LVN first or straight to RN in Lubbock? What each path costs and pays
Going straight to an RN costs less at the Lubbock area programs that publish costs.
The short answer
- South Plains College ADN, the lowest-cost RN route, starts at $7,768. South Plains LVN, Plainview alone costs $14,435, before any bridge program.
- The LVN route pays a Lubbock median of $58,510 after 12 months. RNs here earn $81,480, a gap of $22,970 a year.
- Covenant School of Nursing has an LVN bridge track, but its bridge cost is not published separately yet, so the full LVN-to-RN total is still missing.
Which path fits depends on how soon you need income and whether you have your prerequisites done. We don't recommend one.
Side by side
| LVN first | RN, ADN | RN, diploma | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Program | South Plains LVN, Plainview | South Plains College ADN | Covenant School of Nursing |
| Cost | $14,435 | $7,768 to $11,120 | $18,782 |
| Time in school | 12 months (fall, spring, summer) | 4 semesters of nursing courses | 64 weeks |
| Pass rate, latest year | 100% (14 of 14) | 92.5% (62 of 67) | 88.5% (154 of 174) |
| Local median wage | $58,510 | $81,480 | $81,480 |
| Payback time | 2.5 yrs | 1.0 to 1.4 yrs | 2.3 yrs |
The two paths, step by step
LVN first
Step 1: LVN program
$14,435
12 months (fall, spring, summer)
South Plains LVN, Plainview. Then take the NCLEX-PN.
Step 2: work as an LVN
$58,510 a year
Lubbock median
Optional, while you finish prerequisites.
Step 3: LVN to RN bridge
Covenant School of Nursing has a bridge track. Its cost is not split out yet.
Straight to RN
Step 2: RN program
$7,768 to $27,460
3 choices in the area
Then take the NCLEX-RN.
Step 3: work as an RN
$81,480 a year
Lubbock median
Payback in 1.0 to 3.4 years, depending on the program.
When each path tends to make sense
Built from the numbers above, not a recommendation.
- LVN first if you need a paycheck within about 12 months. You can earn the LVN median, $58,510, while you bridge.
- Straight to RN if you can go without full-time pay for longer. The lowest-cost RN program here, at $7,768, costs less than the LVN program alone.
Programs on each path
LVNSouth Plains LVN, Plainview$14,435 · 100% pass (14 of 14)LVNSouth Plains LVN, Reese Center$14,435 · 100% pass (36 of 36)LVNSouth Plains LVN, Levelland$14,435 · 100% pass (5 of 5)RNSouth Plains College ADN$7,768 to $11,120 · 92.5% pass (62 of 67)RNCovenant School of Nursing$18,782 · 88.5% pass (154 of 174)RNTexas Tech HSC BSN$27,460 to $51,760 · 85.8% pass (533 of 621)
How to read this
- Costs are each school's published estimate and include licensing fees where the school lists them.
- Payback time is cost divided by 10% of the local median wage. Why we use 10%
- Pass rates under 20 test takers are marked as small groups.
Sources and dates
- Covenant School of Nursing, RN Tuition and Fees Schedule (PDF) and RN Program Tuition and Fees page, Chart revised July 16, 2025.
- South Plains College, Associate Degree Nursing Estimated Price List, Undated estimate.
- TTUHSC Student Business Services, School of Nursing Traditional BSN tuition and fee estimate, AY 2025-2026, Academic year 2025-2026.
- South Plains College, Plainview Vocational Nursing Estimated Cost Analysis, Fall 2024 (PDF), Fall 2024 estimate.
- South Plains College, Reese Center Vocational Nursing Estimated Cost Analysis (image on the entrance requirements page), Undated estimate.
- South Plains College, Levelland Vocational Nursing Estimated Cost Analysis (image on the entrance requirements page), Undated estimate.
- Texas Board of Nursing, Report of 2025 NCLEX-RN Examination Pass Rates (Board Meeting, April 2026, item 3.2.13), April 2026.
- Texas Board of Nursing, Report of 2025 NCLEX-PN Examination Pass Rates (Board Meeting, April 2026, item 3.2.12), April 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Lubbock, TX metropolitan area, May 2025.
Every number was checked against its source on Nov. 1, 2026. Spot an error? Report it. Program Outcomes is independent and not affiliated with any school or the Texas Board of Nursing. Our independence policy