Choosing a Nursing School in California

There are Many Options for Pre-Nursing Students

Jun 13, 2009

Even though the competition to get into a California nursing program is fierce, there are many choices for pre-nursing students in California.

Pre-nursing students choose one school for their prerequisite major courses, and often choose another school to complete their degree and RN license out of necessity. In California, changing schools is very common because admission to nursing is highly competitive. It is likely that the school that accepts a student is not the same one as where the student took the pre-nursing prerequisite courses.

California Community College Nursing Programs

For pre-nursing students who do not have the best academic record or for those who need the lowest cost route to become a RN, California community colleges may be the best choice. These schools admit students to their nursing programs via a lottery system or by a first come, first served system. Prerequisite courses still need to be taken at an acceptable GPA, but students are all equal in the lottery once they've met the minimum academic requirements in their pre-nursing courses.

Even though California community colleges award an Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN) rather than a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN), the RN license received after passing the NCLEX exam is the same one as those who graduated with a baccalaureate degree.

California State University Nursing Programs

Many California State University (CSU) campuses also have nursing programs. They lead to a BSN (Bachelor's of Science in Nursing). Although CSU tuition costs are around six times more expensive than California community colleges, they are still much cheaper than private schools. Unlike community colleges, CSU nursing programs admit students by academic merit.

Four University of California (UC) campuses offer BSN nursing programs as well. They are at UCLA, UCSF, UC Davis, and UC Irvine. Tuition at UC is more than CSU and California community colleges, but they are still lower than at private nursing schools. Because the prestige of UC attracts the best students from around the world, these nursing programs have a highly competitive admissions process requiring top grades and test scores.

Private University Nursing Programs

There are many private colleges and universities in California that offer either an ADN or BSN. In most cases, there is less competition at these schools due to their high cost. Nevertheless, many students still enroll in expensive private schools to avoid a delay in starting a nursing career. Students use financial aid to bridge the cost difference.

Nursing School Admissions

Because spots in California nursing schools are so scarce, students need to be prepared to apply as many programs as possible. Even though it is a lot of work to apply for admission to many schools, it is wise to apply to every single nursing school within driving distance. Applying broadly reduces the chances of not getting in anywhere, thus delaying a student's entry into nursing school.

If a pre-nursing student is willing to relocate anywhere in California, one strategy is to apply to every single California community college program in the state that utilizes a lottery. By applying to every community college nursing program with a lottery, the applicant maximizes the chance of getting in somewhere without having to wait on a wait list. The only way to fail to get into nursing school by this method is to fail in every single lottery. All that's needed is one single acceptance.

By recognizing the advantages and disadvantages of the many nursing schools in California, pre-nursing students can avoid the disappointment from not getting admitted anywhere by applying to a wide range of programs. Depending on the needs, flexibility, and strength of academic record of the applicant, much can be done to avoid disappointment by not focusing on getting into just one or two California nursing programs within five miles of home.

Watanabe, Teresa. "Nurse Deficit Afflicts State" Los Angeles Times. 11 June, 2008.

Trounson, Rebecca. "UCLA to Bring Back Nursing Program" Los Angeles Times. 27 November, 2005.

Chandler, Genevieve. The Ultimate Guide to Getting into Nursing School. McGraw-Hill Professional (2007).

The copyright of the article Choosing a Nursing School in California in College Degrees/Programs is owned by John Wu. Permission to republish Choosing a Nursing School in California in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.