About California State University-Fresno
California State University-Fresno is a public university in Fresno, California, in a large city. It enrolls roughly 21,600 undergraduates. The federal student-to-faculty ratio is about 22 to 1.
Nursing programs at California State University-Fresno
Federal completion data shows nursing credentials awarded at these levels: bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN), master’s degree in nursing (MSN), and doctoral degree in nursing (DNP). In the most recent reporting year, the school reported about 142 bachelor’s-level nursing graduates, about 17 master’s-level nursing graduates, and about 5 doctoral-level nursing graduates. A bachelor’s program is the traditional four-year route to RN licensure and the usual starting point for later graduate study; see our ADN vs. BSN guide if you are still deciding on a degree level. Graduate options (MSN and DNP) are aimed at licensed nurses moving into advanced practice, leadership, or teaching.
Cost and student outcomes
Published tuition and fees are about $8,200 a year for in-state students and $21,500 for out-of-state students. The average net price (what students receiving federal aid pay after grants and scholarships) is about $5,400 a year. About 62% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Students who finish the bachelor’s level and borrow leave with median federal loan debt of about $12,100. Federal earnings data puts median pay for those bachelor’s-level nursing graduates at roughly $102,000 one year after finishing and $111,300 four years out. These are estimates for graduates with reported earnings, not a promise. Schoolwide, about 58% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time and 82% return for a second year.
Applying and licensure
The school admits most applicants (about 95% overall), but that does not mean a nursing seat is guaranteed. Nursing programs usually add their own steps, such as prerequisite science courses, an entrance exam, a minimum GPA, and a limited number of seats, so contact the nursing department about current requirements. Our guide on how to get into nursing school walks through the typical process. Licensure runs through the California Board of Registered Nursing (for RN licensure) or the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (for LVN licensure), and graduates sit for the NCLEX. Confirm that the specific program holds ACEN or CCNE accreditation and is approved by the state before you enroll. Compare other schools on our nursing schools in California page.
Figures come from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and can change. Confirm current details with the school.
