Temple College Nursing: Central Texas ADN, LVN-to-RN Bridge & Vocational Paths (2026)
Between Austin and Waco, Temple College operates selective ADN (two-year and LVN/paramedic bridging) and vocational nursing (VN) programs from the Dell Martin Nursing Education Center, with clinical ties to major Central Texas hospital systems. This guide cites 2024 ADN and 2023 VN first-time NCLEX figures from the college’s published outcomes PDFs, plus official estimated program costs; confirm deadlines, testing rules, and charges with Temple College and the Texas Board of Nursing.
Contents
Quick Facts
Key Takeaway
Temple College combines ACEN-accredited ADN coursework (with a fast-track bridging option for experienced LVNs or paramedics) and a three-semester VN certificate in a hospital-dense stretch of I-35. Every clinical track uses a separate competitive application, HESI A2 screening, and Texas Board of Nursing–aligned background and health compliance—not general open enrollment.
Overview & Why Students Choose Temple College
Temple College is a public community college in Bell County with a dedicated Dell Martin Nursing Education Center on the main campus. The nursing department runs Texas Board of Nursing–approved ADN and vocational nursing (VN) pathways, publishes multi-year NCLEX outcome tables, and maintains articulation agreements with several RN-to-BSN partners for graduates who plan to continue after licensure.
Because Temple sits along the I-35 corridor between major metros, students often rotate through large integrated health systems as well as extended-care and community sites—useful exposure for new graduates who want acute-care skills plus chronic-disease management experience.
Temple College’s ADN Program Outcomes PDF lists a combined 95.3% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate for 2024 (61 of 64 first-time testers across traditional and bridging cohorts). The VN outcomes PDF shows a 90.32% first-time NCLEX-PN rate for 2023 (28 of 31) in the Texas Board of Nursing summary row. Confirm newer cohorts on those documents and via the Texas Board of Nursing Education Dashboard.
Reasons students choose Temple College
Documented NCLEX trending data
Year-by-year NCLEX tables in the college’s public PDFs let applicants compare traditional fall/spring cohorts, bridging students, and VN testers before committing.
LVN/paramedic bridge option
The one-year Bridging Advanced Placement track gives licensed vocational nurses and paramedics an accelerated path to the AAS and NCLEX-RN eligibility after prerequisites are complete.
Major-system clinicals
Official pages cite rotations with Baylor Scott & White Health and the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, supplemented by long-term care and community partners.
ACEN oversight for ADN
The ADN program lists ACEN continuing accreditation with an external link to ACEN public disclosures—useful for students comparing nationally reviewed curricula.
Temple–Waco regional demand
Central Texas hospitals and clinics continue to recruit graduate nurses; finishing a Board-approved program locally can simplify relocation decisions for students tied to the region.
* Quick Facts rounds Temple’s ADN estimated total-cost PDF ranges. See the cost section for line-item detail.
Nursing Programs Offered
Temple College does not list a traditional four-year BSN on its nursing pages; offerings center on pre-licensure RN (ADN), pre-licensure practical/vocational nursing (VN/LVN), and an Associate of Science in Pre-Nursing for students finishing prerequisites before selective program admission. Details below mirror the college’s ADN, VN, and catalog links as of our review.
Pre-licensure (RN)
Associate Degree Nursing — two-year track
The standard Associate of Applied Science in Nursing pathway includes prerequisites plus four nursing semesters. Graduates earn an AAS and become eligible for the NCLEX-RN. Temple states the program is approved by the Texas Board of Nursing and holds ACEN continuing accreditation.
Bridging Advanced Placement track
A one-year bridging track provides advanced placement for LVNs or paramedics who meet entry standards, also culminating in the AAS and NCLEX-RN eligibility. Separate application deadlines apply (for example, the college listed February 4, 2027 for a Summer 2027 bridging start during our review—confirm on the live ADN page).
Pre-licensure (practical / vocational)
Vocational Nursing certificate
The Level II Certificate in Vocational Nursing spans three consecutive semesters; all nursing coursework sits in the Nursing Department except BIOL 2401/2402. Graduates take NCLEX-PN for Texas LVN licensure. Temple notes curriculum updates planned for 2026—verify the latest catalog excerpt before applying.
Pre-nursing (non-licensure)
The Associate of Science in Pre-Nursing helps students complete transferable science and general-education requirements prior to competitive admission; it does not, by itself, confer eligibility to sit for NCLEX.
ADN and VN students must complete a program-specific application, meet HESI A2 expectations spelled out in Temple’s PDFs, satisfy immunization/CPR/drug screening rules, and participate in Texas Board of Nursing background screening. Applicants with eligibility questions should review the declaratory-order guidance packaged with the application materials.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
According to Temple College’s ADN Program Outcomes PDF, the combined first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate for 2024 was 95.3% (61 of 64 first-time testers) when traditional fall, traditional spring, and bridging cohorts are totaled. The same PDF breaks out subsplits (for example, 96.0% traditional fall and 96.7% bridging for 2024) so readers can see track-level performance.
NCLEX-PN (VN) outcomes
The VN Program Outcomes PDF lists a 90.32% first-time NCLEX-PN pass rate for 2023 (28 of 31 testers) in the row labeled for Texas Board of Nursing reporting. The document does not yet show a 2024 first-time rate in the excerpt we reviewed—download the newest PDF for updates.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate (all ADN cohorts) | 95.3% (61/64, 2024) — Temple College ADN outcomes PDF |
| NCLEX-PN first-time pass rate (VN, TBON row) | 90.32% (28/31, 2023) — Temple College VN outcomes PDF |
| Source (school PDFs) | ADN Program Outcomes PDF · VN outcomes PDF |
| Source (regulatory) | Texas Board of Nursing Education Dashboard and Nursing Statistics |
NCLEX rates move with each graduating class. Use Temple’s newest outcomes PDFs for tester counts, compare track-level tables when provided, and cross-verify approval status and Board-published statistics with the Texas Board of Nursing.
International Students & Internationally Educated Nurses
Requirements for international students and internationally educated nurses vary by institution and state. Use the points below as a checklist; verify everything with Temple College and the Texas Board of Nursing.
- English-language proficiency: TOEFL, IELTS, or other requirements and minimum scores for this school.
- Transcript / credential evaluation: WES, CGFNS, or other evaluators required by the school.
- Texas Board of Nursing: For RN licensure (with or without a U.S. degree), confirm NCLEX eligibility and document requirements with the Board.
- Immigration & visa: Program eligibility for F-1 or other visa types and impact on clinical placements.
Policies change frequently. Verify with Temple College’s admissions and international office and the Texas Board of Nursing.
Admissions: A Realistic Look
General admission to Temple College differs from admission to the nursing department. ADN and VN applicants complete a separate competitive process with documentation for immunizations, CPR, drug screening, Board-aligned background investigations, and HESI A2 testing described in the program PDFs linked from the official nursing pages.
Application timeline (published on program pages)
| Program | Deadline | Start |
|---|---|---|
| ADN — traditional | April 30, 2026 | Fall 2026 |
| ADN — bridging | February 4, 2027 | Summer 2027 |
| Vocational Nursing (VN) | February 4, 2027 | Summer 2027 |
Dates above are copied from Temple College’s public ADN/VN pages during this review; bookmark the live pages because nursing cycles change.
Admissions snapshot
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Acceptance rate (nursing) | Not publicly disclosed |
| Entrance exam | HESI A2 materials linked from Temple’s ADN/VN application steps (requirements PDF). |
| Information sessions | Optional in-person sessions listed on the ADN page (for example, April 14, 2026 at 4 p.m. in Dell Martin Nursing Education Center, Room 1003) plus a recorded Panopto session. |
| Clinical clearance | Immunizations, CPR, drug screening, and Texas Board of Nursing background-process steps are spelled out in Temple’s PDF packets. |
Tips for applicants
Download the current application instructions and student handbook for your track before you pay testing fees. Gather vaccination titers early, keep copies of all Board paperwork, and attend or watch the information session so you understand how Temple ranks applicants. If you have prior legal or disciplinary history, contact both Temple advisers and the Texas Board of Nursing about whether a declaratory order is required before you invest in prerequisite coursework.
Tuition & Cost of Attendance
Temple College publishes program-level estimated cost PDFs for ADN, bridging, and VN rather than a single “nursing surcharge” line on the general tuition page. Figures below are transcribed directly from those PDFs; they explicitly warn that pending or recent increases may not yet be reflected.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| ADN tuition & fees (incl. prerequisites/corequisites/health science fees) | In-district about $10,000–$11,000 · Out-of-district about $14,440–$15,440 (per ADN estimated cost PDF) |
| ADN total estimated budget | Includes books, uniforms, testing/simulation fees, NCLEX fee, malpractice insurance, and miscellaneous clinical requirements: ~$13,950–$15,750 in-district and ~$18,390–$20,190 out-of-district. |
| VN tuition & fees band | In-district about $7,940–$8,940 · Out-of-district about $11,584–$12,584; total estimated program cost ~$11,065–$12,565 in-district and ~$14,709–$16,509 out-of-district (VN PDF). |
| Financial aid contact | Temple lists Financial Aid at (254) 298-8321 inside the cost PDFs; scholarships are referenced via the Temple College Foundation. |
| Sources | ADN estimated cost PDF · Bridging estimated cost PDF · VN estimated cost PDF · Scholarships |
Student Outcomes & Career Prospects
Temple’s ADN outcomes PDF pairs NCLEX data with Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) employment/enrollment tables and on-time/150% completion percentages. The excerpts we reviewed, for example, show 84.9% of 2024 ADN students completing within 150% of expected time (90 of 106 students) and a reported employed and/or enrolled in higher education rate of 85.3% for the 2022 entry cohort (93 students tallied in that PDF row)—verify definitions and newer years on the PDF.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN first-time (ADN, all tracks) | 95.3% (61/64, 2024) — Temple ADN outcomes PDF |
| NCLEX-PN first-time (VN) | 90.32% (28/31, 2023, TBON row) — Temple VN outcomes PDF |
| Completion (150% time, ADN) | Temple reports 84.9% (90/106) for the 2024 cohort in the same ADN outcomes PDF; methodology note included in document. |
| Employment / higher education (THECB) | Example row: 85.3% with 93 students counted in the matching ADN outcomes cell for 2022—confirm methodology in the PDF and newer cohorts with Temple. |
| Source | ADN Program Outcomes PDF |
THECB tables measure “employed,” “enrolled,” or both using administrative matching—not every graduate is tracked the same way. Treat percentages as school-reported snapshots and confirm the cohort year and definitions before comparing programs.
Is Temple College the Right Fit for You?
Choose Temple College if you want a Board-approved ADN or VN in Central Texas with published NCLEX tables and well-defined bridging options; it is a weaker match if you need a traditional BSN on the same campus, a fully online clinical pathway, or guaranteed admission after general enrollment.
✓ Good fit for students who—
- Live in Bell County or nearby and can commit to weekday clinical blocks on short notice.
- Want both hospital-intensive rotations (for example, Baylor Scott & White, VA) and extended-care exposure.
- Are already an LVN or paramedic and can meet bridging prerequisites for the accelerated ADN track.
- Prefer transparent, PDF-based cost and outcomes disclosures when comparing schools.
✗ May not be ideal for students who—
- Expect rolling, open seats in nursing every semester—programs remain selective.
- Want a four-year BSN without later transferring or completing an online RN-to-BSN.
- Cannot comply with HESI, immunization, drug testing, and Texas BON background requirements.
- Need guaranteed housing—Temple College is primarily a commuter experience.
Local Healthcare Ecosystem
Temple anchors a dense stretch of Central Texas healthcare delivery between Austin and Dallas. Temple College publicly highlights partnerships with Baylor Scott & White Health and the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, noting that students also train in nursing homes, outpatient clinics, and community agencies—realistic preparation for an aging population and value-based care models.
| Facility / system | Details |
|---|---|
| Baylor Scott & White Health | Large integrated system headquartered in Dallas with extensive Central Texas facilities; cited on Temple’s nursing pages for acute-care experiences. |
| Central Texas Veterans Health Care System | VA network serving veterans across the region; named as a major clinical affiliate for Temple nursing students. |
| Waco–Temple corridor hospitals | Additional nonprofit and for-profit hospitals within a short drive expand med-surg, women’s health, and perioperative opportunities as contracts allow. |
| Skilled nursing & community clinics | Temple notes long-term care, school, clinic, and public-health rotations that mirror employers hiring new LVNs and ADN graduates. |
Student Experience & Campus Life
Nursing instruction happens in the Dell Martin Nursing Education Center (Building 10 on the campus map), where students attend information sessions, skills labs, and simulation activities before stepping into live patient care. Temple College is celebrating its centennial in 2026, including a new main academic building, but nursing students should still expect a commuter-heavy schedule with significant off-campus clinical time.
Student life centers on clubs, fine-arts productions, and Leopard athletics rather than on-campus residence halls. Nursing-specific organizations and service projects—often coordinated through the department—are the best outlets for peer support.
Resources & Next Steps
Contact & location
- Main campus
- 2600 South First Street, Temple, TX 76504, US
- General phone
- (254) 298-8282 (listed on templecollege.edu footer)
- Student information email
- studentinfo@templecollege.edu
- Financial aid (per nursing cost PDFs)
- (254) 298-8321
- Website
- templecollege.edu
Official links
Your “Next 7 Days” checklist
- Open the Temple College ADN page or VN page and download the latest application instructions, handbook, and HESI FAQ.
- Compare your transcripts to the AS pre-nursing or ADN prerequisite list inside the Temple catalog.
- Register for the HESI A2 only after you confirm score thresholds and retake policies for your intended start term.
- Attend an in-person information session or watch the recorded Nursing Info Session linked from the department page.
- Build a budget using the official estimated cost PDFs (in-district vs out-of-district) and call Financial Aid with questions.
- Map your clinical commute and childcare plan—Central Texas traffic between Temple and Waco can affect early-morning rotations.
- Add the published application deadline to your calendar and set alerts two weeks earlier for transcript requests.
Frequently Asked Questions
What nursing programs does Temple College offer?
Temple College lists a traditional two-year ADN (AAS), a one-year Bridging Advanced Placement track for LVNs or paramedics, a Level II Certificate in Vocational Nursing (VN), and an Associate of Science in Pre-Nursing. ADN and VN use a separate selective application.
What is the Temple College ADN NCLEX-RN pass rate for 2024?
According to the ADN Program Outcomes PDF, Temple reported a combined first-time pass rate of 95.3% (61 of 64 testers) for 2024. Confirm newer cohorts on the same document and with the Texas Board of Nursing Education Dashboard.
What NCLEX-PN rate did Temple College report for vocational nursing?
The VN outcomes PDF shows a 90.32% first-time NCLEX-PN pass rate (28 of 31) for 2023 in the Board summary row. Download the latest PDF for subsequent years.
Does Temple College nursing use TEAS or HESI?
Temple’s published application steps link to a HESI A2 Requirements & FAQ PDF for both ADN and VN. Treat HESI as the documented entrance exam and verify minimum scores for the cycle you plan to enter.
When is the next Temple College ADN application due?
The ADN page listed April 30, 2026 as the next application deadline for Fall 2026 traditional classes, and February 4, 2027 for the bridging cohort beginning Summer 2027. Always recheck the live page before mailing documents.
Can LVNs or paramedics shorten the Temple College ADN?
Yes. Temple advertises a one-year Bridging Advanced Placement Track for licensed vocational nurses or paramedics who meet admissions standards, leading to the same AAS and NCLEX-RN eligibility as the traditional track.
How much should I budget for Temple College ADN?
The ADN estimated cost PDF lists roughly $13,950–$15,750 total for in-district students and $18,390–$20,190 out-of-district once books, fees, uniforms, testing, malpractice insurance, NCLEX registration, and miscellaneous requirements are included. VN totals are lower—see the VN PDF.
Does Temple College offer RN-to-BSN classes?
Not as a stand-alone BSN completion program on the pages we reviewed. Instead, Temple lists university partners for RN-to-BSN articulation after you pass NCLEX-RN.
Where are Temple College nursing clinical rotations?
Official pages name Baylor Scott & White Health, the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, plus extended-care facilities, clinics, and community agencies across the region.
Is Temple College nursing hard to get into?
Admissions is selective; Temple does not publish an acceptance rate in the materials cited here. Strong prerequisite grades, competitive HESI scores, and flawless compliance paperwork improve your odds.
References
- Temple College — Nursing departmenttemplecollege.edu/…/nursing
- Temple College — Associate Degree NursingAssociate Degree Nursing page
- Temple College — Vocational NursingVocational Nursing page
- Temple College — ADN Program Outcomes (PDF)adn-program-outcomes.pdf
- Temple College — VN Program Outcomes (PDF)vn-nursing-program-outcomes PDF
- Temple College — ADN estimated cost (PDF)estimated-cost-and-fa-info-adn.pdf
- Temple College — VN estimated cost (PDF)estimated-cost-info-vn.pdf
- Temple College — HESI A2 requirements (PDF)hesi-a2-requirements-and-faq.pdf
- Texas Board of Nursing — Education Dashboardbon.texas.gov Education Dashboard
- Texas Board of Nursing — Nursing Statisticsbon.texas.gov Nursing Statistics
- 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 alignment of NCLEX figures and THECB tables with Temple College’s PDF disclosures, tuition estimates with the official program cost PDFs, and program scope (ADN, bridging, VN, pre-nursing) with the live nursing pages and application deadlines.
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