Which Texas RN to BSN program should I attend? Which has more resume power?

U.S.A. Texas

Updated:   Published

I am not sure if I should attend UT Arlington's RN to BSN program or Tarleton States RN to BSN program once I finish the nursing program at TCC. Does anyone know which program has more resume power?

In Texas, just be a live body and they'll take you.

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Have you looked into Texas Tech's RN-to-BSN program? It is highly regarded and conducted online. You can also go with UT Arlington or Tarleton State University. Good luck with whatever decision you make.

Have you looked into Texas Tech's RN-to-BSN program? It is highly regarded and conducted online. You can also go with UT Arlington or Tarleton State University. Good luck with whatever decision you make.

Thanks Commuter - I haven't looked into Tech's program yet; thank you for the suggestion. I have been looking at Tarleton and UTArlington. UTArlington is really close to where I live, so I can take the On Campus courses...and honestly I do better with "in class" instruction. I'll look into all three. I still have a ways to go :)

Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.
In Texas, just be a live body and they'll take you.

Not true.

I started UTAs RN to BSN online program and was unhappy enough with it to jump ship. Disorganized, impersonal and a terribly confusing layout. I start on Sept 1 for RN to MSN.

Not true.

I started UTAs RN to BSN online program and was unhappy enough with it to jump ship. Disorganized, impersonal and a terribly confusing layout. I start WGU on Sept 1 for RN to MSN.

Yikes! Good to know! When did you start UTA's program?

Right now I'm in my dead semester before the Associates program so I'm packing it with as many BSN Pre-reqs as possible.

As of this morning, I have pretty much ruled UTA out. I registered for my Fall semester of BsN Pre-reqs at 6AM. I'm taking College Algebra, English II, US history II, intro to Philosophy and Nutrition. That will leave me with only Statistics between now and graduating the Associates program. These classes should let me into Tarleton or TWU, but I'm leaning toward Tarleton's Bridge program at TCC's Trinity River campus. If I were to change my mind and go to UTA, I'd have to take Lit, Tech Writing, Sociology and an Upper Division Elective...I just don't think that's gonna happen. Not to mention Tarleton's tuition rates are more affordable. If they're both equally regarded, then ruling out UTA was the best choice for me.

Not true.

I started UTAs RN to BSN online program and was unhappy enough with it to jump ship. Disorganized, impersonal and a terribly confusing layout. I start WGU on Sept 1 for RN to MSN.

How long is 's RN-MSN program at a full time pace? Do they have any clinical experience requirements to get into the MSN program? Have you worked as an RN?

Sorry for so many questions, I'm just trying to get a general plan together for the next 1/2 dozen years of my life. :-)

Specializes in Critical Care, Education.
Yikes! Good to know! When did you start UTA's program?

Right now I'm in my dead semester before the Associates program so I'm packing it with as many BSN Pre-reqs as possible.

As of this morning, I have pretty much ruled UTA out. I registered for my Fall semester of BsN Pre-reqs at 6AM. I'm taking College Algebra, English II, US history II, intro to Philosophy and Nutrition. That will leave me with only Statistics between now and graduating the Associates program. These classes should let me into Tarleton or TWU, but I'm leaning toward Tarleton's Bridge program at TCC's Trinity River campus. If I were to change my mind and go to UTA, I'd have to take Lit, Tech Writing, Sociology and an Upper Division Elective...I just don't think that's gonna happen. Not to mention Tarleton's tuition rates are more affordable. If they're both equally regarded, then ruling out UTA was the best choice for me.

Just chiming in here - from a hiring perspective. Hiring managers in my organization prepare to roll out the red carpet when they come across a TWU grad (either campus). Yep, they are pretty much 'top of the heap' among Texas BSN programs. But VERY competitive.

Just chiming in here - from a hiring perspective. Hiring managers in my organization prepare to roll out the red carpet when they come across a TWU grad (either campus). Yep, they are pretty much 'top of the heap' among Texas BSN programs. But VERY competitive.

Wow! Thank you so much for chiming in! I definitely appreciate it. Since the market is being flooded with nurses right now, I want to do everything I can to gain an edge when it comes to getting a position at a good hospital.

Where do you work, if you don't mind me asking?

Specializes in LTAC, ICU, ER, Informatics.

Texas Tech's program was highly recommended to me by my Complex Clinical Instructor who has been an ICU RN and RN Manager for years. For me it came down to Tech or UTA and I liked the Tech program a little better.

Texas Tech's program was highly recommended to me by my Complex Clinical Instructor who has been an ICU RN and RN Manager for years. For me it came down to Tech or UTA and I liked the Tech program a little better.

Thank you so much for your response, antichick. It looks like both Tech and TWU's RN-BSN programs are 100% online. I can't find on their websites an option to take the classes on campus. Is that what you did/are doing?

Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.
How long is WGU's RN-MSN program at a full time pace? Do they have any clinical experience requirements to get into the MSN program? Have you worked as an RN?

Sorry for so many questions, I'm just trying to get a general plan together for the next 1/2 dozen years of my life. :-)

WGU is a self paced program. You pay a flat fee for each six months of enrollment and you accomplish as much or as little as your inner drive and lifestyle dictate. Some have finished the BSN portion in as little as four months. The average is one year for BSN and around 2.5 years for MSN.

I have been working as an RN in ICU Stepdown for a year and eight months. requires you have employment as an RN to be accepted.

I started UTA exactly one year ago. I will spare you the details but it was ridiculous how difficult they made things and then how unfriendly they were when attempting to get those difficulties worked out. They were one of the more expensive options too. I did a lot more research and narrowed down to Texas Tech or WGU. Ultimately I went with WGU because I like the self paced format. I can get done more quickly. I am an older student, in my early 40s, so having the ability to affect the timeframe was very attractive to me. I will continue working full time while I attend WGU.

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