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Compare every California nursing program on the numbers that matter

By SEAPHE Editorial TeamReviewed by a practicing registered nurse (RN, BSN)Data as of Oct 7, 2026

First-time NCLEX pass rates, admissions, completion, cost and accreditation for all 167 programs approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, with a source on every figure.

Try: San Jose State, Fresno, entry-level master’s, every pass rate

167
BRN-approved RN programsCurrently open. 7 closed programs stay in the data for their records.
90.2%
Statewide first-time NCLEX pass rate, 2024–2515,874 testers, tester-weighted
32.1%
Qualified applications that were accepted, 2024–2520,556 of 64,075. Applications, not people.

Highest pass rates

First-time NCLEX-RN pass rate, 2024–25, open programs with 100+ testers. See all programs

Lowest pass rates

Same measure, open programs with 30+ testers. The BRN standard is 75% (black tick). See all programs

Hardest to get into

Share of qualified applications accepted, 2024–25, by program type. Per-school rates aren’t published. Admissions data

  • BSN (bachelor’s)29.9%
  • ELM (entry-level master’s)33.6%
  • ADN (generic associate)35.0%
  • LVN-to-ADN56.2%

Source: BRN 2024–25 Annual School Report, Table 3, p. 3.

How every program did on the NCLEX in 2024–25

54 of 150 open programs with 2024–25 testers passed 95% or more of them. 5 fell below the 75% standard, 2 of them with a single tester.

Full table →

First-time NCLEX-RN pass rate by program, 2024–25

Each dot is one open program. Hover for name and number of testers.

ProgramFewer than 20 testersBelow the 75% standard
65%70%75%80%85%90%95%100%Charles Drew University (BSN): 65.7% of 35 testersSmith Chason College (ADN): 69.8% of 63 testersSan Francisco State University (ELM): 73.9% of 23 testersFresno City College (ADN): 78.2% of 229 testersDominican University of California (BSN): 78.2% of 124 testersSamuel Merritt University (BSN): 79.2% of 429 testersChamberlain University, Irwindale (BSN): 79.8% of 109 testersLA City College (ADN): 79.6% of 54 testersFresno Pacific University (BSN): 79.3% of 29 testersCompton College (ADN): 80.4% of 51 testersContra Costa College (ADN): 80.0% of 30 testersSan Francisco State University (BSN): 81.8% of 88 testersAzusa Pacific University (BSN): 82.2% of 482 testersCNI College (BSN): 82.4% of 176 testersUniversity of San Francisco (ELM): 82.9% of 111 testersNapa Valley College (ADN): 82.5% of 40 testersCollege of the Redwoods (ADN): 82.9% of 35 testersYuba College (ADN): 83.0% of 59 testersPalo Verde College (ADN): 83.3% of 18 testersMount St. Mary's University (BSN): 84.1% of 201 testersSan Joaquin Delta College (ADN): 84.6% of 117 testersCSU Northridge (BSN): 85.5% of 110 testersSamuel Merritt University (ELM): 85.0% of 80 testersArizona College (BSN): 85.1% of 74 testersUC Los Angeles (ELM): 85.1% of 67 testersLA Valley College (ADN): 85.7% of 63 testersCareer Care Institute (ADN): 85.2% of 27 testersMarsha Fuerst School of Nursing at Glendale Career College (ADN): 86.9% of 358 testersUnitek College (BSN): 86.3% of 343 testersCalifornia Baptist University (BSN): 86.6% of 187 testersCSU East Bay (BSN): 86.8% of 83 testersCSU Channel Islands (BSN): 86.0% of 50 testersCharles Drew University (ELM): 86.7% of 45 testersUnited Nursing College (ADN): 86.1% of 36 testersNational University (BSN): 87.8% of 221 testersCopper Mountain College (ADN): 87.8% of 41 testersCabrillo College (ADN): 88.7% of 53 testersLA Southwest College (ADN): 88.9% of 45 testersCollege of Marin (ADN): 88.1% of 42 testersUniversity of San Francisco (BSN): 89.5% of 268 testersCollege of the Sequoias (ADN): 89.2% of 148 testersChamberlain University, Rancho Cordova (BSN): 89.1% of 147 testersSan Bernardino Valley College (ADN): 89.1% of 128 testersCollege of the Desert (ADN): 89.1% of 101 testersGurnick Academy of Medical Arts, Fresno (ADN): 89.6% of 96 testersCollege of the Canyons (ADN): 89.8% of 88 testersUC Davis (ELM): 89.1% of 46 testersMerritt College (ADN): 89.5% of 19 testersWest Coast University (BSN): 90.0% of 3070 testersBiola University (BSN): 90.5% of 63 testersAngeles University (BSN): 90.5% of 42 testersCollege of San Mateo (ADN): 90.0% of 40 testersButte College (ADN): 91.4% of 175 testersLoma Linda University (BSN): 91.4% of 151 testersSan Diego State University (BSN): 91.0% of 134 testersModesto Junior College (ADN): 91.2% of 114 testersAmerican University of Health Sciences (BSN): 91.0% of 100 testersLA Trade-Tech College (ADN): 91.8% of 73 testersEl Camino College (ADN): 91.0% of 67 testersMt. San Jacinto College (ADN): 91.2% of 57 testersUC Irvine (BSN): 91.3% of 46 testersOhlone College (ADN): 91.3% of 23 testersSan Joaquin Valley College (ADN): 92.5% of 160 testersThe Valley Foundation School of Nursing at San Jose State University (BSN): 92.9% of 126 testersPacific Union College (ADN): 92.4% of 119 testersMt. San Antonio College (ADN): 92.9% of 113 testersCSU Stanislaus (BSN): 92.5% of 93 testersCity College of San Francisco (ADN): 92.2% of 77 testersSouthwestern College (ADN): 92.2% of 64 testersLong Beach City College (ADN): 92.9% of 56 testersUC Los Angeles (BSN): 92.2% of 51 testersWestmont College (BSN): 92.3% of 39 testersCitrus College (ADN): 92.9% of 28 testersMadera College (ADN): 92.9% of 14 testersGurnick Academy of Medical Arts, Concord (BSN): 93.4% of 91 testersChaffey College (ADN): 93.2% of 74 testersCSU Chico (BSN): 93.2% of 74 testersWestern University of Health Sciences (ELM): 93.1% of 72 testersCSU Bakersfield (BSN): 93.8% of 65 testersPalomar College (ADN): 93.7% of 63 testersAllan Hancock College (ADN): 93.9% of 49 testersMission College (ADN): 93.9% of 33 testersLos Medanos College (ADN): 93.5% of 31 testersAmerican Career College (ADN): 94.8% of 272 testersBakersfield College (ADN): 94.0% of 167 testersCSU San Bernardino (BSN): 94.1% of 118 testersCSU Fresno (BSN): 94.7% of 114 testersLA County College of Nursing & Allied (ADN): 94.0% of 100 testersGolden West College (ADN): 94.8% of 96 testersPasadena City College (ADN): 94.2% of 87 testersCSU Fullerton (BSN): 94.9% of 78 testersCarrington College Sacramento (ADN): 94.8% of 77 testersAmerican River College (ADN): 94.4% of 72 testersEast Los Angeles College (ADN): 94.6% of 37 testersStanbridge University (BSN): 95.2% of 332 testersCSU San Marcos (BSN): 95.2% of 188 testersConcordia University Irvine (BSN): 95.1% of 123 testersSanta Ana College (ADN): 95.1% of 81 testersImperial Valley College (ADN): 95.6% of 68 testersCuesta College (ADN): 95.2% of 63 testersPacific College (ADN): 95.8% of 48 testersPorterville College (ADN): 95.7% of 47 testersSolano Community College (ADN): 95.5% of 44 testersSimpson University (BSN): 95.3% of 43 testersSri Sai Krish Institute (ADN): 95.1% of 41 testersCalifornia Baptist University (ELM): 95.0% of 40 testersHartnell College (ADN): 95.0% of 40 testersGavilan College (ADN): 95.8% of 24 testersSonoma State University (BSN): 95.7% of 23 testersRiverside City College (ADN): 96.6% of 175 testersCSU Sacramento (BSN): 96.6% of 148 testersSanta Rosa Junior College (ADN): 96.5% of 114 testersCSU Los Angeles (BSN): 96.1% of 103 testersGrossmont College (ADN): 96.0% of 76 testersVictor Valley College (ADN): 96.9% of 65 testersSanta Barbara City College (ADN): 96.7% of 60 testersCalifornia Career College (ADN): 96.5% of 57 testersShasta College (ADN): 96.5% of 57 testersCerritos College (ADN): 96.4% of 55 testersPoint Loma Nazarene University (BSN): 96.3% of 54 testersSacramento City College (ADN): 96.0% of 50 testersLos Angeles Pierce College (ADN): 96.8% of 31 testersUniversity of San Diego/Hahn (ELM): 96.4% of 28 testersVanguard University (BSN): 96.2% of 26 testersMerced College (ADN): 97.9% of 47 testersUniversity of the Pacific (ELM): 97.6% of 41 testersDe Anza College (ADN): 97.5% of 40 testersAntelope Valley College (ADN): 97.1% of 35 testersLemoore College (ADN): 97.1% of 35 testersCSU Long Beach (BSN): 98.8% of 169 testersSaddleback College (ADN): 98.8% of 82 testersCypress College (ADN): 98.5% of 65 testersEvergreen Valley College (ADN): 98.2% of 56 testersGlendale Community College (ADN): 98.0% of 51 testersVentura College (ADN): 100.0% of 77 testersRio Hondo College (ADN): 100.0% of 65 testersSanta Monica College (ADN): 100.0% of 65 testersLA Harbor College (ADN): 100.0% of 59 testersMoorpark College (ADN): 100.0% of 52 testersMira Costa College (ADN): 100.0% of 46 testersMonterey Peninsula College (ADN): 100.0% of 37 testersSierra College (ADN): 100.0% of 33 testersXavier College (ADN): 100.0% of 30 testersMendocino College (ADN): 100.0% of 27 testersWilliam Jessup University (BSN): 100.0% of 25 testersUC Irvine (ELM): 100.0% of 21 testersWeimar University (ADN): 100.0% of 8 testersSan Diego City College (ADN): 100.0% of 1 testersBRN standard 75%Statewide 90.2%
65%75%85%95%Charles Drew University (BSN): 65.7% of 35 testersSmith Chason College (ADN): 69.8% of 63 testersSan Francisco State University (ELM): 73.9% of 23 testersSamuel Merritt University (BSN): 79.2% of 429 testersFresno City College (ADN): 78.2% of 229 testersDominican University of California (BSN): 78.2% of 124 testersChamberlain University, Irwindale (BSN): 79.8% of 109 testersLA City College (ADN): 79.6% of 54 testersFresno Pacific University (BSN): 79.3% of 29 testersSan Francisco State University (BSN): 81.8% of 88 testersCompton College (ADN): 80.4% of 51 testersContra Costa College (ADN): 80.0% of 30 testersAzusa Pacific University (BSN): 82.2% of 482 testersCNI College (BSN): 82.4% of 176 testersUniversity of San Francisco (ELM): 82.9% of 111 testersYuba College (ADN): 83.0% of 59 testersNapa Valley College (ADN): 82.5% of 40 testersCollege of the Redwoods (ADN): 82.9% of 35 testersPalo Verde College (ADN): 83.3% of 18 testersMount St. Mary's University (BSN): 84.1% of 201 testersSan Joaquin Delta College (ADN): 84.6% of 117 testersCSU Northridge (BSN): 85.5% of 110 testersSamuel Merritt University (ELM): 85.0% of 80 testersArizona College (BSN): 85.1% of 74 testersUC Los Angeles (ELM): 85.1% of 67 testersLA Valley College (ADN): 85.7% of 63 testersCareer Care Institute (ADN): 85.2% of 27 testersMarsha Fuerst School of Nursing at Glendale Career College (ADN): 86.9% of 358 testersUnitek College (BSN): 86.3% of 343 testersNational University (BSN): 87.8% of 221 testersCalifornia Baptist University (BSN): 86.6% of 187 testersCSU East Bay (BSN): 86.8% of 83 testersCSU Channel Islands (BSN): 86.0% of 50 testersCharles Drew University (ELM): 86.7% of 45 testersCopper Mountain College (ADN): 87.8% of 41 testersUnited Nursing College (ADN): 86.1% of 36 testersUniversity of San Francisco (BSN): 89.5% of 268 testersCollege of the Sequoias (ADN): 89.2% of 148 testersChamberlain University, Rancho Cordova (BSN): 89.1% of 147 testersSan Bernardino Valley College (ADN): 89.1% of 128 testersCollege of the Desert (ADN): 89.1% of 101 testersGurnick Academy of Medical Arts, Fresno (ADN): 89.6% of 96 testersCollege of the Canyons (ADN): 89.8% of 88 testersCabrillo College (ADN): 88.7% of 53 testersUC Davis (ELM): 89.1% of 46 testersLA Southwest College (ADN): 88.9% of 45 testersCollege of Marin (ADN): 88.1% of 42 testersMerritt College (ADN): 89.5% of 19 testersWest Coast University (BSN): 90.0% of 3070 testersButte College (ADN): 91.4% of 175 testersLoma Linda University (BSN): 91.4% of 151 testersSan Diego State University (BSN): 91.0% of 134 testersModesto Junior College (ADN): 91.2% of 114 testersAmerican University of Health Sciences (BSN): 91.0% of 100 testersLA Trade-Tech College (ADN): 91.8% of 73 testersEl Camino College (ADN): 91.0% of 67 testersBiola University (BSN): 90.5% of 63 testersMt. San Jacinto College (ADN): 91.2% of 57 testersUC Irvine (BSN): 91.3% of 46 testersAngeles University (BSN): 90.5% of 42 testersCollege of San Mateo (ADN): 90.0% of 40 testersOhlone College (ADN): 91.3% of 23 testersSan Joaquin Valley College (ADN): 92.5% of 160 testersThe Valley Foundation School of Nursing at San Jose State University (BSN): 92.9% of 126 testersPacific Union College (ADN): 92.4% of 119 testersMt. San Antonio College (ADN): 92.9% of 113 testersCSU Stanislaus (BSN): 92.5% of 93 testersGurnick Academy of Medical Arts, Concord (BSN): 93.4% of 91 testersCity College of San Francisco (ADN): 92.2% of 77 testersChaffey College (ADN): 93.2% of 74 testersCSU Chico (BSN): 93.2% of 74 testersWestern University of Health Sciences (ELM): 93.1% of 72 testersCSU Bakersfield (BSN): 93.8% of 65 testersSouthwestern College (ADN): 92.2% of 64 testersPalomar College (ADN): 93.7% of 63 testersLong Beach City College (ADN): 92.9% of 56 testersUC Los Angeles (BSN): 92.2% of 51 testersAllan Hancock College (ADN): 93.9% of 49 testersWestmont College (BSN): 92.3% of 39 testersMission College (ADN): 93.9% of 33 testersLos Medanos College (ADN): 93.5% of 31 testersCitrus College (ADN): 92.9% of 28 testersMadera College (ADN): 92.9% of 14 testersStanbridge University (BSN): 95.2% of 332 testersAmerican Career College (ADN): 94.8% of 272 testersCSU San Marcos (BSN): 95.2% of 188 testersBakersfield College (ADN): 94.0% of 167 testersConcordia University Irvine (BSN): 95.1% of 123 testersCSU San Bernardino (BSN): 94.1% of 118 testersCSU Fresno (BSN): 94.7% of 114 testersLA County College of Nursing & Allied (ADN): 94.0% of 100 testersGolden West College (ADN): 94.8% of 96 testersPasadena City College (ADN): 94.2% of 87 testersSanta Ana College (ADN): 95.1% of 81 testersCSU Fullerton (BSN): 94.9% of 78 testersCarrington College Sacramento (ADN): 94.8% of 77 testersAmerican River College (ADN): 94.4% of 72 testersImperial Valley College (ADN): 95.6% of 68 testersCuesta College (ADN): 95.2% of 63 testersPacific College (ADN): 95.8% of 48 testersPorterville College (ADN): 95.7% of 47 testersSolano Community College (ADN): 95.5% of 44 testersSimpson University (BSN): 95.3% of 43 testersSri Sai Krish Institute (ADN): 95.1% of 41 testersCalifornia Baptist University (ELM): 95.0% of 40 testersHartnell College (ADN): 95.0% of 40 testersEast Los Angeles College (ADN): 94.6% of 37 testersGavilan College (ADN): 95.8% of 24 testersSonoma State University (BSN): 95.7% of 23 testersRiverside City College (ADN): 96.6% of 175 testersCSU Sacramento (BSN): 96.6% of 148 testersSanta Rosa Junior College (ADN): 96.5% of 114 testersCSU Los Angeles (BSN): 96.1% of 103 testersGrossmont College (ADN): 96.0% of 76 testersVictor Valley College (ADN): 96.9% of 65 testersSanta Barbara City College (ADN): 96.7% of 60 testersCalifornia Career College (ADN): 96.5% of 57 testersShasta College (ADN): 96.5% of 57 testersCerritos College (ADN): 96.4% of 55 testersPoint Loma Nazarene University (BSN): 96.3% of 54 testersSacramento City College (ADN): 96.0% of 50 testersMerced College (ADN): 97.9% of 47 testersUniversity of the Pacific (ELM): 97.6% of 41 testersDe Anza College (ADN): 97.5% of 40 testersAntelope Valley College (ADN): 97.1% of 35 testersLemoore College (ADN): 97.1% of 35 testersLos Angeles Pierce College (ADN): 96.8% of 31 testersUniversity of San Diego/Hahn (ELM): 96.4% of 28 testersVanguard University (BSN): 96.2% of 26 testersCSU Long Beach (BSN): 98.8% of 169 testersSaddleback College (ADN): 98.8% of 82 testersCypress College (ADN): 98.5% of 65 testersEvergreen Valley College (ADN): 98.2% of 56 testersGlendale Community College (ADN): 98.0% of 51 testersVentura College (ADN): 100.0% of 77 testersRio Hondo College (ADN): 100.0% of 65 testersSanta Monica College (ADN): 100.0% of 65 testersLA Harbor College (ADN): 100.0% of 59 testersMoorpark College (ADN): 100.0% of 52 testersMira Costa College (ADN): 100.0% of 46 testersMonterey Peninsula College (ADN): 100.0% of 37 testersSierra College (ADN): 100.0% of 33 testersXavier College (ADN): 100.0% of 30 testersMendocino College (ADN): 100.0% of 27 testersWilliam Jessup University (BSN): 100.0% of 25 testersUC Irvine (ELM): 100.0% of 21 testersWeimar University (ADN): 100.0% of 8 testersSan Diego City College (ADN): 100.0% of 1 testersStandard 75%State 90.2%
Data source: CA BRN NCLEX-RN pass-rate tables (retrieved Oct 7, 2026). 2 programs below 64% are off the scale.Download CSVCite
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Two of every three qualified applications were turned away

Applications to California pre-licensure RN programs. Counts are applications, not people.

Acceptance rates →

From application to enrollment, 2024–25

All program types.

Received
115,485
Screened
92,745
Qualifiedmet requirements
64,075
Accepted
20,556
Enrollednew students
19,365
Data source: BRN 2024–25 Annual School Report, Tables 3–4.
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Share of qualified applications accepted, 2015–16 to 2024–25

Qualified applications rose from 28,041 to 64,075; admission spaces grew 65%.

20%30%40%50%’15–16’18–19’21–22’24–2544.7%27.8%32.1%
Data source: BRN Annual School Reports 2015–16 to 2024–25, Table 3.Download CSV
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Why one year’s pass rate can mislead

A pass rate is a share of first-time testers, so a program with one or two graduates sitting the exam can swing from 0% to 100% between years. That tells you almost nothing about the program.

SEAPHE flags any rate based on fewer than 20 testers and shows the five-year average beside it. Compare the latest year with the five-year record before drawing conclusions.

Examples of small cohorts in 2024–25 compared with five-year averages
Program2024–25 testers2024–25 rate5-year rate (testers)
Chabot College10.0%97.5% (120)
CNI College10.0%84.4% (409)
Weimar University8100.0%94.0% (50)
Madera College1492.9%94.6% (56)

Browse by city

Cities with the most open BRN-approved programs. All 167 programs A–Z

Guides

Written by the SEAPHE Editorial Team, reviewed by a practicing registered nurse (RN, BSN).

All 6 guides →
Choosing a program

How to Choose a California BSN Program

A nurse’s checklist for comparing BSN programs on licensure outcomes, accreditation, completion and true cost.

SEAPHE Editorial Team · RN-reviewed · 4 min read
Choosing a program

ADN vs. BSN in California: Cost, Time and Outcomes

Community college or university? What the pass-rate data says, and how RN-to-BSN pathways change the math.

SEAPHE Editorial Team · RN-reviewed · 8 min read
Exams

TEAS vs. HESI A2: Which Will Your School Require?

How the two entrance exams differ, what sections to expect, and how to plan your study time.

SEAPHE Editorial Team · RN-reviewed · 7 min read
Exams

What Is a Good NCLEX Pass Rate?

How to read pass rates, why cohort size matters, and the red flags worth asking a program about.

SEAPHE Editorial Team · RN-reviewed · 6 min read
Choosing a program

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 · RN-reviewed · 7 min read
Accreditation

ACEN vs. CCNE: Does Nursing Accreditation Matter?

When national accreditation matters for grad school and jobs, and when it doesn’t.

SEAPHE Editorial Team · RN-reviewed · 6 min read

About this data

Last updated

Retrieved from the BRN on Oct 7, 2026. Pass rates cover first-time, California-educated testers, July–June reporting years.

Sources

NCLEX pass-rate tables, approved program list, attrition and accreditation table, and annual school reports.

Download

Pass rates CSV · Admissions CSV · JSON. Free to reuse with attribution.

Corrections

Schools can’t pay to appear or rank. Spot an error? Our corrections policy explains how we fix it in public.

Key facts

Last updated

  • In 2024–25, 90.2% of 15,874 first-time NCLEX-RN testers from 154 California programs passed (SEAPHE tester-weighted calculation). Source: CA BRN NCLEX-RN pass-rate tables, retrieved Oct 7, 2026.
  • Only 32.1% of 64,075 qualified applications to California pre-licensure RN programs were accepted in 2024–25 (20,556 acceptances). Source: CA BRN 2024–25 Annual School Report, retrieved Oct 7, 2026.
  • By degree type in 2024–25, first-time pass rates were 92.1% for ADN, 89.0% for BSN and 88.3% for entry-level master’s (ELM) graduates. Source: CA BRN NCLEX-RN pass-rate tables, retrieved Oct 7, 2026.
  • The Board of Registered Nursing lists 167 active pre-licensure RN programs in California that SEAPHE profiles. Source: CA BRN list of approved RN programs, retrieved Oct 7, 2026.

How to cite this data

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

Suggested citation: SEAPHE. (2026). California nursing program data: NCLEX-RN pass rates and admissions [Data set]. Compiled from California Board of Registered Nursing public records. https://seaphe.org/ (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; 2024-2025 Annual School Report: Data Summary for Pre-Licensure Nursing Programs (BRN / UCSF, Aug 24, 2026).

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