Texas Christian University Harris College of Nursing Review (2026): Programs, Requirements & Outcomes
Harris College Nursing sits on TCU’s Fort Worth campus with a Traditional BSN (TEAS, 120 credits) plus online MSN, BSN-to-DNP, and Executive DNP tracks, DNP-to-Ph.D. bridge, and a Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program. This guide ties program names and catalog requirements to TCU cost tables and the Texas Board of Nursing Education Dashboard for NCLEX outcomes.
Contents
Quick Facts
Key Takeaway
Harris College anchors pre-licensure education in Fort Worth with the same dual mission/values framing used across TCU Nursing pages—collaboration, human dignity, innovation, integrity, and social justice—while graduate nursing mixes online MSN/DNP pathways with a Fort Worth–based Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice. Treat Board-reported NCLEX outcomes as authoritative for the Traditional BSN.
Overview & Why Students Choose TCU Harris Nursing
Texas Christian University’s Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences houses TCU Nursing on the university’s Fort Worth campus. Public pages emphasize simulation-rich instruction and clinical experiences across the Fort Worth–Dallas metroplex, framed by a mission to “advance the health of all” and values of collaboration, dignity, innovation, integrity, and social justice.
For undergraduates, TCU describes a 29-month nursing sequence spanning fall and spring terms, while the undergraduate nursing admission page specifies a 120-credit BSN (63 nursing / 57 non-nursing), TEAS testing, and a 2.5 minimum TCU cumulative GPA to remain in the major. Graduate offerings published by Harris College range from an online MSN Nurse Educator track to multiple BSN-to-DNP NP specializations, an MSN-to-DNP Executive Nurse Leadership program, a DNP-to-Ph.D. bridge, and a Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice housed with the nurse anesthesia program.
Program-level, first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates for Board-approved Texas programs are reported through the Texas Board of Nursing Education Dashboard. Search for Texas Christian University and select the pre-licensure program entry that matches your pathway. Confirm cohort recency with the Board and TCU Nursing before comparing outcomes to other schools.
Reasons students consider Harris College nursing
Fort Worth & DFW clinical density
The undergraduate catalog notes rotations in agencies and hospitals around the Fort Worth–Dallas metroplex—one of the country’s largest regional healthcare employment centers.
Single-campus BSN progression
Unlike multi-city models elsewhere in Texas, TCU’s Traditional BSN maps prerequisites and upper-division nursing on the Fort Worth campus with continuity for transfers who meet catalog science timelines.
CCNE-accredited nursing ladder
The TCU Nursing homepage states CCNE accredits the baccalaureate, master’s, DNP, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs—use CCNE’s directory to confirm scope dates.
Online MSN/DNP flexibility
Harris College advertises fully online MSN Nurse Educator and Executive DNP options plus distance-friendly BSN-to-DNP NP tracks with state authorization lists for clinical placement.
DNAP anesthesia doctorate
TCU promotes advanced simulation and more than 60 nationwide clinical sites for students admitted to the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice, along with a published multi-semester tuition schedule on Graduate Studies pages.
Nursing Programs Offered
Listings follow the TCU Nursing main site, undergraduate admission materials, undergraduate catalog nursing major requirements, Harris College graduate index, and the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice pages.
Pre-licensure
Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Applicants apply to TCU as nursing majors, complete a nursing supplement, and remain in good standing with a 2.5+ TCU cumulative GPA. Nursing prerequisites (A&P, microbiology, statistics, nutrition, psychology, sociology, development) and the TEAS must be completed before the first nursing courses, per the catalog.
Graduate nursing (MSN & DNP)
MSN—Nurse Educator
34 semester hours, 100% online, with Adult-Gerontology and Pediatric emphases and two- or three-year tracks; practicum occurs close to home per TCU Nursing.
BSN to DNP—Family Nurse Practitioner
TCU cites 70 credit hours total and at least 1,000 clinical hours, preparing graduates for ANCC or AANPCB certification exams.
BSN to DNP—Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP
Doctoral acute-care NP training for adult and older-adult populations as summarized on Harris College nursing graduate pages (applications via NursingCAS where linked).
BSN to DNP—Psychiatric-Mental Health NP
Psychiatric-mental health emphasis with distance-learning authorization lists published on the program page for students residing outside Texas.
MSN to DNP—Executive Nurse Leadership & Practice
100% online executive doctorate for master’s-prepared nurses seeking systems-level leadership credentials.
DNP-to-Ph.D. in Nursing
Harris College advertises a streamlined research doctorate pathway for nurses who already hold a DNP.
Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP)
DNAP (Nurse Anesthesia)
Entry-level anesthesia doctorate with intensive simulation and nationwide clinical residencies; refer to Graduate Studies tuition tables for the nine-semester program fee schedule.
This review did not locate a dedicated RN-to-BSN completion program or a TCU-published second-degree accelerated BSN on the Harris College pages cited above (third-party ABSN aggregators are not treated as authoritative here). If you are already an RN or hold another bachelor’s degree, confirm available pathways directly with nursing@tcu.edu before planning.
TCU Nursing’s CCNE disclosure references post-graduate APRN certificate programs in addition to the degrees listed. Confirm current certificates, admission terms, and course delivery with graduate admissions.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
Texas Board of Nursing: Official first-time NCLEX-RN performance for Board-approved pre-licensure programs is reported through the Texas Board of Nursing Education Dashboard. Filter or search for Texas Christian University to read outcomes for the Traditional BSN program (and any other Board-listed TCU pre-licensure track tied to that name).
Because dashboards update by reporting cycle, this guide does not paste a static percentage—doing so would quickly go stale. Instead, note the Board cycle you are reading, screenshot or PDF the result if needed for comparison meetings, and ask TCU Nursing for any internal cohort narrative that aligns with the same timeframe.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| First-time NCLEX-RN pass rate | Locate Texas Christian University in the Texas Board of Nursing Education Dashboard for the reporting period you need. |
| Benchmark context | Compare TCU’s Board-reported rate only to benchmarks published in the same Texas Board materials you are reviewing—avoid mixing unrelated national averages. |
| Source | Texas Board of Nursing — Education Dashboard. Confirm current data with the Texas Board of Nursing and Texas Christian University Harris College of Nursing. |
NCLEX outcomes change by cohort. Always confirm the latest pass rates with the Texas Board of Nursing and TCU Nursing before making decisions.
International Students & Internationally Educated Nurses
TCU’s central admission and international-student teams issue university-wide requirements; Harris College nursing pages add program-level clinical compliance (for example vaccination notes on the undergraduate admission page). Use the checklist below as a starting outline only.
- English-language proficiency: Confirm required exams and minimum scores with TCU Undergraduate Admission, TCU Graduate Studies, and your specific nursing program.
- Transcript / credential evaluation: Follow TCU directions for international coursework; Texas licensure may require Board-approved credential evaluation services.
- Texas Board of Nursing: For NCLEX eligibility and internationally educated nurse pathways, review bon.texas.gov and applicable Board publications.
- Immigration & visa: Ask TCU’s international office and Harris College nursing whether your plan of study supports F-1 or other statuses given clinical practicum obligations.
Policies change frequently. Verify with TCU’s international office, Harris College nursing admissions, and the Texas Board of Nursing—not with this guide alone.
Admissions: A Realistic Look
TCU Nursing admits Traditional BSN students through the main university application plus the nursing supplement referenced on the undergraduate admission page. Graduate applicants use program-specific instructions, with several tracks linking to NursingCAS. Expect competitive review—TCU does not publish a stand-alone “nursing acceptance rate” in the materials reviewed here.
Application timeline
| Pathway | Deadline pattern | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional BSN | Set by TCU admission cycles | Follow TCU Apply, the nursing supplement checklist, and posted “Dates and Deadlines.” |
| MSN / DNP / bridge | Fall & spring terms (Nurse Educator) | Consult each track page (FNP, AGACNP, PMHNP, Executive DNP, DNP-PhD) and NursingCAS instructions. |
| DNAP | Set by Nurse Anesthesia program | Review TCU Nurse Anesthesia for prerequisites, interviews, and cohort schedules. |
Admissions snapshot
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Acceptance rate (nursing) | Not publicly disclosed |
| Minimum GPA (undergraduate) | TCU Nursing: 2.5 cumulative GPA at TCU to remain in the nursing major after admission. |
| TEAS / testing | Undergraduate catalog: TEAS entrance examination required before first nursing courses; graduate pages state No GRE for the sampled programs. |
| Clinical clearance | Catalog lists CPR certification (AHA health-care provider—online CPR not accepted), immunizations, health insurance, background check, and drug screen prior to clinical coursework. |
Applicant tip: Science prerequisites expire after five years if you delay entry—plan anatomy, physiology, and microbiology accordingly.
Tuition & Cost of Attendance
TCU publishes flat-rate undergraduate tuition for students enrolled 12–18 credits per semester (fall and spring) on its financial aid cost-of-attendance tables. Graduate nursing students are typically billed per credit unless enrolled in a program-specific package such as Nurse Anesthesia.
| Program / category | Published amount (review snapshot) |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate (Traditional BSN included) | Tuition $63,500 for Fall 2025–Spring 2026 and $66,520 for Fall 2026–Spring 2027 when enrolled 12–18 credits each semester (tables list additional fees, housing, food, books separately). |
| Graduate (per credit) | Graduate Studies lists $2,210 per credit hour for Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 for many graduate programs, with summer rates noted separately—multiply by your plan of study for MSN/DNP budgeting unless a program posts an all-inclusive price. |
| Nurse Anesthesia (DNAP) | Graduate tuition bulletin cites a $115,000 nine-semester program total plus semester-by-semester charges (example schedule lists Spring 2025–Summer 2026 installments). |
| Fees, housing, books | Use TCU Financial Aid COA worksheets for the living arrangement that matches you (on campus, off campus, with parent, international). |
| Source | TCU Financial Aid — Direct undergraduate costs; TCU Graduate Studies — Tuition & Fees; Graduate COA overview. Confirm current figures with Student Financial Services. |
Student Outcomes & Career Prospects
Regulators emphasize NCLEX-RN results for pre-licensure graduates (see the Education Dashboard above). For graduate pathways, TCU publishes separate certification and anesthesia licensing outcomes—always read the label carefully so you do not confuse ANCC or NBCRNA statistics with NCLEX-RN.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN (BSN, first-time) | Texas Board of Nursing Education Dashboard entry for Texas Christian University (official regulatory reporting). |
| ANCC NP certification (first-time, school-reported) | Harris College news (April 9, 2025) states a reported 100% first-time pass rate on the ANCC certification exam across TCU’s Family NP, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP, and Psychiatric-Mental Health NP tracks for the referenced cohort. Confirm current cohort statistics with Harris College graduate nursing. |
| National Certifying Examination for nurse anesthetists (first-time, 2025) | TCU DNAP program statistics table: 98% first-time pass (58 TCU first-time takers in 2025), with national comparison column sourced from NBCRNA data as presented on the TCU page. Confirm the latest year with Harris College Nurse Anesthesia. |
| DNAP employment (school-reported) | TCU’s DNAP statistics page lists reported 100% employment for graduating classes (e.g., Classes of 2022–2024 in the table reviewed March 2026). Confirm methodology, definition of “employment,” and newer years on the same page. |
| Source | Texas Board of Nursing — Education Dashboard; Harris College — NP certification story (Apr 2025); TCU DNAP program statistics. |
Is TCU Harris Nursing the Right Fit for You?
TCU Harris College nursing fits students seeking a private-university BSN on a single metro campus plus optional online MSN/DNP ladders, with the clinical depth that comes from studying in one of Texas’s busiest hospital corridors.
✓ Good fit for students who—
- Want a Christian university context (TCU) paired with CCNE-accredited nursing science.
- Prefer Fort Worth–based undergraduate coursework before entering the professional nursing sequence described in the catalog.
- Plan to advance to APRN or executive nursing leadership using Harris College’s online graduate tracks or the DNP-to-Ph.D. bridge.
✗ May not be ideal for students who—
- Need the lowest absolute tuition—TCU’s published COA is in line with selective private universities, above most public community colleges.
- Require a published accelerated second-degree BSN or RN-to-BSN completion page on TCU’s site (not confirmed in this review—ask the school).
- Cannot meet ongoing clinical compliance (immunizations, background screening, possible vaccine expectations noted on TCU nursing pages).
Local Healthcare Ecosystem
The Dallas–Fort Worth region concentrates academic medical centers, pediatric hospitals, community networks, and specialty institutes within an hour’s drive of TCU. The undergraduate catalog explicitly references clinical experiences in facilities and agencies around the Fort Worth–Dallas metroplex, giving students exposure to varied patient populations.
| Setting | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Tarrant County & Fort Worth | Anchors TCU’s home campus and many initial partnerships; workforce demand supports strong preceptor availability if you remain in the region. |
| Dallas County & broader DFW | Expands rotation diversity—major teaching hospitals, safety-net systems, and subspecialty centers are commonly used by metroplex nursing programs; confirm your exact placements with Harris College. |
Student Experience & Campus Life
TCU Nursing lists offices in the Annie Richardson Bass Building on West Bowie Street, collocated with other Harris College health sciences programs. Distance learners in MSN/DNP tracks still engage virtually while arranging practicum close to home, whereas Traditional BSN students experience on-campus simulation, skills labs, and Fort Worth campus life between metroplex clinical days.
Expect the professional-school rhythm common to pre-licensure nursing—intensive junior and senior semesters, mentorship from specialty faculty, and access to broader TCU student organizations and Big 12 campus traditions between clinical intensives.
Resources & Next Steps
Contact & location
- Campus location
- Fort Worth, TX
- Address
- Annie Richardson Bass Building #3137, 2800 West Bowie Street, Fort Worth, TX 76109, US
- Telephone
- UG (817) 257-7650 · Grad (817) 257-6726
- Contact email
- nursing@tcu.edu (UG) · graduatenursing@tcu.edu (Graduate)
- Website
- harriscollege.tcu.edu/nursing
Official links
Your “Next 7 Days” checklist
- Read the catalog nursing major page for prerequisites, TEAS rules, and junior/senior sequencing.
- Create your applicant checklist on TCU Apply, including the nursing supplement steps.
- Open the Texas BON Education Dashboard and record the latest first-time NCLEX data for Texas Christian University.
- Compare the Financial Aid COA tables for the two academic years that bracket your start term.
- If you are exploring FNP, PMHNP, AGACNP, or Executive DNP options, download NursingCAS instructions from the relevant program page.
- Book a Harris College visit or virtual session through TCU’s visit portal.
- List prerequisite science completion dates so nothing ages past the catalog’s five-year science rule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Texas Christian University Harris College of Nursing publish CCNE accreditation for its programs?
Yes—the TCU Nursing homepage states that TCU’s baccalaureate, master’s, DNP, and post-graduate APRN certificate nursing programs are accredited by CCNE, including the accreditor’s Washington, DC mailing address. Re-check CCNE’s program directory for the list that applies to your admit year.
Where should I look up official NCLEX-RN pass rates for TCU’s Traditional BSN?
Use the Texas Board of Nursing Education Dashboard at bon.texas.gov and search for Texas Christian University. The Board publishes program-level, first-time NCLEX statistics by reporting period—confirm cohort recency with TCU Nursing if you need advising context.
Does TCU Nursing require TEAS for undergraduate nursing majors?
The undergraduate catalog’s nursing major requirements include completion of the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) entrance exam before beginning the first nursing courses. Follow the current TCU Nursing supplement for registration timing and any score thresholds.
How many credits does TCU’s BSN require?
TCU’s undergraduate nursing admission page lists 120 total credits—63 nursing and 57 non-nursing—with detailed prerequisite and junior/senior sequencing in the undergraduate catalog.
What graduate nursing degrees can I complete through Harris College?
Public pages list an MSN Nurse Educator track, BSN-to-DNP pathways (Family NP, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP, Psychiatric-Mental Health NP), an MSN-to-DNP Executive Nurse Leadership program, a DNP-to-Ph.D. bridge, Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice coursework, and post-graduate APRN certificates referenced in CCNE disclosures—always confirm your track with graduatenursing@tcu.edu.
What tuition figures did TCU publish for 2025–2027 planning?
TCU Financial Aid lists undergraduate tuition of $63,500 for Fall 2025–Spring 2026 and $66,520 for Fall 2026–Spring 2027 when enrolled 12–18 credits per semester; Graduate Studies lists example per-credit graduate tuition and a Nurse Anesthesia program fee schedule. Confirm packaging with Student Financial Services.
How does TCU’s Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice differ from the DNP tracks?
The DNAP is an entry-level nurse anesthesia doctorate with a distinct curriculum, simulation sequence, and nationwide clinical residency model, whereas Harris College’s DNP pages emphasize population-focused APRN or executive leadership preparation. Compare prerequisites, cost tables, and certification goals on each official program site.
Where will I complete clinical rotations as a TCU BSN student?
The undergraduate catalog states that nursing clinical learning occurs in agencies and hospitals across the Fort Worth–Dallas metroplex. Specific agencies rotate over time—use TCU’s clinical coordinators for your semester’s placement list.
Does TCU Harris College list an RN-to-BSN completion track on its public graduate index?
The Harris College graduate index reviewed for this guide highlights MSN/DNP/APRN pathways but not a dedicated RN-to-BSN program card. If you are already an RN seeking a bachelor’s completion option, ask TCU Nursing directly before building your academic plan.
References
- TCU Harris College — TCU Nursing homepageharriscollege.tcu.edu/nursing
- TCU Nursing — undergraduate admissionharriscollege.tcu.edu/nursing/undergraduate/admission.php
- Texas Christian University — undergraduate catalog (Nursing, BSN major)undergraduate.catalog.tcu.edu/colleges/harris/majors/nursing
- Harris College — graduate programs indexharriscollege.tcu.edu/academics/graduate/index.php
- TCU Nursing — Family Nurse Practitioner (BSN to DNP)harriscollege.tcu.edu/nursing/graduate/family-nurse-practitioner.php
- TCU Nursing — MSN Nurse Educatorharriscollege.tcu.edu/nursing/graduate/nurse-educator.php
- TCU Nurse Anesthesia — Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practiceharriscollege.tcu.edu/nurse-anesthesia/dnap/index.php
- TCU DNAP — program statistics (NCE pass rates, employment table)harriscollege.tcu.edu/nurse-anesthesia/dnap/program-statistics.php
- Harris College story — TCU NP programs, ANCC first-time pass (Apr 9, 2025)harriscollege.tcu.edu/stories/2025/tcu_nurse_practitioner_programs_achieve_perfect_pass_rate_on_certification_exam.php
- TCU Financial Aid — direct undergraduate costs (COA tables)financialaid.tcu.edu/cost/cost-of-attendance/undergraduate.php
- TCU Graduate Studies — tuition and feesgraduate.tcu.edu/financial-support/tuition-and-fees
- 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
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Registered Nursesbls.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 NCLEX sourcing (Texas BON Education Dashboard), alignment of program names with TCU Harris College / catalog pages, and tuition figures traced to TCU Financial Aid and Graduate Studies cost tables.
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