Guides for future nurses
Practical, data-backed guides on choosing a program, preparing for entrance exams and getting licensed. Written by the SEAPHE editorial team and tied to public data.
Featured guide · Choosing a program
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
From the data
50
BRN-approved BSN programs in California
89.0%
first-time NCLEX pass rate for BSN graduates, 2024–25
West Coast University accounts for 34.5% of California's 2024–25 BSN first-time testers; without it, the BSN average is 88.4% (SEAPHE calculation from BRN data).
All guides
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
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
Regions
How to get into nursing school in each part of California.
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
Nursing Schools in Los Angeles: Every RN Program Compared
All 44 BRN-approved RN programs in LA County with NCLEX pass rates, seats and listed cost.
SEAPHE Editorial Team · Updated Oct 9, 2026 · 8 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 Orange County
Every open BRN-approved RN program in Orange County, with selection method, enrollment and cost.
SEAPHE Editorial Team · 5 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
Articles: rankings and comparisons
Data-driven articles built from BRN data and schools' own published figures.
CSU Nursing Programs Compared: Pass Rates, Seats, Cost and Impaction
All 17 CSU pre-licensure BSN programs side by side, from BRN data and the CSU impaction matrix.
SEAPHE Editorial Team · Updated Oct 9, 2026 · 7 min read
Best Nursing Schools in California, Ranked by NCLEX Pass Rate
Top BSN, ADN and ELM programs by five-year first-time NCLEX-RN results, plus the leaders in each region.
SEAPHE Editorial Team · Updated Oct 9, 2026 · 7 min read
SDSU Nursing Acceptance Rate: What San Diego State Actually Publishes
No official rate exists. Here are SDSU’s applicant counts, average scores, minimum offer scores and Fall 2027 rules.
SEAPHE Editorial Team · Updated Oct 9, 2026 · 6 min read
California RN Programs With No Waitlist (2024–25 BRN Data)
Only 23 respondents reported a waitlist in 2024–25. How programs select students instead, and how to check a school.
SEAPHE Editorial Team · Updated Oct 9, 2026 · 7 min read
Nursing Schools in Los Angeles: Every RN Program Compared
All 44 BRN-approved RN programs in LA County with NCLEX pass rates, seats and listed cost.
SEAPHE Editorial Team · Updated Oct 9, 2026 · 8 min read