Top ABSN Programs in Los Angeles in 2024

9 Min Read Published August 23, 2024
ABSN Programs in LA

If you’re an aspiring nurse in Los Angeles with a bachelor's degree, an accelerated BSN might be the right path for you. This guide to ABSN programs in Los Angeles, California lays out all your program options. 

Popular Online RN-to-BSN Programs

Sponsored
Purdue Global

At Purdue Global, discover a faster, more affordable way to earn your Nursing degree. Purdue Global is committed to keeping your tuition costs as low as possible and helping you find the most efficient path to your degree.

Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required

Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.

Western Governors University

WGU's award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE accredited, nonprofit university offering nursing bachelor's and master's degrees.

Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required

Enrollment: Nationwide

Grand Canyon University
GCU’s RN-BSN program is tailored to meet the needs of the RN adult learner and to maximize the strengths that the working RN already possesses. Transfer up to 90 credits and earn a BSN in as little as 12 months. GCU’s online classes allow you to study at the times that work for your schedule while still enjoying a close connection with your classmates and instructor via online discussions.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required

Enrollment: Nationwide

The University of Texas at Arlington
The University of Texas at Arlington’s online programs are designed to help you achieve more in your nursing practice with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. They offer convenient, flexible options for completing your RN to BSN or BSN online, both designed to fit into your busy schedule.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required

Enrollment: Nationwide

Liberty University
At Liberty, you’ll benefit from 30+ years of learning, growing, adapting, and innovating for the distance learner — and more than a decade of researching the needs of the online student. You can be confident that we’ve taken the time to learn what’s important to you.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required

Enrollment: Nationwide

How to Earn an ABSN in Los Angeles

To earn your ABSN, you’ll first need a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field. Then, you’ll need to apply to both a university and the university’s ABSN program (some schools require separate applications for both). 

You’ll also want to be sure you have any prerequisites the program requires, like an admission test or recent chemistry and microbiology courses. After successful admission, you’ll be qualified to sit for the NCLEX exam to become a registered nurse. 

Nurses Helping Nurses: Why You Can Trust Nurse.org

As the leading educational website for nurses by nurses, Nurse.org is committed to editorial integrity and data-driven analysis. We independently research schools and products for nurses and strive to write recommendations that genuinely reflect our true opinion of the product or service. Where relevant, our recommendations may incorporate feedback from 500,000+ nurses in our social communities.

✔ Evaluated 1,100+ accredited nursing school programs using the latest U.S. government data sets. Learn more about our ranking methodology

✔ Content written by 80+ licensed, practicing nurses who are experts in their respective specialties. Learn more about our nurse contributors.

✔ Connected 1,500,000+ nurses to educational programs since 2020.

ABSN Programs in Los Angeles

Want to attend nursing school in sunny LA? Los Angeles offers several ABSN programs that have the convenience of being hybrid for students who need some online flexibility as they attend school. Here are two top choices for ABSN programs in LA. 

1. California State University

  • Location: Los Angeles, California
  • Program Cost: $595 per credit hour
  • Program Length: 15 months
  • School Type: Public
  • Online Options Available? Hybrid

Apply the prior fall for a summer program start in June that lasts 15 months, and you could be on your way to a new job as an RN. The program only runs once a year, so it is competitive. There are several prerequisite classes, including critical thinking, human anatomy, microbiology, and chemistry – all with labs. Prospective students can also attend virtual informational sessions for more information before deciding to apply. 

2. Mount Saint Mary’s University 

  • Location: Los Angeles, California
  • Program Cost: $23,799
  • Program Length: 12 months
  • School Type: Private
  • Online Options Available? Hybrid

40 students are admitted into Mount Saint Mary University’s ABSN program each term, and the school says students can expect to spend approximately 40 hours a week working on-site for clinicals or in coursework. Weekend work is also required, and there are 11 prerequisite classes needed for application, so prospective students are encouraged to check with the admission team to ensure all qualifications are met. 

Popular Online RN-to-BSN Programs

Sponsored
Purdue Global

At Purdue Global, discover a faster, more affordable way to earn your Nursing degree. Purdue Global is committed to keeping your tuition costs as low as possible and helping you find the most efficient path to your degree.

Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required

Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.

Western Governors University

WGU's award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE accredited, nonprofit university offering nursing bachelor's and master's degrees.

Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required

Enrollment: Nationwide

Grand Canyon University
GCU’s RN-BSN program is tailored to meet the needs of the RN adult learner and to maximize the strengths that the working RN already possesses. Transfer up to 90 credits and earn a BSN in as little as 12 months. GCU’s online classes allow you to study at the times that work for your schedule while still enjoying a close connection with your classmates and instructor via online discussions.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required

Enrollment: Nationwide

The University of Texas at Arlington
The University of Texas at Arlington’s online programs are designed to help you achieve more in your nursing practice with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. They offer convenient, flexible options for completing your RN to BSN or BSN online, both designed to fit into your busy schedule.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required

Enrollment: Nationwide

Liberty University
At Liberty, you’ll benefit from 30+ years of learning, growing, adapting, and innovating for the distance learner — and more than a decade of researching the needs of the online student. You can be confident that we’ve taken the time to learn what’s important to you.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required

Enrollment: Nationwide

What to Expect in an ABSN Program in Los Angeles

Like other ABSN programs in the country, the programs in Los Angeles are competitive and fast-paced. However, both of the programs are hybrid, which is good for students with busy schedules who don’t want to fight LA traffic every day.

Los Angeles ABSN Tuition 

Tuition for ABSN programs in Los Angeles costs between $23,779 and $31,535. Your tuition will vary depending on the program’s location, public vs. private school status, and in-person vs. online attendance.

Admission Requirements

Each university has its own specific admissions standards. However, every ABSN program in Los Angeles requires a non-nursing bachelor's degree.

Other common admission requirements for accelerated nursing programs in Los Angeles include:

  • Non-nursing bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Prerequisites (e.g., Statistics or Anatomy & Physiology)
  • Personal statement
  • TEAS examination
  • Letter(s) of recommendation
  • Transcripts 
  • Application fee
  • Admissions interview 
  • Resume/CV

How Hard Are Los Angeles ABSN Programs?

Los Angeles boasts some of the top ABSN programs nationwide. With only two programs and small class sizes, admission to these schools is extremely competitive. The curriculums are challenging, and the fast pace makes it important to devote your full effort and attention to your studies. 

Despite the challenges, earning an ABSN in Los Angeles has its perks. With high wages, great weather, and well-known hospitals, Los Angeles is a great place to work and learn.

How Long is an Accelerated BSN Program in Los Angeles?

Accelerated BSN programs in Los Angeles typically take 12 to 15 months to complete. These programs have a set progression plan that students must follow to graduate.

Working as a Nurse in Los Angeles

BSN Salary in Los Angeles

The median annual RN salary nationwide is $86,070 or $41.38 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). RNs in Los Angeles earn well above this average, bringing in $121,440 annually or $58.39 an hour.

ZipRecruiter reports the average salary for BSN nurses is $62 an hour, while ADNs earn $31 an hour.

Career Outlook

Los Angeles is home to 123,940 registered nurses. The BLS reports that all RN jobs will grow by 6% from 2022 to 2023, faster than the average for all other occupations. This growth equates to 177,400 openings for registered nurses each year.

BSN Jobs in Los Angeles

Nurses can work in a large variety of locations depending on their interests. The largest and most common employer of nurses is hospitals.  Other possible job locations include:

  • Ambulatory healthcare services
  • Government agencies
  • Academia
  • Medical and aesthetic spas
  • Outpatient clinics
  • Long-term care facilities
  • Private practice
  • Surgery centers
  • Urgent care centers
  • Retirement facilities
  • Mental health facilities

Next Steps

With a non-nursing bachelor's degree, you can achieve your dream nursing career with a timely and affordable ABSN program in Los Angeles. These degrees allow qualified non-nurses to enter the workforce in 12-15 months at a fraction of the cost of traditional BSNs

Accelerated nursing programs in Los Angeles offer hybrid options, multiple start dates, and hands-on practice in clinical settings. If you're ready to become a nurse in LA, these programs may be exactly what you need. 

For more information on earning an ABSN, check out these resources:

Popular Online RN-to-BSN Programs

Sponsored
Purdue Global

At Purdue Global, discover a faster, more affordable way to earn your Nursing degree. Purdue Global is committed to keeping your tuition costs as low as possible and helping you find the most efficient path to your degree.

Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required

Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.

Western Governors University

WGU's award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE accredited, nonprofit university offering nursing bachelor's and master's degrees.

Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required

Enrollment: Nationwide

The University of Texas at Arlington
The University of Texas at Arlington’s online programs are designed to help you achieve more in your nursing practice with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. They offer convenient, flexible options for completing your RN to BSN or BSN online, both designed to fit into your busy schedule.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required

Enrollment: Nationwide

Grand Canyon University
GCU’s RN-BSN program is tailored to meet the needs of the RN adult learner and to maximize the strengths that the working RN already possesses. Transfer up to 90 credits and earn a BSN in as little as 12 months. GCU’s online classes allow you to study at the times that work for your schedule while still enjoying a close connection with your classmates and instructor via online discussions.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required

Enrollment: Nationwide

Liberty University
At Liberty, you’ll benefit from 30+ years of learning, growing, adapting, and innovating for the distance learner — and more than a decade of researching the needs of the online student. You can be confident that we’ve taken the time to learn what’s important to you.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required

Enrollment: Nationwide

FAQs

  • How many ABSN programs are in Los Angeles?
    • There are currently two accredited ABSN programs in Los Angeles. 
  • How much do ABSN programs in Los Angeles cost?
    • ABSN programs in Los Angeles range in price from roughly $23,779 and $31,535., depending on the program. 
  • How long are ABSN programs in Los Angeles? 
    • ABSN programs last 12-15 months in Los Angeles. 
  • How many nurses are in Los Angeles?
    • Currently, there are 332,560 registered nurses employed in Los Angeles.
  • How much do nurses in Los Angeles make?
    • Nurses in Los Angeles earn roughly $121,440 annually.
Chaunie Brusie
BSN, RN
Chaunie Brusie
Nurse.org Contributor

Chaunie Brusie, BSN, RN is a nurse-turned-writer with experience in critical care, long-term care, and labor and delivery. Her work has appeared everywhere from Glamor to The New York Times to The Washington Post. Chaunie lives with her husband and five kids in the middle of a hay field in Michigan and you can find more of her work here

Read More From Chaunie
Go to the top of page