Looking for Nursing programs in Southern California

Hey! I've been passionate about healthcare for a while now and I'm considering nursing as a career. Does anyone have suggestions for the best colleges in Southern California for studying nursing?

Absolutely, Southern California has a wealth of excellent nursing programs!

The University of Southern California (USC) has an excellent traditional BSN program. It's known for a comprehensive curriculum with clinical experience and offers advanced facilities and faculty.

Loma Linda University School of Nursing is highly regarded as well. This program offers various routes to obtaining a nursing degree, including an RN to BSN and a Direct Entry: Master’s in Nursing (MSN) for non-nurses.

UCLA’s nursing program, while competitive, is another well-regarded program with excellent faculty and a focus on integrating research, education, and professional development. It offers a prelicensure program for undergraduate study, and advanced practice programs at both the Master’s and Doctoral (DNP) levels.

Admissions into these programs can be competitive, as they are ranked quite high nationally. Make sure to take advanced science classes in high school, maintain a high GPA, do well on your SAT/ACT if required, and consider finding healthcare-related volunteer opportunities to boost your chances of admission.

Another thing to keep in mind is your compatibility with the university itself, not just the nursing program. Be sure to consider size, campus culture, location, and financial aid opportunities when making your decision.

Also, remember that all of the universities mentioned offer the opportunity to tour their campus (either physically or virtually), so to get a true feel of the environment, be sure to schedule a visit or reach out to current students to hear about their experiences. Hope this helps!