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SchoolsData as of Oct 7, 2026

College of the Desert nursing program: how to get in

Associate degree (ADN): requirements, deadlines, NCLEX pass rates and data

Palm Desert, CA · Public · BRN-approved · No national nursing accreditation reported

College of the Desert ADN in Palm Desert: the next application window opens Feb 9, 2027; selection method: points (ranked); published TEAS minimum: 62%; 200 BRN-approved new students a year; listed cost $5,790 (Tuition + Books). From the school’s pages and the BRN; details and sources below.

  • Application windowOpens Feb 9, 2027
  • Selection methodPoints (ranked)
  • TEAS minimum62%
  • Approved seats per year (BRN)200
  • NCLEX pass rate, 2024–2589.1% (101 testers)
  • Listed cost, before aid$5,790
Compare ADN programsProgram website
NCLEX pass rate
89.1%2024–25
Blue: this program · dashed: California
’20–21’21–22’22–23’23–24’24–25100%80%
First-time testers
1012024–25
Graduates sitting the NCLEX for the first time
38’20–2180’21–2291’22–2392’23–24101’24–25
On-time completion
84%2023–24
Self-reported to the BRN
’19–20’20–21’21–22’22–23’23–24100%50%
Attrition
8%2023–24
Share of students who left the program
14.9%’19–205%’20–2116%’21–2213%’22–238%’23–24

How to get in

Application deadline
Fall 2027: opens Feb 9, 2027, closes Feb 23, 2027 Opens soonSpring 2028: opens Aug 3, 2027, closes Aug 17, 2027 Opens soonSee it in the deadlines table
Selection method
Points (ranked)Multi-criteria ranking (highest points offered seats) Details and source
TEAS minimum
62% Check your score
Prerequisites
8 courses listed by the school See the list
Check yourself against these published rules
Prerequisites you have completed or will finish in time

    A checklist against the school’s published rules only: this is not a prediction of a decision. Section minimums, GPA, grade and recency rules, and anything else the school lists still apply; read the full requirements above.

    Admissions requirements

    Here is what College of the Desert publishes about applying to its ADN program, taken from the school’s own website, catalog or application documents. Each row links to the page we used and shows the date we checked it. Requirements change from cycle to cycle, so confirm with the school before you apply.

    RequirementWhat the school publishesSource
    Entrance examTEASSourceChecked
    Minimum overall score62%SourceChecked
    Section minimumsNot published by the schoolSourceChecked
    Minimum GPA, overallNot published by the schoolSourceChecked
    Minimum GPA, prerequisites or science2.5 science GPA (A&P, Micro)SourceChecked
    Selection methodPoints (ranked)Multi-criteria ranking (highest points offered seats)SourceChecked
    Application opensFeb 9, 2027SourceChecked
    Application closesFeb 23, 2027SourceChecked
    Published applicant and admit countsNot published by the schoolSourceChecked

    How we label selection. SEAPHE sorts each school’s stated method into one of five groups: Lottery, Points (ranked), Points and lottery (hybrid), Holistic review or Eligibility-based. The school’s own wording appears under the label, with a link to the page we used. How California nursing schools choose students.

    Published points rubric

    Add up your points on this rubric

    Criterion (school’s wording)Points
    GPA: A&P+Micro (2.5-2.99=0 to 4.0=15) + fixed-set GE GPA (0 to 15)30
    Degrees/licenses/healthcare work experience (BA+ 15; LVN/RT/PT/Paramedic 1000h 10; EMT/CNA/medic 500h 5; CV HS health academy 10; 200h RN-setting 3)25
    Veteran5
    Life experience/special circumstance (one)5
    Language: Spanish 5, other listed 35
    TEAS 7 first attempt: 62-69=2, 70-79=5, 80-89=10, 90-100=1515
    Nursing support courses (HS 061/065/067/071/080/013, BUMA 032): A=2, B=19
    Transfer prep courses (Cal-GETC 1B, 3, 4): A=3, B=26
    Maximum total100

    Rubric source, checked . Point values are the school’s; they change between cycles.

    Prerequisite courses

    Course names are the school’s; the grey label is the category SEAPHE uses in the prerequisite planner.

    CourseRequirementsSource
    BIO-013 Anatomy and Physiology I w/labAnatomy
    Units
    4 semester
    Lab
    Yes (w/lab; online/hybrid accepted since Spring 2020 until further notice)
    Minimum grade
    C or better; science GPA 2.5 (P/NP not accepted)
    Recency limit
    Within 10 years; max two science repeats in last 7 years
    When to complete
    Completed with grades posted before applying
    		SourceChecked
    BIO-014 Anatomy and Physiology II w/labPhysiology
    Units
    4 semester
    Lab
    Yes (w/lab; online/hybrid accepted since Spring 2020 until further notice)
    Minimum grade
    C or better; science GPA 2.5 (P/NP not accepted)
    Recency limit
    Within 10 years; max two science repeats in last 7 years
    When to complete
    Completed with grades posted before applying
    		SourceChecked
    BIO-015 Microbiology w/labMicrobiology
    Units
    4 semester
    Lab
    Yes (w/lab; online/hybrid accepted since Spring 2020 until further notice)
    Minimum grade
    C or better; science GPA 2.5 (P/NP not accepted)
    Recency limit
    Within 10 years; max two science repeats in last 7 years
    When to complete
    Completed with grades posted before applying
    		SourceChecked
    ENG-001A / ENGL C1000 (with research component)English composition
    Units
    4 semester
    Lab
    No
    Minimum grade
    C or better
    Recency limit
    Not published by the school
    When to complete
    Completed with grades posted before applying
    		SourceChecked
    COMM 001/C1000, 009, 013 or 017Communication (speech)
    Units
    3 minimum
    Lab
    No
    Minimum grade
    C or better
    Recency limit
    Not published by the school
    When to complete
    Not required for eligibility; 'fixed set' GPA earns points (needs all five before application)
    		SourceChecked
    MATH 049 or higher, SOC 003, or STAT C1000Statistics
    Units
    3 minimum
    Lab
    No
    Minimum grade
    C or better
    Recency limit
    Not published by the school
    When to complete
    Not required for eligibility; 'fixed set' GPA earns points (needs all five before application)
    		SourceChecked
    PSY 001/PSYC C1000 or PSY 003Psychology
    Units
    3 minimum
    Lab
    No
    Minimum grade
    C or better
    Recency limit
    Not published by the school
    When to complete
    Not required for eligibility; 'fixed set' GPA earns points (needs all five before application)
    		SourceChecked
    SOC 001/014/015, ANTH 002/007, or COD GE Area C6 Ethnic StudiesSociology or anthropology
    Units
    3 minimum
    Lab
    No
    Minimum grade
    C or better
    Recency limit
    Not published by the school
    When to complete
    Not required for eligibility; 'fixed set' GPA earns points (needs all five before application)
    		SourceChecked

    © Enzo Creationz LLC. All rights reserved. You may read and quote this with credit to “SEAPHE Nursing Data, seaphe.org”, but please don’t bulk-copy or redistribute it. Details

    SEAPHE collected these details from official school pages. “Not published by the school” means we couldn’t find the detail on the school’s public pages when we checked; we don’t estimate missing values. “Could not be retrieved from the school’s website” means the page was blocked or wouldn’t load. Spot an error? See our corrections policy.

    Admissions

    The BRN does not publish acceptance rates for individual schools. Across California’s generic ADN programs, 35.0% of 22,970 qualified applications were accepted in 2024–25.4 This program is approved for 200 new students a year.2 Ask the school for last cycle’s qualified applicants and seats.

    Applied here? Share your results in our 2-minute anonymous survey. It helps future applicants see what other applicants reported.

    California nursing school acceptance rates →

    Cost

    The BRN lists a cost of $5,790 before financial aid (Tuition + Books).2 That figure comes from the school’s report to the Board and may not include housing, transport or exam fees. Check the program’s current cost of attendance.

    Key facts

    Last updated

    • In 2024–25, 89.1% of 101 first-time NCLEX-RN testers from College of the Desert (ADN) passed, compared with a California average of 90.2%. Source: CA BRN NCLEX-RN pass-rate tables, retrieved Oct 7, 2026.
    • Across 2020–21 to 2024–25, its tester-weighted first-time pass rate was 91.0% over 402 testers (SEAPHE calculation). Source: CA BRN NCLEX-RN pass-rate tables, retrieved Oct 7, 2026.
    • The BRN lists an approved enrollment of 200 new students per year for this program. Source: CA BRN list of approved RN programs, retrieved Oct 7, 2026.
    • No national nursing program accreditation (ACEN, CCNE or CNEA) is reported for it to the BRN; BRN approval is what qualifies graduates for the NCLEX-RN. Source: CA BRN accreditation and attrition table, retrieved Oct 7, 2026.

    NCLEX pass rates

    In 2024–25, 89.1% of 101 first-time testers passed the NCLEX-RN, 1.1 points below the California average of 90.2%. Over five years, 91.0% of 402 testers passed.1

    Compare every program: California NCLEX pass rates by school.

    First-time NCLEX-RN pass rate, by reporting year

    College of the Desert (ADN)California, all programs
    80%85%90%95%100%2020–212021–222022–232023–242024–2586.8%90.0%91.2%95.7%89.1%CaliforniaCollege of the Desert
    80%85%90%95%100%’20–21’21–22’22–23’23–24’24–2586.8%90.0%91.2%95.7%89.1%
    Data source: CA BRN NCLEX-RN pass-rate tables; California average is a SEAPHE tester-weighted calculation.Download CSV
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    Year (Jul–Jun)TestersPass rateCaliforniavs. state
    2020–213886.8%89.2%-2.4
    2021–228090.0%85.9%+4.1
    2022–239191.2%85.7%+5.5
    2023–249295.7%94.0%+1.7
    2024–2510189.1%90.2%-1.1

    Completion and attrition

    In 2023–24, the program reported 84% on-time completion and 8% attrition to the BRN.3

    Year (Aug–Jul)On-time completionAttrition
    2019–2061.2%14.9%
    2020–2154.0%5.0%
    2021–2273.0%16.0%
    2022–2385.0%13.0%
    2023–2484.0%8.0%

    Self-reported by the program to UCSF for the BRN Annual School Survey.

    Accreditation and program facts

    State approvalCalifornia BRN
    InstitutionACCJC/WASC-JC
    Nursing programNone reported
    DegreeADN
    StateCalifornia
    CityPalm Desert
    SectorPublic
    AdmitsGeneric pre-licensure
    Phone(760) 568-3093
    WebsiteVisit

    State approval and program details from CA BRN, Approved Pre-Licensure RN Programs. Institutional and nursing program accreditation from CA BRN, Accreditation, Attrition and On Time Completion Rates. Retrieved Oct 7, 2026.

    What ACEN, CCNE and CNEA mean →

    Similar programs

    Open public ADN programs with 30+ first-time testers in 2024–25, by pass rate.

    ProgramTesters2024–255-year
    Ventura CollegeVentura77100.0%97.0%
    Rio Hondo CollegeWhittier65100.0%97.5%
    Santa Monica CollegeSanta Monica65100.0%94.2%
    LA Harbor CollegeWilmington59100.0%96.9%
    Moorpark CollegeMoorpark52100.0%99.1%
    Mira Costa CollegeOceanside46100.0%96.1%

    Sources

    1. California BRN, NCLEX-RN Pass Rates, First Time CA Educated Exam Testers, 2020–21 to 2024–25. Retrieved Oct 7, 2026.
    2. California BRN, Approved Pre-Licensure RN Programs (cost, enrollment, sector). Retrieved Oct 7, 2026.
    3. California BRN, Accreditation, Attrition and On Time Completion Rates. Retrieved Oct 7, 2026.
    4. California BRN, 2024–25 Annual School Report: Data Summary, Table 3, p. 3.

    SEAPHE Editorial Team. Data updated Oct 7, 2026. Spot an error? See our corrections policy.

    How to cite this data

    Last updated . Please cite SEAPHE and the original public source.

    Suggested citation: SEAPHE. (2026). College of the Desert (ADN): NCLEX-RN pass rates and program data [Data set]. Compiled from California Board of Registered Nursing public records. https://seaphe.org/schools/college-of-the-desert-adn/ (updated Oct 7, 2026).

    Original source: California BRN, NCLEX-RN Pass Rates: First Time CA Educated Exam Testers; California BRN, Approved Pre-Licensure RN Programs.

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