Saddleback College - Nursing Programs

Saddleback College in Mission Viejo offers two nursing pathways: a traditional Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and an LVN to ADN option. The ADN is structured as a full-time, cohort program completed in four semesters (Fall and Spring only, no summer term), with students moving through courses in sequence. The program reports accepting 60 students each cycle (Spring and Fall), and lectures for nursing core courses are held in person on campus on Wednesdays, with additional on-campus simulation and skills days scheduled during the week.

The ADN program was established in 1971 and is accredited by ACEN and the California Board of Registered Nursing, which is the approval required for graduates to be eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN. Recent admission updates include a planned transition from ATI TEAS (Version 7) to the HESI A2 entrance exam for Spring 2027 applications. Clinical placements are assigned by the program, and Saddleback notes that clinical sites are located within Orange County; schedules, including the possibility of weekend clinical days, vary by placement.

From a budgeting standpoint, Saddleback publishes a nursing-program cost estimate across the four semesters. Approximate totals include about $2,525 for semester one (including background/drug screening, compliance tracking, titers and immunizations, uniforms and equipment, and course-related costs), then about $1,061, $1,167, and $1,618 for semesters two through four, for an estimated program total of $6,372 excluding NCLEX licensing fees (listed separately at about $600 after graduation). The college also lists an enrollment fee of $46 per unit and, for non-residents, an additional $450 per unit.

Campus instruction takes place at 28000 Marguerite Parkway in Mission Viejo, in South Orange County. For commuting, most students reach campus via the I-5 corridor and nearby major arterials, and clinical travel depends on the assigned Orange County site.

On licensure outcomes, Saddleback’s average weighted NCLEX-RN pass rate is 98.6%, which is above the 2024 California state average of 92.7%.

Updated on: 27 Jan, 2026

The Saddleback College Registered Nursing Program is a National League for Nursing (NLNAC) and Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) accredited Program.

The program is intended to provide the education necessary to develop competent nursing practitioners as a base for the continuing development of the student. Students who complete the nursing program allow the student to sit for the State of California NCLEX examination to be licensed as a Registered Nurse.

Admission Requirements:

18 years old or older
Complete application for Saddleback College to obtain a student ID to apply to the RN program
Submit official transcripts from other colleges/universities other than Saddleback for pre-requisite courses and nursing curriculum courses
Completion with a 2.8 GPA or better in the following science pre-requisites: BIO 11, BIO 12, BIO 15.
Completion of English 1A or the equivalent with a “C” or better
TEAS score 62% and above

Attending one of the two information sessions offered every semester, is highly recommended (but not mandatory) for all applicants. Dates for information sessions are posted on the website.

Applications deadlines are 15th-30th June for Spring enrollment and February for Fall enrollment.

Students accepted into the Saddleback College Associate Degree Nursing Program requires background checks as required by the Joint for clinical practice in health care facilities that are required to maintain criminal background checks for students and volunteers involved in patient care.

Students also need to have a physical examination within three months of the date of admission into the nursing program.

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NCLEX-RN Pass Rates

Accreditations

Nursing Programs Accreditations

Nursing (ADNUR) - Associate degree programs Accredited by Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. (Formerly: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission)