How much does the HESI A2 cost?
Written and reviewed by Brittany Scott, BSN, RN, CCM · 4 min read · Updated November 2026
Short answer
The HESI A2 has no single national price: each school or testing site sets its own fee. Posted fees we checked in November 2026 run from $53 in person at Tarrant County College to $110 at Indian River State College, where that amount also covers the program application and proctoring.
Posted HESI A2 fees at five schools
Tarrant County College in Texas lists $53 for the HESI A2 taken in person at its Trinity River testing center and $75 for the same exam taken online through ProctorU. Both prices carry a note that they can change without notice, and you need a TCC student ID and an intent to apply to a TCC nursing or health sciences program to book. TCC says the fee is paid directly to Evolve/Elsevier, not to the college.
Alvin College in Texas charges $74 to sit the HESI A2 on its campus, the same price whether you take every section or only some. Southern Illinois University lists $93.50, which it says covers both the exam and the SIU proctoring fee, with payment collected online at registration and no refunds.
Indian River State College in Florida charges $110, but that single fee bundles the nursing program application, the HESI exam and the proctor fee, so it is not a like-for-like comparison with a test-only price. IRSC also requires applicants to test in person and does not accept HESI A2 scores from other schools.
Why the price changes from school to school
Alvin College states it plainly on its HESI page: the cost is set by each testing location, so the exam may cost more or less elsewhere. The site decides how much proctoring, scheduling and administration it adds on top of the exam itself, which is why two campuses in the same state can differ by $20 or more.
The fee you see also depends on what is bundled. Some schools quote a test-only price, some fold in a proctoring or scheduling charge, and some roll the exam into a program application fee. Before comparing, check whether the number on the page includes the application, the proctor, and any score report you need sent.
Is the HESI A2 cheaper online?
Not at the one school we found that posts both prices side by side. Tarrant County College lists $53 for its in-person session and $75 for the online ProctorU option, so remote testing cost $22 more there. The online price covers remote proctoring through ProctorU.
Online testing is also only an option if your program accepts it. IRSC, for example, requires in-person testing. Read your program's admission page before you book a remote session, because a cheaper or more convenient sitting does not help if the school will not accept the score.
Who pays: you or the school?
Elsevier's Evolve support center describes a student-pay option for HESI exams. When an exam is set up that way, you see a Make Payment button after you register, and you cannot test until payment is received. For on-campus exams, the instructor emails a payment ID that you enter in your Evolve account.
Where you pay also varies. TCC's fee goes to Evolve, SIU collects its fee online at registration, and IRSC requires its $110 bundle in full when you submit the program application. Ask your program how it handles payment before you pay anyone, so you do not pay twice.
Costs people forget to budget
Score reports are the most common surprise. Alvin College notes that if you take the HESI A2 somewhere else, you must pay Evolve a fee to send an official score report to its nursing department. If you are applying to more than one program, ask each whether it accepts scores taken at another site and how it wants them delivered.
Retakes come with their own rules. Alvin only counts a retaken section if it was at least 90 days after the earlier attempt, and IRSC allows one HESI A2 attempt per application period. Refunds are scarce: TCC, SIU and IRSC all say they do not give them, so book only once you are ready.
Sources
Tarrant County College, Register for the HESI A2. $53 in person and $75 online via ProctorU; fees paid to Evolve; no refunds
Alvin College, HESI A2 information. $74 fee; cost set by each testing location; Evolve fee to send scores taken elsewhere; 90-day retake rule
Southern Illinois University Testing Services, Nursing Exams. $93.50 including SIU proctoring fee; no refunds (page updated July 2026)
Indian River State College, HESI A2 Admissions Assessment Exam. $110 bundled application, exam and proctor fee; in-person only; no refunds
Elsevier Evolve Support, How do I pay for an On-Campus HESI exam with my Payment ID?. Student-pay option; payment ID from instructor; pay before testing (updated July 2026)
Common questions
How much does the HESI A2 cost?
It depends on the testing site. Posted fees we checked in November 2026 ranged from $53 (in person at Tarrant County College) to $93.50 at SIU, with IRSC charging $110 for the application, exam and proctor fee together. Check your own program's page for its current price.
Is the HESI A2 cheaper online?
Not where we could compare. Tarrant County College lists $53 in person and $75 through ProctorU online. Some schools, such as IRSC, do not accept online testing at all.
Do schools pay for the HESI?
At the schools we checked, the applicant pays. Elsevier's student-pay option means you must pay in Evolve before you can test. Whether a program covers the cost is its own choice, so confirm before you register.