2027 Best Registered Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region
Registered Nursing programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their registered nursing programs.
College Factual analyzed 195 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best registered nursing schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Registered Nursing in the Southwest Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the registered nursing degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Registered Nursing
Our analysis ranked The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston the best school in the country for a degree in registered nursing. Set in the city of Houston, The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston is a moderately-sized public institution. About 240 registered nursing degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston generally make around $123,774. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
Get the full registered nursing details for The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston
Students looking for a strong registered nursing program will find one at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is a moderately-sized public university. About 937 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center earn a median of $113,144 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete this degree.
See the full registered nursing program report for Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
The University Of Texas Medical Branch is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in registered nursing, ranking #3. Set in the city of Galveston, The University Of Texas Medical Branch is a mid-sized public institution. The University Of Texas Medical Branch awarded about 309 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $98,578 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from The University Of Texas Medical Branch
Students looking for a strong registered nursing program will find one at Baylor University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Baylor University graduates 80% of students within six years. There were roughly 371 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Baylor University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Baylor University generally make around $94,615. Typical student debt for the program is $26,975.
See the full registered nursing program report for Baylor University
A rank of #5 makes Texas A And M University College Station one of the top schools for registered nursing. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 269 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $98,675 early in their careers. Texas A And M University College Station graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
Read more about the registered nursing program at Texas A And M University College Station
The University Of Texas At Austin earned the #6 position for registered nursing this year. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. The University Of Texas At Austin awarded about 120 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $85,026 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,651.
See the full registered nursing program report for The University Of Texas At Austin
Texas Christian University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best registered nursing schools. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit university. Texas Christian University graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 190 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Texas Christian University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Texas Christian University earn around $133,545 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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The University Of Texas At Arlington landed the #8 spot for registered nursing this year. The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public school located in the city of Arlington. About 54% of students finish within six years. The University Of Texas At Arlington awarded about 2,639 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $106,807 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,182.
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University Of St Thomas Texas came in at #9 for registered nursing this year. Set in the city of Houston, University Of St Thomas Texas is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 284 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of St Thomas Texas in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $83,793 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,607 to complete this degree.
Read more about the registered nursing program at University Of St Thomas Texas
University Of Arizona landed the #10 spot for registered nursing this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Tucson. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 480 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of Arizona in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from University Of Arizona earn around $96,470 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Arizona graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
See the full registered nursing program report for University Of Arizona
Arizona State University came in at #11 for registered nursing this year. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 522 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Arizona State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Arizona State University earn around $96,796 in the first couple years of their career. Arizona State University graduates carry a median of $26,750 in student loans.
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West Coast University Los Angeles landed the #12 spot for registered nursing this year. West Coast University Los Angeles is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the city of Richardson. West Coast University Los Angeles graduates 31% of students within six years. About 423 registered nursing degrees were awarded at West Coast University Los Angeles in the most recent year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from West Coast University Los Angeles earn around $112,084 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $38,145.
Read more about the registered nursing program at West Coast University Los Angeles
Sam Houston State University came in at #13 for registered nursing this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Huntsville. About 55% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 169 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Sam Houston State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Sam Houston State University generally make around $82,463. Students borrow a median of $26,504 to complete this degree.
See the full registered nursing program report for Sam Houston State University
Lone Star College System earned the #14 position for registered nursing this year. Set in the city of The Woodlands, Lone Star College System is a very large public institution. About 682 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Lone Star College System in the most recent year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Lone Star College System earn around $77,795 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,938 to complete this degree.
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Texas Womans University landed the #15 spot for registered nursing this year. Texas Womans University is a large public school located in the city of Denton. About 49% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 449 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Texas Womans University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Texas Womans University earn around $111,254 in the first couple years of their career. Texas Womans University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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University Of Houston ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best registered nursing schools. University Of Houston is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. University Of Houston awarded about 67 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $85,740 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,283 to complete this degree.
Read more about the registered nursing program at University Of Houston
The University Of Texas At Tyler earned the #17 position for registered nursing this year. The University Of Texas At Tyler is a large public school located in the city of Tyler. The University Of Texas At Tyler graduates 54% of students within six years. The University Of Texas At Tyler awarded about 614 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of The University Of Texas At Tyler earn a median of $98,109 early in their careers. The University Of Texas At Tyler graduates carry a median of $24,356 in student loans.
See the full registered nursing program report for The University Of Texas At Tyler
Northern Arizona University came in at #18 for registered nursing this year. Set in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public institution. Northern Arizona University graduates 61% of students within six years. There were roughly 501 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Northern Arizona University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $88,824 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,276 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from Northern Arizona University
Pima Community College came in at #19 for registered nursing this year. Pima Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. Pima Community College awarded about 141 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Pima Community College earn around $73,629 in the first couple years of their career. Pima Community College graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans.
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Lee College earned the #20 position for registered nursing this year. Located in the city of Baytown, Lee College is a large public university. There were roughly 38 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Lee College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Lee College generally make around $72,164. Typical student debt for the program is $14,750.
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The University Of Texas Pan American ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best registered nursing schools. Located in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. The University Of Texas Pan American awarded about 247 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from The University Of Texas Pan American generally make around $101,468. The University Of Texas Pan American graduates carry a median of $11,674 in student loans.
See the full registered nursing program report for The University Of Texas Pan American
Collin County Community College District earned the #22 position for registered nursing this year. Set in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a very large public institution. Collin County Community College District awarded about 311 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $72,584 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,687 to complete this degree.
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University Of Houston Clear Lake placed #23 among the best registered nursing schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Houston. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 registered nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Houston Clear Lake in the most recent year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $93,001 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,100 to complete this degree.
Read more about the registered nursing program at University Of Houston Clear Lake
El Centro College placed #24 among the best registered nursing schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Dallas. There were roughly 436 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at El Centro College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from El Centro College earn around $70,630 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,187.
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Tarrant County College District earned the #25 position for registered nursing this year. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public university. There were roughly 265 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Tarrant County College District in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Tarrant County College District earn around $72,069 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,610 to complete this degree.
See the full registered nursing program report for Tarrant County College District
Rest of the Top 50 Registered Nursing Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong registered nursing education:
Honorable Mentions
These schools earned honorable mentions for registered nursing:
- #51 — The University Of Texas At El Paso · El Paso, TX
- #52 — College Of The Mainland · Texas City, TX
- #53 — Texas State University San Marcos · San Marcos, TX
- #54 — University Of Phoenix Arizona · Phoenix, AZ
- #55 — Oklahoma State University Main Campus · Stillwater, OK
- #56 — West Texas A And M University · Canyon, TX
- #57 — Weatherford College · Weatherford, TX
- #58 — Mesa Community College · Mesa, AZ
- #59 — Texas A And M University Corpus Christi · Corpus Christi, TX
- #60 — Chamberlain College Of Nursing Texas · Houston, TX
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 195 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
