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SchoolsData as of Oct 7, 2026

Samuel Merritt UniversityBachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN): NCLEX pass rates & data

Oakland, CA · Private · BRN-approved · CCNE-accredited · Campuses: Oakland; San Francisco Peninsula; Sacramento

  • NCLEX pass rate, 2024–2579.2% (-11.0 vs. state · 429 testers)
  • Five-year pass rate83.4% of 2,150
  • Rank among open BSN programs, 2024–2540 of 42 (30+ testers)
  • Listed cost, before aid$126,500
  • Approved new students per year632
Compare BSN programsProgram website
NCLEX pass rate
79.2%2024–25
Blue: this program · dashed: California
’20–21’21–22’22–23’23–24’24–25100%70%
First-time testers
4292024–25
Graduates sitting the NCLEX for the first time
410’20–21433’21–22468’22–23410’23–24429’24–25
On-time completion
94%2023–24
Self-reported to the BRN
’19–20’20–21’21–22’22–23’23–24100%60%
Attrition
2%2023–24
Share of students who left the program
4.3%’19–202%’20–212%’21–221%’22–232%’23–24

Key facts

Last updated

NCLEX pass rates

In 2024–25, 79.2% of 429 first-time testers passed the NCLEX-RN, 11.0 points below the California average of 90.2%. Over five years, 83.4% of 2,150 testers passed.1

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

Samuel Merritt University (BSN)California, all programs
70%80%90%100%2020–212021–222022–232023–242024–2584.9%85.5%82.0%85.8%79.2%CaliforniaBSN program
70%80%90%100%’20–21’21–22’22–23’23–24’24–2584.9%85.5%82.0%85.8%79.2%
Data source: CA BRN NCLEX-RN pass-rate tables (listed as “Samuel Merritt University - BSN”); California average is a SEAPHE tester-weighted calculation.Download CSV
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Year (Jul–Jun)TestersPass rateCaliforniavs. state
2020–2141084.9%89.2%-4.3
2021–2243385.5%85.9%-0.5
2022–2346882.0%85.7%-3.7
2023–2441085.8%94.0%-8.2
2024–2542979.2%90.2%-11.0

Completion and attrition

In 2023–24, the program reported 94% on-time completion and 2% attrition to the BRN.3

Year (Aug–Jul)On-time completionAttrition
2019–2092.3%4.3%
2020–2197.0%2.0%
2021–2297.0%2.0%
2022–2398.0%1.0%
2023–2494.0%2.0%

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

Admissions

The BRN does not publish acceptance rates for individual schools. Across California’s BSN programs, 29.9% of 37,452 qualified applications were accepted in 2024–25.4 This program is approved for 632 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 real admissions odds.

California nursing school acceptance rates →

Admissions requirements

Here is what Samuel Merritt University publishes about applying to its BSN 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 examATI TEAS or HESI A2SourceChecked Oct 9, 2026
Minimum overall scoreRecommended (not required) from Spring 2027: HESI A2 75%+ in each subject area or TEAS 65%+ in each subject areaSourceChecked Oct 9, 2026
Section minimumsRecommended (not required) from Spring 2027: HESI A2 75%+ in each subject area or TEAS 65%+ in each subject areaSourceChecked Oct 9, 2026
Minimum GPA, overallRecommended 3.0 in all prerequisite coursework (not a hard minimum)SourceChecked Oct 9, 2026
Minimum GPA, prerequisites or scienceRecommended 3.0 in four science prerequisitesSourceChecked Oct 9, 2026
Selection methodHolistic reviewAdministrative decision comparing applicant to entire pool; criteria include prerequisite GPA, science GPA, prerequisites completed, short answers, leadership, community service, health care experienceSourceChecked Oct 9, 2026
Application opensNot published by the schoolSourceChecked Oct 9, 2026
Application closes2026-10-01 (Spring 2027 standard deadline, Oakland)SourceChecked Oct 9, 2026
Program cost (school figure)$143,913 all-inclusive program price (67 units), Fall 2026-Summer 2027 pricingAll-inclusive tuition guide; prerequisite courses at SMU $750/unitSourceChecked Oct 9, 2026
Cohort startsTwo per year (fall and spring)SourceChecked Oct 9, 2026
Published applicant and admit countsNot published by the schoolSourceChecked Oct 9, 2026

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.

Prerequisite courses

CourseRequirementsSource
Chemistry w/labChemistry
Units
Not published by the school
Lab
Yes
Minimum grade
C or higher; recommended prerequisite GPA 3.0
Recency limit
Not published by the school
When to complete
By time of entry (60 sem/90 qtr transferable units)
SourceChecked Oct 9, 2026
Communication or Speech ElectiveCommunication
Units
Not published by the school
Lab
No
Minimum grade
C or higher; recommended prerequisite GPA 3.0
Recency limit
Not published by the school
When to complete
By time of entry (60 sem/90 qtr transferable units)
SourceChecked Oct 9, 2026
Diversity ElectiveDiversity
Units
Not published by the school
Lab
No
Minimum grade
C or higher; recommended prerequisite GPA 3.0
Recency limit
Not published by the school
When to complete
By time of entry (60 sem/90 qtr transferable units)
SourceChecked Oct 9, 2026
English CompositionEnglish
Units
Not published by the school
Lab
No
Minimum grade
C or higher; recommended prerequisite GPA 3.0
Recency limit
Not published by the school
When to complete
By time of entry (60 sem/90 qtr transferable units)
SourceChecked Oct 9, 2026
English Literature/Critical ThinkingEnglish/Critical Thinking
Units
Not published by the school
Lab
No
Minimum grade
C or higher; recommended prerequisite GPA 3.0
Recency limit
Not published by the school
When to complete
By time of entry (60 sem/90 qtr transferable units)
SourceChecked Oct 9, 2026
Fine Arts TheoryArts
Units
Not published by the school
Lab
No
Minimum grade
C or higher; recommended prerequisite GPA 3.0
Recency limit
Not published by the school
When to complete
By time of entry (60 sem/90 qtr transferable units)
SourceChecked Oct 9, 2026
General PsychologyPsychology
Units
Not published by the school
Lab
No
Minimum grade
C or higher; recommended prerequisite GPA 3.0
Recency limit
Not published by the school
When to complete
By time of entry (60 sem/90 qtr transferable units)
SourceChecked Oct 9, 2026
General Sociology/Cultural AnthropologySociology/Anthropology
Units
Not published by the school
Lab
No
Minimum grade
C or higher; recommended prerequisite GPA 3.0
Recency limit
Not published by the school
When to complete
By time of entry (60 sem/90 qtr transferable units)
SourceChecked Oct 9, 2026
Human Anatomy w/labAnatomy
Units
Not published by the school
Lab
Yes
Minimum grade
C or higher; recommended prerequisite GPA 3.0
Recency limit
Not published by the school
When to complete
By time of entry (60 sem/90 qtr transferable units)
SourceChecked Oct 9, 2026
Human Physiology w/labPhysiology
Units
Not published by the school
Lab
Yes
Minimum grade
C or higher; recommended prerequisite GPA 3.0
Recency limit
Not published by the school
When to complete
By time of entry (60 sem/90 qtr transferable units)
SourceChecked Oct 9, 2026
Humanities ElectiveHumanities
Units
Not published by the school
Lab
No
Minimum grade
C or higher; recommended prerequisite GPA 3.0
Recency limit
Not published by the school
When to complete
By time of entry (60 sem/90 qtr transferable units)
SourceChecked Oct 9, 2026
Intro Philosophy/EthicsPhilosophy/Ethics
Units
Not published by the school
Lab
No
Minimum grade
C or higher; recommended prerequisite GPA 3.0
Recency limit
Not published by the school
When to complete
By time of entry (60 sem/90 qtr transferable units)
SourceChecked Oct 9, 2026
Lifespan Developmental PsychologyLifespan/Development
Units
Not published by the school
Lab
No
Minimum grade
C or higher; recommended prerequisite GPA 3.0
Recency limit
Not published by the school
When to complete
By time of entry (60 sem/90 qtr transferable units)
SourceChecked Oct 9, 2026
Microbiology w/labMicrobiology
Units
Not published by the school
Lab
Yes
Minimum grade
C or higher; recommended prerequisite GPA 3.0
Recency limit
Not published by the school
When to complete
By time of entry (60 sem/90 qtr transferable units)
SourceChecked Oct 9, 2026
NutritionNutrition
Units
Not published by the school
Lab
No
Minimum grade
C or higher; recommended prerequisite GPA 3.0
Recency limit
Not published by the school
When to complete
By time of entry (60 sem/90 qtr transferable units)
SourceChecked Oct 9, 2026
StatisticsStatistics
Units
Not published by the school
Lab
No
Minimum grade
C or higher; recommended prerequisite GPA 3.0
Recency limit
Not published by the school
When to complete
By time of entry (60 sem/90 qtr transferable units)
SourceChecked Oct 9, 2026
U.S. HistoryHistory
Units
Not published by the school
Lab
No
Minimum grade
C or higher; recommended prerequisite GPA 3.0
Recency limit
Not published by the school
When to complete
By time of entry (60 sem/90 qtr transferable units)
SourceChecked Oct 9, 2026

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.

Cost

The BRN lists a cost of $126,500 before financial aid (Total Program).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.

Accreditation and program facts

State approvalCalifornia BRN
InstitutionWSCUC
Nursing programCCNE
DegreeBSN
StateCalifornia
CityOakland
SectorPrivate
AdmitsGeneric pre-licensure
Phone(510) 869-6511 x3765
WebsiteVisit
SourceBRN program list

What ACEN, CCNE and CNEA mean →

Similar programs

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

ProgramTesters2024–255-year
Point Loma Nazarene UniversitySan Diego5496.3%89.8%
Simpson UniversityRedding4395.3%94.9%
Stanbridge UniversityIrvine33295.2%96.0%
Concordia University IrvineIrvine12395.1%96.5%
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts, ConcordConcord9193.4%84.5%
Westmont CollegeSanta Barbara3992.3%93.2%

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 · Reviewed by a practicing registered nurse (RN, BSN). 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). Samuel Merritt University (BSN): NCLEX-RN pass rates and program data [Data set]. Compiled from California Board of Registered Nursing public records. https://seaphe.org/schools/samuel-merritt-university-bsn/ (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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