ADN to MSN Programs in Southern California 2026

<h2 id="section---CaliforniaStateUniversityDominguezHills">California State University - Dominguez Hills</h2><p>Registered nurses who hold an ADN and a non-nursing bachelor's degree can pursue a Master of Science in Nursing through the MSN pathway program at California State University - Dominguez Hills. Students will complete around 20 credit hours of undergraduate coursework and can then move into the MSN curriculum. The program is offered online and allows students to specialize in adult/gerontology clinical nurse specialist (43 credit hours), neonatal clinical nurse specialist (43 credit hours), pediatric clinical nurse specialist (43 credit hours), family nurse practitioner (48 credit hours), nurse administrator (30 credit hours), or nurse educator (36 credit hours). </p><h2 id="section---CaliforniaStateUniversityStanislaus">California State University - Stanislaus</h2><p>California State University at Stanislaus offers a BRIDGE program to registered nurses with an ADN and a non-nursing bachelor's degree so they can earn a Master of Science in Nursing. The program consists of four bridge courses that must be completed prior to beginning the MSN coursework. Students can then concentrate their master's degree in gerontological nursing (37 credit hours), nursing administration (36 credit hours), or nursing education (36 credit hours). </p><h2 id="section---NationalUniversity">National University</h2><p>Graduates of an ADN program can earn a Master of Science in Nursing through National University's RN-to-MSN pathway. Registered nurses with an ADN and at least one year of qualifying nursing experience will complete one course (six credits) as a bridge to the MSN, while those who have an ADN without prior nursing experience will be required to complete six bridge courses (25.5 credit hours). After completing their bridge courses, students can move on to the MSN core courses (27 credit hours) and then one of the following concentrations: family nurse practitioner (55.5 credit hours), nursing administration (22.5 credit hours), nursing informatics (22.5 credit hours), or psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (lifespan, 55.5 credit hours). </p><h2 id="section---PointLomaNazareneUniversity">Point Loma Nazarene University</h2><p>Registered nurses who have an ADN can pursue a Master of Science in Nursing at Point Loma Nazarene University in around 31 months. Students will first complete three bridge courses (11 credit hours) before moving on to the graduate coursework. The MSN program can be generalized (38-39 credit hours) or focused in one of the following areas: adult gerontology clinical nurse specialist (39 credit hours), business (32 credit hours), family/individual health clinical nurse specialist (39 credit hours), nursing education (32 credit hours), or pediatric clinical nurse specialist (39 credit hours). </p><h2 id="section---SanJoseStateUniversity">San Jose State University</h2><p>Registered nurses with an ADN and a non-nursing bachelor's degree can earn a Master of Science in Nursing from San Jose State University. Students may be initially accepted under conditional status until bridge courses have been completed (determined on a case-by-case basis). Students can focus their MSN program in either nurse educator (36 credit hours) or family nurse practitioner (42 credit hours). </p><h2 id="section---WesternUniversityOfHealthSciences">Western University of Health Sciences</h2><p>Western University of Health Sciences has an ADN-to-MSN program that allows registered nurses with an Associate's Degree in Nursing to directly pursue their Master of Science in Nursing. The program offers a flexible hybrid format and can be concentrated in ambulatory care nursing (50 credit hours), health systems leadership - administrative nurse leader (49 credit hours), or health systems leadership - clinical nurse leader (56 credit hours). </p><p></p><table border="1"><tr><th>School Name </th><th>Programs Offered </th><th>Average Graduate Tuition (2018-2019)*</th></tr> <tr><td>California Baptist University </td><td>ADN-to-MSN <br/>*Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist <br/>*Family Nurse Practitioner <br/>*Healthcare Systems Management <br/>*Nursing Informatics <br/>*Teaching-Learning Nursing </td><td>$13,420</td></tr> <tr><td>California State University - Dominguez Hills </td><td>RN-to-MSN <br/>*Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist<br/>*Family Nurse Practitioner <br/>*Neonatal Clinical Nurse Specialist <br/>*Nurse Administrator <br/>*Nurse Educator <br/>*Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist</td><td>$7,176 in-state <br/>$16,680 out-of-state</td></tr> <tr><td>California State University - Stanislaus </td><td>BRIDGE MSN <br/>*Gerontological Nursing <br/>*Nursing Administration <br/>*Nursing Education </td><td>$7,176 in-state <br/>$16,680 out-of-state</td></tr> <tr><td>National University </td><td>RN-to-MSN <br/>*Family Nurse Practitioner <br/>*Nursing Administration <br/>*Nursing Informatics <br/>*Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner </td><td>$15,480</td></tr> <tr><td>Point Loma Nazarene University </td><td>RN-to-MSN <br/>*Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist <br/>*Business <br/>*Family/Individual Health Clinical Nurse Specialist <br/>*Generalized/Custom <br/>*Nursing Education <br/>*Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist </td><td>$11,520</td></tr> <tr><td>San Jose State University </td><td>RN-Entry MSN <br/>*Family Nurse Practitioner <br/>*Nurse Educator </td><td>$7,176 in-state <br/>$16,680 out-of-state</td></tr> <tr><td>Western University of Health Sciences </td><td>ADN-to-MSN <br/>*Ambulatory Care Nursing <br/>*Health Systems Leadership - Administrative Nurse Leader <br/>*Health Systems Leadership - Clinical Nurse Leader </td><td>$22,489</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *National Center for Education Statistics</i> </p><p>Graduates of ADN programs can pursue a Master of Science in Nursing at one of several schools in Southern California. Most programs require students to complete some undergraduate bridge work and allow them to select an area of concentration, such as pediatrics, nursing education, or family practice.</p>