Headline: Texas Tech nursing program ranked no.1 in Texas for the third consecutive year
The Texas Tech Health Sciences Center of Nursing has produced over 42,000 health care professionals since 1981. The School of Nursing has been ranked the top nursing program in Texas for the third consecutive year, according to TTUHSC Daily Dose
This recognition reflects the school’s commitment to academic excellence, community service and student success, said Holly Wei, School of Nursing dean.
Wei said Tech’s nursing program stands out for its high NCLEX pass rates. As of 2025, the nursing program has a passing rate of 94.66 percent. The Texas Board of Nursing 2025 report shows that Tech’s nursing students scored higher than other major programs across Texas, including Sam Houston Nursing school and Angelo State University.
“Revieving a full 10-year accreditation with no recommendations for improvement is very rare,” Wei said. “We are so proud of our team members, students and supporters across all five campuses for making this possible.”
Tech’s School of Nursing underwent a national review by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, earning a full 10-year accreditation which means the nursing school has met national standards for a decade.
In the past few years, the curriculum was redesigned to align with the next generation NCLEX, a new national licensing exam implemented April 1, 2023.
“We continuously look for the best evidence and national trends to guide our teaching,” Wei said. “Our goal is to make sure graduates are practice-ready nurses.”
Hailey Aleman, a senior level-three nursing student from Midland, said the program’s reputation was motivating but intimidating when she applied in summer of 2024.
“I was excited but nervous because I had heard it was very competitive,” Aleman said. “Our NCLEX rates are really high, and Tech students are very prepared, not just from books but with our hands-on experience.”
Almen said one of the hardest parts of nursing school is keeping her confidence and reassuring herself that she knows what she is doing and not questioning herself
“At first I was scared to work with real-life patients, but with the more experience I got in clinicals, the more confident I became,” she said.
Senior nursing student Aylin Jamies from Crosby, Texas said being part of the top-ranked program motivates her to meet high standards.
“When I first applied to the nursing school here in Lubbock, I didn’t know it was a top-ranked program,” Jamies said. “Knowing that pushes me to strive for excellence and to keep going because it’s a program that definitely demands discipline.”
Jamies said faculty and instructors have helped her stay confident during stressful times, emphasizing that the students are never alone in their challenges.
“There have definitely been many challenging moments, but one thing all of my instructors always remind us is that they want us to succeed,” she said. “They encourage us to reach out for help if we are struggling, whether that’s academic or personal.”
Wei said an emphasis on student well being is built into the program’s curriculum through resilience and stress-management training.
“Life is full of stress,” Wei said. “We teach students how to manage it and take care of themselves so they can provide the best care for others.”
Wei said the school’s focus moving forward is to graduate nurses who embody what she calls the “C-A-R-E.” C-A-R-E consists of competence, altruism, responsibility and empathy. She said these traits are what it means to become a Red Raider nurse.
“We want our students to be competent in their knowledge and skills, altruistic in their service to others, responsible in their profession and compassionate in their care,” Wei said. “Those are the qualities that set Tech graduates apart”
Wei said those principles guide both the classroom and clinical sides of the program, ensuring students are prepared not only to pass the many exams the students take but to lead in their future workplaces.
Tech’s School of Nursing currently provides 25 to 30 percent of the state’s healthcare workforce, Wei said. She said the ongoing recognition helps the school continue attracting students who would like to make an impact on Texas communities.
“Wherever you go in this state, you will find someone who trained at Tech,” Wei said. “We hope this recognition continues to inspire more students with the passion and compassion to serve others.”