Regions · San Diego
How to Get Into Nursing School in San Diego
This page covers every open, BRN-approved pre-licensure RN program in San Diego and Imperial counties: 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 San Diego
| Program | Type | Public/private | City | Selection method (school's pages) | Next application window | TEAS minimum | BRN-approved annual enrollment | Listed cost | Points calculator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grossmont College | ADN | Public | El Cajon | Points (ranked) | Jan 1 – Jan 31 | 62% | 100 | $6,164Basis: Tuition + Books | — |
| Imperial Valley College | ADN | Public | Imperial | Points (ranked) | “Application periods are open March and September of each year.” | 62% | 150 | $8,407Basis: Total Program | calculator |
| Mira Costa College | ADN | Public | Oceanside | Points and lottery (hybrid) | First week of March – First week of March | 62% | 100 | $3,105-$3,335Basis: Tuition | — |
| Palomar College | ADN | Public | San Marcos | Points and lottery (hybrid) | January 1 – January 31 | 62% | 72 | $3,119-$3,579Basis: Tuition + Fees | calculator |
| San Diego City College | ADN | Public | San Diego | Points and lottery (hybrid) | Not published | 62% | 85 | $3,128-$3,220Basis: Tuition | calculator |
| Southwestern College | ADN | Public | San Diego | Points (ranked) | Opens Nov 2, 2026, closes Feb 5, 2027 (postmarked by deadline) | 62% | 75 | $8,474-$8,997Basis: Total Program | calculator |
| CSU San Marcos | BSN | Public | San Marcos | Points (ranked) | Open now, closes Nov 30, 2026 (Cal State Apply); transcripts by 2027-02-15; TEAS and optional documents by 2027-03-15 | 71% | 80 | $35,488 (Plus 1st Year RN Prgm Costs = $2,000)Basis: Tuition + Books | — |
| National University | BSN | Private | San Diego | Holistic review | Not published | No minimum (TEAS ranked, 40%) | 150 | $67,561Basis: Tuition + Fees | — |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | BSN | Private | San Diego | Holistic review | Not published – November 15 (Early Action, required for all nursing applicants) | Not published | 85 | $177,520Basis: Tuition + Fees | — |
| San Diego State University | BSN | Public | San Diego | Points (ranked) | Open now, closes Nov 30, 2026 | 80% | 200 | $37,280Basis: Tuition + Books | — |
| University of San Diego (Hahn School of Nursing) | ELM | Private | San Diego | Holistic review | Opens Jan 5, 2027, closes Mar 4, 2027 (8:59 PM PT/11:59 PM ET) | Not published | 60 | $168,346Basis: Tuition + Books | — |
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: Mira Costa College, Palomar College, San Diego City 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:
- San Diego City College (ADN) combines points and a lottery, uses the highest grade if a science is repeated, and states no recency requirement in its 2026 packet. Use the San Diego City College calculator.
- San Diego State University (BSN) is a points program for transfer applicants. For more detail, see our article on SDSU nursing.
Deadlines to know
- Southwestern College (ADN): Fall 2027: Nov 2, 2026 to Feb 5, 2027
- San Diego State University (BSN): Fall 2027: Cal State Apply closes Nov 30, 2026
- CSU San Marcos (Traditional BSN, transfer): Fall 2027: Oct 1 to Nov 30, 2026 via Cal State Apply
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
Palomar College requires in-person labs; San Diego City College accepts online courses with lab; Grossmont College says labs "should be in person" (all checked Oct 9, 2026). See the full list in Do California programs accept online labs?
Regional context (older BRN data)
The BRN last published regional admissions figures for 2015–16. That year, programs in its Southern Border region reported 2,390 qualified applications and 1,354 new enrollments (https://www.rn.ca.gov/pdfs/education/southernborder.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 San Diego?
SEAPHE counts 11 open BRN-approved pre-licensure RN programs in San Diego and Imperial counties (6 ADN, 4 BSN, 1 ELM).
Which programs here use a lottery?
None publishes a lottery-only method in our records. Points plus lottery: Mira Costa College, Palomar College, San Diego City 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
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Statewide BRN data on seats, qualified applications, selection methods and waitlists by program type.
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How Much RN Programs Cost in California
BRN averages for tuition, cost of attendance and debt, and how to compare listed program costs.
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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.
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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.
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How CEP and collaborative programs let you earn an ADN and a BSN with fewer repeated courses.
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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.
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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.
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How to Get Into Nursing School in Orange County
Every open BRN-approved RN program in Orange County, with selection method, enrollment and cost.
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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.
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Nursing School Application Timeline for California
A month-by-month planning approach: prerequisites, exam timing, Cal State Apply and community college windows.
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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 (Southern Border), Tables 4 and 5: https://www.rn.ca.gov/pdfs/education/southernborder.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.