The School of Nursing was established as a baccalaureate program within San Diego State University in 1953, with a Master’s program being added in 1982. The faculty is committed to providing excellent learning opportunities for students within an intellectually stimulating environment incorporating clinical practice, research, and service to the University and the community. San Diego State University maintains and promotes a policy of nondiscrimination and non-harassment on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, handicap, marital status, sexual orientation, and national origin.
The mission of the School of Nursing at San Diego State is to provide total healthcare of the individual and the family. It entails the prevention of illness, caring for those who are acutely ill, and helping people with long-term rehabilitative problems to live in the healthiest way possible. The program emphasizes that nursing both a science and an art. It has a foundation in biophysical and behavioral humanistic sciences, as well as in specific nursing practice skills and techniques. Students acquire knowledge from the natural and social sciences to develop critical thinking and professional decision-making abilities. They use current research in the application of the nursing process and develop leadership potential and accountability in professional practice. Graduates take on the emerging role of the professional nurse amid the trends affecting health and health care systems today.
Undergraduate programs – The undergraduate pre-licensed Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program is available via direct-entry, to transfer students from community colleges and four-year institutions, and second baccalaureate students. Additionally, graduates of Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) programs and Diploma in Nursing programs may continue their studies to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree via the RN to BSN program. In addition, the LVN-RN 30-unit option is designed as a career ladder for California Licensed Vocational Nurses who desire to become registered nurses. Of note, it does not entail an Associate’s degree in Nursing or a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree. SON students train in state-of-the-art facilities including the Media Lab, Nursing Fundamentals Skills Lab, Health Assessment Lab, Sharp Healthcare Human Patient Simulation Center.
Graduate programs - The School of Nursing offers a graduate curriculum leading to the Master of Science (MS) degree in Nursing. This degree is for those who desire advanced professional roles in nursing. The graduate program requires a minimum of 36 units and is designed for either full-time or part-time study. A Master of Science (MS) degree in Nursing is offered for Advanced Practice Nursing of Adults and the Elderly (NP/CNS) Nursing Leadership in Health Care Systems. Graduates are prepared for advanced professional roles as nurse clinicians, researchers, educators, and leaders in global healthcare.
The nursing school at San Diego State University is a public institution located in San Diego, California. Its nursing programs are accredited by ACEN, ACME, CCNE and COA.
Degree types you can earn at San Diego State University include Nursing Leadership, Registered Nursing and Women's Health Nurse Practitioner, and the school provides its offerings to students via campus formats. The level of nursing programs offered to nursing students include Accelerated BSN, Bachelor Degree, Master Degree 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 San Diego State University ranks #17 in the state, and out of more than 1,700 nursing programs nationally, it ranks #102. It's 3-year average NCLEX-RN passing rate is 95.70%, giving the San Diego State University an overall grade of A.
Nursing Program Stats at a Glance for San Diego State University
- Grade: A
- NCLEX-RN Passing Rate Average: 95.70%
- California State Rank: 17
- National Rank: 102
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 | 86 | 44 |
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 |
San Diego State University
Pass Rate

- 5500 Campanile Dr, San Diego, CA - 92182-0001
- (619) 594-5200

- NCLEX Passing Rate: (A) 95.70%
- Programs: Nursing Leadership, Registered Nursing, Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
- Award Levels: Accelerated BSN, Bachelor, MSN
University Information
Total Faculty: 956
In-State Undergraduate Tuition: $8,136
Book and Supplies: $1,091
Percent Received Aid: 61%
Average Grant or Scholarship: $9,481
Percent Admitted: 37%
Percent Admitted who Enrolled: 20%
Graduation Rate: 76%
Cities in California Offering Accredited Nursing Programs
If you are not finding the right nursing program in San Diego 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
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California Nursing School Rankings
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Best Nursing Schools in the US
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