Compare nine California accelerated and second-degree BSN programs by tuition, nursing admission requirements, format and start dates. The reviewed pathways range from a current 12-month option to 24 months; Mount Saint Mary’s changes to 15 months for Fall 2027 entry.
Among the eight programs with supported tuition estimates, figures range from $21,128 to $90,429, before required fees and other expenses. National University’s tuition depends on the student’s evaluated degree plan and is excluded from that range.
Last Updated: October 14, 2026
California ABSN Programs at a Glance
These are tuition-only figures, not all-inclusive attendance budgets. GPA values below are abbreviated; the admissions comparison explains how each school calculates them.
Estimate basis: Figures marked “Est.” are planning estimates at published rates, not guaranteed cohort prices. Profile articles explain billing assumptions, residency and fees. Amounts labelled “incl. fees” are not tuition-only totals.
| School | Est. Tuition | Duration | GPA | Start |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Cal State Fullerton Fullerton, CA | $21,128 | 24 months | 3.25 last 60 credits | Fall |
Cal State LA Los Angeles, CA | $39,615 | 15 months | 3.0 last 60 credits | June |
San Francisco State San Mateo, CA | $44,744 | 15 months | 3.0 prerequisites | Spring |
CSU Stanislaus Stockton, CA | $44,840 | 19 months | 3.0 overall; 3.2 science | Spring |
Cal State San Marcos San Marcos / Temecula, CA | $47,570 | 5 semesters | 2.5 last 60; 2.75 core | Fall, spring, summer |
Concordia University Irvine Irvine / Rancho Cucamonga, CA | $59,590 | 15 months | 3.0 cumulative and prerequisites | January, May, August |
CSUN Northridge, CA | $62,988 | 15 months | 3.21 bachelor’s or 3.0 master’s | By cohort |
Mount Saint Mary’s Los Angeles, CA | $90,429, current 3-semester plan | 12 months through Summer 2027 entry; 15 months from Fall 2027 | 3.0 cumulative | Summer, fall |
National University Fresno, CA | Est. $63,000 | 22 months, average | 2.75; see GPA definitions | By nursing cohort |
How to Compare California ABSN Programs
Start with the requirements that could change your shortlist: entry term, science-course history, delivery location and total educational cost. A public-university name does not necessarily mean standard CSU tuition; several accelerated pathways use self-support pricing.
- Cost: Fullerton has the lowest supported tuition estimate among these eight priced pathways; campus fees and clinical expenses are additional.
- Timeline: Compare the advertised duration, including summer and winter study, rather than counting fall and spring semesters alone.
- Location: San Mateo and Stockton serve different Northern California markets; San Marcos and Temecula may require travel between campuses.
- Hybrid study: Concordia’s Rancho Cucamonga option and National advertise hybrid delivery, with in-person nursing requirements.
- Entry requirements: GPA definitions, test requirements and science recency matter more than a single GPA number.
Published minimums establish eligibility, not an acceptance guarantee. Application counts, available seats and the number of admission offers are different measures and should not be converted into an acceptance rate without matching data.
Program Format and Attendance
Most reviewed pathways are campus-based and full-time. Stanislaus currently advertises face-to-face instruction and 19 months, while Cal State LA fits five academic terms, including winter, into its 15-month sequence.
Concordia offers campus study in Irvine or hybrid study based in Rancho Cucamonga. National advertises onsite and hybrid options; its current second-bachelor page lists Fresno. Neither format removes the need to attend labs and clinical placements in person.
Mount Saint Mary’s retains its 12-month, three-semester plan through Summer 2027 entry, then changes to 15 months over four semesters in Fall 2027. Its current three-semester tuition estimate should not be treated as the price of that future format.
CSUSM has fall and spring cohorts based in San Marcos and a summer cohort based in Temecula. Students should expect some attendance at both campuses regardless of their cohort’s home location.
Admissions and Prerequisite Differences
The following GPA definitions are not interchangeable. Stanislaus’s listed criteria apply to its next application cycle for Spring 2028 entry.
| School | Minimum GPA definition | Key admission detail |
|---|---|---|
3.25 in the last 60 semester credits | California residency; Casper required for Fall 2027; no TEAS or HESI | |
3.0 in the last 60 semester credits; 3.0 bachelor’s GPA preferred | TEAS national percentile rank of at least 70 in each of four categories—not a raw 70% score | |
3.0 across four sciences and statistics | TEAS at least 78; California residency or eligibility for CSU in-state tuition | |
3.0 overall and 3.2 science prerequisites | TEAS at least 73 for Spring 2028; new holistic selection criteria | |
2.5 last 60 semester credits and 2.75 pre-nursing core | TEAS Version 7 composite at least 71%; prerequisites complete before applying | |
3.0 cumulative and 3.0 prerequisite GPA | Science grades B− or better; interview by invitation | |
3.21 bachelor’s GPA or 3.0 master’s GPA | No TEAS; degree and prerequisites complete by the application deadline | |
3.0 cumulative across all colleges attended | No entrance exam; required in-person interview for qualified applicants | |
2.75 general education/prerequisites; additional cumulative-GPA provisions | Separate nursing application, TEAS and interview; university application terms do not waive nursing selection |
National’s university-linked nursing packet also describes an overall 2.75 cumulative GPA and an alternative 3.0 in the final 60 semester credits of the conferred bachelor’s degree for applicants below that cumulative threshold. The profile explains the calculation and its source.
Most pathways here target students with a prior non-nursing bachelor’s degree. Concordia additionally considers eligible advanced-standing applicants with at least 65 units who meet its general-education and other requirements; 65 units alone does not establish eligibility.
Science courses and prior coursework
Anatomy, physiology and microbiology with labs are common requirements, but do not assume every prerequisite list is identical. Fullerton includes chemistry; MSMU permits chemistry or physics. Each profile separates prerequisites and transfer-dependent requirements from the nursing curriculum.
- Science grades: Fullerton and Cal State LA require B-level science grades; Concordia requires B− or better.
- Recency: Fullerton uses a 2022–2026 science window for Fall 2027 entry; Concordia and MSMU use five-year windows; SF State and CSUN use seven years for sciences.
- No expiration: Cal State LA and CSUSM do not impose prerequisite recency limits under their reviewed policies.
- Online labs: CSUSM and SF State accept qualifying online labs; CSUN’s stated exception is limited to 2020–2023 coursework.
- Additional subjects: Concordia and MSMU require nutrition; MSMU also has Liberal Arts Core Education categories. Previous coursework may satisfy these requirements.
Degree-based waivers also differ. Fullerton waives written communication, oral communication and critical thinking for second-degree applicants; SF State considers those areas fulfilled by an accredited bachelor’s degree. National’s packet distinguishes second-degree preparation from generic-entry prerequisites and corequisites.
Start Dates and Application Deadlines
Dates below reflect the reviewed cycles as of October 1, 2026. A university application, nursing application, transcript deadline and testing deadline may be separate requirements.
| School | Entry | Application timing |
|---|---|---|
Fall 2027 | Apply August 1–November 30, 2026; transcripts due January 31, 2027 | |
June 2027 | NursingCAS November 1, 2026–January 6, 2027; university application follows program instructions | |
Spring | Published August 1–September 7 window for both Cal State Apply and NursingCAS; the 2026 window has closed | |
Spring 2028 next application cycle | June 1–August 1, 2027; Spring 2027 applications are closed | |
Summer 2027 / Fall 2027 | Priority deadlines November 4, 2026 / February 3, 2027 | |
January, May and August | Deadlines vary by campus and entry term; see dates below | |
Spring 2027 listed cohort | Applications closed; final deadline was July 28, 2026, subject to earlier closure | |
Summer / Fall | November 1 for summer; March 1 for fall. Summer 2027 deadline: November 1, 2026 | |
Assigned nursing cohort | University applications year-round; obtain the separate current nursing-cohort deadline |
Concordia’s published 2027-entry deadlines distinguish the two locations:
- Spring: October 1, 2026 in Irvine; November 15, 2026 in Rancho Cucamonga.
- Summer: March 1, 2027 in Irvine; March 15, 2027 in Rancho Cucamonga.
- Fall: June 1, 2027 in Irvine; July 9, 2027 in Rancho Cucamonga.
Concordia moves a deadline falling on a weekend or holiday to the next business day. CSUSM continues considering evaluated eligible applications for one calendar year. Neither that policy nor National’s year-round university application should be interpreted as guaranteed immediate nursing entry.
Tuition and Costs
The opening table compares tuition only. Calculated totals apply published rates to verified program requirements; they exclude remaining prerequisites, living expenses and fees unless expressly identified below. Actual charges can rise when later terms use new rates.
Fullerton’s $21,128 is a California-resident, graduate/post-baccalaureate current-rate estimate across five terms—not an annual price or an all-in budget. Self-support CSU programs use their own per-unit or program pricing, so residency and financial-aid rules should be checked for the specific pathway.
| School | Basis of tuition estimate | Fees and other costs to keep separate |
|---|---|---|
Fullerton | Four terms at $4,274 plus summer at $4,032 = $21,128 | Estimated campus fees $3,653.24; tuition plus those fees $24,781.24 before other applicable charges |
Cal State LA | 57 nursing units × $695 = $39,615 | University cost sheet estimates $6,900 in non-tuition expenses; combined estimate $46,515 |
SF State | 56 nursing units × $799 = $44,744 | Course fees and nursing kit, supplies and clinical-compliance expenses additional |
Stanislaus | Published tuition $44,840 | ATI/lab fees $1,723.95; combined $46,563.95. The $400 deposit is part of tuition |
CSUSM | 67 units × $710 = $47,570 | Mandatory campus fees vary by term and campus; Fall 2026 examples: San Marcos $984, Temecula $1,020 |
Concordia | 59 units × $1,010 = $59,590 | Listed academic fees $4,501.68; subtotal $64,091.68 before other expenses |
CSUN | 58 nursing units × $1,086 = $62,988 | $70 application and $47 graduation fees, plus supplies and clinical compliance |
Mount Saint Mary’s | Current 61-unit, three-semester plan: $31,545 + $29,442 + $29,442 = $90,429 | $782 services fee per semester; $548 clinical and $583 professional charges listed separately; insurance and other costs additional |
National | Individual transfer evaluation and required nursing plan | Obtain itemized tuition and course charges; excluded from program-total price comparisons |
MSMU’s tuition includes units above its 18-unit semester allowance. Its estimate applies to the current 21/20/20-unit plan, not the four-semester format beginning Fall 2027. The profile explains insurance periods and the need to establish the billing frequency of each nursing fee before calculating an all-in total.
National’s 2026–27 financial-aid budget lists $24,000 in combined tuition and fees for non-term BSN study. That is not a full-program second-bachelor tuition quote, so it is not substituted into the comparison table or ranked against verified program totals.
Concordia’s listed academic fees include ATI charges that increase each July 1. For every program, budget separately for any remaining coursework, books, uniforms, health requirements, transportation, licensing and living expenses. Detailed rate sources and calculations are linked in each school profile.
Clinical Training and NCLEX Outcomes
Clinical-hour figures need matching definitions before they can be compared. A combined clinical/laboratory total, supervised clinical hours and a final-practicum requirement describe different portions of a program.
- Fullerton: 1,035 combined clinical/laboratory hours, including simulated and actual experiences; the final capstone accounts for 180 hours.
- Concordia: 765 required clinical hours across both delivery formats, including specialty practice and a senior preceptorship.
- Stanislaus: a verified 225-hour final practicum; this is not its entire program’s clinical-hour total.
Placement geography and attendance
Fullerton describes placements within 50 miles of campus and 8–12-hour daytime or overnight shifts. Stanislaus may place students in Modesto or Sacramento and includes the possibility of a pediatric weekend in Madera; students should not assume a 50-mile travel limit.
CSUSM placements are primarily in San Diego County and sometimes southwestern Riverside County. CSUN requires availability for clinicals on any day, including evenings, nights and weekends. MSMU describes three clinical days per week, about nine hours each, alongside two classroom days.
Concordia placements are in and around Orange and Los Angeles counties. SF State’s program is based in San Mateo with Bay Area clinical learning. National’s hybrid designation still requires travel to assigned clinical sites. Plan transportation and flexibility around the program’s assigned schedule, not only the classroom location.
Simulation, licensing and outcomes
Fullerton’s facilities include two adult medical-surgical simulation rooms, a skills ward, an examination room and observation/debriefing space. Cal State LA’s center includes seven assessment rooms, seven skills-care environments and adult, birthing, child and infant simulation. Concordia’s Spectrum Campus has approximately 20,000 square feet of nursing space, with skills and simulation supporting clinical preparation.
Graduation prepares students to pursue RN licensure; it does not itself issue a license. Several profiles also describe California Public Health Nurse preparation, which requires the applicable education, licensure and separate certification process.
The California Board of Registered Nursing’s NCLEX results report school-level first-time performance. For July 2024–June 2025, the reviewed BSN results were 94.87% at Fullerton (78 testers), 96.12% at Cal State LA (103) and 92.47% at Stanislaus (93). These are not ABSN-only results and should not be used as an accelerated-program ranking.
California ABSN Program Summaries
Cal State Fullerton ABSN Program
Fullerton | $21,128 | 24 Months
Cal State Fullerton’s campus-based ABSN covers 62 nursing credits over five semesters, including summer. California residents apply for fall entry; the fall 2027 cycle requires a 3.25 last-60-credit GPA and Casper.
Estimated tuition is $21,128 at current published rates, with campus fees and other costs additional. Clinical placements are within 50 miles of Fullerton.
.. read more.Cal State LA ABSN Program
Los Angeles | $39,615 | 15 Months
Cal State LA’s 15-month ABSN begins in June and includes 57 nursing credits, specialty practicums and a preceptor-guided capstone. Applicants need a 3.0 last-60-credit GPA and qualifying ATI TEAS national percentile ranks.
Published tuition is $39,615, with fees and other expenses additional. The June 2027 nursing application deadline is January 6, 2027.
.. read more.Concordia University Irvine ABSN Program
Rancho Cucamonga | $59,590 | 15 Months
Concordia’s four-semester ABSN offers on-campus study in Irvine or hybrid study based in Rancho Cucamonga, with January, May and August starts. The 59-unit program includes nursing, theology and bioethics, plus 765 clinical hours. Estimated tuition is $59,590 at the 2026–27 rate, with required fees additional. The minimum cumulative and prerequisite GPAs are 3.0. Application deadlines vary by campus and entry term; the profile lists both locations.
.. read more.CSU Stanislaus ABSN Program
Stockton | $44,840 | 19 Months
Stanislaus State’s face-to-face ASBSN at Stockton advertises 19 months and 59 nursing credits. Specialty clinical placements can require travel to Modesto, Sacramento and Madera.
Tuition is $44,840, plus $1,723.95 in published course fees. Spring 2028 admissions use a 3.0 overall GPA, 3.2 science-prerequisite GPA and TEAS minimum of 73.
.. read more.CSUN ABSN Program
Northridge | $62,988 | 15 Months
CSUN’s on-campus ABSN spans 15 months and four semesters, with 58 nursing units and clinical learning throughout greater Los Angeles. No TEAS exam is required. Admission requires a 3.21 bachelor’s GPA or 3.0 master’s GPA. Tuition is $62,988 at $1,086 per unit, with fees additional. The Spring 2027 application is closed.
.. read more.CSUSM ABSN Program
San Marcos | $47,570 | 5 Semesters
CSUSM’s five-semester ABSN includes 67 units with fall and spring cohorts in San Marcos and a summer cohort in Temecula. Students may attend both campuses and travel to clinical sites. Tuition is $47,570 at $710 per unit, with mandatory campus fees additional. Minimums are a 2.5 last-60-unit GPA, 2.75 pre-nursing GPA and TEAS 7 score of 71%. Priority deadlines are November 4, 2026 for summer 2027 and February 3, 2027 for fall 2027.
.. read more.Mount Saint Mary’s University ABSN Program
Los Angeles | $90,429 | 12 Months
Mount Saint Mary’s campus-based ABSN uses the Roy Adaptation Model in Los Angeles. The program remains 12 months over three semesters through Summer 2027 entry, then changes to 15 months and four semesters in Fall 2027. The current 61-unit plan includes 58 nursing units and three bioethics units. Estimated tuition is $90,429 at 2026–27 rates, including overload tuition; fees are additional. Admission requires a 3.0 cumulative GPA and no entrance exam. Deadlines are November 1 for summer and March 1 for fall.
.. read more.National University ABSN Program
Fresno | $63,000 | 22 Months
National University advertises an average 22-month second-bachelor BSN with onsite and hybrid learning; its current program page lists Fresno. The curriculum includes 25 required nursing courses with paired clinical experiences. University applications are accepted year-round, but nursing requires a separate competitive application, TEAS testing and an interview. Tuition depends on evaluated transfer credit and the required nursing plan; clinical and other fees are additional. Estimated nursing-core tuition is $63,000 for 63 semester credits at Catalog 89 rates; prerequisites and additional fees are extra... read more.
SFSU ABSN Program
San Mateo | $44,744 | 15 Months
SF State’s 15-month ABSN spans four semesters, including summer, at the College of San Mateo. The 56-unit curriculum includes specialty clinicals, community health and a capstone. Estimated tuition is $44,744 at $799 per unit, with fees additional. Admission requires a 3.0 science-and-statistics prerequisite GPA and TEAS score of at least 78; both applications close September 7.
.. read more.