Saddleback College

Program Length & Format

• Two-year Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program, four semesters (Fall and Spring only; no summer sessions)
• Full-time program; students must complete semesters in sequence (no skipping semesters)
• Lecture: on-campus Wednesdays; simulation on campus approximately two days per week; clinical days vary by assignment
• Cohort size: 60 students admitted per application cycle (Fall and Spring)

Admission Requirements

• Minimum age: 18 years at time of admission
• Must possess a valid Social Security card or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)
• All prerequisite courses must be completed and grades reflected on transcripts at time of application
• Science prerequisites must have grades of C or better and a cumulative science GPA of at least 2.8 (no rounding)
• English 1A (Principles of Composition) or equivalent with grade C or better required

Entrance Exams

• ATI TEAS Version 7 required for current application cycles; minimum score to qualify: 62%
• ATI TEAS official score report required (preliminary reports not accepted); official scores released 2–3 days after testing
• Program will require HESI A2 for Spring 2027 applications (transition effective for Spring 2027 application cycle)
• Recommended timing: take TEAS/HESI after completing Anatomy, Microbiology, Physiology, English, and Algebra or higher

Prerequisites

• Required courses: BIO 11 Human Anatomy (4 units); BIO 12 Human Physiology (4 units; must be completed within 7 years of application); BIO 15 General Microbiology (5 units); ENG 1A English Composition (4 units)
• Total prerequisite units listed: 17
• Science labs: online science courses accepted only for 2020–2022 pandemic period; otherwise science labs must be in person or hybrid with in-person lab

Deadlines

• Fall 2026 application period: February 1, 2026 12:00 a.m. through February 15, 2026 11:59 p.m.
• Next application period (for Spring 2027): July 1–15, 2026
• Typical application cycles: twice per year (February and July)
• Spring 2026 admission point cutoffs: initial offer at 80 points; final cut-off 75 points

Application

• Application submitted online via Submittable during open application window
• Must first apply to Saddleback College and obtain student ID before nursing application
• Documents to upload: unofficial transcripts for prerequisites and relevant coursework; official TEAS (or HESI when required) score report; proof of second language proficiency (if claiming points); copy of valid healthcare license and employer verification letter (if applicable)
• Official, sealed transcripts from colleges/universities (excluding Saddleback and IVC) must be submitted to Admissions & Records before applying

Selection Process

• Selection based on a 100-point Multi-Criteria ranking system; top 55–60 students invited each cycle
• Multi-Criteria maximum points by category: Science GPA 30; ATI TEAS 25; Relevant nursing coursework 20; Work experience (LVN, LPT, CNA, EMT-P, EMT, Respiratory Therapist) 15; Academic degree 5; Life experience 3; Second language proficiency 2
• Tie-breaker order: 1) completion of relevant nursing coursework, 2) science prerequisite GPA, 3) overall ATI TEAS score, 4) work experience

Wait List Policies

• Program does not maintain a traditional waiting list; an alternate list is used
• Approximately 25–30 alternate candidates invited per cycle
• Alternates must accept or decline within the designated response time and complete the same onboarding requirements as accepted students to remain on the alternate list
• Students may decline admission one time; declination requires reapplication in a future cycle

Cost & Financial Aid

• Approximate program total (excluding NCLEX fees): $6,372.25 (itemized semester estimates provided by program)
• Enrollment fee: $46 per unit; non-resident tuition additional $450 per unit (includes $400 non-resident tuition + $50 capital outlay fee)
• Typical additional items: background/drug test, compliance tracker, liability insurance, immunizations/titers, standardized testing/HESI fees, parking permit, uniforms, equipment, BLS/CPR
• Financial aid and scholarships: students encouraged to apply through Saddleback College Financial Aid and Foundation scholarship processes

Clinical & Simulation Lab

• Clinical placements assigned by program; all clinical sites located within Orange County; students cannot choose clinical sites
• Lecture schedule: Wednesdays on-campus; simulation days on campus approximately two days per week; skills lab required prior to clinicals
• Course clinical hours (selected): N 170 clinical 224.1 hours; N 172 clinical 249 hours; N 176 clinical 249 hours
• Simulation facilities: skills lab and high-fidelity simulation lab used for clinical skills practice and debriefing (locations: HS 112 for skills lab; HS 141 for simulation, per program facilities list)

Credit Transfer

• Unofficial transcripts may be uploaded with the Submittable application; official, sealed transcripts must be submitted to Admissions & Records prior to application evaluation
• AP scores accepted for course credit if submitted
• International transcripts require third-party evaluation by an approved agency (NACES member list referenced by program)

International Students

• International transcripts must be evaluated by an approved third-party credential evaluation service
• Applicants must possess a valid Social Security card or ITIN to allow for required background check and eligibility for NCLEX licensure processing

Contacts

• Nursing general email: [email protected]; main nursing phone: (949) 582-4701
• Madeline Nguyen, Program Assistant: [email protected]; (949) 582-6234
• Diana Ramos, Program Specialist: [email protected]; (949) 582-4266
• Dr. Anne Lawson, Assistant Dean: [email protected]; (949) 582-4792