The Best Nurse Practitioner Programs in Texas

The University of Texas at Austin's nurse practitioner program offers three specializations — family nurse practitioner, primary pediatric nurse practitioner, and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. Each concentration requires the completion of 48 credit hours divided into core, concentration, advanced practice registered nurse, and specialty courses.

Outside of the specific specialization courses, the program requires all MSN students to complete coursework in healthcare quality and safety, the application of healthcare research, health systems (i.e., policy and evaluation), and leadership development.

The program is offered on campus only and can be completed on a part-time or full-time basis.

• Program(s): Family nurse practitioner, primary care pediatric nurse practitioner, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner 
• Campus: Austin, Texas
• Type: Public
• Accreditation(s): American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation; Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges 
• Tuition: $1,418 per credit for in-state residents; $2,035 per credit for out-of-state students
• Admission Requirements: BSN or a non-nursing bachelor's degree and an ADN or nursing diploma; active RN license
• Minimum Time Commitment: 18-24 months
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes
• School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (YEAR): 90% (2021)
• Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $84,650 for master's graduates, according to College Scorecard

The family nurse practitioner program at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley comprises 48-51 credit hours and is offered in both part-time and full-time formats. Full-time students typically complete the program in two years, while part-time students can complete it in three years.

The curriculum comprises 30 credit hours of required courses and 15 hours of practice courses. Required coursework includes theoretical foundations, research, statistics, pathophysiology, health assessment, pharmacology, informatics, health promotion, and rural health nursing.

The university also offers family nurse practitioner and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner post-master's certificate programs.

• Program(s): Family nurse practitioner
• Campus: Edinburg, Texas
• Type: Public
• Accreditation(s): Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education; Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
• Tuition: $724 per credit for in-state residents; $1,132 per credit four out-of-state students
• Admission Requirements: BSN; active Texas RN license; a score of 900 on the APRN HESI if previous coursework is older than three years
• Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes
• School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (YEAR): 93.4% (2021)
• Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $106,420 for master's graduates, according to College Scorecard

The online family nurse practitioner program at Texas A & M University - College Station comprises 48 credit hours and 646 clinical learning hours across six semesters for full-time students or eight semesters for part-time students.

Students must complete 45 clinical hours in advanced health assessment in two separate on-campus visits. They must also come to campus 1-2 times per semester for a diagnostics and procedures course and four primary care courses.

Applicants must live in Texas to be eligible for enrollment.

• Program(s): Family nurse practitioner
• Campus: College Station, Texas
• Type: Public
• Accreditation(s): Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education; Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
• Tuition: $8,026 per semester for in-state residents; $17,558 per semester for out-of-state students
• Admission Requirements: BSN; active RN license; 1-2 years of experience as an RN (preferred)
• Minimum Time Commitment: 36 months
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes
• School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (YEAR): 98.2% (2021)

Texas A & M International University offers an online and in-person family nurse practitioner program comprising 48 credits of core courses, nursing theory, and practicums, including 675 clinical hours. Typically, students complete two courses per semester (fall, spring, and summer) over three years.

The program includes specialization courses in areas, such as the primary care of adults, geriatrics, and families; primary care of pediatrics and families; and primary care of adults and women's health. Practicum courses focus on advanced health assessment, diagnostic reasoning and clinical procedures, and integrated family care.

The university also offers a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner post-master's certificate program.

• Program(s): Family nurse practitioner
• Campus: Laredo, Texas
• Type: Public
• Accreditation(s): Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education; Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
• Tuition: $3,686 per semester for in-state residents; $9,572 per semester for out-of-state students
• Admission Requirements: BSN; active Texas RN license; minimum 2.7 GPA minimum on previously completed coursework; completion of an undergraduate statistics course; a minimum of one year of inpatient work experience as an RN
• Minimum Time Commitment: 36 months
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes
• School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (YEAR): 86.1% (2021)

The 47-credit family nurse practitioner program at the University of Houston offers an online and on-campus option that students can complete on a full- or part-time basis. The online track requires students to participate in labs, practicums, and clinical courses on or near campus.

The curriculum emphasizes coursework in the following: healthcare informatics, population health, biostatistics, advanced nursing research and integrated evidence based practice.

Those interested in earning their nurse education certification can do so by completing an additional nine credit hours along with their family nurse practitioner coursework.

• Program(s): Family nurse practitioner
• Campus: Houston, Texas
• Type: Public
• Accreditation(s): Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education; Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
• Tuition: $619 per credit for in-state residents; $1,127 per credit for out-of-state students
• Admission Requirements: BSN; active Texas RN license; minimum 3.0 GPA on previously completed coursework; minimum of one year of RN work with a BSN
• Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes
• School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (YEAR): 96.9% (2021)

Texas State University's family nurse practitioner program comprises 48 credits and 705 clinical hours that can be completed in five semesters for full-time students and eight semesters for part-time students. Clinicals are a combination of on-campus experiences and time spent with individual preceptors.

While the coursework is offered online, students are also required to attend learning intensives approximately two times per semester at St. David's School of Nursing in Round Rock, Texas.

Outside of core MSN courses, the family nurse practitioner curriculum includes primary care in pediatrics and adolescents; young and middle-aged adults; adult-gerontology; and psychiatric mental health.

• Program(s): Family nurse practitioner
• Campus: San Marcos, Texas
• Type: Public
• Accreditation(s): Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education; Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
• Tuition: $257 per credit hour for in-state residents; $458 per credit hour for out-of-state students
• Admission Requirements: BSN; active Texas RN license; minimum 3.0 GPA in previously completed undergraduate and nursing coursework; completion of an upper-level statistics course
• Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes
• School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (YEAR): 100% (2021)
• Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $104,190 for master's graduates, according to College Scorecard

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center offers nurse practitioner programs in various concentrations, including pediatrics, adult-gerontology, family, and psychiatric mental health. The credit hours needed to complete the programs range from 48-51. Coursework takes place online with approximately 4-6 on-campus visits, depending on the chosen specialty.

Regardless of their specialization, all students complete a core curriculum that focuses on population health essentials for advanced nursing practice; scientific foundations of advanced nursing practice; informatics, quality, and safety; and leadership for healthcare.

• Program(s): Acute care pediatric nurse practitioner, adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner, family nurse practitioner, primary care pediatric nurse practitioner, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner
• Campus: Lubbock, Texas
• Type: Public
• Accreditation(s): Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education; Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
• Tuition: $265 per credit for in-state residents; $673 per credit for out-of-state students
• Admission Requirements: BSN; active RN license; minimum 3.0 GPA in previously completed undergraduate coursework; completion of undergraduate courses in statistics and research
• Minimum Time Commitment: 36 months
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes
• School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (YEAR): 90.2% (2021)
• Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $98,940 for master's graduates, according to College Scorecard

The nurse practitioner programs offered at The University of Texas El Paso include concentrations in neonatal, adult-gerontology, family, pediatrics, and psychiatric mental health. Each specialization requires 49 credit hours and 775 clinical hours, except for the neonatal nurse practitioner concentration, which requires 48 credit hours.

Students can expect to complete their program within 30 months, with the exception of those focusing on acute care pediatrics, which takes 24 months to finish.

Outside of the specialized classes for each concentration, the curriculum includes coursework in nursing theory, advanced pathophysiology, pharmacotherapeutics, research appraisal and application, health policy and advocacy, and advanced health assessment/practicum.

• Program(s): Neonatal nurse practitioner, adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner, family nurse practitioner, acute care pediatric nurse practitioner, primary care pediatric nurse practitioner, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner
• Campus: El Paso, Texas
• Type: Public
• Accreditation(s): Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education; Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
• Tuition: $524 per credit for in-state residents; $1,049 per credit for out-of-state students
• Admission Requirements: BSN; active RN license; minimum 3.0 GPA in previously completed undergraduate coursework; relevant clinical experience in the chosen specialty
• Minimum Time Commitment: 30 months
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes
• School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (YEAR): 95.9% (2021)
• Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $100,520 for master's graduates, according to College Scorecard

The University of Texas at Arlington's nurse practitioner program offers concentrations in adult-gerontology, family, pediatric, neonatal, and psychiatric mental health. Each specialization requires 41-46 credit hours and 720 clinical hours.

The adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner, family nurse practitioner, adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner, acute care pediatric nurse practitioner, and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner programs can be completed either on campus or online. The primary care pediatric nurse practitioner and neonatal nurse practitioner programs are only available on campus.

The school also offers two dual program options. One combines the primary and acute care adult-gerontology specialization and the other combines the primary and acute care pediatric specialization. Both dual programs are only available in an on-campus format.

• Program(s): Adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner, family nurse practitioner, adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner, acute care pediatric nurse practitioner, primary care pediatric nurse practitioner, neonatal nurse practitioner, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner
• Campus: Arlington, Texas
• Type: Public
• Accreditation(s): Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education; Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
• Tuition: $1,318 per credit for in-state residents; $2,260 per credit for out-of-state students
• Admission Requirements: BSN; active RN license; minimum 3.0 GPA in last 60 hours BSN previously completed undergraduate coursework; at least two years of clinical experience in the chosen specialty
• Minimum Time Commitment: 30-36 months
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes
• School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (YEAR): 92.4% (2021)
• Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $106,420 for master's graduates, according to College Scorecard

The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston provides program options for adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner, adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner, family nurse practitioner, neonatal nurse practitioner.

Programs comprise 46-49 credit hours, which can be completed within seven semesters. Each track only offers part-time coursework. Students must visit campus for orientation and an additional 2-3 days per semester.

Regardless of their chosen concentration, all students must complete core coursework in the following: foundations of research and theory; pathophysiology; public policy; pharmacological principles and clinical therapeutics; informatics and quality improvement; professional role and business principles; and public health principles.

• Program(s): Adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner, adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner, family nurse practitioner, neonatal nurse practitioner
• Campus: Galveston, Texas
• Type: Public
• Accreditation(s): Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education; Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
• Tuition: $253 per credit for in-state residents; $458 per credit for out-of-state students
• Admission Requirements: BSN; active RN license; minimum 3.0 GPA in previously completed coursework; at least one year of clinical experience in the chosen the specialty
• Minimum Time Commitment: 28 months
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes
• School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (YEAR): 98.4% (2021)
• Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $103,750 for master's graduates, according to College Scorecard