AD

Consider a sponsored online program currently accepting applicants.

School	Program	Admissions
University of Texas Permian Basin	Online RN to BSN CCNE accredited, 38-credit program prepares nurses for leadership roles in healthcare.	Website
Benedictine University	RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-BSN) CCNE Accredited, can be completed–100% online–in as little as 12 months.	Website
Auburn University at Montgomery	Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-BSN) Finish in 1 year, CCNE accredited.	Website
Methodist University	Online RN to BSN CCNE Accredited. Designed for Working Nurses.	Website
Campbellsville University	Online RN to BSN ACEN accredited BSN program.	Website
University of West Alabama	Online RN to BSN Finish in 1 year, ACEN accredited.	Website
Sacred Heart University	Online RN to BSN CCNE Accredited, as few as 10 months to complete.	Website
King University	BS in Nursing (RN-to-BSN) Accelerated program features 7-week courses designed specifically for the ADN- or Diploma-prepared Registered Nurse.	Website

California BSN in Nursing School Highlights

Schools with RN-BSN Programs

There are 41 nursing schools in California with CCNE or ACEN accredited RN to BSN / BSN programs. This ranks California 3rd in the United States for available nursing schools with Bachelor's in Nursing programs.

Average Enrollment

California universities average enrollment is 12,468 students (larger than the national average). There are multiple options, including public universities (the California State University system is among the largest), and smaller, private universities in more remote locations.

City Availability

There are 23 total cities in California with nursing schools offering CCNE or ACEN-accredited Bachelor's in Nursing degrees.

AD

Consider a sponsored online program currently accepting applicants.

School	Program	Admissions
University of Texas Permian Basin	Online RN to BSN CCNE accredited, 38-credit program prepares nurses for leadership roles in healthcare.	Website
Benedictine University	RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-BSN) CCNE Accredited, can be completed–100% online–in as little as 12 months.	Website
Auburn University at Montgomery	Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-BSN) Finish in 1 year, CCNE accredited.	Website
Methodist University	Online RN to BSN CCNE Accredited. Designed for Working Nurses.	Website
Campbellsville University	Online RN to BSN ACEN accredited BSN program.	Website
University of West Alabama	Online RN to BSN Finish in 1 year, ACEN accredited.	Website
Sacred Heart University	Online RN to BSN CCNE Accredited, as few as 10 months to complete.	Website
King University	BS in Nursing (RN-to-BSN) Accelerated program features 7-week courses designed specifically for the ADN- or Diploma-prepared Registered Nurse.	Website

Finding Campus-Based and Online RN to BSN Programs in California

California ranks in the top 3 for number of nursing programs, and it is near the top in terms of resources for nurses. Boasting over a dozen nursing associations, alliances, and organizations, the support for being a Registered Nurse in California is excellent. As you would expect, the more highly populated cities and their suburbs have more options: Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco, among others.

41 CCNE or ACEN Accredited California BSN Programs in our database

The general theme of nursing in California is that programs have grown (by around 30% from 2004 to 2014), but still have not been able to accommodate the demand for prospective nurses looking to enroll in a program. Thus, many people looking at getting their RN-BSN have been considering an online RN to BSN program if they live in California.

California Nursing Licensure Reciprocity

The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) allows nurses to have one license for nursing that gives them the ability to practice in the state where they current live as well as other states that are part of the compact agreement. Currently there are over 30 states that are a part of the NLC agreement.

As of Spring 2020: California is NOT a part of the NLC compact agreement.

Source: National Council of State Boards of Nursing

Becoming a Nurse in California

One of the best places – if not the best place – to glean perspective on becoming an Registered Nurse in California is to read through the California Board of Registered Nursing 2013-2014 Annual School Report (PDF file), most recently updated in June 2015. The 23-page report is long, but it provides excellent data and trending. We have pulled the most applicable facts that you should know when you are researching RN to BSN programs to become a nurse in California.

• There are around 12,300 “spaces” open for nursing programs in CA, but as of the date of the last survey, there were around 13,300 applicants to nursing programs. This puts the university system over capacity, and can make them more selective.
• BSN programs had a slight increase in enrollment from 2012 to 2013 (most recent dates).
• The overall NCLEX pass rate for BSN’s at every California University decreased from 87.1% in 2012/2013 to 82.3% in 2013/2014.
• 68% of graduates from California BSN programs are employed within the state of California (this is a very good number).
• Unsurprisingly, 56% of graduates from California BSN programs work in hospitals, the most out of any industry.

The California State University System’s Impact on Nursing

The California State University System is by far the most expansive of all California universities, with 23 campuses and eight off-campus centers. The System is home to almost a half-million students (437,000), and has options all over California. The Cal State System is also the largest producer of bachelor’s degrees in the United States, with around 100,000 annually.

Nursing Schools Spotlight

Azusa Pacific University

APU’s RN-BSN program is one of the most reasonably priced degree programs in the state of California, at around $500 per credit hour. At 40 credit hours total, the RN-BSN program can also be completed in as little as 15 months, which is on the low end of the spectrum in terms of program length. You would need to be aggressive with taking your courses on a full schedule, however. APU also has an Online RN to BSN option.

California State University – Sacramento

The last reported numbers from the California Board of Nursing reports that California State University – Sacramento’s BSN program had an NCLEX pass rate of 97%, with 153 students passing in 2013/2014. Nursing is also the largest major at the university for undergraduates, with around 2,000 students in the program.

California Nursing Resources

• CA Nursing School NCLEX Pass Rates
• CA Board of Nursing
• California Nurses Association
• CA Department of Public Health
• American Nurses Association – California
• Association of California Nurse Leaders
• California Association of Health Facilities
• California Association for Health Services at Home
• California Hospital Association
• California Medical Association
• California School Nurses Organization
• SEIU Nurse Alliance of California
• United Nurses Associations of California