Cal State LA BSN Programs
Cal State LA’s BSN programs showcase excellence through their NCLEX passing rates. Traditional BSN students achieved a 95% success rate while ABSN students reached 96.5% in 2020. These numbers prove why Cal State LA stands out for aspiring nurses in California.
The Patricia A. Chin School of Nursing runs one of LA’s most selective BSN programs. Each year, only 70 students earn spots from a pool of roughly 700 applicants. The program sets high academic standards with a minimum 3.25 GPA requirement, though students need closer to 3.60 to be competitive. California leads the nation with 332,560 nursing professionals. The state rewards its nurses well – they earned an average salary of $137,690 in 2023, the highest in the country.
This piece will show you what makes Cal State LA’s nursing education stand out. You’ll learn about different program options and how to prepare for the competitive admission process. The information applies to both traditional and accelerated nursing programs at California State University, Los Angeles.
Types of Programs Offered
The Patricia A. Chin School of Nursing at Cal State LA offers four unique paths to earn your Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Each path fits different educational backgrounds and career stages.
- Traditional BSN Program (Basic Option)
This dynamic three-year program blends general education with hands-on nursing courses and clinical training. The Traditional BSN welcomes two groups of students:
- First-time freshmen who enter directly into Pre-Nursing
- Transfer students who meet the admission requirements
Students start their nursing program application process during their first year. They need to complete key prerequisites such as Human Anatomy, Fundamentals of Chemistry, Oral Communications, and Quantitative Reasoning with Statistics. The curriculum also includes sociology, human nutrition, and developmental psychology courses.
- RN to BSN Option
This program helps registered nurses with Associate degrees or diplomas from accredited programs advance their careers. Students must have a valid California RN License and keep a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA from their transfer institutions. A year of RN experience helps but isn’t required.
- ADN to BSN Collaborative Program
Cal State LA partners with select California Community Colleges to create a continuous connection for ADN students. Students can earn their BSN in about 12 months after finishing their community college program. This partnership strengthens academic growth and meets California’s nursing workforce demands.
- Accelerated BSN Program (ABSN)
Career-changers with bachelor’s degrees in other fields can complete this intensive 15-month nursing program. The College of Professional and Global Education (PaGE) runs this self-support program. The Summer 2025 ABSN program starts June 2nd, 2025. Students who excel in the ABSN Program can apply for the MSN program after graduation.
Licensed Vocational Nurses seeking RN licensure can take advantage of a specialized LVN to RN 30-unit study plan.
Graduate education at the Patricia A. Chin School of Nursing includes five master’s degree options and post-master’s certificates for advanced practice roles. Nurses can specialize in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care, Family Nurse Practitioner, Family Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, or Nursing Education.
The California Board of Registered Nursing and Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredit all nursing programs at Cal State LA. Admission to these programs doesn’t guarantee licensure or certification.
Online and Hybrid Options
Flexible education is the core of Cal State LA. Students can choose from online and hybrid learning options that fit their busy schedules. Cal State Online utilizes resources from 23 campuses with nearly 50,000 faculty and staff throughout the California State University system. This setup removes barriers that might stop you from pursuing your nursing education.
Cal State LA’s nursing department understands that traditional in-person programs don’t work for everyone, especially when you have work commitments, family duties, or live far away. They’ve adapted by adding online elements to many nursing pathways.
Working registered nurses find the RN to BSN program incredibly convenient. They can complete their coursework around clinical schedules. The program blends online theory with hands-on clinical requirements.
Summer learning at Cal State LA includes nursing courses in 8-week sessions. These intensive courses emphasize clinical training and patient care. Costs range from $1,500 to $2,000. Students can move through their nursing education faster or complete prerequisites without waiting for regular semester starts.
Benefits of Cal State LA’s Flexible Learning Options:
- Programs are available to students anywhere in California whatever their distance from campus
- Students can keep their jobs while studying
- Less time and money spent on commuting
- Theory components can be completed at your own pace
- Students can finish their programs faster
The California State University system makes flexible education a priority in every discipline. Nursing programs especially benefit from hybrid models. These combine online learning convenience with hands-on clinical skills and simulation labs.
Nursing education requires significant hands-on training, so fully online programs remain limited. Cal State LA has created hybrid approaches where students learn foundational knowledge online and develop clinical skills in person.
Cal State LA keeps expanding its flexible learning options. Modern nursing education must adapt to student needs. These innovative approaches help meet California’s growing need for qualified healthcare professionals by making quality education more available.
Cal State LA’s online and hybrid nursing programs show how dedicated the university is to breaking down educational barriers. They’ve built a 60-year old reputation for nursing excellence and continue to maintain high standards.
Admission Requirements
The Patricia A. Chin School of Nursing at Cal State LA maintains high standards for admission. Their program accepts only 70 students from roughly 700 applicants each year.
Students must submit their applications through NursingCAS during specific timeframes. Traditional BSN transfer students should apply by January 15, 2026. Cal State LA Pre-Nursing students have until May 31, 2026. The ABSN program’s yearly summer admission cycle opens November 1, 2024, and closes January 7, 2025.
Academic standards remain rigorous. Students need to maintain 3.25 GPAs both overall and in prerequisites, though 3.60 makes an application more competitive. The Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) exam is a vital requirement. Students must score at least 70% in Reading, Math, Science, and English sections. Competitive applications typically show 80% or higher scores. TEAS results stay valid for two years from the application deadline.
Students must complete these eight prerequisite courses with “B” grades or better on their first try:
- Human Anatomy with Lab
- Chemistry with Lab
- English/Accelerated College Writing
- Statistics Course
- Human Physiology with Lab
- Public Speaking/Oral Communication
- Critical Thinking course
- Microbiology with Lab
Cal State LA gives “local preference” to three specific groups: their pre-nursing students, transfer students from partner community colleges, and military applicants including active-duty, reservists, and National Guard members.
Healthcare experience can substantially strengthen an application. Students should aim to complete 50-100 hours of volunteer or work experience within two years before applying.
ABSN program candidates need a bachelor’s degree in another field. They must have a 3.0 minimum GPA in their last 90 units and complete prerequisite science courses with B grades or better. This self-support program costs $695 per unit plus extra fees.
Meeting basic requirements puts you in the running but doesn’t guarantee admission. A committee of nursing faculty reviews each application based on competitive criteria.
What’s Different about the BSN Programs at California State University, Los Angeles
The Patricia A. Chin School of Nursing stands out from other BSN programs with its impressive NCLEX pass rates. Traditional BSN students achieve a 95% passing rate, while ABSN students score even higher at 96.5%. These numbers show how well the program prepares its graduates.
Only 10% of applicants make it into Cal State LA’s nursing program. This careful selection means you’ll study with top students who excel academically. The result is a challenging and focused learning environment.
Students get exceptional clinical placement opportunities in Los Angeles. They work hands-on in California’s most varied healthcare settings. The urban location lets them experience different socioeconomic backgrounds, cultures, and health conditions that you won’t find in rural or suburban programs.
The school offers four different ways to complete your BSN degree. Few nursing schools provide so many options in one place. You can choose the path that matches your background and career goals instead of following a fixed program.
Cal State LA tackles California’s nursing shortage through its ADN to BSN Collaborative Program. The school partners with community colleges to help associate-degree nurses advance their education quickly.
The faculty brings both strong academic credentials and real-life clinical experience. This combination gives students a perfect mix of theory and practical skills.
Cultural competence is a key focus throughout the program. Students learn to provide culturally sensitive care – a vital skill in California’s diverse healthcare system.
Career-changers can benefit from the accelerated BSN option that takes just 15 months. It’s one of Southern California’s quickest programs without compromising on quality.