RN Program is a Diploma program offered by Covenant School of Nursing and Allied Health in Lubbock, TX. The program takes 64 weeks — eight 8-week instructional modules, full time (50 credit equivalents) to complete, with a total tuition of $11,248.
Program Overview
A 64-week diploma program. The School of Nursing offers a program leading to a diploma in nursing and eligibility to apply to write the state licensure examination for registered nurses. Licensure in the state is dependent on successful completion of the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). The nursing program consists of sixty-four weeks of nursing courses offered in the School of Nursing, planned and structured to assist the student in the acquisition of theoretical knowledge for the application of principles to nursing practice. Clinical assignments are correlated with theory to facilitate learning.
Eight instructional modules. Our RN program consists of 8 Instructional Modules which take approximately 2 years of in person and clinical learning to complete. The program follows the completion of eight specific prerequisite courses at an accredited college or university of your choice, and is guided by a Master’s prepared nursing faculty.
Program outcomes. Graduates of Covenant School of Nursing will be competent to function as beginning nurse generalists who have the knowledge, skill, and ability to integrate evidence-based nursing care that promotes safety and quality; use clinical judgment in patient centered care; care for patients from diverse backgrounds; embrace lifelong learning; and communicate and collaborate effectively with patients, families and the interdisciplinary team.
Graduation. To graduate from Covenant School of Nursing, students must be able to fully attend and successfully complete all classroom, lab and clinical components of each required nursing module.
What sets this Program apart
The oldest nursing school in the South Plains. Covenant School of Nursing (formerly Methodist Hospital School of Nursing) is located in Lubbock, Texas. Founded in 1918, Covenant School of Nursing is the oldest nursing school in the South Plains and has graduated more than 5,200 nurses.
Hands-on from the start. When you’re training to become a nurse, there’s simply no substitute for hands-on experience. At Covenant School of Nursing, you’ll not only learn in the classroom – you’ll participate in skill-oriented labs and work in clinical situations at nearly 20 different health care facilities in the Lubbock area. In fact, you’ll begin working directly with patients early in your training during the 64-week program.
A path to the BSN. Graduates of CSON are then streamlined into the nursing program at Lubbock Christian University (LCU) to complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Covenant School of Nursing and Lubbock Christian University are the first to form a partnership of this type in the state of Texas, and forty-two hours of university credit are awarded for Covenant program completion.
A supportive learning environment. We are committed to producing highly skilled nurses who share our passion and commitment to patients and the nursing profession. Our supportive learning environment ensures that every student receives the guidance and encouragement he or she needs to succeed as a registered nurse.
Admission Requirements and Process
Pre-nursing status. The process toward completion of the diploma program begins prior to entering the School of Nursing. After completion of high school or a General Education Development (GED) certificate, the pre-nursing student is required to complete eight specific college level courses at a regionally accredited college or university of choice, with a minimum grade of "C" in each. Five out of eight prerequisites must be completed before the application deadline, including at least two science courses.
Minimum requirements for admission. A 2.5 prerequisite GPA, and a 58.7% ATI TEAS score in Reading, English and Math and 50% in Science. Additional considerations are healthcare certifications, Covenant Health affiliation, regional high school graduation, military service and any history of failures in A&P courses.
Selection. After the application deadline, Covenant School of Nursing will consider all qualified applicants whose application files are complete and up to date. Selected applicants are sent an email regarding their status as tentatively accepted, alternate, disqualified, or declined admission, four weeks after the application deadline. An offer of tentative acceptance is conditional, pending successful completion of all prerequisite coursework and fulfillment of specific compliance requirements set by the school’s clinical partners.
No interviews or references. CSON does not require applicant interviews or reference forms, and will not require a background check until the applicant has been tentatively accepted or selected as an alternate.
General Requirements
- High school diploma or GEDProvide an official sealed high school transcript showing proof of graduation, a verified GED or successful completion of an approved home school program.
- Eight prerequisite college coursesComplete English I, English II, Chemistry, Anatomy & Physiology I and II, Microbiology (each science with a lab), Human Nutrition and Human Growth & Development at a regionally…
- 2.5 prerequisite GPAHave a grade point average of 2.5 or higher in the required prerequisite courses; the most recent grade earned is used to calculate the prerequisite GPA.
- ATI TEAS entrance examScore at least 58.7% in Reading, English and Math and 50% in Science on the ATI TEAS exam, taken at CSON during the application period; scores are valid for one year.
- Anatomy & Physiology within ten yearsComplete Anatomy & Physiology I and II within the last ten years of the cohort you are applying to.
- U.S. citizenship or permanent residencyBe a U.S. citizen or have established permanent residency; applicants born outside the United States provide proof of citizenship or permanent residency.
- ImmunizationsSubmit an Immunization Verification Form completed and signed by a licensed health care provider, showing MMR, varicella, hepatitis B and a Tdap within the past 10 years, or…
- Texas Board of Nursing clearanceTentatively accepted students are sent to the Texas Board of Nursing for a background check, and a letter of eligibility is required where a petition for Declaratory Order applies.
Application Process
- 1Request informationAsk about the program, its prerequisites and its application periods, or register for a free Information or Application Session.
- 2Take the entrance examRegister for the ATI TEAS exam at CSON during the application period; each tester may take it three times per application period.
- 3Submit the online application and packetComplete the online application, print it before submitting, and turn in the application packet with official transcripts, exam scores, a copy of your ID and the $50 application fee. Application period: January 4 - March 5, 2027 for Fall 2027, and May 3 - July 12, 2027 for Spring 2028.
- 4Admission decisionAfter the deadline the admissions committee considers all complete applications; applicants are emailed their status as tentatively accepted, alternate, disqualified or declined about four weeks later.
- 5Apply for financial aidComplete the FAFSA with school code 014107 and the Financial Aid Student Data Form; financial aid deadlines are June 1, July 1, November 1 and February 1 depending on the start date.
- 6Complete compliance requirementsTentatively accepted students meet the immunization, TB testing, AHA BLS CPR and Texas Board of Nursing clearance requirements, and receive a final letter of acceptance at orientation.
Program Schedule
Full time, 64 weeks. The RN program is a full-time, 64-week program of eight 8-week instructional modules. CSON accepts applications for fall and spring classes: applicants accepted for Fall start in August or October, and applicants accepted for Spring start in January or March.
A sample week. Week 1: classroom Monday through Thursday, 8:30-4:30. Weeks 2-7: classroom Monday and Thursday, 8:30-4:30, and clinicals Tuesday and Wednesday, 6:00am-4:30pm (hours will vary), with online activities on Friday. Week 8: classroom Monday and Thursday and the last exam. Schedules will vary depending on multiple factors.
2026-2027 module starts. August 10, 2026; October 12, 2026; January 11, 2027; March 22, 2027; and August 9, 2027, each preceded by an on-site orientation.
Application periods. To apply for Fall 2027: January 4, 2027 - March 5, 2027 (deadline March 5th, 12 p.m.; prerequisites completed by July 2027). To apply for Spring 2028: May 3, 2027 - July 12, 2027 (deadline July 12th, 4 p.m.; prerequisites completed by December 2027).
Required Courses
| Subject # | Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
Campus Location
Why Accreditation Is Important
Attending an accredited school means its training has been reviewed against independent standards that protect students.
This program: the diploma nursing program at Covenant School of Nursing is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN); the most recent decision is Continuing Accreditation. The school is approved by the Texas Board of Nursing.
- A reliable indicator of educational quality
- Reviewed against independent standards
- Recognized by employers and licensing boards
Accreditations
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
Tuition and required fees. Tuition is $1,406.00 for each of the eight instructional modules ($11,248). Required fees are ATI Materials $1,645.00 (module 1), Hurst Review $375.00 (module 8), a Simulation Center Fee of $150.00, a Building Fee of $200.00, a Software License Fee of $45.00, a Computer Access Fee of $13.00 and a Student Services Fee of $15.00 each module, and a Graduation Fee of $80.00. Grand Total $16,732.00. All fees are non-refundable and subject to change.
Not in the total. Books (about $1,550 over the 8 modules) and uniforms (about $200) are purchased at the student’s own expense; a computer is required for course work. $100 is paid to the Texas Board of Nursing for the application for examination and $200 to Pearson Vue for NCLEX registration (the catalog prints the Board of Nursing fee as $75). The application fee is $50.
Financial aid. Financial assistance at CSNAH includes the Federal Pell Grant, William D. Ford Federal Direct Loans (subsidized and unsubsidized), Direct PLUS loans for parents of dependent students, the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), veterans benefits and various scholarships. Use school code 014107 on the FAFSA and complete the Financial Aid Student Data Form. Federal Student Aid is applied to tuition and fees and covers two instructional modules at a time.
Paying. All students pay the initial tuition and fees by the first day of each instructional module, except those with complete financial aid files; students not receiving financial assistance follow the Tuition/Fee Payment Schedule. Covenant Health’s HealthTraxx program, South Plains Workforce Solutions, Lubbock Catholic Family Services and the Texas Veterans Commission are other funding sources.
Curriculum
Eight instructional modules, 50 credit equivalents. The traditional pre-licensure program is eight 8-week instructional modules, Nursing 1101 to Nursing 1208, totalling 64 weeks and 50 credit equivalents. The modules progress from fundamental nursing concepts through the care of adults, pediatric and psychiatric nursing, the childbearing family and patients with complex needs, to a fully precepted capstone.
Prerequisites first. Before entering, students complete 28-29 semester hours of prerequisite college courses: English 1 and 2, Chemistry, Anatomy & Physiology 1 and 2 and Microbiology (each with a lab), Human Growth & Development, and Human Nutrition. Prerequisite courses are not offered at CSON.
Required Courses
| Subject # | Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
Career Outcomes
Licensure. Students who successfully complete our program are eligible for licensure as a registered nurse (RN) once they pass the National Council Licensure Examination-RN (NCLEX-RN). After graduation from CSON you receive a temporary license to work as a Graduate Nurse until you take the licensure exam.
Where graduates work. Graduates from Covenant School of Nursing work in various areas in the healthcare industry: acute care (ED, pediatrics, med-surg, ICU, mom-baby and more), long term care, or in the community, including clinics, home health agencies and nursing facilities.
Published outcomes. Employment rate (traditional program): 99.1% for 2025-2026 (n=118), 97% for 2024-2025 and 85.6% for 2023-2024. First-time NCLEX-RN pass rate: 85.4% for 2025-2026 (n=127), 92% for 2024-2025 and 86% for 2023-2024. Graduation within 100% of the program length: 74.9% for 2025-2026 (n=142).
On to the BSN. After passing the licensure exam and gaining employment, graduates continue at Lubbock Christian University, where the RN to BSN degree plan is two semesters designed to fit into the schedule of a full-time working nurse.
What to expect as a Covenant School of Nursing and Allied Health student
A hospital-based school. Covenant School of Nursing is a member of Covenant Health, the region’s largest health system, servicing 62 counties throughout West Texas and Eastern New Mexico. In addition to its four hospitals in Lubbock, the Covenant network includes 20 regional facilities, 450 active physicians, 14 home health locations, one home infusion facility and Hospice of Lubbock.
Classrooms on the LCU campus. There are nine large classrooms with seating capacity of 40-50 students, each with Wi-Fi so students can use their own laptop during lectures, and two computer labs with a total of 100 computers for testing. CSON does not have any authorized campus housing; students who would like to live on the Lubbock Christian University campus may do so.
Simulation Center. The CSON/Helen DeVitt Jones Simulation Center, on the 5th floor of Covenant Children’s Hospital, has 4 large mid fidelity patient rooms for skills acquisition, 3 high fidelity patient rooms and 3 debriefing rooms, with human patient simulators used to simulate patient care situations throughout the lifespan. Students may also schedule independent practice times.
Support. Academic guidance is provided by all faculty in each instructional module; students are assigned a faculty advisor, and a student Retention Specialist is also provided. Students may join the Covenant Student Nurses Association, the Texas Nursing Students Association and the National Student Nurses Association, and serve on the Student Welfare Committee.
Working while in school. Nursing students may seek employment with Covenant Health and are given priority in securing positions for which they may qualify. The Covenant Medical Library, in Covenant Children’s Hospital, provides online journals and eBooks that can be accessed on campus and remotely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Other Programs at Covenant School of Nursing
Covenant School of Nursing and Allied Health in Lubbock, TX also offers these 2 programs at 1919 Frankford Ave, Lubbock, TX 79407.