About California State University-Fullerton
California State University-Fullerton is a public university in Fullerton, California, in a large suburb. It enrolls roughly 38,550 undergraduates. The federal student-to-faculty ratio is about 26 to 1.
Nursing programs at California State University-Fullerton
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 333 bachelor’s-level nursing graduates, about 31 master’s-level nursing graduates, and about 54 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 $8,000 a year for in-state students and $21,300 for out-of-state students. The average net price (what students receiving federal aid pay after grants and scholarships) is about $5,100 a year. About 53% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Students who finish the bachelor’s level and borrow leave with median federal loan debt of about $12,500. Federal earnings data puts median pay for those bachelor’s-level nursing graduates at roughly $110,300 one year after finishing and $119,400 four years out. These are estimates for graduates with reported earnings, not a promise. Schoolwide, about 68% 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 91% overall), but that does not mean a nursing seat is guaranteed. Admission to the nursing major or program is often a separate, competitive step with prerequisites, minimum grades, and capped enrollment. Check deadlines with the nursing department, and read our nursing school requirements guide to prepare. To work as a nurse in California, graduates apply for a license with the California Board of Registered Nursing (for RN licensure) or the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (for LVN licensure) and pass the NCLEX. Before you commit, verify the program’s ACEN or CCNE accreditation and state approval, and compare it with other options on our California nursing schools page.
Figures come from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and can change. Confirm current details with the school.
