below mirror the LHSON academics overview, undergraduate admissions pathways described on LHSON admissions, and graduate listings on Baylor University Online Nursing.
Pre-licensure (BSN)
Traditional BSN
Many students complete pre-nursing coursework in Waco (Baylor Pre-Nursing) before two years of upper-division nursing on the Dallas campus, per LHSON’s public program descriptions.
Accelerated BSN (ABSN)—FastBacc®
Second-degree / post-baccalaureate students complete roughly 12 months of intensive coursework in Dallas; this is Baylor’s accelerated campus-based BSN.
Distance Accelerated BSN (DABSN)
Fully online accelerated BSN with substantial clinical hours; Baylor Online’s tuition page cites 62 semester hours as typical and a $68,100 program price point (subject to individual transfer credit).
Graduate nursing
MSN—Leadership and Innovation
Online master’s in nursing leadership as listed on the LHSON academics page.
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
DNP tracks publicly advertised include Family NP, Nurse-Midwifery, Neonatal NP, Pediatric NP, Psychiatric Mental Health NP, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP, and Executive Nurse Leadership (hybrid/online formats vary by track).
USAGPAN (DNP anesthesia)
United States Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing—requires meeting Army program rules in addition to university admission.
LHSON’s published academics page highlights BSN completion through Traditional, FastBacc, and Distance ABSN routes; a separate RN-to-BSN completion track is not listed there. If you already hold RN licensure, confirm any RN-BSN options directly with LHSON—do not assume availability.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
Texas Board of Nursing: The Board publishes nursing program outcomes through its Education Dashboard. Use that tool to locate Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing and read the first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate for the specific pre-licensure track you are considering; Texas reports can vary by program type and reporting cycle.
School-referenced example (Distance ABSN only): A March 4, 2025 Baylor University Online article states that 96% of Distance ABSN students passed the NCLEX on the first attempt among the December 2023 cohort. That figure is not a substitute for Board-reported statistics for every LHSON BSN option—treat it as program-specific marketing until you cross-check current Board data.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| First-time NCLEX-RN pass (all LHSON pre-licensure tracks) | See Texas Board of Nursing Education Dashboard for the track and reporting year you need. |
| Illustrative program-specific figure (Distance ABSN) | Baylor Online (Mar 2025 article): 96% first-time pass, December 2023 reference cohort. Confirm current rates with LHSON and the Texas Board of Nursing. |
| Source | Texas Board of Nursing — Education Dashboard; Baylor University Online — NCLEX prep article (Mar 2025). |
NCLEX outcomes change by cohort and pathway. Always confirm the latest pass rates with the Texas Board of Nursing and Baylor LHSON before making decisions.
International Students & Internationally Educated Nurses
Use this as a checklist only. Baylor’s central admissions team publishes university-wide policies; nursing clinical requirements add extra screening (for example background checks described in the undergraduate nursing handbook).
- English-language proficiency: Confirm required exams and minimum scores with Baylor Undergraduate or Graduate Admissions (and any program-specific nursing standards).
- Transcript / credential evaluation: Follow Baylor’s issued guidance for international academic records; nursing licensure may require additional Board-approved credential reviews.
- Texas Board of Nursing: For NCLEX eligibility and foreign-educated nurse requirements, use bon.texas.gov and the Board’s international applicant resources.
- Immigration & visa: Ask both Baylor’s international student services and LHSON whether your pathway supports F-1 status given clinical practicum obligations.
Policies change frequently. Verify with Baylor’s international office, LHSON admissions, and the Texas Board of Nursing—not with this guide alone.
Admissions: A Realistic Look
LHSON admits through multiple doors—Baylor pre-nursing in Waco followed by upper-division nursing in Dallas, external transfers with prerequisites completed, FastBacc second-degree students, Distance ABSN applicants, and separate graduate nursing admissions. Each pathway publishes its own prerequisite and progression rules.
Application timeline
| Pathway | Deadline pattern | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional / transfer / FastBacc | Not extracted on this page | Use LHSON undergraduate admissions and track-specific instructions. |
| Distance ABSN | Set by Baylor Online enrollment | Speak with an enrollment advisor (see Baylor Online tuition/financial aid page for contact numbers). |
| MSN / DNP | Varies by cohort | Consult graduate programs admission and individual track pages on onlinenursing.baylor.edu. |
Admissions snapshot
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Acceptance rate (nursing) | Not publicly disclosed |
| Minimum nursing course grade | FALL 2024 undergraduate handbook: letter grade C (71.00%) required in all nursing major courses; grades computed without rounding to the final letter. Confirm whether a newer handbook applies to your entry term. |
| HESI / testing | Undergraduate handbook (2024 edition reviewed here) references HESI reviews and exit exams for Traditional, FastBacc, and DABSN pathways; confirm whether HESI A2 or other tests are required for admission to your specific program on the current admissions checklist. |
| Clinical clearance | Handbook sections on background checks and drug screening apply before clinical placement—budget time and fees accordingly. |
Applicant tip: Because Baylor separates Waco pre-nursing from Dallas upper division, map your intended progression early (especially if you are not starting as a Baylor first-year student in Waco).
Tuition & Cost of Attendance
Tuition differs materially between Waco-based years, Dallas upper-division nursing rates, standalone FastBacc pricing, online Distance ABSN, and graduate per-credit DNP/MSN charges. Below are figures explicitly stated on Baylor’s public pricing pages at the time of review (March 2026).
| Program / category | Published amount (review snapshot) |
|---|---|
| Distance Accelerated BSN | $68,100 total program tuition cited on Baylor University Online tuition page (typically 62 semester hours; transfer credit may change totals). |
| Online DNP programs | $1,250 per credit hour cited on the same Baylor Online tuition page (multiply by credits required for the track). |
| Traditional / FastBacc (campus) | Listed under Baylor One Stop “Undergraduate Tuition & Fees” with dedicated FastBacc / School of Nursing line items—open the active academic year PDF for semester charges. |
| Fees, housing, books | Use the Cost of Attendance calculator for a personalized estimate. |
| Source | Baylor University Online — Tuition & Financial Aid; Baylor One Stop — Tuition; LHSON Tuition and Financial Aid. Confirm current figures with One Stop and LHSON. |
Student Outcomes & Career Prospects
NCLEX performance is the primary quantifiable pre-licensure outcome cited by regulators; see the NCLEX section for the Texas Board of Nursing dashboard and the Distance ABSN marketing statistic (with cohort labeling).
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN (official) | Texas Board of Nursing Education Dashboard — filter to Baylor LHSON and your program type. |
| NCLEX-RN (Distance ABSN illustration) | Baylor Online: reported 96% first-time pass referencing a December 2023 Distance ABSN cohort (article dated March 2025). Confirm newer cohort statistics with the school and Board. |
| Job placement / salary | Not publicly disclosed on this page. Use LHSON career services and Baylor’s post-graduation surveys if available. |
| Source | Texas BON; Baylor Online NCLEX article; LHSON career services for employment context. |
Is Baylor LHSON the Right Fit for You?
LHSON works best when your goals align with rigorous clinical training, Dallas/Fort Worth placement opportunities, and Baylor’s faith-informed approach to professional nursing.
✓ Good fit for students who—
- Want a Christian university context integrated with nursing science.
- Plan to complete traditional or accelerated BSN coursework anchored in Dallas’s academic medical center environment.
- Need flexible online DNP/APRN tracks while staying enrolled through a flagship private Texas university.
✗ May not be ideal for students who—
- Require the lowest absolute tuition among Texas nursing options (private tuition and fees are typically higher than public community colleges).
- Prefer a single-campus experience without splitting Waco and Dallas for traditional pathways.
- Want an RN-to-BSN completion program that LHSON does not list on its public academics overview—verify availability before assuming.
Local Healthcare Ecosystem
Dallas–Fort Worth is one of the nation’s largest healthcare labor markets. LHSON publicly emphasizes its location on the Baylor University Medical Center campus, offering students proximity to a historic teaching hospital setting and the broader Dallas clinical community.
| Setting | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Baylor University Medical Center district | Anchors LHSON’s advertised Dallas clinical education environment for traditional and accelerated BSN students. |
| Dallas County & DFW region | High-density hospital systems (including academic, safety-net, pediatric, and specialty centers) generate diverse clinical rotations and hiring pipelines—confirm individual site assignments with LHSON. |
Student Experience & Campus Life
Undergraduate nursing students split time between Baylor’s Waco campus for pre-nursing coursework (typical route) and the Dallas nursing school building at 333 North Washington Avenue for upper-division classes, simulation, and clinical coordination. LHSON advertises dedicated resources such as a Clinical Simulation Building, Learning Resource Center, campus ministry programming, and student organizations referenced on its academics pages.
Student life combines professional nursing milestones—white coat and pinning ceremonies noted in the undergraduate handbook—with access to broader Baylor University events and recreation.
Resources & Next Steps
Contact & location
- Campus location
- Dallas, TX
- Address
- 333 North Washington Avenue, Dallas, TX 75246-1754, US
- Telephone
- (972) 576-9100
- Contact email
- BU_Nursing@baylor.edu
- Website
- nursing.baylor.edu
Official links
Your “Next 7 Days” checklist
- Open the LHSON academics page and confirm the pathway (Traditional, FastBacc, DABSN, MSN, DNP) that matches your eligibility.
- Download the latest undergraduate nursing handbook or graduate handbook PDF if offered for your admit year.
- Log into the Texas BON Education Dashboard and note the most recent first-time NCLEX data for that pathway.
- Compare published tuition for your route (One Stop for campus programs; Baylor Online page for DABSN/DNP).
- Register for any required entrance exam only after confirming the active requirement list with admissions.
- Attend an LHSON information session or schedule a advising call through the admissions office.
- Document deadlines in your calendar for both university admission and nursing major progression applications if they differ.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing CCNE-accredited?
Yes—LHSON publishes that its baccalaureate, master’s, and DNP nursing programs are accredited by CCNE, with the accreditor’s Washington, DC contact information printed on the academics page. Re-check CCNE’s directory for the program list that applies to your admit year.
Where should I look up Baylor LHSON’s official NCLEX-RN pass rates?
Use the Texas Board of Nursing Education Dashboard and locate Baylor’s approved pre-licensure programs. The dashboard reflects Board-reported testing statistics. Confirm current cohorts with LHSON student affairs if you need internal context.
What is the difference between FastBacc and Distance ABSN at Baylor?
FastBacc is an on-campus, ~12-month accelerated BSN in Dallas for students who already hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. Distance ABSN is the online accelerated track with a published $68,100 tuition package on Baylor University Online and marketing copy citing a 96% first-time NCLEX pass statistic for a December 2023 cohort—verify newer outcomes with the Board.
What minimum grades does LHSON require in nursing courses?
The Fall 2024 undergraduate handbook requires at least a C (71.00%) in every nursing major course, allows only one repeat of any nursing course, and removes students who fail two nursing courses. Always download the handbook edition tied to your enrollment year.
Does Baylor LHSON use HESI exams?
The undergraduate handbook discusses HESI review resources and exit-style exams for Traditional, FastBacc, and DABSN students. Entrance testing requirements change—match the HESI or other exam rules posted on your pathway’s current admissions checklist.
How much does Baylor’s online nursing tuition cost?
As of review (March 2026), Baylor University Online lists $68,100 for Distance ABSN (about 62 semester hours) and $1,250 per credit for online DNP programs. Campus nursing charges appear under Baylor One Stop undergraduate tuition documents, including School of Nursing/FastBacc categories.
What is USAGPAN at Baylor?
USAGPAN is the U.S. Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing—a DNP anesthesia track with Army eligibility gates. Interested applicants must review Army and Baylor program pages together; civilian applicants should not assume identical requirements.
Do traditional Baylor nursing students study in both Waco and Dallas?
The common route described on LHSON admissions pages is pre-nursing/pre-professional coursework in Waco followed by upper-division nursing classes in Dallas. Transfers and FastBacc students follow different geography—build a personalized plan with admissions.
Does LHSON list an RN-to-BSN completion program on its public academics page?
The LHSON academics overview lists Traditional BSN, FastBacc, and Distance ABSN—not RN-to-BSN. If you are already licensed as an RN, ask LHSON directly whether a completion option exists for your situation.
References
- Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing — homepagenursing.baylor.edu
- LHSON — academics / programs overviewnursing.baylor.edu/academics
- LHSON — admissions hubnursing.baylor.edu/admissions
- Baylor University Online — nursing tuitiononlinenursing.baylor.edu/tuition
- Baylor University Online — Distance ABSN NCLEX article (Mar 4, 2025)onlinenursing.baylor.edu/news/nclex-prep
- Baylor One Stop — tuition & fees hubonestop.web.baylor.edu/…/tuition
- Texas Board of Nursing — Education Dashboard (NCLEX/program outcomes)bon.texas.gov/education_school_resultsDashboard.asp.html
- Texas Board of Nursing — agency homepagebon.texas.gov
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)ncsbn.org
- LHSON — undergraduate student handbook (FALL 2024 PDF; grading, HESI, NCLEX application procedures)PDF on nursing.baylor.edu
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 sourcing (Texas BON Education Dashboard), alignment of the program list with LHSON academics materials, and tuition figures traced to Baylor One Stop / Baylor University Online 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