California State University Long Beach BSN Programs

Cal State Long Beach’s BSN Programs rank among the most selective nursing paths available. Recent numbers tell the story – only 77 students made it in from 594 applicants for Fall 2024. Spring 2025 saw 80 admissions from 385 applicants. Getting accepted takes stellar academic work. Top candidates show remarkable grades with Science GPAs of 3.98-4.0 and TEAS Composite scores between 91.9 and 94.3.

The program’s excellence speaks through its results. Cal State Long Beach’s nursing program stands 50 years old and maintains an outstanding record. Students at this school have achieved nearly 100% first-time pass rates on the NCLEX-RN exam over the last several years. The program structure includes five semesters of full-time study after finishing prerequisites. This piece helps you understand how CSULB’s fast-track and traditional paths differ as you consider your journey toward becoming a registered nurse in California.

Types of Programs Offered

Cal State Long Beach’s School of Nursing provides multiple nursing education pathways. Each path caters to different student needs and career aspirations.

The Traditional BSN (basic baccalaureate program) serves as the core of education for students new to nursing. Students learn to work as professional nurses and solve health problems in healthcare settings of all types. The program combines theory with hands-on skills that spark curiosity while teaching students how to maintain health and prevent illness.

The RN-to-BSN Program creates a path for graduates who hold an accredited Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and a current California RN license. Students can attend part-time during their first year. The second year requires full-time studies as students join Basic BSN students to finish their degree.

The BSN-DNP Program is a great way to get leadership positions in clinical settings or teaching roles at colleges and universities. This complete 72-unit, three-year program teaches evidence-based research and leadership skills in five nurse practitioner specialty areas. These areas include Adult-Gerontology Primary Care and Family Practice.

The Step-Up Bridge Program helps ADN students speed up their education. Students take non-clinical BSN courses online during summer before finishing their associate degree. These credits transfer to CSULB’s RN to BSN program and help students reach their goals faster.

The BSN program welcomes three types of applicants:

• Current CSULB undergraduate pre-nursing majors
• Transfer undergraduate applicants without a BA/BS degree
• Second Bachelor’s Degree applicants with degrees in other fields

CSULB doesn’t offer an Accelerated BSN program. However, other CSU campuses provide this option. CSU Fullerton offers a 24-month program, while CSU Los Angeles and CSU Northridge both offer 15-month programs.

Students who can’t get into CSULB’s competitive BSN program have another option. They can complete an ADN at a community college first and then return to finish the RN-to-BSN program.

Online and Hybrid Options

CSULB makes it easier for working healthcare professionals to advance their careers through online and hybrid nursing programs that fit their schedules.

The Online RN to BSN program works perfectly for nurses who already have an Associate Degree in Nursing with 56-70 lower-division units. Students can take their courses mostly online and at their own pace. You’ll finish your degree in about 18 months part-time or just one year full-time. The program also gives you a public health nursing certificate that opens doors to career growth and graduate studies.

Students should plan to spend at least 20 hours each week on their studies when taking six credits per 8-week block. The program spreads across five 8-week terms and mixes live online sessions with self-paced learning. This setup lets you balance structure with flexibility.

The online RN-BSN program stands out from the traditional campus BSN program. While the campus version takes 120 credits, 48 months, and costs $52,200 for in-state students, the online option needs just 29 credits, costs $17,400 for in-state students, and asks for a 2.75 GPA minimum.

CSULB’s Hybrid BSN to DNP Programs come in several specialties:

• Adult Gerontology (Acute and Primary Care)
• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Pediatric Acute Care
• Psychiatric Mental Health

Each hybrid DNP program needs 72 credits and a 3.0 GPA minimum, plus 1,000 clinical hours. In-state students pay around $79,344 for these advanced programs.

The School of Nursing launched its online RN-BSN program in Fall 2023 to help more working RNs get their degrees. While clinical courses are part of the online program, they work around students’ current jobs. This lets nurses set personal learning goals in areas like quality improvement or research.

Admission Requirements

Getting into Cal State Long Beach BSN programs demands strong academic performance through a two-step selection process. Students need to complete eight prerequisite courses with a “C” or better in each course and achieve a minimum 3.0 GPA in prerequisites. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 is also necessary.

Required prerequisite courses include:

• Human Anatomy with lab (4 semester units)
• Human Physiology with lab (4 semester units)
• Chemistry with lab (4-5 semester units) – introductory courses are not acceptable
• Microbiology with lab (4 semester units)
• Statistics or AP Statistics (score of 3 or higher)
• Oral Communication
• Written Communication/College Composition
• Critical Thinking

Natural science prerequisites must be completed within the last 5 years, while social science courses need to be from the past 10 years.

Application deadlines are strict. Fall admission applications through Cal State Apply run from October 1st-November 30th, and the School of Nursing BSN application must be submitted by February 1st. Spring applicants should submit Cal State Apply applications between August 1st-31st and complete their nursing application by September 21st.

Students must also take the Casper Situational Judgment Test before the application deadline. This 90-110 minute online test assesses personal and professional skills essential for nursing students.

The selection process has two phases. The first phase looks at prerequisite course performance and Casper test results. Top performers move to phase two, which includes an interview to assess written and oral communication skills. The program ended up accepting only the top 75-80 applicants.

Students should select “Nursing BS” (not “Nursing BS – RN”) as their degree objective. Admitted students need to complete criminal background checks, drug screening, and provide proof of health insurance, immunizations, and medical clearance.

What’s Different about the BSN Programs at California State University, Long Beach

CSULB’s nursing programs stand out from other BSN programs in California because they combine challenging academics, clinical excellence, and chances to work with the community. Cal State Long Beach’s nursing department takes pride in its unique way of teaching future nurses.

Students learn more than just technical skills in the BSN program. They develop critical thinking and clinical reasoning abilities. While many programs focus only on hospital settings, CSULB nursing students head over to community health centers, schools, and specialized care facilities. This broad exposure helps graduates pursue different career paths instead of being limited to traditional hospital roles.

There’s another reason this program is different – it connects deeply with Long Beach’s diverse community. Students work on local health projects that address real health gaps. These hands-on experiences teach things you can’t learn from textbooks.

California State University Long Beach’s nursing program keeps its classes small. Clinical groups have only 8-10 students, which means you get individual attention that’s rare in bigger programs. Teachers don’t just instruct – they mentor students and help them grow beyond their clinical abilities.

The program also gives students chances to do research. Even undergraduates can join faculty-led research projects and present their work at regional nursing conferences. This early exposure to research gives CSULB nursing graduates an edge when they apply to graduate programs or specialized jobs.

Cal State Long Beach’s BSN program uses innovative technology that mirrors today’s healthcare settings. High-fidelity mannequins and patient actors create real-life scenarios. This modern approach helps students bridge the gap between what they learn in class and actual clinical practice better than traditional labs.

The program’s strong partnerships with healthcare organizations across Southern California help students build professional networks. Many students receive job offers before they graduate, which gives CSULB nursing graduates a head start in their careers.

Your personal circumstances and career goals play a key role when you choose between the fast-track and traditional pathways at California State University, Long Beach BSN Programs. Your previous education, current life responsibilities, and desired timeline to enter the nursing profession will help you decide.

The traditional BSN pathway works best for first-time college students or career changers without prior nursing education. This four-year program gives you a complete foundation in nursing theory and clinical practice. Students get enough time to grasp complex healthcare concepts. The steady pace helps many students who need to balance their studies with part-time work or family duties.

Fast-track options like the RN-to-BSN program are perfect for licensed registered nurses who want to upgrade their credentials. Your existing skills are valued in this accelerated pathway. You skip redundant coursework and save time and money. The quickest way to advance your career comes through this route if you have nursing experience.

These factors will shape your decision:

• Time commitment: Traditional programs take four years, while accelerated options need 12-18 months
• Financial considerations: You spend less overall when you finish faster
• Work-life balance: Traditional pathways let you manage other responsibilities better
• Learning style: Some students excel in intensive programs, while others need more time to learn concepts

Both routes lead to the same degree and NCLEX-RN examination eligibility. CSULB’s exceptional faculty, clinical collaborations, and track record of graduate success benefit both programs.

Working professionals find great flexibility in hybrid and online options without losing educational quality. The traditional program’s structured setting and peer support work better for first-time students.

Your individual learning needs, career timeline, and personal situation should guide your choice in this important educational investment.