Easiest Nursing Schools to Get Into in California (2026)

California nursing admissions have a reputation for being brutal, and at many campuses that reputation is earned. But the published floors are not uniform. A handful of programs list minimums at 2.5 or 2.75, several skip the entrance exam entirely, and a few admit freshmen directly with no separate nursing application. This guide ranks the most accessible published requirements as of July 2026.

The essential caveat: California programs are impacted, meaning applications far exceed seats. A published minimum gets your file read; it does not get you admitted. Admitted classes at most CSU campuses land far above the floor. Treat every number below as "as of July 2026, check the school's page for current numbers."

Before you build a list by hand, you can check your odds free against real California requirements.

How we ranked "easiest"

We pulled every California program in the Nursing School Planner with verified or published requirements, then sorted by:

1. Lowest published minimum cumulative GPA
2. Whether an entrance exam (TEAS) is required, with no-exam programs treated as more accessible

Most accessible California BSN programs by published requirements

1. California State University, Channel Islands (Camarillo): 2.5 GPA, TEAS

The lowest published GPA floor on our California list. CSUCI's traditional pre-licensure track lists a 2.5 minimum GPA with the TEAS required (no published minimum score). Admission runs through NursingCAS with a points-based supplemental ranking, so the floor is truly a floor: your prerequisite grades and TEAS still drive the ranking.

2. California State University, San Marcos (San Marcos): 2.75 GPA, TEAS around 71%

CSUSM publishes a 2.75 minimum GPA on its pre-nursing core and a TEAS around 71%. Note the structure: it is a direct-entry, transfer-based program, so you enter at university admission rather than applying later as a continuing student.

3. University of California, Irvine (Irvine): 3.0 GPA, no entrance exam

UC Irvine's Nursing Science BSN lists a 3.0 minimum GPA and explicitly requires no TEAS or HESI. The floor is friendly; the competition is not. Freshman cohorts are tiny (roughly 50 graduates per year), so treat UCI as a reach with an accessible published minimum.

4. California Baptist University (Riverside): 3.0 GPA, TEAS around 64%

CBU publishes a 3.0 cumulative GPA, a 2.8 science GPA, and a TEAS composite of 64%, one of the lowest firm TEAS bars in the state. A private option worth a look if your science GPA is solid.

5. Loma Linda University (Loma Linda): 3.0 GPA, TEAS required

Loma Linda lists a 3.0 cumulative and prerequisite GPA with the TEAS required but no minimum score published. A large faith-based health system school with multiple entry points per year.

6. Point Loma Nazarene University (San Diego): 3.0 GPA, no entrance exam

PLNU publishes a 3.0 cumulative GPA and no entrance exam, but read the fine print: it is a locked direct-entry major, so you must be admitted as a nursing major straight out of high school. Transfers are not currently accepted.

7. California State University, Stanislaus (Turlock): 3.0 GPA, TEAS around 70%

Stanislaus State lists 3.0 minimums (overall, science, and non-science) with a TEAS around 70%. Selection is points-based, and it awards extra points for things like a second language, healthcare experience, and living in the service area. If that describes you, your real odds are better than the raw numbers suggest.

Direct admission through general university admissions

Several California programs skip the separate nursing application entirely for freshmen:

• California State University, Fullerton: freshman-entry pathway with no entrance exam; admission is a holistic CSU review, and prerequisites are completed after you are in.
• University of San Francisco: direct-entry BSN for first-year students (3.3 GPA on file); USF states it does not require or review the TEAS.
• University of California, Los Angeles: freshman direct-entry with no published minimum GPA and no entrance exam, but with thousands of applicants for roughly 40 seats, it is one of the hardest admits in the country.

Direct admission is not the same thing as easy admission. It means the university's general admissions process is the gate, so your high school record carries the weight instead of a nursing-specific cutoff.

What the rest of California looks like

Most California programs cluster at a 3.0 to 3.25 published minimum, and several top publics stack a high TEAS on top: San Diego State wants a 3.2 GPA with a TEAS of 80, San Jose State lists a TEAS of 84, and Chico State pairs an 80% TEAS with the Casper test. Published floors on file range from 2.5 to 3.5. Compare the full field at all California nursing programs.

How to use this list well

• Assume the real bar is above the floor. Impacted programs rank applicants; minimums only qualify you.
• Points systems are your friend. Campuses like Stanislaus and CSUCI reward experience and local ties, not just GPA.
• Mix your list. Pair an accessible CSU with a private option and one reach.
• Verify every cycle. These numbers are current as of July 2026 and change often in California.

Next, read how to get into nursing school in California, what GPA you need for nursing school, and nursing schools that don't require the TEAS. Then see your odds free across every California program at once.

*This guide is for planning purposes only, not official admissions advice. Always confirm current requirements on each school's official admissions page before applying.*