Texas A&M Nursing: Programs, NCLEX Data & Requirements (2026)
The official nursing unit is the Texas A&M College of Nursing (part of the Texas A&M University Health Science Center), with pre-licensure BSN sites in Bryan–College Station, McAllen, and Round Rock, online RN-to-BSN and graduate programs, and the Blinn co-enrollment ASCEND pathway. This guide reflects the college’s public program pages, NursingCAS/HESI rules, Aggie One Stop cost sources, and Texas Board of Nursing NCLEX reporting.
Contents
Quick Facts
Key Takeaway
Texas A&M stacks a multi-site pre-licensure model (Bryan–College Station, McAllen, Round Rock) with an online RN-to-BSN option, the Blinn ASCEND partnership, and online MSN/DNP pathways—use the Texas Board of Nursing Education Dashboard for Board-reported, program- and cycle-specific first-time NCLEX-RN data rather than relying only on marketing aggregates.
Overview & Why Students Choose Texas A&M College of Nursing
Founded in 2008 as part of Texas A&M Health, the college publicly reports 800+ students, about 350 annual graduates, 400+ clinical practice sites, 12 student organizations, and NLN Center of Excellence recognition—positioning it as a large, research-active public nursing program based at the Health Professions Education Building in Bryan with satellite academic centers in the Rio Grande Valley, Central Texas, and simulation assets tied to the Texas A&M Clinical Learning Resource Center.
The college emphasizes interprofessional collaboration, multi-site clinical training across Texas, and specialty strength in forensic nursing through the Center of Excellence in Forensic Nursing. Pre-licensure applicants apply through NursingCAS; traditional and second-degree BSN candidates must plan for HESI A2 timing, Kira Talent assessments, and pathway-specific GPA thresholds (3.0 traditional vs. 3.3 second-degree, per program pages as reviewed).
For first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates tied to each Board-approved pre-licensure program, use the Texas Board of Nursing Education Dashboard. Separately, the college’s About page cites an aggregate NCLEX pass rate of 99% and a national NP exam pass rate of 100% without publishing a cohort year on that snapshot—treat those figures as school-reported summaries and confirm cohort-specific Board data before you compare programs.
Reasons students consider Texas A&M Nursing
Multi-campus Texas footprint
Traditional BSN in Bryan–College Station and McAllen, accelerated second-degree BSN entirely in Round Rock, online RN-to-BSN, and graduate programs that scale statewide clinical partnerships.
ASCEND partnership with Blinn College
The hybrid ASCEND track links Blinn’s ADN program with Texas A&M so motivated students can pursue associate and bachelor’s nursing credentials through a coordinated route.
CCNE-accredited breadth
The Accreditation page lists CCNE coverage for baccalaureate, master’s, DNP, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs—verify the exact program list on CCNE’s directory for your admit year.
Forensic nursing leadership
Dedicated MSN-Forensic, DNP-Forensic (development status per About page), graduate forensic certificates, and the Center of Excellence in Forensic Nursing differentiate the college within Texas.
High-touch admissions screening
Published minimums include NursingCAS workflows, 75% HESI A2 scores in each required section for pre-licensure BSN applicants, and holistic review factors such as service, leadership, and military experience.
Nursing Programs Offered
Program names and delivery sites below mirror the Texas A&M College of Nursing Degrees & Certificates page plus pathway details from each undergraduate track (Traditional BSN, Second-Degree BSN, RN-to-BSN, ASCEND).
Pre-licensure
Traditional BSN
Two-year, four-semester upper division after ~59 prerequisite credits and 61 nursing credits; offered in Bryan–College Station and McAllen. Graduating high school seniors may not apply directly—applicants must meet Texas A&M’s transfer-applicant definition.
Accelerated BSN (ABSN)—Second-Degree BSN
15-month, four-semester face-to-face accelerated BSN on the Round Rock campus for students who already hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree; students remain on that campus for classes, simulation, and clinicals.
ASCEND
Hybrid co-enrollment for students accepted to Blinn College’s ADN program and Texas A&M’s ASCEND track, leading toward a BSN while completing the associate pathway.
Post-licensure & RN completion
RN to BSN
Online completion program for licensed RNs who hold an accredited associate degree; full- and part-time course loads available.
Graduate & doctoral nursing
MSN—Nursing Education
Prepares bachelor’s-prepared nurses for educator roles; delivered online with part-time options.
MSN—Family Nurse Practitioner
Online FNP track for bachelor’s-prepared nurses; full- or part-time scheduling.
MSN—Forensic Nursing
Focuses on compassionate care for survivors of violence; aligns with the college’s forensic nursing institute work.
DNP—Leadership
Clinical doctorate for graduate-prepared nurses seeking leadership-focused doctoral preparation.
DNP—Forensic Nursing / Extreme Environment Nursing
Listed on the Degrees page; the About page characterizes these tracks as in development—confirm admitting status, curriculum, and CCNE scope before applying.
Post-graduate certificates
Forensic Health Care (graduate certificate)
For bachelor’s-prepared nurses seeking advanced forensic health care education.
AGACNP, FNP, PMHNP (post-graduate)
Post-master’s nurse practitioner certificates as enumerated on the Degrees page; confirm eligibility with the graduate office.
The undergraduate pages state applicants may apply to only one pre-licensure BSN option (Traditional vs. Second-Degree) per application cycle—plan campus location and prerequisites accordingly.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
Texas Board of Nursing (primary source): The Board publishes program-level outcomes through its Education Dashboard. Search for each Texas A&M–approved pre-licensure program (Traditional BSN—Bryan, Traditional BSN—McAllen, and Second-Degree BSN—Round Rock are reported as separate Board approvals) and read the first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate for the reporting cycle you care about.
Texas A&M College of Nursing (school-reported aggregate): The About page Quick Facts lists NCLEX pass rate: 99% and National NP exam pass rate: 100% without specifying a cohort year or methodology on that page. Use that line as contextual marketing copy only unless you can tie it to a dated outcomes report; always confirm regulatory statistics with the Board.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| First-time NCLEX-RN (Board-reported) | See Texas Board of Nursing Education Dashboard for each Texas A&M pre-licensure program code you plan to enter. |
| NCLEX snapshot (school About page) | Texas A&M College of Nursing reports a 99% NCLEX pass rate in Quick Facts (no cohort year on page). Confirm current performance with the Texas Board of Nursing and the college’s assessment office. |
| NP credential exams (school About page) | The same Quick Facts block cites a 100% national NP exam pass rate (school-reported; confirm cohort and exam type with the college). |
| Source | Texas Board of Nursing — Education Dashboard; Texas A&M College of Nursing — About. |
NCLEX outcomes change by cohort, campus site, and applicant pool. Always confirm the latest pass rates with the Texas Board of Nursing and Texas A&M College of Nursing before choosing a program.
International Students & Internationally Educated Nurses
Use this as a checklist only. Texas A&M’s central admissions and International Student Services offices set university-wide policies; the College of Nursing adds clinical compliance steps (immunizations, background screening, etc.) that can affect timelines.
- English-language proficiency: Confirm TOEFL, IELTS, or equivalent minimum scores with Texas A&M admissions for your applicant type (undergraduate transfer vs. graduate).
- Transcript / credential evaluation: Follow Texas A&M guidance for international transcripts; licensure applicants may need Board-approved credential evaluations separate from admissions.
- Texas Board of Nursing: For NCLEX eligibility, foreign-educated nurse requirements, and CES providers, use bon.texas.gov.
- Immigration & visa: Ask Texas A&M International Student Services and the College of Nursing whether your intended pathway supports F-1 status with required clinical practica.
Policies change frequently. Verify with Texas A&M offices, the College of Nursing, and the Texas Board of Nursing—not with this guide alone.
Admissions: A Realistic Look
Texas A&M College of Nursing uses NursingCAS for pre-licensure BSN applicants, supplements evaluations with Kira Talent timed assessments, and enforces strict HESI A2 rules for Traditional and Second-Degree BSN candidates. Graduate applicants follow Texas A&M Graduate and Professional School processes for MSN/DNP programs.
Application timeline (pre-licensure BSN)
| Entry term | NursingCAS | HESI deadline | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Opens June 1 · closes August 1 | Same as NursingCAS deadline | Dates published on Traditional/Second-Degree BSN pages as reviewed (March 2026). |
| Fall | Opens November 1 · closes January 15 | Same as NursingCAS deadline | Second-degree orientation example on Round Rock page lists NSC Dec 4, 2025 / NSO Jan 9, 2026 for a spring cohort—confirm active dates for your cycle. |
| RN-to-BSN / MSN / DNP | Follow the graduate or completion program office for term-specific deadlines; they are not identical to pre-licensure NursingCAS windows. | ||
Admissions snapshot
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Acceptance rate (nursing) | Not publicly disclosed |
| GPA minimums (pre-licensure) | Traditional BSN: 3.0 nursing science GPA and 3.0 prerequisite GPA. Second-Degree BSN: 3.3 nursing science GPA and 3.3 prerequisite GPA (per respective program pages). |
| HESI A2 | Required for Traditional and Second-Degree BSN applicants; five scored sections (math, reading comprehension, vocabulary/general knowledge, grammar, anatomy & physiology) each require at least 75%; exam within 12 months of NursingCAS deadline; max two attempts per 12-month period per policy on program pages. |
| Prerequisite repeats | Two prerequisite failures within five years make an applicant ineligible for admission consideration (Traditional BSN page). |
| Holistic factors | College pages cite service, leadership, military experience, regional residency, and academic history (withdrawals/repeats) as additional considerations. |
Applicant tip: External applicants (not continuously enrolled Texas A&M undergraduates) may owe an extra Texas A&M admissions fee after NursingCAS submission—budget for both systems.
Tuition & Cost of Attendance
Texas A&M College of Nursing undergraduate pages do not publish a single flat “program price” analogous to some privates; instead they route students to Aggie One Stop for estimated tuition, fees, housing, books, and other cost-of-attendance components based on residency, credit load, and academic level.
| Program / category | How to budget accurately |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate BSN (traditional or second-degree) | Use Aggie One Stop — Undergraduate Cost of Attendance and the university tuition rate tables for your residency. Estimate total credits across prerequisites (if still needed) plus the 61-credit nursing major. |
| RN-to-BSN & graduate nursing | Use the graduate cost-of-attendance or program-specific materials referenced on each track page; per-credit graduate tuition differs from undergraduate rates. |
| Fees, housing, clinical extras | Include university mandatory fees, simulation/lab fees if assessed, health insurance, travel between multi-site clinicals, and compliance costs (immunizations, background checks). |
| Source | Aggie One Stop — Cost of Attendance; Traditional BSN — Cost of Attendance link. Confirm figures each academic year with Student Business Services. |
Student Outcomes & Career Prospects
Quantitative outcomes available without guessing include Board-reported NCLEX data (see above) and school-reported aggregate exam statistics on the About page. Employment and salary outcomes are not summarized on this NurseOnShift page; consult Texas Workforce Commission resources, Texas A&M career outcomes surveys, and the College of Nursing’s student affairs office for placement context.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN (Board-reported) | Texas Board of Nursing Education Dashboard entries for each Texas A&M pre-licensure site/program you select. |
| NCLEX-RN (school-reported aggregate) | About page Quick Facts: 99% (no cohort year stated). Confirm current rates with the Board and the college. |
| NP exams (school-reported) | About page Quick Facts: 100% national NP exam pass rate (no cohort detail on page). Confirm methodology with the college. |
| Job placement / salary | Not publicly disclosed on this page. |
| Source | Texas BON Education Dashboard; Texas A&M College of Nursing About page. |
Is Texas A&M College of Nursing the Right Fit for You?
The college fits students who want a flagship public university ecosystem, research-infused nursing curriculum, multiple geographic entry points, and clearly published competitive metrics (HESI thresholds, GPA cutoffs, NursingCAS windows).
✓ Good fit for students who—
- Target Traditional BSN in Bryan–College Station or McAllen—or an accelerated second-degree BSN exclusively in Round Rock.
- Want optional forensic nursing depth at the graduate level or through certificates.
- Prefer a public tuition structure with access to Texas A&M scholarships, veteran resources, and statewide clinical networks.
✗ May not be ideal for students who—
- Need a single metro location but cannot relocate to Bryan, McAllen, or Round Rock for the required face-to-face terms.
- Expect to enter pre-licensure nursing directly from high school without prior college credit (the Traditional BSN excludes high school seniors).
- Want a published all-in program tuition sticker without running Texas A&M’s official COA or tuition calculators.
Local Healthcare Ecosystem
Clinical education spans the Brazos Valley, Rio Grande Valley, and Greater Austin metro footprints where Texas A&M Health campuses operate. Students rotate through community hospitals, outpatient networks, public health agencies, and specialty sites disclosed during orientation—confirm your placement geography with the clinical placement office.
| Setting | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Bryan–College Station & Brazos Valley | Anchors the flagship Health Science Center campus with the Health Professions Education Building and large-format simulation center tied to regional hospital partnerships. |
| McAllen & South Texas border region | Higher Education Center campus expands access for students who will practice in medically underserved communities while meeting identical curricular outcomes. |
| Round Rock & Central Texas | Hosts the accelerated second-degree BSN with dedicated simulation space and proximity to Austin-area health systems for clinical volume. |
Student Experience & Campus Life
The Locations page describes a 24,000 sq. ft. Simulation & Immersive Learning Center in Bryan–College Station, a 10,000 sq. ft. center in McAllen, and a 17,000 sq. ft. center in Round Rock—all linked to Texas A&M Health’s Clinical Learning Resource Center model. Administrative headquarters sit at 8447 John Sharp Parkway, Bryan, with advising/recruitment support in Lufkin at Angelina College.
The college lists 12 student organizations in Quick Facts; prospective students must complete a public information session before booking individual advising per Traditional/Second-Degree pages. Broader Texas A&M student life (recreation, veterans resources, etc.) is available through the main university.
Resources & Next Steps
Contact & location
- Primary nursing address
- 8447 John Sharp Parkway, Bryan, TX 77807, US
- Other sites
- McAllen Higher Education Center; Round Rock Health Science Center; Lufkin advising (Angelina College)
- Admissions telephone
- (979) 436-0110
- Admissions email
- nursingadmissions@tamu.edu
- Website
- nursing.tamu.edu
Official links
Your “Next 7 Days” checklist
- Choose one pre-licensure pathway (Traditional vs. Second-Degree) and confirm campus: Bryan–College Station, McAllen, or Round Rock.
- Register for a required information session before requesting a one-on-one appointment.
- Build a prerequisite plan against the Traditional or Second-Degree BSN tables and calculate both nursing science and prerequisite GPAs.
- Schedule HESI A2 through ProctorU per college instructions; ensure five required sections meet the 75% minimum each.
- Open NursingCAS on the published date (June 1 or November 1) and track the August 1 / January 15 deadlines.
- Run the Texas Board of Nursing Education Dashboard for the exact program name tied to your intended site.
- Pull an Aggie One Stop cost-of-attendance estimate for the semesters you expect to enroll.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Texas A&M College of Nursing CCNE-accredited?
The college publishes that its baccalaureate, master’s, DNP, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs are accredited by CCNE, with accreditor contact data on the Accreditation page. Re-check CCNE’s directory for the exact program list that applies to your admit year.
Where should I look up Texas A&M College of Nursing NCLEX-RN pass rates?
Use the Texas Board of Nursing Education Dashboard (bon.texas.gov) and locate each approved pre-licensure program. The college’s About page also cites an aggregate NCLEX figure—pair that marketing snapshot with Board data for the cohort you care about.
What is the difference between Traditional BSN and Second-Degree BSN at Texas A&M?
Traditional BSN runs four semesters after prerequisites in Bryan–College Station or McAllen with 3.0 GPA minimums. Second-Degree BSN is a 15-month accelerated track entirely in Round Rock for career-changers who already hold a non-nursing bachelor’s, with 3.3 GPA minimums. Only one pathway may be selected per application cycle.
Does Texas A&M College of Nursing require the HESI A2 exam?
The college requires the HESI Admissions Assessment for Traditional and Second-Degree BSN applicants, including math, reading, vocabulary/general knowledge, grammar, and anatomy & physiology sections—75% minimum in each—within 12 months of the NursingCAS deadline and with at most two attempts per 12-month period, per public program pages.
What is ASCEND at Texas A&M College of Nursing?
ASCEND is the hybrid co-enrollment track pairing Blinn College’s ADN program with Texas A&M toward a BSN. You must be accepted to Blinn’s ADN program and the ASCEND pathway at Texas A&M.
What are the NursingCAS deadlines for Texas A&M pre-licensure BSN programs?
Spring NursingCAS opens June 1 and closes August 1; fall opens November 1 and closes January 15, according to Traditional and Second-Degree BSN pages reviewed March 2026—re-verify on NursingCAS if dates shift.
How much does Texas A&M College of Nursing cost?
Costs follow Texas A&M tuition and mandatory fees for your residency level and credits; the BSN pages link to Aggie One Stop cost of attendance rather than quoting a bundled program price. Build estimates there and with Student Business Services.
Are DNP-Forensic Nursing and DNP-Extreme Environment Nursing admitting students right now?
The Degrees catalog lists both online DNP tracks, while the About page characterizes them as in development. Email the graduate program office to confirm which tracks are actively admitting and whether CCNE scope already covers them.
References
- Texas A&M College of Nursing — homepagenursing.tamu.edu
- Degrees & certificates (programs list)nursing.tamu.edu/degrees
- Traditional BSN — admissions, HESI, NursingCAS deadlinesnursing.tamu.edu/degrees/bsn-traditional
- Second-Degree BSN — Round Rock accelerated tracknursing.tamu.edu/degrees/second-bsn
- About — Quick Facts (enrollment, NCLEX mention, NP exam mention)nursing.tamu.edu/about
- Accreditation & distinction (CCNE statement)nursing.tamu.edu/about/accreditation
- Locations — addresses, simulation center sizesnursing.tamu.edu/about/locations
- Aggie One Stop — undergraduate cost of attendanceaggie.tamu.edu/…/cost-of-attendance
- Texas Board of Nursing — Education Dashboardbon.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
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 vs. college About Quick Facts), alignment of the program inventory with the Texas A&M Degrees page, and tuition guidance traced to Aggie One Stop cost-of-attendance materials.
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