HOUSTON – August 2025 – In the heart of the Texas Medical Center, where innovation pulses and healing hands shape the future, Houston Community College (HCC) is making a bold and much-needed move. This fall, HCC’s Coleman College for Health Sciences will officially launch its brand-new LVN to ADN transition program, opening the doors of opportunity to licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) ready to take their calling to the next level.

With the national and statewide nursing shortage reaching critical levels, HCC is answering the call—not just with urgency, but with vision. The newly approved program by the Texas Board of Nursing is a beacon of hope for both patients and aspiring registered nurses (RNs). Designed as a three-semester, full-time journey, the program enables LVNs to earn their Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and sit for the licensure exam to become RNs—prepared, empowered, and positioned to lead.

  

"This is more than a program—it's a pipeline of promise," said Dr. Nicole Townsend, Dean of Nursing at HCC. "We’re removing financial and educational barriers so our nurses can thrive, not just survive. This program helps advance careers, combat shortages, and plant seeds of leadership in communities across Texas."

And the payoff? It’s not just about prestige—it’s about paychecks and purpose. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, RNs in Texas earn a median annual salary of $77,450, which is $17,300 more than their LVN counterparts. That’s not just upward mobility—it’s financial security wrapped in professional respect.

With healthcare demands ballooning thanks to an aging population and chronic disease prevalence, the stakes are high. The Texas Department of State Health Services warns that an additional 275,000 nurses will be needed by 2030. And Texas? We’re trailing the national average with just 826 nurses per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 948. The need is urgent. The solution? Programs like HCC’s.

“We see this initiative as a lifeline for healthcare and a launchpad for careers,” stated HCC Chancellor Dr. Margaret Ford Fisher. “We’re not only training nurses — we’re transforming lives, communities, and outcomes. It’s about upward mobility with purpose.”

The Coleman College for Health Sciences, HCC’s crown jewel nestled in the Texas Medical Center, is the only HCC campus solely dedicated to health science programs. From certificates to associate and bachelor’s degrees, it is home to over 20 acclaimed healthcare pathways—solidifying HCC’s position as a launchpad for tomorrow’s healthcare heroes.

Houston Style Magazine readers, this inaugural LVN to ADN cohort represents a renewed commitment to inclusive, impactful, and accessible education. It's HCC doing what it does best — educating Houston's workforce and lifting up its people, one nurse at a time.

Want to step into your calling and level up your career in healthcare? Applications are open now.

Visit hccs.edu/LVN-ADN to learn more.

For more on HCC Coleman College and its transformative health science programs, visit hccs.edu/Coleman