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SchoolsData as of Oct 7, 2026

Cuesta College nursing program: how to get in

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

San Luis Obispo, CA · Public · BRN-approved · No national nursing accreditation reported

Cuesta College ADN in San Luis Obispo: the last application window closed Sep 30, 2026 (4:00 pm); selection method: points (ranked); published TEAS minimum: 62%; 80 BRN-approved new students a year; listed cost $5,728 (Tuition + Books). From the school’s pages and the BRN; details and sources below.

  • Application windowClosed Sep 30, 2026 (4:00 pm) · next not published
  • Selection methodPoints (ranked)
  • TEAS minimum62%
  • Approved seats per year (BRN)80
  • NCLEX pass rate, 2024–2595.2% (63 testers)
  • Listed cost, before aid$5,728
Compare ADN programsProgram website
NCLEX pass rate
95.2%2024–25
Blue: this program · dashed: California
’20–21’21–22’22–23’23–24’24–25100%80%
First-time testers
632024–25
Graduates sitting the NCLEX for the first time
44’20–2182’21–2247’22–2342’23–2463’24–25
On-time completion
98%2023–24
Self-reported to the BRN
’19–20’20–21’21–22’22–23’23–24100%60%
Attrition
0%2023–24
Share of students who left the program
8.2%’19–206%’20–219%’21–226%’22–230%’23–24

How to get in

Application deadline
Fall 2027 (program start August 2027): closed Sep 30, 2026 (4:00 pm) (next cycle not published)See it in the deadlines table
Selection method
Points (ranked)Multi-criteria rank (highest scoring admitted); ties by computerized random selection 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 Cuesta College 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 science2.50 combined science GPASourceChecked
    Selection methodPoints (ranked)Multi-criteria rank (highest scoring admitted); ties by computerized random selectionSourceChecked
    Application opensSep 1, 2026 9:00amSourceChecked
    Application closesSep 30, 2026 (passed) 4:00pmSourceChecked
    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
    One of: associate degree or higher 10; licensed LVN/Psych Tech/Paramedic 8; CNA + 500h 8; CNA/MA/Phleb/EMT 610
    Science GPA x 10 (max 40) + English & Math GPA x 2.5 (max 10); repeat deductions -5/-1050
    Work or volunteer experience5
    Life experiences/special circumstances2.5
    Language other than English2.5
    ATI TEAS 7 (min 3 for 62-65, max 30 at 92-100)30
    Previous applicants not selected8
    Maximum totalnot published by the school

    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 205 Human Anatomy with labAnatomy
    Units
    4
    Lab
    Yes (online labs only accepted Spring 2020-Spring 2022)
    Minimum grade
    C or better (C- not accepted; Pass = C); science GPA 2.50 (no rounding); repeats -5 each, 3 = ineligible
    Recency limit
    Within 7 years of application date
    When to complete
    Completed with grades posted by Aug 31 before September application
    		SourceChecked
    BIO 206 Human Physiology with labPhysiology
    Units
    5
    Lab
    Yes (online labs only accepted Spring 2020-Spring 2022)
    Minimum grade
    C or better (C- not accepted; Pass = C); science GPA 2.50 (no rounding); repeats -5 each, 3 = ineligible
    Recency limit
    Within 7 years of application date
    When to complete
    Completed with grades posted by Aug 31 before September application
    		SourceChecked
    BIO 204 Microbiology with labMicrobiology
    Units
    5
    Lab
    Yes (online labs only accepted Spring 2020-Spring 2022)
    Minimum grade
    C or better (C- not accepted; Pass = C); science GPA 2.50 (no rounding); repeats -5 each, 3 = ineligible
    Recency limit
    Within 7 years of application date
    When to complete
    Completed with grades posted by Aug 31 before September application
    		SourceChecked
    ENGL C1000 Academic Reading and WritingEnglish composition
    Units
    4
    Lab
    No
    Minimum grade
    C or better
    Recency limit
    None stated
    When to complete
    Completed with grades posted by Aug 31 before September application
    		SourceChecked
    Associate degree math requirementStatistics
    Units
    Not published by the school
    Lab
    No
    Minimum grade
    C or better (points only)
    Recency limit
    None stated
    When to complete
    Optional for points (Eng+Math GPA x2.5) if done by prereq deadline
    		SourceChecked
    Introduction to Sociology or Cultural AnthropologySociology or anthropology
    Units
    Not published by the school
    Lab
    No
    Minimum grade
    C or better
    Recency limit
    None stated
    When to complete
    BRN-required; complete by July 31 before program entry
    		SourceChecked
    Speech/CommunicationCommunication (speech)
    Units
    Not published by the school
    Lab
    No
    Minimum grade
    C or better
    Recency limit
    None stated
    When to complete
    BRN-required; complete by July 31 before program entry
    		SourceChecked
    General PsychologyPsychology
    Units
    Not published by the school
    Lab
    No
    Minimum grade
    C or better
    Recency limit
    None stated
    When to complete
    BRN-required; complete by July 31 before program entry
    		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 80 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 $5,728 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, 95.2% of 63 first-time NCLEX-RN testers from Cuesta College (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 96.4% over 278 testers (SEAPHE calculation). Source: CA BRN NCLEX-RN pass-rate tables, retrieved Oct 7, 2026.
    • The BRN lists an approved enrollment of 80 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, 95.2% of 63 first-time testers passed the NCLEX-RN, 5.0 points above the California average of 90.2%. Over five years, 96.4% of 278 testers passed.1

    Compare every program: California NCLEX pass rates by school.

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

    Cuesta College (ADN)California, all programs
    80%85%90%95%100%2020–212021–222022–232023–242024–2593.2%97.6%95.7%100.0%95.2%Cuesta CollegeCalifornia
    80%85%90%95%100%’20–21’21–22’22–23’23–24’24–2593.2%97.6%95.7%100.0%95.2%
    Data source: CA BRN NCLEX-RN pass-rate tables; California average is a SEAPHE tester-weighted calculation.Download CSV
    Embed this chart

    Free to republish under CC BY 4.0: credit “SEAPHE Nursing Data, seaphe.org” with a link back. The iframe updates when our data does; the image is a fixed snapshot.

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    Year (Jul–Jun)TestersPass rateCaliforniavs. state
    2020–214493.2%89.2%+4.0
    2021–228297.6%85.9%+11.7
    2022–234795.7%85.7%+10.0
    2023–2442100.0%94.0%+6.0
    2024–256395.2%90.2%+5.0

    Completion and attrition

    In 2023–24, the program reported 98% on-time completion and 0% attrition to the BRN.3

    Year (Aug–Jul)On-time completionAttrition
    2019–2087.8%8.2%
    2020–2194.0%6.0%
    2021–2291.0%9.0%
    2022–2394.0%6.0%
    2023–2498.0%0.0%

    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
    CitySan Luis Obispo
    SectorPublic
    AdmitsGeneric pre-licensure
    Phone(805) 546-3119
    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 →

    Get this badge

    Based on its 2024–25 first-time NCLEX-RN results from the BRN, this program qualifies for a SEAPHE badge. Schools are welcome to display it on their website. How badges are awarded.

    Cuesta College: First-time NCLEX-RN pass rate above the California average in 2024–25 (95.2% vs. 90.2%). SEAPHE. Independent; not affiliated with the California BRN.

    Independent; not affiliated with the California BRN. Each badge links back to this page so readers can check the numbers.

    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). Cuesta College (ADN): NCLEX-RN pass rates and program data [Data set]. Compiled from California Board of Registered Nursing public records. https://seaphe.org/schools/cuesta-college-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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