The nursing journey starts at SCUSM School of Nursing in Riverside, California, a dynamic leader in the art and science of nursing. It seeks to educating ethically and culturally-sensitive nursing students with the goal of alleviating suffering while promoting, preserving, and restoring dignity for all patients.
The level of nursing programs offered to nursing students include Accelerated BSN, APRN Certificate, Bachelor, LPN to BSN, Master, Post Master's NP Certificate and RN to BSN level degrees. The mission of the School of Nursing is to offer innovative models of instruction, generates cutting edge research and creative activities, and advocates for health care needs in diverse local, regional, and global communities. The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Undergraduate programs - The pre-licensure program leads to a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. When students complete their BSN degree, they are eligible for licensure as a Registered Nurse in California and certification as a public health nurse. The program runs as a three-year sequence (including two, required, 10-week summer terms) of courses leading to licensure. Courses are offered at variable days and times each term and may involve travel to clinical sites in areas around San Diego County and/or Southwest Riverside County.
It is a demanding, full-time program not compatible with a heavy workload. The LVN to BSN program is for students who meet the program's minimum eligibility requirements. Students who have already completed a Bachelor's Degree in another discipline may also apply for entry to this nursing program. Cohorts enter the ABSN in the fall, spring, and summer terms and enjoy the same professional support network.
The fast-paced, 24-month online additional Bachelor's is for students who hold a degree in a discipline outside of nursing and have not completed LVN or RN coursework. Students will earn approximately 78 semester units of study in both didactic and clinical coursework under expert guidance and using the best resources available. CSUSM also has an RN to BSN program, operating as an accelerated, online format designed for registered nurses. This fully-online program gives nurses the opportunity to earn their BSN in just 14 months.
Graduate programs - The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is completed on a part-time basis and provides superior graduate education to qualified students. The objective is to prepare nurses in generalist and advanced practice roles for positions in the health care industry, community or public health agencies, and academia, and for continued study at the doctoral level.
The MSN program includes a strong foundation in theory and research inquiry. It builds on the knowledge gained at the baccalaureate level and promotes nursing scholarship at the local, state, national and international level through research, service and practice. Values, ethics and multicultural perspectives are heavily embedded within the graduate program. Post-master’s certificates offered.
The Advanced Practice Nursing concentration prepares students for advanced practice as a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP).
The nursing school at California State University-San Marcos is a public institution located in San Marcos, California. Its nursing programs are accredited by ACEN, ACME, CCNE and COA.
Degree types you can earn at California State University-San Marcos include CNL, Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Registered Nursing, and the school provides its offerings to students via campus, hybrid and online formats. The level of nursing programs offered to nursing students include Accelerated BSN, APRN Certificate, Bachelor Degree, LPN to BSN, Master Degree, Post Master's NP Certificate and RN to BSN level degrees.
For nursing students in California, the state average NCLEX-RN passing rate for ADN programs is 90.30% and for BSN programs is 90.32%. The average national NCLEX-RN passing rate for ADN programs is N/A% and for BSN programs is N/A%.
Out of 160 nursing schools in California, the nursing program at California State University-San Marcos ranks #10 in the state, and out of more than 1,700 nursing programs nationally, it ranks #67. It's 3-year average NCLEX-RN passing rate is 96.97%, giving the California State University-San Marcos an overall grade of A.
Nursing Program Stats at a Glance for California State University-San Marcos
- Grade: A
- NCLEX-RN Passing Rate Average: 96.97%
- California State Rank: 10
- National Rank: 67
Best Online Nursing Programs for California Students
In-state nursing schools are preferable to out-of-state programs as your tuition and logistics for attending school will be considerably less than if you attended school out-of-state. Online nursing schools are also an option.
Compare California Nursing School Rankings
Compare California Nursing Schools | ADN | BSN |
---|---|---|
Number of Nursing Programs | "26" | "26" |
Average NCLEX Passing Rate | 90.30% | 90.32% |
NCLEX Passing Rate Range | 30.60% to 100.00% | 30.56% to 99.29% |
Best Ranked School Details | ADN Rankings for California | BSN Rankings for California |
California State University-San Marcos
Pass Rate

- 333 S Twin Oaks Valley Rd, San Marcos, CA - 92096-0001
- (760) 750-4000

- NCLEX Passing Rate: (A) 96.97%
- Programs: CNL, Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Registered Nursing
- Award Levels: Accelerated BSN, APRN Certificate, Bachelor, LPN to BSN, MSN, Post Master's NP Certificate
University Information
Total Faculty: 392
In-State Undergraduate Tuition: $7,727
Book and Supplies: $1,118
Percent Received Aid: 83%
Average Grant or Scholarship: $8,250
Percent Admitted: 79%
Percent Admitted who Enrolled: 18%
Graduation Rate: 57%
Cities in California Offering Accredited Nursing Programs
If you are not finding the right nursing program in San Marcos or want to compare nursing schools from other cities in California? Compare average NCLEX scores, in-state and out-of-state tuition costs as well as schools with strong alumni networks. The following is a list of cities in with accredited nursing programs in California: Anaheim, Angwin, Aptos, Arcata, Azusa, Bakersfield, Calexico, Camarillo, Carson, Chico, Chula Vista, Compton, Costa Mesa, Cupertino, Cypress, El Cajon, Eureka, Fremont, Fresno, Fullerton, Gilroy, Glendora, Hayward, Huntington Beach, Imperial, Irvine, Joshua Tree, Kentfield, La Jolla, La Mirada, Lancaster, Lemoore, Loma Linda, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Marysville, Merced, Mission Viejo, Modesto, Monterey, Monterey Park, Moorpark, Napa, North Hollywood, Northridge, Oakland, Oceanside, Orange, Oroville, Palm Desert, Porterville, Rancho Cucamonga, Redding, Reedley, Riverside, Rocklin, Rohnert Park, Sacramento, Salinas, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jacinto, San Jose, San Luis Obispo, San Marcos, San Mateo, San Pablo, San Rafael, Santa Ana, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Clarita, Santa Maria, Santa Monica, Santa Rosa, Signal Hill, Stockton, Torrance, Turlock, Ukiah, Valley Glen, Ventura, Victorville, Visalia, Walnut, Weed and Woodland Hills
.
Additional Nursing Programs in California
- Allan Hancock College
- American Medical Sciences Center
- American River College
- American University of Health Sciences
- Angeles College
- Antelope Valley College
- Ashford University
- Azusa Pacific University
- Bakersfield College
- Biola University
- Brandman University
- Butte College
- Cabrillo College
- California Baptist University
- California State University-Bakersfield
- California State University-Channel Islands
- California State University-Chico
- California State University-Dominguez Hills
- California State University-East Bay
- California State University-Fresno
- California State University-Fullerton
- California State University-Long Beach
- California State University-Los Angeles
- California State University-Monterey Bay
- California State University-Northridge
- California State University-Sacramento
- California State University-San Bernardino
- California State University-San Marcos
- California State University-Stanislaus
- Carrington College
- Casa Loma College-Van Nuys
- Cerritos College
- Chabot College
- Chaffey College
- Chamberlain University-California
- Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science
- Citrus College
- City College of San Francisco
- CNI College
- College of Marin
- College of San Mateo
- College of the Canyons
- College of the Desert
- College of the Redwoods
- College of the Sequoias
- College of the Siskiyous
- Concordia University Irvine
- Contra Costa College
- Copper Mountain College (Copper Mountain Community College)
- Cuesta College
- Cypress College
- De Anza College
- Dominican University of California
- East Los Angeles College
- El Camino College (El Camino Community College District)
- El Camino College-Compton Education Center
- Evergreen Valley College
- Feather River Community College District
- Fresno City College
- Fresno Pacific University
- Gavilan College
- Glendale Career College
- Glendale Community College
- Golden West College
- Grossmont College
- Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts
- Hartnell College
- Holy Names University
- Homestead Schools
- Humboldt State University
- Imperial Valley College
- Loma Linda University
- Long Beach City College
- Los Angeles City College
- Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied Health
- Los Angeles Harbor College
- Los Angeles Pacific University
- Los Angeles Pierce College
- Los Angeles Southwest College
- Los Angeles Trade Technical College
- Los Angeles Valley College
- Los Medanos College
- Medical Allied Career Center
- Mendocino College
- Merced College
- Merritt College
- Mills College
- Mira Costa College
- Mission College
- Modesto Junior College
- Monterey Peninsula College
- Moorpark College
- Mount St Mary's University-Los Angeles
- Mt San Antonio College
- Mt. San Jacinto College (Mt San Jacinto Community College District)
- Napa Valley College
- National University
- Northcentral University
- Ohlone College
- Ohlone College
- Pacific College
- Pacific Union College
- Palomar College
- Platt College-Anaheim
- Platt College-Los Angeles
- Platt College-Ontario
- Platt College-Riverside
- Point Loma Nazarene University
- Porterville College
- Reedley College at Madera Community College Center
- Rio Hondo College
- Riverside City College
- Sacramento City College
- Saddleback College
- Samuel Merritt University
- San Bernardino Valley College
- San Diego City College
- San Diego State University
- San Diego State University-Imperial Valley Campus
- San Francisco State University
- San Joaquin Delta College
- San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia
- Santa Ana College
- Santa Barbara Business College-Bakersfield
- Santa Barbara Business College-Santa Maria
- Santa Barbara City College
- Santa Monica College
- Santa Rosa Junior College
- Shasta College
- Sierra College
- Simpson University
- Solano Community College
- Sonoma State University
- Southwestern College
- Stanbridge University
- The Valley Foundation School of Nursing at San Jose State University
- United States University
- Unitek College
- University of Antelope Valley
- University of California-Davis
- University of California-Irvine
- University of California-Los Angeles
- University of Phoenix-Bay Area Campus
- University of Phoenix-California
- University of Phoenix-Central Valley Campus
- University of Phoenix-Sacramento Valley Campus
- University of Phoenix-San Diego Campus
- University of Phoenix-Southern California Campus
- University of San Diego/Hahn
- University of San Francisco
- University of Southern California
- Vanguard University of Southern California
- Ventura College
- Victor Valley College
- West Coast Ultrasound Institute
- West Coast University
- West Coast University-Ontario
- West Coast University-Orange County
- West Hills College-Lemoore
- Yuba College
Learn About In-Demand Nursing Professions
California Nursing School Rankings
Back to RN Program Rankings in California
Best Nursing Schools in the US
- About the Author
- Latest Posts

After graduating with a degree in English Literature from UCLA, Jeff published four editions of the World Wide Web Yellow Pages by Barnes and Noble, and several editions of the Best of the Web. He’s worked as an executive at both startup and mature companies including CareerPath.com and Microsoft. With nearly three decades of publishing and business development expertise, he now puts that experience to use operating RNCareers.org to help future nursing students get reliable information on registered nursing careers.
Sources: The State Board of Nursing from Each State, U.S. Department of Education: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education – OPE, National Center for Education Statistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics