California Community Colleges
Nursing Programs
Compare nursing programs across community colleges in this state. ADN, LPN, and pre-nursing pathways with section counts and transfer details.
42 colleges · 1207 sections · 374 unique courses · Fall 2026 · Updated today
California community colleges are the most popular launchpad into nursing in the state — 42 California CCs institutions offer the coursework and clinical hours required for the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN exam, and many graduates step directly into staff-nurse roles at local hospitals without ever attending a four-year school. The associate degree in nursing (ADN) typically takes two years full-time; LPN programs run 12–18 months.
This term, the 1207 sections across these 42 colleges span the full nursing pipeline: pre-nursing prerequisites like anatomy and microbiology, the clinical ADN sequence, and bridge-to-BSN pathways for nurses planning to continue toward a bachelor's. Programs vary in clinical site partnerships, NCLEX pass rates, and waitlist length, so it pays to compare each college's awards-per-year and graduate earnings below before choosing where to apply.
Colleges offering Nursing
Pick a college to see its full plan — every required course, which ones transfer to the school you want, and what’s open now.
Nursing is a transfer program — community colleges offer the coursework; you earn the degree, and its earnings, at a four-year university. See where it transfers →
Nursing Availability Snapshot
How nursing sections are being offered across 42 colleges in California this term (1207 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person1033 (86%)
- online87 (7%)
- hybrid73 (6%)
- zoom14 (1%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)726
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)228
- Evening (5 PM and after)12
- Asynchronous / TBA241
Start dates
Sections begin on 60 distinct dates. 821 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 391 distinct instructors across 42 colleges.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
College of the Desert1 program
Recommended Course Sequence
- BI 013Human Anatomy and Physiology I(4 cr)8 sections+ plan
- BI 014Human Anatomy and Physiology II(5 cr)8 sections+ plan
- BI 015General Microbiology(5 cr)6 sections+ plan
- PSY 003Developmental Psychology9 sections+ plan
- COMM 009Intro to Interpersonal Communicationnot offered+ plan
- COMM 013Small Group Communication1 section+ plan
- COMM 017Intercultural Communication2 sections+ plan
- SOC 003Fundamentals of Statistics(3 cr)19 sections+ plan
- NRN 110Foundations of Nursing Practice(3 cr)10 sections+ plan
- NRN 110CFoundations of Nursing Practice: Clinical(3 cr)not offered+ plan
- NRN 120Concepts of Nursing: Commonly Occurring Alterations(3 cr)10 sections+ plan
- NRN 120CConcepts of Nursing: Commonly Occurring Alterations: Clinical(3 cr)not offered+ plan
- NRN 120LAlterations in Health: Labnot offered+ plan
- NRN 130Concepts of Nursing: Mental Health(1 cr)10 sections+ plan
- NRN 130CConcepts of Nursing: Mental Health Clinical(1 cr)not offered+ plan
- NRN 140Concepts of Nursing: Gerontology(1 cr)10 sections+ plan
- NRN 140CConcepts of Nursing: Gerontology Clinical(1 cr)not offered+ plan
- NRN 210Chronic Alterations in Health(3 cr)9 sections+ plan
- NRN 210CChronic Alterations in Health: Clinical(3 cr)not offered+ plan
- NRN 210LChronic Alterations in Health: Labnot offered+ plan
- NRN 220Acute Complex Alterations in Health(3 cr)12 sections+ plan
- NRN 220CAcute Complex Alterations in Health Clinical(3 cr)not offered+ plan
- NRN 220LAcute Complex Alterations in Health Labnot offered+ plan
- NRN 230Pediatric Health and Wellness(1 cr)10 sections+ plan
- NRN 230CPediatric Health & Wellness Clinical(1 cr)not offered+ plan
- NRN 240Health & Wellness in Growing Families(1 cr)10 sections+ plan
- NRN 240CHealth & Wellness in the Growing Family : Clinical(1 cr)not offered+ plan
- NRN 250Transition to Practice3 sections+ plan
Source: College catalog
Cypress College1 program
Evergreen Valley College2 programs
Fullerton College1 program
Grossmont College1 program
Recommended Course Sequence
- BIO 140Human Anatomy13 sections+ plan
- BIO 141Human Physiology7 sections+ plan
- BIO 141LLaboratory in Human Physiology10 sections+ plan
- BIO 144Anatomy and Physiology Inot offered+ plan
- BIO 145Anatomy and Physiology IInot offered+ plan
- BIO 152Paramedical Microbiology(5 cr)7 sections+ plan
- COMM 120Interpersonal Communication(3 cr)not offered+ plan
- COMM 122Public Speakingnot offered+ plan
- ENGL 120College Composition and Readingnot offered+ plan
- ENGL 124Advanced Composition: Critical Reasoning and Writingnot offered+ plan
- ESL 122College Rhetoric9 sections+ plan
- NURS 118Nursing Pharmacology(2 cr)1 section+ plan
- NURS 120Fundamentals of Nursing(8 cr)2 sections+ plan
- NURS 130Medical-Surgical Nursing I(5 cr)2 sections+ plan
- NURS 132Obstetric and Pediatric Nursing(5 cr)2 sections+ plan
- NURS 220Medical-Surgical Nursing II(5 cr)2 sections+ plan
- NURS 222Psychiatric and Community Health Nursing(5 cr)2 sections+ plan
- NURS 230Medical-Surgical Nursing III(8 cr)2 sections+ plan
- PSY 120Introductory Psychologynot offered+ plan
- PSY 150Developmental Psychology5 sections+ plan
- SOC 114Introduction to Race & Ethnicity(3 cr)2 sections+ plan
- ETHN 114Introduction to Race & Ethnicity21 sections+ plan
- SOC 120Introductory Sociologynot offered+ plan
Source: College catalog
Hartnell College3 programs
Long Beach City College6 programs
Mt San Antonio College4 programs
Pasadena City College2 programs
San Bernardino Valley College2 programs
San Joaquin Delta College2 programs
Sierra College2 programs
Common Nursing courses
- NURS 144Concepts of Adult Health Nursing 3(17 sections)
- NURS 212Concepts of Homeostasis(15 sections)
- NURS 143Concepts of Pediatric Nursing(14 sections)
- NURS B99Strategies for Success in a Nursing Program(13 sections)
- NURS 211Introduction to Nursing(13 sections)
- NURS 232Medical/Surgical Nursing(13 sections)
- NURS 222Medical Surgical Nursing - Older Adult(13 sections)
- NURS 51Maternity Nursing(12 sections)
- NURS 230Mental Health Nursing(12 sections)
- NURS 220Nursing Fundamentals(11 sections)
- NURS 114NURSING FOUNDATIONS LAB(11 sections)
- NURS 101Nursing Student Foundations(10 sections)
Career outlook for Nursing graduates
Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data for the primary career outcome of this program (2024 OEWS release). Compare California’s typical pay to the national picture before choosing where to study.
Wage data reflects all workers in the occupation, not just recent CC graduates — entry-level pay is typically lower. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I become a registered nurse from a community college?
- Yes. An associate degree in nursing (ADN) from any accredited California community college qualifies you to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam — the same exam BSN graduates take. ADN-prepared RNs work in the same hospitals and earn the same starting wage as BSN-prepared RNs at most California employers, though some larger health systems prefer or require a BSN within 5 years of hire.
- How long does the nursing program take?
- The ADN is typically a 2-year full-time program (4 semesters of core nursing courses after prerequisites). Most California community colleges expect students to complete 1–2 semesters of prerequisites — anatomy, physiology, microbiology, English, statistics — before applying to the competitive nursing cohort, so the total time from first enrollment is often 3 years.
- Do nursing credits transfer to a bachelor's program?
- Yes. Every California CCs ADN program has at least one RN-to-BSN bridge partnership with a four-year university — usually the closest state university. ADN graduates can typically complete the BSN online in 12–18 months while continuing to work as an RN, often with their employer covering tuition.
- What's the demand for nurses in California?
- Strong and growing. BLS projects RN employment to grow 6% nationally through 2032 — faster than the average occupation — and California faces the same aging-population pressure driving demand. Most California ADN graduates have job offers before completing the program; rural hospitals and long-term care facilities offer signing bonuses and tuition forgiveness to recruit RNs.
Compare Nursing programs in other states
Same comparison view, different state systems. Useful if you’re considering an out-of-state community college or just want to see how California’s nursing programs stack up.
Other programs in California
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.