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Best Nursing Schools in California, Ranked by NCLEX Pass Rate
Which California nursing schools have the best licensing-exam record? We ranked every open program with enough testers to judge, by five-year first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate, with separate lists for BSN, ADN and entry-level master's (ELM) programs.
By the SEAPHE Editorial Team
Data from the California Board of Registered Nursing
Many “best nursing school” lists blend reputation, research and selectivity. If you want to become a registered nurse in California, the most useful public outcome is simpler: how often a program's graduates pass the NCLEX-RN on the first try. The California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) publishes that figure for every approved program, every year. This ranking uses only that data.
How we ranked
- Measure: first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate for California-educated testers, combined over five academic years (2020–21 to 2024–25) and weighted by the number of testers.
- Who qualifies: programs still open, with at least 200 first-time testers across the five years and at least 20 first-time testers in 2024–25, the latest year. That's 111 programs: 37 BSN, 67 ADN and 7 ELM.
- Why five years, and why a recent minimum: one year can swing sharply for a small cohort. Pooling five years, with at least 200 testers in total (an average of 40 a year), gives a steadier picture. The 20-tester minimum for 2024–25, the same line our NCLEX table uses to flag small cohorts, keeps a program from ranking on its past alone. Ties go to the program with more testers.
- What we don't do: we don't score reputation, selectivity or cost, and no school can pay for placement (see our disclosure policy).
For more on reading these numbers, see What Is a Good NCLEX Pass Rate?
Best BSN programs in California by NCLEX pass rate
Public universities take 7 of the 10 BSN spots, all of them CSU campuses. CSU Long Beach leads with 98.5% over five years. For a campus-by-campus look at the CSU, see CSU nursing programs compared.
Top 10 California BSN programs by five-year NCLEX-RN pass rate
First-time pass rate, 2020–21 to 2024–25, tester-weighted; 2024–25 testers in parentheses
| # | Program | City | 5-yr pass | Testers | 2024–25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CSU Long Beach | Long Beach | 98.5% | 748 | 98.8% (169) |
| 2 | CSU Fullerton | Fullerton | 97.2% | 351 | 94.9% (78) |
| 3 | Concordia University Irvine | Irvine | 96.5% | 599 | 95.1% (123) |
| 4 | CSU Bakersfield | Bakersfield | 96.5% | 313 | 93.8% (65) |
| 5 | CSU Sacramento | Sacramento | 96.1% | 685 | 96.6% (148) |
| 6 | Stanbridge University | Irvine | 96.0% | 400 | 95.2% (332) |
| 7 | CSU Los Angeles | Los Angeles | 95.7% | 486 | 96.1% (103) |
| 8 | CSU Stanislaus | Turlock | 95.1% | 494 | 92.5% (93) |
| 9 | Simpson University | Redding | 94.9% | 235 | 95.3% (43) |
| 10 | CSU San Bernardino | San Bernardino | 94.1% | 646 | 94.1% (118) |
Source: California BRN NCLEX-RN pass rates, first-time California-educated testers, 2020–21 to 2024–25, retrieved Oct 7, 2026. Five-year rate weighted by testers; SEAPHE calculation. Open programs with at least 200 first-time testers over five years and at least 20 in 2024–25.
Best ADN programs (community colleges)
Associate degree programs post some of the highest pass rates in the state. Every program in the ADN top 10 averaged 96.4% or better over five years. Not ranked: San Diego City College (99.5% over five years, 1 first-time tester in 2024–25) fell below our 20-tester minimum for the latest year, so it is left out of the ranking. For the trade-offs between the two degrees, see ADN vs. BSN in California.
Top 10 California ADN programs by five-year NCLEX-RN pass rate
First-time pass rate, 2020–21 to 2024–25, tester-weighted; 2024–25 testers in parentheses
| # | Program | City | 5-yr pass | Testers | 2024–25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sierra College | Rocklin | 99.5% | 204 | 100.0% (33) |
| 2 | Moorpark College | Moorpark | 99.1% | 324 | 100.0% (52) |
| 3 | Saddleback College | Mission Viejo | 97.9% | 426 | 98.8% (82) |
| 4 | Rio Hondo College | Whittier | 97.5% | 326 | 100.0% (65) |
| 5 | Grossmont College | El Cajon | 97.2% | 326 | 96.0% (76) |
| 6 | Ventura College | Ventura | 97.0% | 396 | 100.0% (77) |
| 7 | LA Harbor College | Wilmington | 96.9% | 254 | 100.0% (59) |
| 8 | Riverside City College | Riverside | 96.7% | 847 | 96.6% (175) |
| 9 | Sacramento City College | Sacramento | 96.4% | 279 | 96.0% (50) |
| 10 | Cuesta College | San Luis Obispo | 96.4% | 278 | 95.2% (63) |
Source: California BRN NCLEX-RN pass rates, first-time California-educated testers, 2020–21 to 2024–25, retrieved Oct 7, 2026. Five-year rate weighted by testers; SEAPHE calculation. Open programs with at least 200 first-time testers over five years and at least 20 in 2024–25.
Entry-level master's (ELM) programs
Only 7 ELM programs meet the 200-tester threshold, so here is the full list. ELM programs are for people who already hold a bachelor's degree in another field. See our ELM guide.
California ELM programs by five-year NCLEX-RN pass rate
All ELM programs meeting the threshold; 2024–25 testers in parentheses
| # | Program | City | 5-yr pass | Testers | 2024–25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of San Diego/Hahn | San Diego | 95.7% | 233 | 96.4% (28) |
| 2 | Western University of Health Sciences | Pomona | 90.8% | 283 | 93.1% (72) |
| 3 | University of San Francisco | San Francisco | 89.2% | 572 | 82.9% (111) |
| 4 | UC Davis | Sacramento | 88.9% | 226 | 89.1% (46) |
| 5 | UC Los Angeles | Los Angeles | 88.0% | 343 | 85.1% (67) |
| 6 | Charles Drew University | Los Angeles | 84.9% | 285 | 86.7% (45) |
| 7 | Samuel Merritt University | Oakland | 82.4% | 450 | 85.0% (80) |
Source: California BRN NCLEX-RN pass rates, first-time California-educated testers, 2020–21 to 2024–25, retrieved Oct 7, 2026. Five-year rate weighted by testers; SEAPHE calculation. Open programs with at least 200 first-time testers over five years and at least 20 in 2024–25.
Best nursing schools by region
Most students can't move across the state for school, so here are the top three qualifying programs of any degree type in each BRN region, by five-year pass rate.
Top programs by region
Five-year first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate; regions follow the BRN's regional groupings by county
| Region | Program | Type | 5-yr pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Area | Moorpark College | ADN | 99.1% |
| CSU Long Beach | BSN | 98.5% | |
| Rio Hondo College | ADN | 97.5% | |
| Inland Empire and Orange County | Saddleback College | ADN | 97.9% |
| CSU Fullerton | BSN | 97.2% | |
| Riverside City College | ADN | 96.7% | |
| San Diego and Imperial (Southern Border) | Grossmont College | ADN | 97.2% |
| Mira Costa College | ADN | 96.1% | |
| University of San Diego/Hahn | ELM | 95.7% | |
| Bay Area | Evergreen Valley College | ADN | 96.0% |
| De Anza College | ADN | 93.7% | |
| Santa Rosa Junior College | ADN | 93.5% | |
| Greater Sacramento | Sierra College | ADN | 99.5% |
| Sacramento City College | ADN | 96.4% | |
| CSU Sacramento | BSN | 96.1% | |
| San Joaquin Valley | CSU Bakersfield | BSN | 96.5% |
| CSU Stanislaus | BSN | 95.1% | |
| Bakersfield College | ADN | 93.9% | |
| Central Coast | Cuesta College | ADN | 96.4% |
| Santa Barbara City College | ADN | 94.9% | |
| Hartnell College | ADN | 92.3% | |
| Northern Sacramento Valley | Simpson University | BSN | 94.9% |
| CSU Chico | BSN | 94.0% | |
| Shasta College | ADN | 92.5% | |
| Northern California | College of the Redwoods | ADN | 88.3% |
Source: California BRN NCLEX-RN pass rates, retrieved Oct 7, 2026; region assigned from each program's BRN-listed city. Same eligibility rules as above. SEAPHE calculation.
Live in Los Angeles County? Our guide to nursing schools in Los Angeles lists every program in the county.
What a high pass rate does and doesn't tell you
A high first-time pass rate shows that a program's graduates were well prepared for the licensing exam. It doesn't tell you:
- How many students finished. A program that loses many students before graduation can still post a high pass rate. Each school page shows BRN attrition and on-time completion.
- How hard it is to get in. The BRN doesn't publish acceptance rates by school. Statewide, programs accepted 32.1% of qualified applications in 2024–25. See California nursing school acceptance rates.
- What it costs. Public community college programs and private colleges can post similar pass rates at very different prices.
At the other end of the scale, California regulation requires programs to keep a first-time pass rate of at least 75% (16 CCR § 1431). A program that falls below it must send the BRN an improvement plan, and two years in a row below 75% triggers a Board approval visit. You can filter every program by pass rate, degree and cost in the program finder, or see California NCLEX pass rates by school for every program.
Applied to a California RN program? Share how it went in a 2-minute anonymous survey, or see what other applicants reported on the admissions odds page.
Share your outcomeFrequently asked questions
What is the best nursing school in California?
On first-time NCLEX-RN results over five years, CSU Long Beach has the strongest record among BSN programs (98.5%), and Sierra College leads ADN programs (99.5%), based on BRN data for programs with at least 200 testers over five years and 20 in 2024–25. The best school for you also depends on cost, location and admission requirements.
What is the best BSN program in California?
By five-year first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate, CSU Long Beach leads California BSN programs at 98.5%, followed by CSU Fullerton (97.2%) and Concordia University Irvine (96.5%), per BRN data. The top 10 is in the table above.
Do community colleges have higher NCLEX pass rates than universities?
In California, yes, on average. ADN graduates passed at 92.1% in 2024–25, versus 89.0% for BSN graduates. Individual programs vary much more than degree types do.
Why aren't some well-known schools on this list?
We rank only by first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate, and a program needs at least 200 testers over five years plus at least 20 in 2024–25 to qualify. Newer or smaller programs, and programs that report combined results across several campuses, may rank lower or not appear.
What is the best community college (ADN) nursing program in California?
By five-year first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate, Sierra College leads California ADN programs at 99.5%, followed by Moorpark College (99.1%) and Saddleback College (97.9%), per BRN data. Programs need at least 20 first-time testers in 2024–25 to be ranked.
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Sources
- California Board of Registered Nursing, NCLEX-RN Pass Rates, First Time CA Educated Exam Testers, 2020–21 to 2024–25 (retrieved Oct 7, 2026).
- California Board of Registered Nursing, Pre-Licensure RN Programs (retrieved Oct 7, 2026).
- University of California, San Francisco for the California BRN, 2024–2025 BRN Annual School Report: Data Summary, Pre-Licensure Programs, Table 3.
- California Code of Regulations, 16 CCR § 1431, Licensing Examination Pass Rate Standard.
Last updated Oct 9, 2026. Figures change every year; check each source for the latest release.