Lone Star College Nursing: Programs, Requirements & Outcomes (2026)
Lone Star College System spreads nursing education across Greater Houston—ADN Basic Tracks at CyFair, Kingwood, Montgomery, North Harris, and Tomball; Vocational Nursing pipelines at campuses such as Tomball and Kingwood; transition pathways for LVNs and licensed paramedics at selected campuses; and an ACEN-accredited RN-to-BSN at Montgomery. This guide reflects official 2025–26 tuition, published application cycles, and Texas Board of Nursing tools for NCLEX outcomes.
Contents
Quick Facts
Key Takeaway
Lone Star’s multi-campus model lets you pursue an ADN close to home in Harris or Montgomery counties, sit for NCLEX-RN, and—once licensed—step into the hybrid RN-to-BSN at Montgomery without leaving the LSC ecosystem. Expect rigorous clinical compliance, HESI-based selective admission, and transparent residency-based tuition ($111 per credit in-district for 2025–26) published on lonestar.edu.
Overview & Why Students Choose Lone Star College
Serving more than 90,000 students each semester across the North Houston metro, Lone Star College System concentrates health professions training on campuses from Cypress and Tomball to Kingwood and North Harris. Nursing programming mirrors that footprint: pre-licensure ADN and Vocational Nursing cohorts start on different campuses, while the LVN/LP (and, at Tomball, EMT-P) transition track compresses RN preparation for applicants who already hold allied credentials.
Official materials emphasize Texas Board of Nursing approval alongside ACEN accreditation for professional nursing programs—for instance, Montgomery’s ADN and transition tracks list “Continuing Accreditation,” and Tomball cites continuing ACEN status for its ADN and transition programming. Post-licensure learners can add the ACEN-accredited RN-to-BSN at Montgomery using hybrid eight-week courses designed around working RNs.
Compare programs using the Texas Board of Nursing Education Dashboard, then cross-check campus disclosures. Lone Star publishes ACEN outcome tables on individual campus pages—examples include LSC-Montgomery’s listed Official NCLEX Program Pass Rate of 92.3% and LSC-Tomball’s 2025 ADN overall rate of 92.86% (39 of 42 first-time candidates) marked as unofficial/year-to-date on the Tomball nursing page. Confirm the latest cohort with TBON and your campus director.
Reasons students choose Lone Star College
Metro-wide campus choice
ADN Basic Track seats are advertised for CyFair, Kingwood, Montgomery, North Harris, and Tomball, allowing many Houston-area residents to limit brutal commutes while still accessing hospital clinicals.
LVN/paramedic articulation
The Transition sequence (summer entry, three semesters) is tailored to licensed vocational nurses and, where noted, paramedics—useful if you already work in EMS or long-term care and want RN mobility.
Published LSC tuition simplicity
For 2025–26, Lone Star posts $111 per credit for in-district residents, $249 for other Texas residents, and $313 for out-of-state/international learners—helpful for semester budgeting before nursing surcharges.
ACEN- and TBON-aligned quality signals
Campus nursing pages reference ACEN continuing accreditation decisions and TBON approval, mirroring the language on LSC’s associate-degree general information and transition overview pages.
Clear testing expectations
Montgomery’s nursing site documents HESI A2 rules—six sections in one administration, recent score validity, and routing of outside transcripts to the Testing Center—so applicants know how exams factor into scoring.
Nursing Programs Offered
Lone Star College publishes nursing pathways both on system-wide pages (for example, ADN general information and transition general information) and on individual campus sites. The structure below follows Lonestar.edu: pre-licensure professional nursing and vocational nursing first, then the RN-to-BSN completion track for already licensed RNs.
Pre-licensure & bridge pathways
Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) — Basic Track
The Basic Track admits new nursing students in the fall for four sequential semesters with lecture, lab, and clinical assignments often requiring four to five days per week, per LSC’s ADN general information page. ADN Basic applications are listed for LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, and LSC-Tomball on the consolidated application deadlines page (each entry includes its own HESI deadline). North Harris also describes optional CNA or LVN exit milestones after select semesters for students who choose to pause and work.
Transition to ADN (LVN/LP · EMT-P where applicable)
The transition pathway is a three-semester sequence that begins in the summer for students who are already licensed vocational nurses or, where campuses specify, licensed paramedics. According to the transition overview, Montgomery hosts the ACEN-accredited transition and basic programs, while the application deadlines page also lists transition cycles for Kingwood, North Harris, and Tomball. LSC-CyFair explicitly states “No Transition Program,” so LVNs near Cypress should plan to apply to another LSC campus offering the track.
Vocational Nursing (VN)
Vocational Nursing follows Texas Board of Nursing educational guidelines and prepares graduates for NCLEX-PN. Published 2026 application windows on the Nursing Program Deadlines page include Vocational Nursing at LSC-Tomball and LSC-Kingwood (always verify the live table). Tomball’s nursing department cites ACEN-aligned outcome monitoring for VN as well as ADN programming.
Post-licensure (RN to BSN)
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-to-BSN)
The RN-to-BSN is explicitly for licensed registered nurses, delivered at LSC-Montgomery with annual fall starts and ACEN accreditation noted on the program page. Class meetings use an eight-week hybrid model suited to working nurses. System deadlines list the “LSC-BSN Program” separately (for example, February 2–June 22, 2026 applications for Fall 2026).
Lone Star’s nursing materials require immunizations, health insurance, background checks, liability insurance, and other clinical site mandates. Students who may have eligibility concerns with the Texas Board of Nursing should start declaratory order conversations early—LSC notes the process can take six months to a year.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
NCLEX-RN (professional nursing programs)
Because Lone Star College operates multiple Texas Board of Nursing–approved programs, NCLEX-RN statistics are tied to each program’s legal name on TBON records—not a single “Lone Star College” headline number. Use the Texas Board of Nursing Education Dashboard and linked search utilities to pull the newest first-time pass rates for the exact program you are considering.
LSC campus sites supplement TBON reporting with ACEN outcome tables. For example, Lonestar.edu’s LSC-Montgomery nursing page lists an Official NCLEX Program Pass Rate: 92.3% in its ACEN 5.3 licensure section (interpret alongside TBON exports). LSC-Tomball’s public table shows a 2025 overall ADN pass rate of 92.86% based on 39 of 42 first-time candidates, with the page marking that row as “Unofficial / Year to Date.” Transition-track rows on the same page show different cohort sizes—always read the correct track. Confirm current cohorts with TBON and your campus nursing office.
NCLEX-PN (Vocational Nursing)
Vocational Nursing outcomes are likewise published through TBON tools. LSC-Tomball’s department page includes multi-year NCLEX-PN tables (for example, a 2025 row of 94.74% with 18 of 19 testers labeled unofficial/year-to-date). Treat any percentage as snapshot data and confirm methodology with the campus and TBON.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN (TBON) | Look up each Lone Star program’s latest first-time RN pass rate via the Texas BON Education Dashboard. |
| NCLEX-RN (examples, school tables) | LSC-Montgomery: Official NCLEX Program Pass Rate 92.3% on department page. LSC-Tomball ADN 2025 overall 92.86% (39/42), marked unofficial YTD on departmental outcomes table. |
| NCLEX-PN (example, school table) | LSC-Tomball VN table lists 94.74% (18/19) for 2025 with unofficial/YTD notation—confirm final totals with TBON. |
| Source | Texas Board of Nursing — Formal Education Programs · LSC-Montgomery Nursing Department · LSC-Tomball Nursing Department |
NCLEX outcomes change by cohort and campus. Always confirm the latest pass rates with the Texas Board of Nursing and the school.
International Students & Internationally Educated Nurses
Requirements for international students and internationally educated nurses vary by campus logistics, clinical contracts, and immigration status. Lone Star’s tuition page references additional F-1 cost considerations and directs questions to LSC-F1Admissions@lonestar.edu—use that resource alongside nursing faculty advisors.
- English-language proficiency: Institutional minimum scores (TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo, if applicable) for admission to degree programs.
- Transcript / credential evaluation: Any evaluator requirements for nursing prerequisites and transfer credit.
- Texas Board of Nursing: TBON maintains lists of approved credential evaluation service providers and determines NCLEX eligibility for internationally educated nurses.
- Immigration & visa: Clinical courses require placements that may restrict certain visa categories; confirm with International Admissions and the nursing program before enrolling.
Policies change frequently. Verify with Lone Star College’s international office, the campus nursing department, and the Texas Board of Nursing.
Admissions: A Realistic Look
Every Lone Star nursing pathway is a limited-enrollment health occupation program: you must meet college admission requirements, finish prerequisites, complete the HESI A2 where required, and submit the online Health Occupations application by the campus deadline (typically 4:00 p.m. Central on the closing date). Age minimums apply—deadline pages note health occupation programs generally require applicants to be at least 18 unless a high-school partnership exception applies.
Application snapshot (2026 cycles on lonestar.edu)
| Campus / Program | Application window | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple campuses — ADN Basic Track | Example: Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2026 for Fall 2026 (Montgomery, Tomball, North Harris); CyFair adds Apr 23 – Jun 11, 2026 for Spring 2027; Kingwood Basic uses Apr 23 – Jun 11, 2026 for Spring 2027 per deadlines page | HESI deadlines precede application closes (often ~1 week). Verify the live Nursing Program Deadlines table. |
| Transition to ADN | Example: Jan 6 – Apr 2, 2026 (Montgomery, Tomball, North Harris) with March 26, 2026 HESI cutoff; Kingwood lists Mar 24 – May 28, 2026 for Fall 2026 | Not offered at CyFair per the same page. |
| Vocational Nursing | Example: Tomball Jun 1 – Aug 6, 2026 for Spring 2027 (HESI Jul 30, 2026); Kingwood Mar 24 – May 28, 2026 for Fall 2026 | Campus availability differs—confirm each site. |
| RN-to-BSN (LSC-BSN) | Feb 2 – Jun 22, 2026 for Fall 2026 | Requires active RN license; hybrid Montgomery delivery per program page. |
Admissions snapshot
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Acceptance rate (nursing) | Not publicly disclosed |
| HESI A2 | Required for the campuses reviewed here (e.g., Montgomery specifies six sections—reading, grammar, vocabulary/general knowledge, anatomy & physiology, math, critical thinking—taken together; scores must be < one year old; only the newest complete exam counts). Retake intervals may be limited (Tomball notes 60-day spacing). |
| Progression grades | System nursing pages state students must earn at least a “C” (75%) in each nursing course and maintain a 2.0 GPA to continue—read the handbook for your campus. |
| Background checks / declaratory orders | All accepted candidates undergo DPS/FBI checks routed through TBON processes; students with potential eligibility issues should start declaratory orders immediately. |
Honest tips
Build your prerequisite plan backward from the HESI deadline, not the application close date. Download the campus-specific “How to Apply” packet (Montgomery publishes Word docs such as HowToApplyADN2026) so you know every document upload requirement. If you are juggling multiple campuses, remember CyFair does not host the transition track—plan geography accordingly.
Tuition & Cost of Attendance
Lone Star College switched to a simplified tuition model: the 2025–26 chart lists a single residency-based rate per credit hour, with separate line items for specialty fees such as labs, liability insurance, testing, uniforms, and the book bundle described in the fee schedule.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Base tuition (2025–26 academic year) | In-district Texas resident: $111 per credit hour. Out-of-district Texas resident: $249 per credit hour. International / out-of-state: $313 per credit hour. |
| Illustrative semester cost | LSC’s home page highlights about $1,332 average tuition per semester for in-district students taking 12 credits—consistent with 12 × $111. |
| Nursing program supplements | Health occupation students should budget for HESI testing ($35 listed in the fee schedule), liability insurance, immunizations, clinical supplies, background checks, and other items referenced on Program Costs (PDF worksheets for Basic, Transition, and VN tracks). |
| Source | Lone Star College — Tuition & Fees (2025–26) · Nursing Program Costs · Cost of Attendance |
Student Outcomes & Career Prospects
Houston’s healthcare market is one of the largest in the nation, with academic medical centers, specialty institutes, community hospitals, and home-health employers recruiting continuously—though hiring still hinges on licensure, performance, and shift availability.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN | Use TBON dashboards plus campus ACEN tables (examples cited in the NCLEX section). |
| NCLEX-PN | Campus VN tables (e.g., Tomball) publish multi-year NCLEX-PN percentages with unofficial/YTD flags—confirm finalized data with TBON. |
| Program completion | Montgomery’s public 2025 outcomes list Basic Track completion at 65.3% (32/49) and Transition completion at 74% (20/27)—methodology aligns with ACEN reporting on the departmental page. |
| Job placement (school-reported) | LSC-Montgomery’s 2025 table states “Basic and Transition Tracks Combined: 100% (N=48/48)” on its new graduate survey metric—confirm definitions and response rates with the program; TBON does not verify employment percentages. |
| Source | LSC-Montgomery outcomes · LSC-Tomball outcomes |
Is Lone Star College the Right Fit for You?
Lone Star fits students who thrive in fast-paced, full-time nursing schedules with frequent clinical days across the Houston metro. It is a weaker match if you require a part-time ADN, need a transition track while living near CyFair (not offered there), or cannot satisfy stringent clinical compliance policies.
✓ Good fit for students who—
- Want multiple ADN campus options plus a TBON-approved VN ladder
- Already hold LVN or paramedic licensure and can commit to summer-start transitions
- Value published in-district tuition of $111 per credit (2025–26) before nursing fees
- Plan to stay in-region and eventually complete the Montgomery RN-to-BSN hybrid
✗ May not be ideal for students who—
- Need a slow, nights-only ADN format (LSC stresses weekday day programs on North Harris materials)
- Expect automatic readmission after failure—LSC nursing policies cap readmissions tightly
- Want a traditional, pre-licensure BSN inside Lone Star (not offered; RN-to-BSN is post-licensure only)
Local Healthcare Ecosystem
Lone Star’s service area spans more than 2,700 square miles across Harris and Montgomery Counties, placing students near flagship Texas Medical Center institutions in Houston as well as suburban community hospitals, pediatric specialty centers, and growing senior-care markets around The Woodlands, Kingwood, and Cypress.
| Setting | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Hospital systems (examples) | HCA Houston Healthcare, Memorial Hermann, Houston Methodist, CHI St. Luke’s, and Texas Children’s—among others—offer high-acuity experiences for student nurses; magnet hospitals may prefer BSN-prepared nurses, which makes LSC’s RN-to-BSN pathway relevant. |
| Community & public health | Federally qualified health centers, school clinics, county health departments, and home-health agencies provide diverse rotation environments outside tertiary hospitals. |
| Clinical assignment note | Exact rotation rosters change by semester; Tomball publishes a clinical sites link for reference, but always expect placements assigned by program leadership. |
Student Experience & Campus Life
Each Lone Star campus combines general student services with health science infrastructure—skills labs, simulation space, and review sessions coordinated by nursing faculty. Because programs require laptop access, reliable transportation, and daytime availability, many nursing students keep extracurricular involvement light while classes are in session.
Student life varies by location: Tomball and Montgomery anchor northern Harris and Montgomery counties, North Harris and University Park sit closer to Houston’s core job market, and CyFair serves rapidly growing northwest suburbs. Nursing cohorts often form tight-knit study groups due to the rigor of integrated curricula described on campus mission pages.
Resources & Next Steps
Contact & location
- LSC System Office
- The Woodlands administrative headquarters
- Address
- 5000 Research Forest Drive, The Woodlands, TX 77381-4356, US
- System telephone
- 832-813-6500 (per maps-centralservices)
- RN-to-BSN contacts
- Executive Director Brandi Crawford — 936-273-7349 · general mailbox LSC-BSNNursing@lonestar.edu (program page)
- Campus nursing pages
- Examples: LSC-Montgomery, LSC-Tomball — each lists local phones and emails.
- Website
- lonestar.edu
Official links
Your “Next 7 Days” checklist
- Open the Nursing Program Deadlines page and highlight the HESI date, application window, and start term for your first-choice campus.
- Download the campus-specific “How to Apply” instructions (Montgomery publishes ADN and Transition Word guides) and the nursing requirements overview.
- Schedule the HESI A2 through your campus testing center; keep retake rules (e.g., 60-day minimum at Tomball) in mind.
- Compare prerequisite coursework against the current Lone Star catalog and run a degree audit via advising.
- If RN-to-BSN is your goal, verify active Texas RN licensure and gather transcripts before the February–June application window.
- Bookmark the TBON Education Dashboard for objective NCLEX comparisons.
- Plan finances using the 2025–26 tuition table plus nursing PDF cost sheets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Lone Star College campuses offer the ADN Basic Track?
LSC lists Basic Track application periods for CyFair, Kingwood, Montgomery, North Harris, and Tomball on the consolidated Nursing Program Deadlines page. Each posting includes its own HESI deadline—do not assume one campus mirrors another.
Does Lone Star College require TEAS or HESI?
Professional nursing applicants take the HESI Admission Assessment (A2). Montgomery requires all six sections in a single administration and accepts only scores earned within one year of application. Retesting rules differ slightly by campus (Tomball notes a 60-day minimum between attempts).
Where is the Lone Star College RN-to-BSN offered?
The ACEN-accredited RN-to-BSN runs at LSC-Montgomery with hybrid eight-week courses and fall starts. It is strictly post-licensure—you must already be an RN.
What NCLEX-RN information can I trust for Lone Star programs?
Start with the Texas Board of Nursing Education Dashboard for official comparisons, then read campus ACEN tables. Montgomery publishes a 92.3% program pass rate; Tomball’s 2025 ADN table cites 92.86% (39/42) with an unofficial/year-to-date flag. Always confirm the latest data before decisions.
How much is Lone Star College tuition for 2025–26?
Lonestar.edu lists $111 per credit for in-district residents, $249 for other Texas residents, and $313 for out-of-state/international students. Add lab, liability, testing, and supply fees per the nursing cost PDFs.
Does LSC-CyFair offer the LVN-to-RN transition track?
No. CyFair’s section on the deadlines page explicitly says “No Transition Program.” LVNs should target Montgomery, Tomball, North Harris, or Kingwood for that pathway.
When can I apply to the Lone Star RN-to-BSN program?
The Application Deadlines page shows February 2–June 22, 2026 for Fall 2026 entry to the LSC-BSN program, matching the RN-to-BSN overview’s February 2026 application opening note.
What compliance items does Lone Star nursing require?
Expect DSHS-aligned immunizations, health insurance, CPR certification for healthcare providers, background checks, professional liability insurance, and other clinical-site policies spelled out in nursing requirements documents. TBON eligibility questions may require declaratory orders that take months.
Which nursing tracks are available at LSC-CyFair?
CyFair lists ADN Basic Track cycles (including a second application window targeting Spring 2027) and states there is no transition program. Vocational nursing messaging on that page references older suspension notes—confirm with advisors whether a VN cohort is active before planning prerequisites.
References
- Lone Star College — ADN general informationAssociate Degree Nursing overview
- Lone Star College — Transition to ADNTransition general information
- Lone Star College — Nursing application deadlines13465 Application Deadlines
- Lone Star College — LSC-Montgomery Nursing DepartmentMontgomery nursing
- Lone Star College — LSC-Tomball Nursing DepartmentTomball nursing
- Lone Star College — RN-to-BSNBachelor of Science in Nursing, RN-to-BSN
- Lone Star College — Tuition & Fees (2025–26)lonestar.edu/tuition
- Lone Star College — Nursing program costsProgram cost PDF index
- Lone Star College — System office map5000 Research Forest Drive contact block
- Texas Board of Nursing — Education Dashboardbon.texas.gov/education_school_resultsDashboard
- Texas Board of Nursing — Formal education programsbon.texas.gov/education_programs
- 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 data sourcing, Lone Star campus/program listings against lonestar.edu, and tuition figures on the 2025–26 schedule.
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