McLennan Community College Nursing: What to Know About ADN, LVN & Admissions (2026)
McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas, trains pre-licensure RNs through a two-year Associate Degree Nursing (A.A.S.) program, offers an LVN-to-ADN transition track, and runs a one-year Vocational Nursing certificate for LVN licensure. This guide reflects official 2025–2026 tuition and fee rates, competitive in-person application requirements (including HESI A2), and NCLEX-RN percentages published on the college’s Program Effectiveness Data page—with cross-checks against the Texas Board of Nursing dashboard.
Contents
Quick Facts
Key Takeaway
MCC’s Health Professions division publicly aims to be the preferred provider of nursing education among Central Texas community colleges, pairing classroom and simulation work with community clinical experiences. Applicants get transparent, year-labeled NCLEX-RN tables on Program Effectiveness Data plus a detailed tuition grid—helpful when you are comparing cost, HESI-based selection, and licensure outcomes before you commit to a cohort.
Overview & Why Students Choose McLennan Community College
McLennan Community College serves Central Texas from its main Waco campus, offering a traditional ADN track, an LVN-to-ADN transition option for nurses who already hold a vocational license, and a stacked one-year Vocational Nursing certificate. Official materials stress partnership with community health agencies, classroom and lab instruction consistent with Texas Board of Nursing rules, and graduates who can enter generalist RN or LVN roles.
MCC states that its ADN program is ACEN-accredited (Continuing Accreditation is the most recent decision on the ADN page) plus Board-approved; LVN students should treat BON approval as the controlling regulatory statement on the Vocational Nursing page.
According to McLennan Community College’s Program Effectiveness Data page, 2024 NCLEX-RN results for the ADN program show a 91.84% pass rate for the generic track, 83.33% for the LVN-to-ADN transition track, and 90.91% overall. For 2023, the same page lists 88% generic, 100% transition, and 92.98% overall. Confirm the latest rows on that page and cross-check first-time candidate detail with the Texas Board of Nursing Education Dashboard.
Reasons students choose MCC
Track-specific NCLEX transparency
Program effectiveness materials separate generic ADN and LVN-to-ADN NCLEX percentages—useful when you are comparing direct-entry versus transition performance rather than a single blended headline.
Central Texas clinical access
ADN descriptions emphasize theory plus clinical experiences that prepare students for hospitals and other agencies serving the region; exact site lists rotate and should be confirmed with Health Professions.
LVN-first or RN-first flexibility
Students may complete the one-year vocational certificate, begin work as an LVN, and later pursue the LVN-to-ADN transition, or move straight through the generic ADN after prerequisites.
ACEN-listed ADN quality indicator
MCC points applicants to ACEN’s public program search for disclosure documents; verify the effective accreditation status with ACEN and the college before you enroll.
Published tuition bands
The tuition page spells out McLennan County, broader Texas, and out-of-state/international semester-hour rates alongside mandatory per-credit fees—helpful for budgeting before you stack nursing credits.
Nursing Programs Offered
The pathways below are the nursing programs described on McLennan Community College’s Associate Degree Nursing and Vocational Nursing pages reviewed for this guide. MCC awards the Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) for ADN graduates; it does not grant a BSN, MSN, or DNP on campus.
Pre-licensure RN (Associate Degree Nursing — ADN)
Associate Degree Nursing (ADN), A.A.S.
MCC describes a two-year ADN curriculum blending nursing theory with clinical practice so graduates can apply for NCLEX-RN. Admission is selective; applicants must complete in-person packets, HESI A2 testing per program rules, TSI verification, and orientation requirements published on the application page.
LVN-to-ADN transition, A.A.S.
Licensed vocational nurses can pursue advanced placement through the transition route; MCC publishes separate application deadlines (for example, Summer 2026 transition) and holds dedicated Zoom information sessions. NCLEX outcomes are reported separately for transition vs. generic cohorts on Program Effectiveness Data.
Practical / vocational nursing
Vocational Nursing (LVN) — Certificate of Completion
MCC describes a one-year vocational program culminating in a Certificate of Completion and eligibility to apply for LVN licensure. The Vocational Nursing page states Texas Board of Nursing approval and lists faculty contacts for prospective students.
Start terms, prerequisite changes (for example, MCC alerts that Fall 2026 VN applicants must complete ENGL 1301 rather than a college speech course), and application materials can change. Always verify credit totals, immunization policies, Castlebranch deadlines, and Board approval letters on mclennan.edu before you apply.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
McLennan Community College publishes NCLEX-RN pass rates on its Program Effectiveness Data page. For 2024, the college lists 91.84% for the generic ADN track, 83.33% for the LVN-to-ADN transition track, and 90.91% overall. For 2023, it lists 88% generic, 100% transition, and 92.98% overall.
NCLEX-PN (Vocational Nursing)
LVN graduates sit for the NCLEX-PN. This guide does not quote a PN percentage for MCC because the Program Effectiveness excerpts reviewed centered on the ADN NCLEX-RN block; use the same Program Effectiveness page (if PN rows are posted there) or the Texas Board of Nursing Education Dashboard for Board-attributable PN data.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN (generic ADN, 2024) | 91.84% — McLennan CC Program Effectiveness Data |
| NCLEX-RN (LVN-to-ADN transition, 2024) | 83.33% — McLennan CC Program Effectiveness Data |
| NCLEX-RN (overall ADN, 2024) | 90.91% — McLennan CC Program Effectiveness Data |
| Reference year (context) | 2023 overall 92.98% (generic 88%; transition 100%) on the same page |
| Source | McLennan CC — Program Effectiveness Data (ADN); Texas Board of Nursing Education Dashboard |
The Program Effectiveness page notes that some Texas-reported data can arrive with a time lag. Confirm the latest NCLEX cohort rows with McLennan CC and the Texas Board of Nursing before you rely on any single percentage.
International Students & Internationally Educated Nurses
Texas nursing programs must comply with Board of Nursing rules, clinical affiliate contracts, and federal visa regulations. The checklist below is general guidance—not legal or immigration advice.
- Residency-based tuition: McLennan CC’s published chart lists a distinct rate for out-of-state residents & international students—budget at that tier unless you document Texas residency per college rules.
- F-1 or other visas: Nursing clinical placements require affiliate approval; confirm with MCC’s international student services and the Health Professions office whether your visa category is eligible for each pathway.
- English proficiency & transcripts: Ask admissions how TOEFL/IELTS or other evidence applies to your applicant type and plan for foreign-credential evaluation if required.
- Texas Board of Nursing: Internationally educated nurses should review declaratory orders, criminal history FAQs, and NCLEX eligibility steps on bon.texas.gov.
- Clinical clearance: Immunization policies (with exemption PDFs), drug screening, and background checks can affect placement—read the Health Professions policy library linked from the division homepage.
Requirements change. Verify every item with McLennan Community College’s admissions/international office, the nursing department, and the Texas Board of Nursing before you relocate or enroll.
Admissions: A Realistic Look
McLennan’s ADN materials describe selective admission with point-based ranking after deadlines; incomplete packets—missing HESI scores, TSI status, transcripts, residency proof, immunizations, or fees—are treated as ineligible. The department stresses scheduling HESI A2 early because scores not received by the deadline will not move you onto the admit or waitlist rosters.
Filing logistics
The Application Procedure page instructs students to submit completed ADN and VN nursing packets in person to the drop box in Health Professions, Room 222, and states emailed applications are not accepted.
Application timeline (examples from the live application page, March 2026)
| Program / cohort | Notes | Published deadline examples |
|---|---|---|
| LVN-to-ADN transition — Summer 2026 | Requires HESI A2 RN Entrance Exam; Testing Center closed March 9–13 (Spring Break) | Monday, March 16, 2026, 4:00 p.m. |
| Generic ADN — Fall 2026 | Mandatory orientation June 10, 2026 (Lecture Hall 200) | Monday, May 11, 2026, 4:00 p.m. |
| Generic ADN — Spring 2027 | Orientation listed as pending when reviewed | Monday, October 19, 2026, 4:00 p.m. |
| Stay current | ADN Application Procedure; Vocational Nursing posts separate checklists on its program site. | |
What applicants generally submit
Expect proof of college admission where applicable, accurate TSI status through Advising & Career Services, official HESI A2 RN for Entrance Exam scores delivered to the MCC Testing Center (per the Spring 2026 ADN / Summer 2026 transition statement on the ADN homepage), immunization documentation, residency verification, the nursing application fee, criminal background steps required by the Texas BON and clinical affiliates, and negative drug screening through Castlebranch when instructed.
Minimum HESI scores and GPA cutoffs live in the downloadable ADN Admission Criteria with HESI A2 PDF and ADN Points System PDF linked on the application page; open those documents so your plan matches the current numbers.
Information sessions
Schedule ADN general sessions (described as first-and-third Monday Zoom meetings) or LVN-to-ADN sessions (second-and-fourth Mondays) via the phone and email contacts posted on MCC’s application page.
Admissions snapshot
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | Not publicly disclosed |
| Selection model | Points-based ranking after deadline (see official PDFs) |
| Entrance exam | HESI A2 (ATI TEAS not highlighted on reviewed pages) |
| Waitlist | ADN may maintain alternates; compliant alternates not seated in a cycle are guaranteed the following semester per application language |
Tuition & Cost of Attendance
McLennan Community College publishes McLennan Tuition (per semester hour) with separate lines for county residents, other Texas residents, dual credit, and out-of-state/international students. Nursing students also pay mandatory per-credit fees listed on the same page.
| Metric | Value (Fall 2025 / Spring 2026 chart on MCC site) |
|---|---|
| Instructional tuition / semester hour | McLennan County residents $106 (minimum $212); Texas residents $124 (minimum $248); dual credit $55; out-of-state & international $181 (minimum $385) |
| Mandatory fees / semester hour | General Services Fee $10 per semester hour; Facilities Fee $6 per semester hour (plus any course/lab-specific charges) |
| Illustrative combined rate | McLennan County ≈ $122 per semester hour before other course fees (106 + 10 + 6); Texas resident ≈ $140; out-of-state/international ≈ $197 |
| Books, uniforms, clinical costs | Not consolidated into a single nursing bundle on the pages reviewed—budget separately and ask Health Professions for the current checklist |
| Source | McLennan CC — Tuition & Fees |
Contact the Business Office at 254-299-8627 for billing questions, payment plans, and financial aid packaging.
Student Outcomes & Career Prospects
Beyond NCLEX-RN, McLennan’s Program Effectiveness page lists cohort completion percentages and job-placement statistics. Treat employment percentages as school-reported with cohort-specific denominators.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Program completion (examples) | Overall generic + transition completion listed at 83.33% for Summer/Fall 2023 starts and 65% for Spring 2024 starts (see Program Effectiveness for the full breakdown) |
| Job placement (school-reported, 2022–2023) | MCC lists 99% (71/72); 2023–2024 was pending when reviewed—confirm updated figures and methodology on the same page |
| NCLEX-RN (ADN, 2024 overall) | 90.91% — see NCLEX section |
| Source | McLennan CC — Program Effectiveness Data |
Confirm current job-market conditions with regional workforce data; the BLS RN occupational outlook offers national context.
Is McLennan Community College the Right Fit for You?
Choose MCC when you want an in-person, competitively ranked Texas community college nursing pathway with published tuition bands and transparent NCLEX tables—including separate generic vs. LVN-to-ADN lines—and you can comply with strict deadlines, Castlebranch screening, and commute/clinical requirements across Central Texas.
✓ Good fit for students who—
- Prefer McLennan County or Texas resident tuition but understand clinical travel may extend beyond Waco.
- Can execute HESI timelines, TSI verification, immunization policies, and in-person paperwork without relying on email submission.
- Value ACEN-accredited ADN coursework paired with an optional LVN certificate route.
- Plan to ladder into an RN-to-BSN or employer tuition support after earning the A.A.S.
✗ May not be ideal for students who—
- Need a fully online pre-licensure RN program—MCC emphasizes campus-based theory, labs, and clinical rotations.
- Expect automatic acceptance once prerequisites are complete; both ADN and VN remain capacity-controlled.
- Want a four-year BSN without transferring; MCC does not award the bachelor’s degree.
- Cannot attend mandatory orientation or meet Castlebranch/immunization deadlines each semester.
Local Healthcare Ecosystem
Waco anchors McLennan County along the I-35 corridor between Dallas–Fort Worth and Austin, giving nursing graduates access to regional employers ranging from large multi-hospital systems to rural health clinics throughout Central Texas. Program materials emphasize community agencies and hospitals without publishing a static affiliate directory on the pages reviewed for this guide.
| Topic | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Clinical exposure | ADN coursework references hospitals and other healthcare agencies; specific rotations shift by semester—request the current clinical partner overview from Health Professions. |
| Employer variety | Graduates typically pursue acute-care hospitals, outpatient clinics, long-term care, home health, and school nursing positions across Central Texas labor markets. |
| Confirm details | Because contracts change, verify affiliations and travel expectations during your MCC information session or advising appointment. |
Student Experience & Campus Life
McLennan Community College’s flagship campus at 1400 College Drive houses Health Professions offices (applications drop at Room 222) alongside labs and classrooms used for nursing skills training. Expect a mix of on-campus simulation/lab days and off-site clinical rotations that may require reliable transportation across McLennan County and neighboring communities.
Broader campus resources include libraries, tutoring (MCC promotes free HESI A2 prep through PLATO Learning on its application page), advising, police services, and student organizations; nursing cohorts should still plan for intensive study schedules around clinical shifts.
Resources & Next Steps
Contact & location
- Campus location
- Waco, TX
- Address
- 1400 College Drive, Waco, TX 76708, US
- Main telephone
- 254-299-8000
- Health Professions / ADN info
- 254-299-8105 (voicemail for session reservations per application page)
- Vocational Nursing contacts
- Program page lists 254-299-8347 (administrative secretary) and 254-299-8298 (program director)
- Website
- mclennan.edu
Official links
Your “Next 7 Days” checklist
- Open the ADN Admission Criteria and Points System PDFs on MCC’s application page and list every document you still owe.
- Register for a Zoom information session (generic ADN vs. LVN-to-ADN) using the reservation steps on the application page.
- Schedule HESI A2 RN for Entrance Exam early; remember the Testing Center closes March 9–13, 2026, for Spring Break if you are targeting the Summer 2026 transition deadline.
- Confirm TSI completion with Advising & Career Services so your nursing packet is not disqualified for missing status.
- Assemble immunization records, residency proof, and application fee so you can drop a complete packet in Room 222 before 4:00 p.m. on your deadline.
- Budget Castlebranch drug screens, uniforms, liability insurance, and commuter fuel for clinical weeks outside Waco.
- Bookmark Program Effectiveness Data and the Texas BON dashboard to monitor future NCLEX cohorts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What nursing programs does McLennan Community College offer?
MCC offers Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) leading to an A.A.S. and NCLEX-RN eligibility, an LVN-to-ADN transition track, and a one-year Vocational Nursing certificate for NCLEX-PN. It does not award a BSN on campus.
What NCLEX-RN data does McLennan Community College publish?
Program Effectiveness Data lists overall ADN NCLEX-RN at 90.91% for 2024 (91.84% generic; 83.33% LVN-to-ADN transition) and 92.98% overall for 2023. Confirm newer rows on that page and the Texas BON dashboard.
Does McLennan Community College use TEAS or HESI?
Spring 2026 ADN and Summer 2026 LVN-to-ADN applicants must take the HESI A2 RN for Entrance Exam per the ADN homepage. Detailed minimum scores appear in the PDFs linked from the application page—not duplicated here.
What will I pay per credit at McLennan Community College?
The Fall 2025 / Spring 2026 tuition page lists $106/semester hour for McLennan County residents, $124 for other Texas residents, and $181 for out-of-state/international students, plus $10 General Services and $6 Facilities fees per semester hour.
Is McLennan Community College’s ADN accredited?
MCC states ACEN Continuing Accreditation and Texas Board of Nursing approval for ADN; Vocational Nursing emphasizes BON approval. Verify before you enroll.
When are McLennan Community College’s 2026 ADN deadlines?
Examples from the application page: LVN-to-ADN Summer 2026 due March 16, 2026; generic Fall 2026 due May 11, 2026; generic Spring 2027 due October 19, 2026—all by 4:00 p.m.
How do I submit my McLennan Community College nursing application?
Drop completed ADN/VN packets in person at Health Professions Room 222; emailed applications are not accepted, and incomplete files are ineligible.
Does McLennan Community College report job placement?
Program Effectiveness shows 99% (71/72) job placement for 2022–2023 and marks 2023–2024 as pending—confirm methodology on that page.
Does McLennan Community College offer an accelerated BSN?
No—MCC offers the ADN A.A.S. and Vocational Nursing certificate; plan to transfer for a BSN or RN-to-BSN completion.
What should McLennan Community College applicants know about clinical clearance?
Expect immunization policies, drug screening via Castlebranch, background checks, and professional behavior standards published in the Health Professions document library—requirements can block clinical placement if missed.
References
- McLennan Community College — Associate Degree Nursing (ADN)https://www.mclennan.edu/health-professions/associate-degree-nursing/index.html
- McLennan Community College — ADN Application Procedurehttps://www.mclennan.edu/health-professions/associate-degree-nursing/application.html
- McLennan Community College — Program Effectiveness Data (NCLEX & outcomes)https://www.mclennan.edu/health-professions/associate-degree-nursing/program-effectiveness.html
- McLennan Community College — Vocational Nursing (LVN)https://www.mclennan.edu/health-professions/licensed-vocational-nursing/index.html
- McLennan Community College — Health Professions divisionhttps://www.mclennan.edu/health-professions/index.html
- McLennan Community College — Tuition & Feeshttps://www.mclennan.edu/tuition/index.html
- McLennan Community College — Financial Aidhttps://www.mclennan.edu/financial-aid/index.html
- McLennan Community College — Academic Cataloghttps://www.mclennan.edu/catalog/index.html
- Texas Board of Nursing — Education Dashboardhttps://www.bon.texas.gov/education_school_resultsDashboard.asp.html
- Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)https://www.acenursing.org/
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)https://www.ncsbn.org/
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Registered Nurseshttps://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm
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 alignment between on-page NCLEX figures and McLennan Community College’s Program Effectiveness Data, tuition and fee rates from the Fall 2025 / Spring 2026 chart, and admissions deadlines and HESI language from the live ADN application page.
Disclaimer: This page is for general reference only. It does not constitute professional, admissions, immigration, or financial advice. Requirements, deadlines, tuition, and clinical affiliations change; confirm every fact with McLennan Community College and the Texas Board of Nursing.
Published: April 1, 2026 · Last reviewed: April 1, 2026 · Medical Review Process · Editorial Policy