Compare accreditation, costs, NCLEX outcomes, and program formats for Irvine-area BSN programs side by side.
Irvine anchors the southern end of Orange County’s healthcare corridor, where hospitals and outpatient clinics report persistent demand for BSN-prepared registered nurses. The metro area’s RN wages run well above national medians, yet the cost of living requires careful weighing of tuition and net price.
Public universities like UC Irvine and Cal State Fullerton, along with private and associate-degree programs within a 75-mile radius, give students multiple entry points. Accelerated pathways for career changers and LVN programs further shorten the timeline for those who already hold a degree or license.
What distinguishes the strongest programs is not just affordability but clinical access: UC Irvine’s BSN places half its students at UCI Medical Center, and several NCLEX pass rates top the state average.
Irvine and its neighboring Orange County communities offer a range of accredited nursing programs, from public universities and community colleges to private institutions. This ranking highlights the top BSN-granting schools near Irvine, considering affordability, graduate outcomes, and program features. Whether you're a first-time student or a career changer, these programs provide strong foundations for an RN career.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
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| #1 | University of California-Irvine | Irvine, CA | $14,000/yr (net price) | Public research nursing in Irvine | |
University of California-Irvine is the only public research university with a nursing school physically in Irvine, giving it unmatched local clinical reach. Its BSN program places about half of students at UCI Medical Center and partners like CHOC and Kaiser Orange County, while in-state tuition keeps costs relatively low. The Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing also offers a competitive Master's Entry Program in Nursing for career changers.
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| #2 | California State University-Fullerton | Fullerton, CA | $7,000 – $20,000/yr | Affordable CSU BSN for OC commuters | |
California State University-Fullerton is a top public choice for Orange County students, located just 20-30 minutes from Irvine. The School of Nursing offers a traditional BSN for first-years and an upper-division transfer track, both with strong clinical partnerships throughout OC. CSU in-state tuition makes it one of the most affordable four-year nursing degrees in the region.
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| #3 | California State University-Long Beach | Long Beach, CA | $7,000 – $20,000/yr | Nearby CSU with LA/OC clinical sites | |
California State University-Long Beach provides a highly regarded traditional BSN within commuting distance for northern and western Orange County residents. Its five-semester program combines rigorous theory with clinical rotations across LA and Orange counties, and strong NCLEX preparation. Competitive admission and in-state CSU pricing make it a sought-after option for high-achieving local students.
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| #4 | California State University-Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | ~$4,000/yr (est.) | ||
California State University-Los Angeles is a competitive public program with a traditional BSN and an accelerated track for second-degree holders. Located in Los Angeles, it places students in diverse LA County clinical sites. In-state tuition and a reputation for academic rigor deliver solid value for Southern California students willing to commute or relocate.
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| #5 | Saddleback College | Mission Viejo, CA | ~$4,000/yr (est.) | ||
Saddleback College in Mission Viejo offers an Associate Degree Nursing program that consistently outperforms state and national NCLEX pass rates. The two-year, full-time pathway combines on-campus lectures with extensive clinical rotations across Orange County. Its low net price and solid graduate earnings make it an excellent value for students planning to later bridge to a BSN.
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| #6 | Golden West College | Huntington Beach, CA | $0 – $5,000/yr | ||
Golden West College in Huntington Beach provides a high-performing ADN program known for its 92.7% NCLEX pass rate and 92% job placement within six months. Co-enrollment options with university partners streamline the transition to a BSN. Strong completion and retention rates reflect the program's structured support and doctorally-prepared faculty.
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| #7 | Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA | $22,000/yr (net price) | ||
Azusa Pacific University is a private Christian institution with a BSN program that blends faith and nursing science. Its 90% NCLEX pass rate and cohort-based learning model provide personalized attention. The university also offers an entry-level MSN for career changers. While tuition is higher, strong clinical training and reputation appeal to students seeking a faith-centered education.
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| #8 | Citrus College | Glendora, CA | $4,000/yr (net price) | ||
Citrus College in Glendora offers an ADN program with multiple entry points, including advanced placement for military personnel and LVNs. Its integration of clinical rotations across hospitals and community health settings prepares students for immediate RN roles. The program's low net price and median graduate earnings around $93,600 yield a strong return on investment.
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| #9 | California State University-Dominguez Hills | Carson, CA | $7,000 – $20,000/yr | ||
California State University-Dominguez Hills provides a fully online RN-to-BSN program tailored for working registered nurses. Flexible full- and part-time schedules, along with summer fast-track options, allow efficient degree completion. The program awards up to 24 units of credit for NCLEX, making it a practical and affordable step for ADN-prepared nurses seeking career advancement.
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| #10 | Career Networks Institute | Santa Ana, CA | $50,000/yr | ||
Career Networks Institute (CNI College) in Santa Ana is a private, for-profit school offering a CCNE-accredited BSN with small class sizes and 910 clinical hours. The program reports a 100% NCLEX pass rate among recent graduates. While its net price is significantly higher than public alternatives, its accelerated 31-month timeline and personalized support attract students seeking intensive, hands-on training.
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NCLEX pass rates are the most direct measure of how well a nursing program prepares students for licensure. They reflect first-time test-taker success on the national RN exam, making them essential for evaluating BSN programs in Irvine. The numbers tell a clear story about local quality and graduate readiness.
The University of California, Irvine (UCI) posted a 91.3% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate for May 2025 graduates.1 This easily tops California's 2024-2025 state average of 82.3% and the national average of 87% for the same period.2 Strong pass rates aren't limited to UCI. Other Irvine-area institutions, including Concordia University Irvine, Stanbridge University, and West Coast University, have historically shown solid results, with many programs exceeding state benchmarks. For exact, current rates, check the California Board of Registered Nursing's annual school report.
Yes. UCI's Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Science. The four-year campus-based program combines rigorous academics with clinical placements, and its 91.3% NCLEX pass rate confirms graduates are well-prepared. This makes it a top choice for students who want a direct path to RN licensure from a nationally recognized university.
Long-term earnings data adds another layer to outcome evaluation. According to federal College Scorecard data, UCI BSN graduates earn a median of $80,735 ten years after starting their studies. While program-level earnings for other Irvine-area nursing schools are not yet available in the Scorecard, the region's robust healthcare job market generally supports strong salaries for new nurses. When you pair a license-exam pass rate above 90% with six-figure earning potential over time, the return on a nursing degree in Irvine looks exceptionally strong.
Sticker prices can be misleading. The net price, what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, paints a clearer picture. The figures below represent institution-wide averages, so your individual cost may differ based on your financial situation. Among public BSN programs within reach of Irvine, Cal State LA shows the lowest net price at $3,967, while Cal State Fullerton’s net price is $6,555.
How can you earn a BSN faster if you already have a bachelor’s degree, or if you’re an LVN ready to move into RN practice? Irvine-area programs offer several routes that cut the traditional timeline, each tailored to different starting points.
If you hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or at least 65 college credits outside nursing, Concordia University Irvine’s Accelerated BSN (ABSN) can prepare you for the NCLEX-RN in just 15 months. The program blends hybrid coursework with 765 hours of hands-on clinicals, and it demands a strong science foundation: prerequisites in anatomy, physiology, microbiology, chemistry, and nutrition, all taken within the last five to seven years. Online science courses that rely exclusively on virtual labs are not accepted, though home-kit lab coursework may be considered. After you enroll, Concordia also requires two theology courses, which are completed online. UC Irvine does not offer a standalone ABSN; instead, it funnels career-changers into an accelerated master’s entry program (MEPN) at the graduate level.
For current RNs with an associate degree or diploma, Concordia University Irvine provides an RN-to-BSN pathway that builds on your license and clinical experience. Licensed vocational nurses can step up through Concordia’s LVN-to-RN Certificate, which leads to NCLEX-RN eligibility but does not culminate in a BSN, graduates aiming for a bachelor’s later would need an additional completion program.
Concordia’s ABSN operates in a hybrid format, with asynchronous online didactic work paired with in-person labs and clinicals. The RN-to-BSN curriculum, like most bridge programs in the region, is structured to accommodate work schedules, frequently delivering coursework online or in the evenings so you can continue earning while you study.
Registered nurses in the Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine metro area benefit from California’s high healthcare wages. While the BLS does not publish earnings at the city level, national and state figures illuminate the strong financial outlook for RNs.
Our rankings compare BSN programs using concrete student outcomes rather than subjective reputation. We pull four metrics from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard: net price (what students actually pay after aid), institution-wide graduation rates, median earnings of former students one year after completing their degree, and typical graduate debt levels. These measures balance affordability, completion likelihood, and return on investment.
Because nursing students often commute to campus from surrounding communities, we include all schools within a 75-mile radius of Irvine. This means some listed programs are located in nearby Orange County cities or even farther; we list them because they are geographically accessible for a daily commute or hybrid schedule. A crucial caveat: the graduation rates we cite are for the entire school, not just the nursing program. College Scorecard does not separate outcomes by major, so a high university-wide rate strengthens the overall signal but does not guarantee a nursing-specific outcome. We provide this rationale openly, while many competitor lists never explain how schools are chosen, leaving readers to wonder whether the rankings are arbitrary or paid placements.
Prospective nursing students often have questions about programs, costs, and outcomes in the Irvine area. Below we answer the most common inquiries to help you navigate your nursing education options with confidence.
