Tarrant County College Nursing: Trinity River ADN, HESI & Costs (2026)
Fort Worth’s Tarrant County College runs a selective Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (ADN) at Trinity River Campus East, pairs it with documented JPS and Medical City partnership options, and publishes HESI A2 rules plus in-county program tuition on tccd.edu. This guide mirrors those disclosures, cites school-published NCLEX cohort tables, and links Texas Board of Nursing dashboards for updates.
Contents
Quick Facts
Key Takeaway
Trinity River East concentrates every pre-licensure RN cohort in downtown Fort Worth while TCC’s partnership page documents concurrent ADN-to-BSN and RN-to-BSN routes through universities such as UTA, UT Tyler, Tarleton, Midwestern State–Flower Mound, ASU, and GCU—so you can plan the BSN step without assuming TCC awards the bachelor’s degree itself (partners confer the BSN under their rules).
Overview & Why Students Choose Tarrant County College
Tarrant County College anchors affordable health professions training for one of the nation’s busiest hospital corridors: the Dallas–Fort Worth metro. Nursing is selective—you apply to the college first, then submit a program-specific packet once prerequisites, HESI A2 scores, and immunization screens are ready.
Every professional nursing cohort trains at Trinity River Campus East beside the Trinity River, while the broader district supports Fort Worth-area residents who need accessible general education before they enter the nursing sequence.
TCC posts completion and NCLEX percentages for recent admission cohorts directly on its nursing homepage. Complement that snapshot with the Texas Board of Nursing Education Dashboard for program-level outcomes attributed to Tarrant County College in state reports. Confirm the newest numbers with TBON and the nursing office at 817-515-2339 before you decide.
Reasons students choose Tarrant County College
Urban Fort Worth clinical fabric
From county facilities like John Peter Smith to Medical City Healthcare’s Texas Two-Step Nursing Program, TCC publishes named partnerships that anchor rotations and workforce pipelines students can research up front.
Published HESI logic
Selective admission spells out five HESI A2 sections, a 75 minimum on each, and ProctorU or on-campus testing options—useful when budgeting time and retake strategy.
ACEN continuing accreditation
The program page states the Associate Degree Nursing program holds ACEN continuing accreditation with public disclosure linked from acenursing.com—an external benchmark employers and transfer partners recognize.
Concurrent BSN planning
The partnerships page lists simultaneous ADN/BSN work with multiple universities plus post-licensure RN-to-BSN handoffs, so you can map a BSN even though TCC itself awards the AAS.
Transparent ACH totals
TCC prints a 60-semester-hour tuition-and-fee total for in-county residents ($4,440 for 2025–26) separate from textbooks—helpful for early budgeting.
Nursing Programs Offered
TCC’s public nursing index lists one for-credit degree—the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (A.A.S.)—alongside a transferable Nursing Field of Study for students who need prerequisites without enrolling in clinical nursing courses yet. Non-credit continuing education offerings include Certified Nurse Aide, Patient Care Technician, and Cardiac Electrophysiology, which are not substitutes for the ADN but can help students test healthcare careers.
Pre-licensure (NCLEX-RN eligibility)
Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
The A.A.S. Nursing curriculum requires 60 semester credit hours according to the “How Much Time & Money to Finish?” table on tccd.edu. Instruction occurs at Trinity River Campus East; graduates qualify for NCLEX-RN after Texas Board of Nursing clearance. Corequisite nursing courses in the official sequence generally cannot be transferred in because they affect pacing—confirm any exception with the Nursing Division.
Transfer preparation (non-clinical)
Nursing Field of Study (34 SCH)
This pathway delivers transferable general education and science credits only; it does not award a nursing degree or clinical placement. TCC lists $2,516 in-county tuition and fees for 34 credit hours for 2025–26 on the nursing homepage.
Supporting & continuing education
Certified Nurse Aide & Patient Care Technician
These non-credit programs appear under “Continuing Education Programs” on the nursing hub for students who want entry-level credentials before attempting selective ADN admission.
Concurrent or post-licensure BSN (partner universities)
Rather than operating its own RN-to-BSN, TCC publishes Nursing Program Partnerships covering concurrent ADN/BSN pathways and post-licensure RN-to-BSN programs hosted by universities such as UTA, UT Tyler, Tarleton, Midwestern State–Flower Mound, ASU, GCU, and others. Admission, tuition, and accreditation for those BSNs belong to the partner institution—even when coursework overlaps with TCC classes.
TCC reminds applicants that Dallas–Fort Worth hospital councils set immunization and screening standards. If you cannot satisfy a clinical partner’s requirements—including background checks managed through approved vendors—you may be unable to complete required experiences even after academic admission.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
School-published cohort snapshot
According to the Our Student Achievement Data table on TCC’s nursing homepage (updated March 10, 2026), the Fall 2021 admission cohort posted an 87% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate (149 of 171 testers) and a 94% pass rate within two attempts (161 of 171). The Spring 2021 cohort posted an 83% first-time rate (99 of 119) and 94% within two attempts (112 of 119). Treat these figures as historical program disclosures, not predictions for your cohort.
Texas Board of Nursing comparison tools
The Texas Board of Nursing Education Dashboard and companion school-search exports remain the statewide reference for comparing Tarrant County College with other approved programs. Search using the legal name the Board assigns to the district when reviewing downloadable data.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN first-time pass (Fall 2021 cohort) | 87% (149/171) — TCC nursing homepage table, admission cohort Fall 2021 |
| NCLEX-RN within two attempts (Fall 2021 cohort) | 94% (161/171) — same source |
| NCLEX-RN first-time pass (Spring 2021 cohort) | 83% (99/119) — same source |
| Source | TCC Nursing program page · Texas BON Education Dashboard. Confirm current cohorts with TBON and TCC Nursing (817-515-2339). |
NCLEX outcomes change by cohort. Always confirm the latest pass rates with the Texas Board of Nursing and the school.
International Students & Internationally Educated Nurses
Guidance below summarizes TCC’s published language policies for nursing applicants; immigration, clinical clearance, and Texas licensure rules still require individualized verification.
- English-language proficiency: If English was not the primary language of instruction in your high school, TCC’s Selective Admission page requires TOEFL iBT 83 or IELTS overall 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in each band)—scores valid within two years of application—and notes these benchmarks align with Texas Board of Nursing recommendations for licensure applicants.
- Transcript / credential evaluation: International applicants must complete TCC’s transcript evaluation process before nursing faculty can validate prerequisites.
- Texas Board of Nursing: Confirm declaratory orders, criminal history reviews, and NCLEX eligibility packets through TBON before investing in prerequisite coursework.
- Immigration & visa: Clinical courses may have restrictions for certain visa categories; coordinate with TCC International Admissions and the Nursing Division early.
Policies change frequently. Verify with TCC’s international office and the Texas Board of Nursing.
Admissions: A Realistic Look
TCC nursing uses a two-step process: general admission to the college (to receive a student ID) and a separate online nursing application after you satisfy selective criteria. Advisors group students alphabetically under the Health Care Professions Advising Resource Hub at Trinity River (817-515-1484).
Application timeline (as published March 2026)
| Entry Term | Deadline | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Spring admission | April 30, 2026, 11:59 p.m. | Duplicate, incomplete, or late applications are rejected. Candidates notified by May 22, 2026 (end of business day) per How to Apply page. |
Admissions snapshot
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Acceptance rate (nursing) | Not publicly disclosed |
| HESI A2 | Required; minimum 75 on each section (Anatomy & Physiology, Grammar, Math, Reading, Vocabulary) per Selective Admission page; available via ProctorU or Trinity River Testing Center. |
| Prerequisite sciences (before applying) | BIOL 2401, 2402, BIOL 2420 or 2421 complete with ≥C. Science courses older than five years are not accepted for applications beginning Spring 2025. |
| Science GPA context | Minimum C is required, but selected students often hold science GPAs of 3.4+ per Selective Admission guidance. |
| TSI | Must be satisfied before the nursing application per TCC policy. |
| Immunizations | MMR, Tdap, varicella, Hep A/B series (or titers), TB screening, meningitis documentation if under 22—required before eligibility to apply when patient contact is planned. |
Honest tips
Download the Nursing Division Programs Overview (PDF) referenced on the How to Apply page, then line up transcripts so anatomy, physiology, and microbiology remain inside the five-year science window. Schedule HESI early—there are five scored sections to prepare for—and keep screenshots of immunization deadlines because some series take six months.
Tuition & Cost of Attendance
TCC separates the published 60-semester-hour Nursing A.A.S. total from books, uniforms, background checks, and clinical fees that vary by cohort.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Nursing A.A.S. total tuition & fees (2025–26) | $4,440 for 60 credit hours, based on in-state, in-Tarrant County residency; excludes textbooks and materials (per nursing homepage March 2026). |
| Nursing Field of Study (34 SCH) | $2,516 tuition and fees for in-county residents—transfer prep only, no clinical nursing degree. |
| Per-credit undergraduate tuition (Spring 2025–Summer 2026) | Tarrant County $74; other Texas counties $136; out-of-state / international $315 per semester credit hour before nursing-specific fees or the Fall 2026 $10 general fee that appears on the Tuition & Fees page for later terms. |
| Third-attempt rule surcharge | $60 per semester credit hour when repeating a course three or more times (tuition page). |
| Incremental nursing costs | Budget for immunization titers, CastleBranch-style documentation, drug screens, uniforms, insurance, transportation to clinical sites, and assessment software referenced across post-admission materials. |
| Source | TCC Nursing — time & money table · TCC Tuition & Fees · Program tuition & fees index |
Student Outcomes & Career Prospects
Pair school-reported completion and licensure data with TBON exports and conversations with clinical recruiters—Fort Worth’s hospitals hire large new-graduate classes, but individual placement still depends on performance and facility needs.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Program completion (on-time) | Spring 2021 cohort: 51%; Fall 2021 cohort: 62% (TCC nursing homepage achievement table) |
| Program completion (150% time) | Spring 2021: 75%; Fall 2021: 77% |
| NCLEX-RN first-time pass | Spring 2021: 83% (99/119); Fall 2021: 87% (149/171)—school disclosure table |
| NCLEX-RN within two attempts | Both listed cohorts: 94% (112/119 and 161/171 respectively) |
| Job placement (survey respondents) | Spring 2021: reported 73% of respondents; Fall 2021: reported 100% of respondents—both figures come from the same TCC table and reflect respondent pools, not all graduates. Confirm methodology and newer cohorts with TCC and the Texas Workforce Commission before treating any percentage as typical. |
| Source | TCC Nursing — Student Achievement Data |
Is Tarrant County College the Right Fit for You?
TCC fits learners who want a single downtown Fort Worth campus for the entire ADN sequence, transparent HESI requirements, and employer-branded partnership cohorts—but it is less ideal if you expect TCC itself to confer a BSN or if you cannot satisfy hospital immunization policies.
✓ Good fit for students who—
- Live or can relocate within Tarrant County to capture the lowest published tuition band
- Want JPS or Medical City cohort options described on the partnerships page
- Plan to ladder into partner universities (UTA, UT Tyler, Tarleton, Midwestern State–Flower Mound, ASU, etc.) while finishing the A.A.S.
- Prefer clearly spelled-out HESI minimums and multi-semester NCLEX tracking on the public website
✗ May not be ideal for students who—
- Need a BSN awarded entirely by the community college (TCC lists partner universities instead)
- Cannot complete lengthy immunization series before the application window
- Expect an LVN-to-RN or ABSN track on the same tccd.edu nursing index (only the A.A.S. degree is listed there today)
Local Healthcare Ecosystem
Fort Worth anchors Tarrant County’s public hospital district alongside private systems stretching toward Dallas. TCC names several clinical collaborators directly—use those disclosures as a starting point for understanding where employer demand concentrates.
| Partner / setting | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| John Peter Smith (JPS) Health Network | TCC lists a JPS partnership cohort requiring a post-acceptance approval letter from the hospital if you are admitted to that track—evidence of the county safety-net system’s role in workforce development. |
| Medical City Healthcare · Texas Two-Step Nursing Program | Described as another employer-branded pathway with the same academic admission standards as general seats, highlighting HCA’s footprint in North Texas. |
| Metroplex context | Beyond named partners, students often rotate through Baylor Scott & White, Texas Health Resources, Cook Children’s, and other DFW systems—confirm exact sites with the Nursing Division after admission. |
Student Experience & Campus Life
Trinity River Campus East sits near Fort Worth’s central business district, so commuting nursing students should plan for downtown parking and traffic around clinical rush hours. The program directs advising through the Health Care Professions Resource Hub and offers general versus application-specific emails (nursing.department@tccd.edu vs. tccnursingapp@tccd.edu).
Expect typical nursing student workloads: lecture, lab, simulation, and long clinical days leave little time for extracurriculars, though Fort Worth’s Near Southside and Cultural District provide restaurants and museums when you have a free evening.
Resources & Next Steps
Contact & location
- Program site
- Trinity River Campus East — Associate Degree Nursing
- Address
- 245 East Belknap Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102, US
- Health professions advising
- 817-515-1484 · TR.HealthCareAdvising@tccd.edu
- Nursing department
- 817-515-2339 · nursing.department@tccd.edu
- Application help
- tccnursingapp@tccd.edu
- Website
- tccd.edu
Official links
Your “Next 7 Days” checklist
- Bookmark the TCC nursing homepage and download the Nursing Division programs overview PDF linked from How to Apply.
- Compare your transcripts against BIOL 2401, 2402, and microbiology requirements and confirm nothing exceeds the five-year science window.
- Register for the HESI A2 (ProctorU or Trinity River Testing Center) and aim for ≥75 on every scored section.
- Create an immunization tracker—Hepatitis B alone can require six months to finish.
- Attend a Group Advisement Information Session once dates post on the nursing site.
- If you want a partnership cohort, read the JPS or Medical City requirements on the partnerships page before ranking choices.
- Submit the online nursing application before 11:59 p.m. on the published deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Tarrant County College nursing program located?
Pre-licensure coursework and labs occur at Trinity River Campus East, 245 East Belknap Street, Fort Worth. Directions and room references (TRHN 3211) appear on the nursing contact panel dated March 10, 2026.
Does TCC require the TEAS or the HESI for nursing?
TCC’s Selective Admission page names the HESI A2 (not TEAS) with a minimum score of 75 on each of the five sections. Follow the Trinity River Testing Center or ProctorU instructions linked from tccd.edu.
What GPA do I need to get into TCC nursing?
Applicants need at least a C in each science prerequisite, but the admissions page notes many admitted students carry science GPAs of 3.4 or higher. There is no published minimum cumulative GPA replacing that guidance—treat it as highly competitive.
What is the NCLEX-RN pass rate for TCC?
TCC’s public achievement table lists 87% first-time NCLEX-RN passes for the Fall 2021 cohort (149 of 171) and 83% for the Spring 2021 cohort (99 of 119). Supplement those disclosures with the Texas Board of Nursing Education Dashboard for newer cycles.
Does Tarrant County College offer RN-to-BSN?
TCC does not list an RN-to-BSN degree among its own credentials. Instead, the partnerships page describes concurrent and post-licensure BSN pathways through universities such as UTA, UT Tyler, Tarleton, Midwestern State–Flower Mound, ASU, and GCU. Those schools confer the BSN.
How much is tuition for TCC’s Nursing A.A.S.?
For 2025–26 the nursing hub lists $4,440 in tuition and fees for the 60-credit-hour program for in-Tarrant County residents, excluding textbooks. Other Texans pay higher per-credit rates ($136/hour for Spring 2025–Summer 2026 per the tuition page).
When is the next TCC nursing application due?
The How to Apply page (updated March 5, 2026) lists April 30, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Central as the close of Spring admission applications, with notifications by May 22, 2026.
Can I work while completing TCC nursing?
The college does not publish a formal work policy in the sources used here, but completion timelines and clinical hours mirror full-time programs elsewhere—most students limit employment. Confirm expectations in the Nursing Division overview PDF and orientation materials.
What partnerships should Fort Worth applicants know about?
TCC documents John Peter Smith and Medical City Healthcare (Texas Two-Step) employer cohorts plus numerous university concurrent enrollments. Each pathway still requires acceptance into the TCC Nursing program first.
References
- TCC — Nursing program hub (Student Achievement Data, costs)tccd.edu/…/nursing/
- TCC — Selective Admission: NursingSelective admission
- TCC — How to Apply to NursingHow to apply
- TCC — Nursing Program PartnershipsPartnerships
- TCC — Tuition & Fees (residency table, Fall 2026 notes)Tuition & Fees
- Texas Board of Nursing — Education Dashboardbon.texas.gov Education Dashboard
- Texas Board of Nursing — Formal education programsbon.texas.gov/education_programs
- ACEN — accredited programs searchACEN program search
- 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 HESI vs TEAS accuracy, program scope (AAS vs partner BSN), alignment of tuition figures with tccd.edu, and the published NCLEX cohort table.
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