CSULA vs UCLA Entry Level Masters?

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  1. CSULA or UCLA?

    • 15
      CSULA
    • 15
      UCLA

30 members have participated

Hi everyone,

If you could pick between CSULA or UCLA's entry level master's program, which would you pick and why?

Here are some highlights from each:

UCLA:

- 2-year MSN program

- RN license (and CNL certification)

- NCLEX pass rate: around 91-92%

- sounds more prestigious

CSULA:

- 15-month program for BSN + guaranteed entry to MSN program

- many options for MSN, including NP, admin, education

- NCLEX pass rate: usually 100%

I just learned today that I was accepted to both schools. I thought my first choice was CSULA, but the UCLA acceptance really came as a surprise to me and now I feel on the fence. Any input would be much appreciated, thanks!

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Congrats. And I think it really depends what you want to do. If you want to be a NP, then you should go to CSULA. If that doesn't matter to you, then I would choose UCLA. That's how I see it. Both are good schools.

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You will still have to go for your masters if you go with CSULA so it will take longer as for if you go to UCLA you will get a masters in clinical nursing. Once you have a masters you can go into a post-masters program afterwards. I would go with UCLA.

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Do you want to be a nurse or a nurse practitioner? If you want to be a nurse practitioner I would say CSULA.

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Honestly, I just want to get my BSN and be a bedside RN. It makes me happy to take care of people, and moving "up the ladder" or whatever really doesn't concern me much. In that sense, CSULA's 15-month BSN is perfect for me. I'll graduate 12 months sooner and it's about $20k less than UCLA's program.

However! :sniff: However, there's no doubt that UCLA sounds more prestigious. I got my BS there, and I see how people react when I say I went to UCLA. And if for any reason in the future, I do decide to pursue a specialty/another graduate nursing degree, I assume it'll be easier to get in with UCLA nursing on my resume. (Please correct me if I'm wrong, because I'd love to be wrong on this!)

As for the licensure portion of the programs, I can't help but raise my eyebrow my UCLA's 90% NCLEX pass rate. With no interview process, I guess I shouldn't be too surprised. Some of the undergrads at UCLA make me wonder how they ever made it through high school...

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Specializes in Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner.

I also got accepted to both schools. I assume you're on the FB page for the CSULA 2014 cohort?

I'm still sticking with CSULA bc my goal is to be an NP. I don't want to be bedside nurse. If you have absolutely no aspirations to move up and beyond, go with UCLA. It is the better choice overall. It may be more expensive, but I do know that UCLA grads have a better chance getting hired after graduating than other applicants. You also get to do clinicals at Ronald Reagan, the highest rated hospital west of the Mississippi.

Make no mistake, I will wait until the last second to reject UCLA, bc it is so tempting--I know how you feel--but I have to go with where I want to be in the future.

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Jumping in the conversation here, even though I didn't apply to CSULA, I am deciding between UCLA and another direct entry NP program that I've already sent a deposit to. My goal is to be a NP, eventually, but I am torn between thinking I should do a direct entry program and be a NP in 3 years, or take more time, work as a RN for awhile, and gain some "real" experience. Has anyone done much research on post-masters certificates? I've done a little on UCLA's, which is about $50K total for tuition and is a "self-supporting program"--not exactly sure what that means. I really dont know what to do. Wish UCLA had given us more than 10 days to decide!

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Specializes in Family Nursing & Psychiatry.

UCLA, no question.

Matthew, RN

UCLA FNP 2016

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People stop listening to anything else after they hear I went to UCLA. That is what they comment about. If that makes that kind of an impression in most circles, there is something to be said for name recognition. A classmate that went to Harvard practically had roses thrown in front of her path at the nursing program I attended. I know that reputation isn't everything, but it should not be discounted either.

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