California State University-Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA 93311

California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB) is a public CSU campus, so it has that “state school” feel; bigger university system, not a private/for-profit setup. Nursing-wise, they run a traditional BSN, an RN-to-BSN for working RNs, and an MSN option, so it’s built for both pre-licensure students and people coming back to level up. Being a public school, tuition is usually in the more reasonable range compared to private nursing programs (but expect the usual CSU fees/books/uniforms and the cost of living/commuting math).

For clinicals, CSUB nursing students are typically placed with the big local players in Bakersfield like Kern Medical, Adventist Health Bakersfield (formerly San Joaquin Community Hospital), and Dignity Health Mercy Hospital (Mercy Hospitals of Bakersfield). They also use on-campus simulation labs for skills check-offs and scenario days, so not everything is “learn it on the floor and hope for the best.” Bakersfield itself is pretty spread out, and CSUB’s main campus is on the southwest side of town (near Stockdale Highway). If someone’s commuting from the northeast side or closer to Oildale, it can turn into a real drive, especially at peak traffic times.

Teaching style is what you’d expect from a CSU program: a mix of lecture, skills lab, sim, and clinical rotations, with a lot of focus on safe meds, prioritization, and building clinical judgment over time. Their NCLEX-RN pass rates are strong... about 97.2% on average, which is comfortably above California’s 2024 state average of 92.7%.

Updated: 05 Oct, 2013

California State University - Bakersfield Nursing Department is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) for the BSN program. The baccalaureate nursing program at CSUB is accredited by the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education.

The Department of Nursing now offers a 3-year/9-quarter program. Students accepted to this program will have summers off. This program does replace the 21-month/7-quarter program that was previously offered by CSUB.

The curriculum also incorporates courses in nursing theory, research and teaching to add depth to the core courses. The course on advanced nursing roles is also designed to help with planning future career and to facilitate transition to the expanded professional opportunities opened up by a MSN degree.

Admission Requirements

Complete the following prerequisites with a “C” or higher
Must have a grade point average (GPA) of 2.8 or greater in all Prerequisite and Math/Science Prerequisite
Course work (two separate GPAs will be evaluated).
Must be in good standing at the last college/university attended.
Must have no more than 5 general education courses outstanding or in-progress at the time the application is submitted.
Be admitted to California State University, Bakersfield.
Have an active California RN license.
Have a current CPR certification from the American Heart Association.
Must have a computer with internet access and a current email address.
Must have the ability to travel to Bakersfield for the pre-acceptance interview and to complete the on campus orientation, background check, and required clinical hours as assigned.
Have completed an Associate Degree in Nursing (A.D.N.) from an accredited college nursing program

Graduates from all tracks are eligible to sit for the national certification examination administered by the National Board on Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists.

Updated: 31 Jul, 2024

Nursing program is currently closed. No applications are being accepted at this time, and no classes will be offered for 2011-2012 or 2012-2013. A decision about the future of the MSN program will be made during the 2012-2013 academic year. BRN approval and CCNE accreditation for the MSN program have been voluntarily withdrawn due to the program's closure.

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs have not been affected by the status of the MSN program. Applications for the Traditional BSN program and the RN to BSN Completion program will continue to be accepted as usual. The BSN program continues to enjoy BRN approval and CCNE accreditation.