Choosing a program · California
How to Choose a California BSN Program
A nurse's checklist for comparing 50 Board-approved BSN programs on what matters: licensure outcomes, accreditation, completion and true cost.
By the SEAPHE Editorial Team
Reviewed by a practicing registered nurse (RN, BSN)
Choosing a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) program is one of the biggest financial and career decisions you will make. Brochures all promise the same things: small cohorts, great clinical sites, high pass rates. The good news is that California publishes enough public data to check most of those claims yourself. Here is how to compare programs if you are applying today.
1. Confirm BRN approval first
To sit for the NCLEX-RN and get licensed in California, you need to complete a pre-licensure program approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing (or an out-of-state program the Board finds equivalent). The BRN maintains the official list of approved associate, baccalaureate and entry-level master's programs. Every program on SEAPHE comes from that list, and our program finder lets you filter to BSN programs only.
Be cautious with "RN-ready" or "pre-nursing" programs that are not themselves BRN-approved pre-licensure programs. Those may be useful steps, but they do not by themselves make you eligible for licensure.
2. Read NCLEX pass rates the right way
The first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate is the single best public signal of whether a program prepares graduates to get licensed. Three rules keep you from being misled:
- Look at five years, not one. Statewide rates moved from 85.7% in 2022–23 to 94.0% in 2023–24 and 90.2% in 2024–25. A single strong year can simply reflect a good year for everyone.
- Weigh the cohort size. With 20 testers, one failure costs a program five points. Large programs' rates are more stable and harder to game.
- Compare against the state average for the same year, not against a number in a brochure. Every SEAPHE school profile does this for you.
California BSN programs with the highest 5-year NCLEX averages
Programs with 300+ first-time testers, 2020–21 to 2024–25, tester-weighted
| Program | Testers | 5-yr avg |
|---|---|---|
| CSU Long Beach | 748 | 98.5% |
| CSU Fullerton | 351 | 97.2% |
| Concordia University Irvine | 599 | 96.5% |
| CSU Bakersfield | 313 | 96.5% |
| CSU Sacramento | 685 | 96.1% |
| Stanbridge University | 400 | 96.0% |
Source: California BRN NCLEX-RN Pass Rates (retrieved Oct 7, 2026); SEAPHE calculation. Not a ranking of overall quality.
3. Check national accreditation
BRN approval lets you get licensed. National nursing accreditation is a separate, voluntary review, and for BSN programs it is usually by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), sometimes by ACEN or the NLN's CNEA. It matters most later: many graduate nursing programs and some employers look for a degree from a nationally accredited program.
In the BRN's latest table, 41 of the 43 BSN programs with reported data list CCNE and 2 report no program accreditation. A newer program may be mid-way through the process, so ask about its timeline. Read our accreditation explainer for details.
4. Ask how many students actually finish
Pass rates only count the people who make it to the exam. The BRN also publishes each program's self-reported attrition (students who withdrew or were dismissed) and on-time completion rates. A program with a great pass rate but high attrition may be filtering students out rather than teaching them through. SEAPHE school profiles show these figures by year.
5. Compare the total cost, not the tuition line
The BRN list shows each program's cost before financial aid, but some entries are tuition only while others are the full program. Public CSU and UC programs are typically far cheaper than private universities, many of which list total program costs above $100,000. Build a full budget: tuition, fees, uniforms and equipment, background checks and immunizations, NCLEX prep and registration, and time out of work.
6. Plan for competitive admissions
California nursing seats are scarce, and many public BSN programs are impacted, meaning there are more qualified applicants than spots. Expect prerequisite GPA thresholds, an entrance exam such as the ATI TEAS or HESI A2, and sometimes points for local residency, language skills or health-care experience. Apply to a balanced list, and check each school's current criteria because they change often. To compare the public options side by side, see CSU nursing programs compared.
7. Don't overlook the ADN-to-BSN route
If cost or admission odds are a barrier, an associate degree (ADN) at a community college can be a strong first step. In 2024–25, California ADN programs posted a 92.1% first-time pass rate, the highest of any degree type. Many nurses then finish an RN-to-BSN while working. Hospitals increasingly prefer or require a BSN, so plan that next step early.
Your BSN comparison checklist
- Listed on the CA BRN approved-program page
- 5-year NCLEX average at or above the state average
- Enough testers each year for the rate to be meaningful
- CCNE, ACEN or CNEA accreditation, or a clear timeline
- Attrition and on-time completion you are comfortable with
- Total cost of attendance in writing
- Clinical placement sites and how they are assigned
- Entrance exam, prerequisite GPA and recency rules
Questions to ask at an info session
- What was your first-time NCLEX pass rate for each of the last three years, and how many graduates tested?
- How many students who start the program graduate on time?
- Where do students do clinical rotations, and how far will I travel?
- What support exists if I fail a course or the NCLEX?
More SEAPHE guides
ADN vs. BSN: Which Nursing Degree Is Right for You in California?
Community college or university? What the pass-rate data says, and how RN-to-BSN pathways change the math.
SEAPHE Editorial Team · RN-reviewed · 9 min read
TEAS vs. HESI A2: Key Differences and Which Exam to Take
How the two entrance exams differ, what sections to expect, and how to plan your study time.
SEAPHE Editorial Team · RN-reviewed · 8 min read
What Is a Good NCLEX Pass Rate?
How to read pass rates, why cohort size matters, and the red flags worth asking a program about.
SEAPHE Editorial Team · RN-reviewed · 6 min read
Entry-Level Master’s (ELM) Programs, Explained
Already have a bachelor’s in another field? How ELM programs work and who they suit.
SEAPHE Editorial Team · RN-reviewed · 7 min read
ACEN vs. CCNE: Does Nursing Accreditation Matter?
When national accreditation matters for grad school and jobs, and when it doesn’t.
SEAPHE Editorial Team · RN-reviewed · 6 min read
Sources
- California Board of Registered Nursing, Pre-Licensure RN Programs.
- California Board of Registered Nursing, NCLEX-RN Pass Rates, First Time CA Educated Exam Testers, 2020–21 to 2024–25.
- California Board of Registered Nursing, Accreditation, Attrition, and On Time Completion Rates.
Last reviewed Oct 2026.