Analyst: WT Nursing Program Most Affordable in Country

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas — West Texas A&M University offers the most affordable online RN-to-BSN program in the country, according to an independent analyst.

TopRNtoBSN.com ranked WT at No. 1 on its 2022 list of most affordable online programs, up from No. 6 in 2021.

“Responsible universities encourage students to complete their program of study, and more than four out of 10 students in our nation who leave college do so for financial reasons,” said Dr. J. Dirk Nelson, dean of WT’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences. “We are very cognizant of the importance of offering outstanding academic programs which lead to excellent employment opportunities, while keeping costs low and offering enough flexibility to allow RNs to advance their education while still working full time.” 

Registered nurses often choose to pursue a bachelor’s of science in nursing to advance into management or other healthcare leadership positions; to find opportunities for higher wages and higher-level positions; to seek out employment in more diverse fields, such as risk management and quality assurance; and to find more employment opportunities across the state and nation.

Students who hold a BSN degree also are prepared to continue their studies in graduate school to pursue a master’s of science in nursing.

The website noted that WT’s fully online program is designed for courses to be completed in one academic year, though it can be tailored to an individual student’s timeline.

WT partners with both Northwest Texas Healthcare System and BSA Health System to allow students the opportunity to continue their education while working fewer hours at a designated facility.

Established in 1972 and graduating its first students in 1974, WT’s Department of Nursing in its College of Nursing and Health Sciences currently provides about 70 percent of nurses employed throughout the Texas Panhandle.

WT nursing graduates, over the past five years, have averaged a 97 percent score on the National Council Licensure Examination, required by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing to test the competency of nursing school graduates in the United States and Canada. Nationally, the average is 85 percent; in Texas, it’s 87 percent.

Nursing Process also recently ranked WT’s online RN-to-BSN program No. 6 in the nation. WT’s program is the only one in Texas to make the list.

Among other recent accolades, the online nursing program was ranked No. 7 in Texas and won a coveted Best Graduate Program ranking for 2022 from U.S. News & World Report. Previously, the family nurse practitioner program was ranked No. 4 in the country by RegisteredNursing.org. College Choice recently ranked the online RN to BSN program as the third best in the country, and Online-Bachelor-Degrees.com also recently named WT one of the 10 best online nursing schools in the country. WT’s nurse practitioner program recently was ranked No. 1 in Texas by Nursing Process.

While many colleges and universities across the nation raised tuition for 2022-23, WT is committed to remaining affordable and accessible. Through the Buff Promise, WT has committed 100 percent of its available resources to cover fall and spring in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate Texas residents who have an annual family income of $80,000—the median income level for our region—or less.

In addition, WT annually offers more than $32 million in scholarships and grants.

Meeting regional needs, such as quality nursing, is a key component of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic, $125 million One West comprehensive fundraising campaign. To date, the five-year campaign — which publicly launched Sept. 23 — has raised about $110 million.

About West Texas A&M University

WT is located in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of about 10,000 and offers 59 undergraduate degree programs and more than 40 graduate degrees, including two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

—WT—