Regions · Orange County
How to Get Into Nursing School in Orange County
This page covers every open, BRN-approved pre-licensure RN program in Orange County: how each one selects students, how many students it's approved to enroll each year, and the cost it lists with the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN). Use it to build your list, then check each school's own page before you apply.
By the SEAPHE Editorial Team
Data from the California Board of Registered Nursing
Programs in Orange County
| Program | Type | Public/private | City | Selection method (school's pages) | Next application window | TEAS minimum | BRN-approved annual enrollment | Listed cost | Points calculator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cypress College | ADN | Public | Cypress | Points and lottery (hybrid) | Closed Sep 11, 2026 (5 p.m.); next not published | 62% | 120 | $9,493Basis: Tuition + Books | calculator |
| Golden West College | ADN | Public | Huntington Beach | Points (ranked) | Opens Feb 1, 2027, closes Feb 15, 2027 | 62% | 200 | $7,302Basis: Total Program | calculator |
| Pacific College | ADN | Private | Costa Mesa | Eligibility-based | Not published | 65% composite | 189 | $85,312.50Basis: Total Program | — |
| Saddleback College | ADN | Public | Mission Viejo | Points (ranked) | Opens Feb 1, 2027, closes Feb 15, 2027 | 62% | 100 | $5,386.35Basis: Total Program | calculator |
| Santa Ana College | ADN | Public | Santa Ana | Points and lottery (hybrid) | Opens Feb 1, 2027, closes Feb 15, 2027 | 62% | 100 | $5,765Basis: Total Program | — |
| Sri Sai Krish Institute | ADN | Private | Orange | Eligibility-based | Not published | Not published | 72 | $70,000Basis: Total Program | — |
| CNI College | BSN | Private | Santa Ana | Eligibility-based | Not published | HESI A2 75%; TEAS VII 58% | 250 | $147,450Basis: Total Program | — |
| CSU Fullerton | BSN | Public | Fullerton | Holistic review | August 1 ("open from August 1 - November 30 each year") – November 30 | Not published | 80 | $33,116Basis: Tuition + Fees | — |
| Concordia University Irvine | BSN | Private | Irvine | Holistic review | Reviews begin July 2026 (rolling review) – Oct 1, 2026 (Irvine); 2026-11-15 (Rancho Cucamonga) | Not published | 408 | $60,000-$62,000Basis: Total Program | — |
| Stanbridge University | BSN | Private | Irvine | Points (ranked) | 'open enrollment basis' – Not published | Accuplacer preferred minimums: Reading 250, Sentence Skills 237, Arithmetic 237, Elementary Algebra 237; or TEAS VI 70% composite (within 3 years); ATI Critical Thinking 68% to be eligible for interview | 460 | $142,995Basis: Total Program | — |
| UC Irvine | BSN | Public | Irvine | Holistic review | Not published – November 30th (UC Application; year not stated in body text) | Not published | 50 | $76,397.96Basis: Tuition + Fees | — |
| Vanguard University | BSN | Private | Costa Mesa | Holistic review | Open now, closes Dec 1, 2026 | 65% (75% preferred) | 30 | $159,400Basis: Tuition + Books | — |
| UC Irvine | ELM | Public | Irvine | Holistic review | Open now, closes Nov 30, 2026 | Not published | 40 | $72,054.94Basis: Tuition + Fees | — |
Sources: BRN Pre-Licensure RN Programs list (enrollment, cost, basis; retrieved Oct 7, 2026); selection methods from each school's own pages (checked Oct 9, 2026), as shown on each SEAPHE school page. "Listed cost" is whatever each school reported to the BRN, and the basis varies, so compare like with like (see Cost of RN programs). Approved enrollment is a yearly maximum set by the BRN, not a count of open seats for your cycle.
How programs here choose students
Points combined with a lottery: Cypress College, Santa Ana College. No program in this area publishes a lottery-only method in our records. The others rank by points, use holistic review or admit by eligibility, or haven't published a method. Each method is explained in How California nursing schools choose students, and the statewide comparison is in Lottery vs. points by region.
Two examples:
- Saddleback College (ADN) requires a 2.8 science GPA with no rounding and uses the highest grade if a course is repeated. Use the Saddleback calculator.
- Cypress College (ADN) combines points and a lottery, and requires sciences within 5 years of the application opening date. Use the Cypress calculator.
Deadlines to know
- Golden West College (ADN): Fall 2027: Feb 1 to Feb 15, 2027
- Saddleback College (ADN): Fall 2027: Feb 1 to Feb 15, 2027
- UC Irvine (ELM): Fall 2027: Oct 1 to Nov 30, 2026
Sources: each school's page, as listed in the application deadlines calendar (checked Oct 12, 2026). Dates change, so open the school's link before you plan around one.
Labs and recency
Santa Ana College requires labs in person (online accepted Fall 2020–Fall 2021); Saddleback College requires the lab portion in person (hybrid OK if the lab is in person); UC Irvine's MEPN lists online as accepted (all checked Oct 9, 2026). See the full list in Do California programs accept online labs?
Concurrent ADN-to-BSN option
Golden West College offers an ADN/BSN Concurrent Enrollment Program with CSU San Bernardino, described as "a six (6) full-time semester program" (checked Oct 13, 2026). See Concurrent ADN-to-BSN programs.
Regional context (older BRN data)
The BRN last published regional admissions figures for 2015–16. That year, programs in its Inland Empire region (the BRN groups Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties together as the Inland Empire region) reported 3,611 qualified applications and 2,015 new enrollments (https://www.rn.ca.gov/pdfs/education/inlandempire.pdf, Tables 4 and 5). These figures are ten years old, so treat them as background only. Statewide, there were about 31 seats per 100 qualified applications in 2024–25. See Seats per applicant.
A plan for applicants
- Shortlist by route and method. Mix points and lottery programs if you qualify for both, and include BSN or ELM programs if they fit your plans. See Pick your path.
- Check prerequisites against every school on the list. Use the prerequisite planner.
- Score yourself. Use the points calculators where a rubric is published.
- Put every window on your calendar. See the 9-step RN path.
- Confirm BRN approval. See Is my nursing program BRN-approved?
Common mistakes
- Applying to only one or two programs when the methods and windows differ.
- Taking an online lab before checking whether your target programs accept it.
- Comparing listed costs with different bases.
- Missing a university's separate application (Cal State Apply or the UC application) for BSN programs.
Frequently asked questions
How many nursing programs are in Orange County?
SEAPHE counts 13 open BRN-approved pre-licensure RN programs in Orange County (6 ADN, 6 BSN, 1 ELM).
Which programs here use a lottery?
None publishes a lottery-only method in our records. Points plus lottery: Cypress College, Santa Ana College.
Does the BRN publish acceptance rates for these programs?
No. The BRN doesn't publish acceptance rates for individual programs. SEAPHE shows each program's BRN-approved enrollment instead.
More SEAPHE guides
How to Choose a California BSN Program
A checklist for comparing BSN programs on licensure outcomes, accreditation, completion and true cost.
SEAPHE Editorial Team · 5 min read
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 · 10 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 · 9 min read
What Is a Good NCLEX Pass Rate?
How to read pass rates, why cohort size matters, and the questions worth asking a program.
SEAPHE Editorial Team · 7 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 · 8 min read
Where California Nursing Programs Have the Most Seats per Application
Statewide BRN data on seats, qualified applications, selection methods and waitlists by program type.
SEAPHE Editorial Team · 5 min read
How Much RN Programs Cost in California
BRN averages for tuition, cost of attendance and debt, and how to compare listed program costs.
SEAPHE Editorial Team · 3 min read
Rejected from Nursing School in California: What to Do Next
How to read the decision, what carries over, retake and repeat rules, and how to widen your list.
SEAPHE Editorial Team · 4 min read
Lottery vs. Points Nursing Programs in California, by Region
Which programs use a lottery, points, both or holistic review, region by region, from each school’s own pages.
SEAPHE Editorial Team · 4 min read
Do California Nursing Programs Accept Online Labs?
Online lab, recency and repeat rules for anatomy, physiology and microbiology, school by school.
SEAPHE Editorial Team · 10 min read
LVN to RN in California and the 30-Unit Option
LVN-to-ADN programs, advanced placement and the non-degree 30-unit option, with BRN rules and data.
SEAPHE Editorial Team · 4 min read
Concurrent ADN-to-BSN Programs in California
How CEP and collaborative programs let you earn an ADN and a BSN with fewer repeated courses.
SEAPHE Editorial Team · 4 min read
How to Get Into Nursing School in the Bay Area
Every open BRN-approved RN program in the Bay Area, with selection method, approved enrollment and listed cost.
SEAPHE Editorial Team · 7 min read
How to Get Into Nursing School in San Diego
Every open BRN-approved RN program in San Diego and Imperial counties, with selection method, enrollment and cost.
SEAPHE Editorial Team · 4 min read
How to Get Into Nursing School in Sacramento
Every open BRN-approved RN program in the Greater Sacramento region, with selection method, enrollment and cost.
SEAPHE Editorial Team · 4 min read
How to Get Into Nursing School in the Inland Empire
Every open BRN-approved RN program in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, with selection method, enrollment and cost.
SEAPHE Editorial Team · 5 min read
Nursing School Application Timeline for California
A month-by-month planning approach: prerequisites, exam timing, Cal State Apply and community college windows.
SEAPHE Editorial Team · 4 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 · 6 min read
Sources
- BRN Pre-Licensure RN Programs list: https://www.rn.ca.gov/education/rnprograms.shtml (checked 2026-10-07).
- SEAPHE admission records (selection method per school, school URLs on each school page): each school’s own admissions pages, linked on its SEAPHE school page (checked 2026-10-09).
- SEAPHE deadlines calendar (each row links the school’s own page), seaphe.org/nursing-application-deadlines/ (checked 2026-10-12).
- BRN 2015–16 regional report (Inland Empire), Tables 4 and 5: https://www.rn.ca.gov/pdfs/education/inlandempire.pdf (checked 2026-10-07).
- BRN 2024–25 Annual School Report (statewide seats per application): https://www.rn.ca.gov/pdfs/education/prelicensure24-25.pdf (checked 2026-10-07).
Last updated Oct 13, 2026. Figures change every year; check each source for the latest release.