Question CSULB versus CSUF for Entry-Level

Is there anyone out there who is currently in the CSULB EL-MSN program? I would really appreciate any input about this school, this program, their facilities, faculty, students, anything! Thank you!

Hello K8star,

My classmate is in the CSULB EL-MSN program. She just got her RN at the beginning of this semester. I am not in the program but finished my 1st yr. at the school's MSN program. 3 more years to go. I really like the faculty. The research and patho/pharm professors are excellent. The students are hard workers. The school seems like a laid-back school, but don't let that fool you. I believe she is away on vacation, If you need more info.please send me a PM for details. I had tons of questions and she helped me out. CSUF Fresno or Fullerton? Fresno only has a El-MSN for CNS program. Friends say it's tough, but they get through it. I don't know anything about Fullerton.

Good luck in your application process.

Hello. I need to edit what I posted. I realize that it didn't make sense regarding El-MSN. For Fresno, the El-MSN, you end up getting a CNS degree for the program. That's what I meant to say. Sorry about confusion.

Spring2007: I was wondering if you know anything else about the CSU Fresno ELMN program. I have applied for it this year and am hoping to get more a sense of what it is like.

I was also wondering if anyone has any input on CSUF vs. CSULB for entry level master's program. I'm trying to decide between the two. I thought CSULB would be a better choice since it is a better ranked school and is fairly flexible on letting their students complete the NP route after the BSN coursework is completed (not sure if this is true). CSUF, on the other hand, is a 36 month MSN program leading to the CNL role (with possibility of switching to nurse midwife)...but CSULB doesn't offer much aid for postbac/5th years for the first year and a half....and CSUF would have a much better financial aid package since it is a Master's program.

It'd be nice to have some feedback from someone who's in the CSULB or CSUF El-MSN program. Any thoughts? I have to make a decision to accept/decline to CSUF by 4/23 so any help would be greatly appreciated!

Hey yxh0016,

I was curious which school you had decided to go to. I've been having a very similiar dilemma. It's tough! Good luck.

Hi Lynn: From what I could tell, there are pros and cons to each program. Pro CSULB - grants BSN, finishes BSN in 16 months (as opposed to 18 for RN exam at CSUF), grants CNS, grants NP in many different fields, great area (beach weather!). Con CSULB - impersonal staff, lower financial aid (first 16 months are counted as postbac and not graduate).

Pro CSUF - personable staff/profs, graduate status (more financial aid), opportunity for Nurse Midwife, familiarity with CSUF clinical sites and possible leg up in application to CRNA program, excellent pre-health sciences advising so a good place to take pre-reqs for CRNA program if you can squeeze them in. Cons: does not grant BSN, takes 2 months longer than LB to obtain RN license, no NP/CNS or other advance degree programs for EL-MSN candidates except for Nurse Midwife - but it seems like they STRONGLY encourage all El-MSN students to become CNL.

I ended up being disqualified for CSULB since they rejected my chem class. So it's CSUF by default for me. I think both programs can be equally rewarding depending on your future career goals in nursing. If NP, then I would go CSULB (and CSULA!), if CRNA/Midwife, then CSUF.

If you are an EL-MSN at CSU Fullerton, you can only get a general masters with a concentration in leadership. I called Fullerton to ask if EL-MSN people could have concentration in another area, such as mid-wifery and they said no, only leadership. This is not an advance nurse specialty. If you want to be an advance practice nurse, you will have to go back to school for a post-masters certificate program. If you are not worried about becoming an advance-practice nurse, then Fullerton seems like a more enjoyable experience. I like Fullerton more, because the staff seems amazingly nice and helpful. CSULB seems to have very rude people, old buildings and equipment. Whereas Fullerton has new, state of the art labs. It really comes down to the fact that CSULB offers BSN with public health certificate and MSN with CNS status in about the same amount of time. This is an advance practice certificate. My main concern would be about the changes being implemented to make nursing students have a doctoral degree to earn advance practice certificates in 2015. I would want to get advance status now, before those changes are made. Although I have not read everything on it, just throwing out some info I came across.

The changes in 2015 might be only for NP's, not sure though.