Nursing programs in the Lubbock area: what they cost and what they pay
6 Board-approved programs in Lubbock, Levelland and Plainview. RN programs with published costs range from $7,768 to $27,460, and registered nurses here earn a median $81,480.
Lubbock is home to Covenant School of Nursing, the only hospital-based diploma RN program in the Texas Board of Nursing's 2025 pass-rate report, so students here can train inside a working health system. Most other options come from South Plains College, which teaches its ADN and an LVN program in Levelland, plus LVN programs at its Reese Center in west Lubbock and in Plainview, about 45 miles north. Texas Tech's BSN is based in Lubbock but reports one pass rate across five campuses, so its numbers describe the whole program, not just the Lubbock site.
Every program in the area
Grouped by license, then sorted by cost. Missing numbers sort last.
| Program | City | Cost | Pass rate | Length | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Plains College ADN | Levelland | $7,768to $11,120 | 92.5%62 of 67 | 4 semesters | 1.0 yrsto 1.4 yrs |
| Covenant School of Nursing | Lubbock | $18,782 | 88.5%154 of 174 | 64 weeks | 2.3 yrs |
| Texas Tech HSC BSN | Lubbock | $27,460to $51,760 | 85.8%533 of 621 | 4 semesters | 3.4 yrsto 6.4 yrs |
| Program | City | Cost | Pass rate | Length | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Plains LVN, Plainview | Plainview | $14,435 | 100%14 of 14 | 12 months | 2.5 yrs |
| South Plains LVN, Reese Center | Lubbock | $14,435 | 100%36 of 36 | 12 months | 2.5 yrs |
| South Plains LVN, Levelland | Levelland | $14,435 | 100%5 of 5 | 12 months | 2.5 yrs |
Small groups: South Plains LVN, Plainview had 14 test takers; South Plains LVN, Levelland had 5 test takers. Texas Tech HSC BSN: The Board of Nursing reports one pass rate for this program across its Abilene, Amarillo, Lubbock, Mansfield, and Odessa sites. Pass rates: 1, 2
Quick findings
- Lowest-cost RN program: South Plains College ADN, from $7,768. It also had the highest RN pass rate in the area in 2025, 92.5%.
- Largest program: Texas Tech HSC BSN, with 621 first-time test takers across its campuses in 2025.
- Highest LVN pass rate with 20+ test takers: South Plains LVN, Reese Center, 36 of 36.
- RN vs LVN pay gap here: $22,970 a year at the median.
Generated from the table above. They change when the data does.
Two ways to become a nurse here
Using this area's real costs and wages.
South Plains College ADN, 4 semesters of nursing courses. Median RN pay $81,480.
South Plains LVN, Plainview, 12 months (fall, spring, summer). Median LVN pay $58,510 while you bridge.
The local job picture
Major employers include Covenant Health and UMC Health System. The Lubbock metro area includes Cochran, Crosby, Garza, Hockley, Lubbock, and Lynn counties. Plainview (Hale County) is outside it; we show Lubbock wages as the nearest metro.
Nearby areas
| Area | Programs | RN | LVN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amarillo (page coming) | 6 | 3 | 3 |
| Midland-Odessa (page coming) | 8 | 4 | 4 |
| Abilene (page coming) | 10 | 7 | 3 |
What changed
- Nov 2026Updated: Covenant School of Nursing, South Plains College ADN, Texas Tech HSC BSN, South Plains LVN, Plainview, South Plains LVN, Reese Center, South Plains LVN, Levelland.
- May 2026Updated: Covenant School of Nursing.
- Apr 2026Updated: Covenant School of Nursing, South Plains College ADN, Texas Tech HSC BSN, South Plains LVN, Plainview, South Plains LVN, Reese Center, South Plains LVN, Levelland.
- 2025Updated: Covenant School of Nursing.
Sources and dates
- 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.
- 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.
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