Pre-nursing students choose one school for their prerequisite major courses, and often choose another school to complete their degree and RN license out of necessity. In California, changing schools is very common because admission to nursing is highly competitive. It is likely that the school that accepts a student is not the same one as where the student took the pre-nursing prerequisite courses.

California Community College Nursing Programs

For pre-nursing students who do not have the best academic record or for those who need the lowest cost route to become a RN, California community colleges may be the best choice. These schools admit students to their nursing programs via a lottery system or by a first come, first served system. Prerequisite courses still need to be taken at an acceptable GPA, but students are all equal in the lottery once they've met the minimum academic requirements in their pre-nursing courses.

Even though California community colleges award an Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN) rather than a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN), the RN license received after passing the NCLEX exam is the same one as those who graduated with a baccalaureate degree.