Quick answer
Some of the best nursing schools in California for a bachelor's degree are Cal State Long Beach, Sacramento State, Cal State LA, Cal State Fullerton and UCLA, based on first-time NCLEX pass rates, cost and program strength. Cal State Long Beach had the highest pass rate of any large BSN program in 2024-25, at 98.82%. For most families, a CSU or a community college ADN followed by a BSN costs far less than a private program, but getting into the nursing major is the hardest part almost everywhere.
California needs nurses, and nursing is one of the most popular majors in the state. That's the problem. Many California nursing programs turn away far more qualified applicants than they admit, and getting into a university isn't the same as getting into its nursing program.
This guide compares California's top bachelor's (BSN) programs on what matters: your odds of getting into the major, how well graduates do on the licensing exam, and what you'll pay. It also covers the community college route that saves many students thousands.
How We Picked These Schools
Nursing rankings from big publishers mostly measure graduate programs. If you're heading to college for a BSN, look at these instead:
- First-time NCLEX-RN pass rate. The share of graduates who pass the national licensing exam on their first try, from the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN). We used the latest year, July 2024 to June 2025, and favored programs with large numbers of test takers.
- How you get into the major. Whether first-year students are admitted directly into nursing or start as pre-nursing and compete for a spot later.
- Cost. 2026-27 tuition for UC and CSU campuses, and the availability of need-based aid at private schools.
- Clinical placements. Ties to major hospital systems for clinical rotations.
- Program type. We only list pre-licensure BSN programs that admit undergraduates. Graduate-entry programs get their own note below.
California BSN Programs: Quick Comparison
| School | Type | NCLEX pass rate (2024-25) | First-time testers | First-year entry | 2026-27 tuition | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cal State Long Beach | CSU | 98.82% | 169 | Impacted; check campus route | $6,838 systemwide, plus campus fees | Top outcomes at a CSU price |
| Sacramento State | CSU | 96.62% | 148 | Impacted; check campus route | $6,838 systemwide, plus campus fees | Northern California students near the capital's hospitals |
| Cal State LA | CSU | 96.12% | 103 | Impacted; check campus route | $6,838 systemwide, plus campus fees | Several entry options, including ADN-to-BSN |
| CSU San Marcos | CSU | 95.21% | 188 | Impacted; check campus route | $6,838 systemwide, plus campus fees | North San Diego County students |
| Cal State Fullerton | CSU | 94.87% | 78 | Admits some first-years to nursing; impacted | $6,838 systemwide, plus campus fees | Orange County students who want a direct path |
| San José State | CSU | 92.86% | 126 | Impacted; check campus route | $6,838 systemwide, plus campus fees | Bay Area students |
| UCLA | UC | 92.16% | 51 | Direct, very limited seats | $15,588 systemwide, plus campus fees | Research-minded students aiming for advanced practice |
| UC Irvine | UC | 91.30% | 46 | Direct, small cohort | $15,588 systemwide, plus campus fees | A UC experience with a small nursing class |
| San Diego State | CSU | 91.04% | 134 | Impacted; check campus route | $6,838 systemwide, plus campus fees | San Diego students who want a big university |
| Point Loma Nazarene | Private | 96.30% | 54 | Check program | Private; run net price calculator | A smaller faith-based campus |
| Concordia University Irvine | Private | 95.12% | 123 | Check program | Private; run net price calculator | Students who want a private option with strong results |
Pass rates and tester counts come from the BRN table for first-time, California-educated test takers. UC and CSU figures are 2026-27 systemwide tuition and fees, which match the maximum Cal Grant tuition award for each system as listed by the Legislative Analyst's Office. Campus fees add more, and nursing programs often add lab, uniform and testing costs.
Important
Pass rates vary more than you might expect. Among California BSN programs with at least 50 first-time test takers in 2024-25, results ranged from 98.82% at Cal State Long Beach to 78.23% at Dominican University of California. Large private programs also varied: Azusa Pacific's BSN posted 82.16% with 482 testers, and Samuel Merritt's BSN posted 79.25% with 429. Always check a program's last few years, not just one.
Cal State Long Beach
Long Beach, CA
Best for: students who want the strongest results at a public price.
CSULB's School of Nursing has posted some of the highest first-time NCLEX pass rates in the state for years, including 100% in 2023-24 and 98.82% in 2024-25 across 169 test takers. Its Long Beach location gives students access to a wide range of Southern California hospitals for clinical rotations. Admission is highly competitive, as nursing is impacted.
Sacramento State
Sacramento, CA
Best for: Northern California students who want strong results and big-hospital access.
Sacramento State's nursing program combines a high pass rate with a large cohort, and the Sacramento region's major health systems offer a broad set of clinical sites. Nursing is impacted at Sac State, so plan your prerequisites carefully.
Cal State LA
Los Angeles, CA
Best for: students who want several ways into a BSN.
Cal State LA offers a traditional pre-licensure BSN along with RN-to-BSN, ADN-to-BSN and accelerated options. That flexibility helps if you start at a community college or already have a degree. Its pass rate has stayed above 93% every year since 2020-21.
CSU San Marcos
San Marcos, CA
Best for: North San Diego County students who want a large, consistent program.
CSU San Marcos had more first-time test takers than any other CSU in 2024-25, and its pass rate was above 95%. The traditional BSN is impacted, and the program also offers LVN-to-BSN, RN-to-BSN and accelerated options.
Cal State Fullerton
Fullerton, CA
Best for: Orange County students who want to be admitted to nursing from the start.
Cal State Fullerton is one of the few CSU campuses known for admitting some first-year students directly into the nursing major, rather than as pre-nursing. The whole campus is impacted, so admission is competitive. Pass rates have stayed near or above 95% for five straight years.
San José State University
San José, CA
Best for: Bay Area students who want a CSU price in a high-wage region.
The Valley Foundation School of Nursing at San José State places students in Silicon Valley's hospital systems, and Bay Area nursing wages are among the highest in the country. Its pass rate was above 99% in 2023-24 and near 93% in 2024-25.
UCLA
Los Angeles, CA
Best for: students who want research and a path to advanced practice nursing.
UCLA's School of Nursing admits first-year students directly into its pre-licensure Bachelor of Science program, along with a small number of junior transfers. The program is tiny compared with demand. UCLA's own transfer information packet says the school typically receives more than 6,000 BS applications a year for a few dozen open seats. Students train alongside Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.
UC Irvine
Irvine, CA
Best for: students who want a UC degree with a small nursing class.
UC Irvine's Sue and Bill Gross School of Nursing runs a small BSN program tied to UCI Health. You get the resources of a major research university with a nursing cohort small enough that faculty know you by name. Its 2024-25 pass rate topped 91%, up from 86% two years earlier.
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA
Best for: students who want a big-university campus life with a strong nursing program.
SDSU's School of Nursing is one of the largest in the CSU system, with clinical placements across San Diego's hospital network. Its pass rate dipped to 88% in 2022-23 but rebounded above 91% in each of the last two years.
Point Loma Nazarene University
San Diego, CA
Best for: students who want a smaller, faith-based private campus.
Point Loma posted one of the strongest private-school results in the state, with pass rates above 96% in each of the last two years. Class sizes are smaller than at most CSUs. As a private university, its sticker price is much higher, so run the net price calculator and compare it with a Cal Grant award at a private school.
Concordia University Irvine
Irvine, CA
Best for: students who want a private BSN with consistent results.
Concordia has kept its pass rate at or above 95% for five straight years, with more than 120 first-time test takers in 2024-25. It's a smaller private campus, and it also offers an accelerated BSN for students who already have a degree.
Pro tip
Several well-known California nursing schools don't offer a BSN for first-year students. UCSF and UC Davis train new nurses through master's entry programs for people who already have a bachelor's degree, and the University of San Diego's pre-licensure program is also graduate-level. USC doesn't appear on the BRN's list of pre-licensure programs with first-time test takers. These can be great options later, but not for a high school senior.
UC vs. CSU vs. Private vs. Community College for Nursing
| Option | 2026-27 tuition | Entry | Good fit if |
|---|---|---|---|
| UC (UCLA, UC Irvine) | $15,588 systemwide, plus campus fees | Direct, but very few seats | You want research and plan to pursue graduate nursing |
| CSU | $6,838 systemwide, plus campus fees | Nursing impacted on nearly every campus; many start as pre-nursing | You want strong outcomes at the lowest four-year price |
| Private nonprofit | Varies widely | Often more seats and faster starts | The aid offer makes it competitive, or you need a quicker start |
| Community college ADN | Low California community college fees | Competitive; often by points, lottery or waitlist | You want the cheapest path to an RN license, then a BSN |
CSU figures come from the CSU's impacted programs matrix, which shows nursing as impacted at campus after campus. At many CSUs, you're admitted to the university as a pre-nursing student, finish prerequisites, and then apply to the nursing program, often with an entrance exam. At CSU San Bernardino, for example, the nursing department describes this as a two-step process.
Joey's take
Prestige rankings for nursing mostly measure graduate programs. For a BSN, the numbers that matter are your odds of getting into the major, your program's NCLEX pass rate and what you'll owe when you're done.
I'd rather see a student admitted directly into a solid CSU nursing program than admitted to a famous university as "pre-nursing" with no guarantee of a seat. If you're admitted to a university but not the nursing major, ask exactly how many pre-nursing students get into the program each year. That one number can save you two years.
The ADN-to-BSN Route
Many California nurses start with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) at a community college, pass the NCLEX, start working as an RN, and then finish a BSN through an RN-to-BSN program, often online and often with employer tuition help. Some community colleges partner with CSUs on concurrent ADN-to-BSN programs, so you can work toward both degrees at once.
California's community college ADN programs post some of the best results in the state. In 2024-25, Ventura College, Moorpark College and Rio Hondo College each had a 100% first-time pass rate, Saddleback College posted 98.78%, and Riverside City College reached 96.57% across 175 test takers, according to the BRN.
Already a licensed vocational nurse (LVN)? Many community colleges offer LVN-to-RN programs that give credit for your LVN training. California also has a 30-unit option for LVNs. It leads to an RN license without a degree, which can limit your options in other states and for future degrees, so ask a counselor before choosing it.
Important
Community college nursing programs are competitive too. Many use points-based ranking, a lottery or a waitlist. Apply to several programs, and keep your prerequisite grades high, especially in anatomy, physiology and microbiology.
How to Pay for Nursing School in California
California students have strong state aid options. File the FAFSA or the California Dream Act Application by the March 2 deadline to be considered for state aid.
| Program | Amount (2026-27) | Who qualifies | How to apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cal Grant A and B (tuition award) | Up to $15,588 at UC, $6,838 at CSU, $9,358 at private nonprofit colleges | California residents with financial need who meet income, asset and GPA requirements | FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application, plus verified GPA, by March 2 |
| Cal Grant B access award | $1,648 for living costs (more for students with dependent children) | Students from lower-income families | Same as above |
| Middle Class Scholarship | Varies, covers part of remaining costs | UC and CSU students from families with income and assets up to $250,000 | FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application by March 2 |
| UC Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan | Covers systemwide tuition and fees | California UC students with family income under $100,000 who qualify for aid | FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application |
| CSU State University Grant | Up to systemwide tuition | CSU students with need who don't receive Cal Grant tuition coverage | FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application |
| Federal Pell Grant | Up to $7,395 | Students with high financial need | FAFSA |
| Nurse Corps Scholarship (HRSA) | Tuition, fees and a monthly stipend | Nursing students who agree to work at least two years at a facility with a critical nursing shortage | Annual HRSA application |
Cal Grant amounts come from the Legislative Analyst's Office. Confirm current details with the California Student Aid Commission, since state award amounts can change in each budget. California's Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) also runs nursing scholarship and loan repayment programs that require a service commitment in an underserved area.
For more funding ideas, see our guides to scholarships for nursing students and nursing programs with the best scholarships and loan forgiveness. If you're thinking about a specialty, our list of programs for labor and delivery nurses is a good next read.
Looking at other majors in California? Compare our guides to the best colleges in California for psychology and the best engineering schools in California.
FAQ
What is the #1 nursing school in California?
There is no official #1, but Cal State Long Beach had the highest first-time NCLEX pass rate of any large California BSN program in 2024-25, at 98.82% across 169 test takers, according to the California Board of Registered Nursing. UCLA is the best-known UC option. The best school for you depends on your odds of getting into the major, cost and location.
Is it hard to get into nursing school in California?
Yes. Nursing is impacted at most California State University campuses, which means more qualified applicants than seats. Many CSUs admit students as pre-nursing majors who must apply to the nursing program later. UCLA's nursing school says it typically receives more than 6,000 applications a year for its bachelor's program. Community college programs are also competitive.
What is a good NCLEX pass rate?
A first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate above 90% is strong. Many of California's top BSN programs posted 95% or higher in 2024-25, while some large programs were below 85%. California requires nursing programs to maintain a minimum first-time pass rate of 75%. Look at several years of results, since a single year can swing.
Can I go to community college for nursing in California?
Yes. Many California community colleges offer an Associate Degree in Nursing that prepares you for the NCLEX-RN, and several posted 100% first-time pass rates in 2024-25. After you become a registered nurse, you can complete a BSN through an RN-to-BSN program, and some community colleges partner with CSUs on concurrent ADN-to-BSN programs.
How much does nursing school cost in California?
For 2026-27, systemwide tuition and fees are $6,838 at CSU and $15,588 at UC, plus campus fees and nursing program costs such as uniforms and lab fees. Community college fees are much lower. Private nursing programs can cost several times more. Eligible California residents can have UC or CSU tuition covered by a Cal Grant.
What's the difference between an ADN and a BSN?
An ADN is a two-year associate degree, usually from a community college. A BSN is a four-year bachelor's degree. Both prepare you to take the NCLEX-RN and become a registered nurse. A BSN covers more leadership, research and public health, and many hospitals prefer or require it for some roles and for graduate nursing programs.
