Inside Look at Nursing Schools in San Diego, CA for 2024

National University is a private, non-profit school with several campuses in Nevada and California, including its main campus in San Diego. National also offers a substantial number of accredited online and hybrid degree programs that include this Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Generic Entry (California). This BSN program consists of 180 quarter credits of coursework in both general education and nursing courses.

Didactic nursing coursework is facilitated synchronously online, requiring attendance during the day. To supplement this online coursework, students attend clinical labs in-person on National University’s San Diego campus. The program is available at NU’s Los Angeles and Fresno locations as well. General education courses are offered online, many in an asynchronous format. Students can transfer in a substantial number of previously earned credits. LVNs and medics may also be able to challenge some nursing courses by exam or be considered for equivalency. The current tuition rates for BSN students are set at $407/quarter unit for nursing courses and $370/quarter unit for all other courses. Classes start on a monthly basis throughout the year.

Current San Diego-based registered nurses interested in advancing their careers by earning their BSN can do so through the convenient and affordable RN to BSN Online program at Point Loma Nazarene University. All didactic coursework is presented entirely online in an asynchronous format allowing each student to complete their studies according to their availability. The program also offers a hybrid option for those who prefer to attend some on-campus classes. All students are required to attend three in-person community health-based practicums in the first, third, and fourth semesters at assigned practice locations. The program is self-paced and can be completed in as few as 15 months.

To earn their degree, students must complete a total of 120 semester credits, including the 36 credits that make up the program’s curriculum and the 70+ credits they earned in their ADN program. Students are awarded the remaining 15 credits for passing the NCLEX-RN exam. With a current per-credit tuition rate of $500, affordability is another key feature of Point Loma’s RN to BSN program.

The RN to BS in Nursing program at San Diego State University is delivered in a primarily online format and is designed for current nurses looking to bolster their credentials and careers. The course of study consists of 35 credits — 26 credits of nursing coursework and 9 credits of general education coursework. Students complete in-person clinical experiences at assigned practice sites to supplement and apply their online training. Completion time varies from student to student, but typically hovers around 15 months. Students with a bachelor’s degree in another major may be able to waive the program’s general education requirements and earn their BSNs in as few as 12 months. Start dates are available each January and August.

Admission requirements include an ADN degree or nursing diploma (with a minimum 3.0 GPA); completion of a number of anatomy, physiology, critical thinking, and statistics courses; and other general education coursework. A registered nurse license is also required, but students who are eligible for RN licensure pending passage of the NCLEX-RN exam can begin their BSN studies prior to doing so. The current estimated total tuition cost is $13,000.

Nursing programs at Azusa Pacific University include an RN to BSN, a traditional MSN, a direct-entry MSN, a Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate, and an ADN to BSN bridge program. All have been approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing and accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Several of these programs are available online, including the RN to BSN, BSN bridge program, and select specializations in the MSN program. One of APU’s more popular pre-licensure programs, the RN to BSN program, is designed for students at local community colleges who are about to earn their associate degree in nursing. Upon completion of their ADN, students can enroll at APU to begin their bachelor’s level curriculum leading to a B

The Nursing Education Department at Palomar College offers two academic tracks, an Associate of Arts in Nursing (AAS) and an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN). Both programs are approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). The Associate in Arts in Nursing degree includes additional general education classes as a part of the curriculum, but both degrees follow the competencies outlined in the Quality and Safety Education for Nursing standards.

To make learning flexible, Palomar College allows students to take three of the required nursing classes online: Pharmacology for Nurses I, Pharmacology for Nurses II, and Adult Health Assessment.

Palomar College also has a Nursing Education Department’s Job Board where you can find employment as a student or after graduation.

The University of Massachusetts Global, formerly known as Brandman University, offers most of its nursing programs in a hybrid format. These CCNE-accredited online programs include:

The RN to BSN program is designed for registered nurses looking to advance in their careers, move into leadership positions, and become more marketable. The RN to BSN program is 100% online, but in-person practicums are still required. These may be completed at approved locations near a student’s home or place of employment. Tuition is set at $500/credit.