Accredited
Hybrid
On-campus
Online
Public
ASN/ADN BSN RN-to-BSN Other
- Accreditations ACEN
- Location(s) California
- Telephone 1-661-362-3557
- Request Information
College of the Canyons, founded in 1969 and commonly referred to as COC, is a public two-year community college that is part of the Santa Clarita Community College District.
Associate Degree in Nursing – Registered Nurse (RN)
The Associate Degree in Nursing at COC is a two year registered nursing program. Graduates will receive the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). After graduation, students are eligible to take the NCLEX nursing exam. After successfully passing the exam, individuals can then seek RN licensure, practice and work in any of the 50 States.
Criteria For Entering the ADN Program (not all inclusive)
To be considered for entrance, all prerequisites and previous nursing courses must be completed with a 2.5 GPA or higher. Completing the prerequisites, however, does not assure admission into the program.
Students will be admitted to the program based on their scholastic eligibility and placement on a nursing assessment test. Currently, this is a 62% (TEAS V) composite score based on the California Community College Chancellor's Office recommendation.
To be more competitive and increase his or her chances for admission, students are encouraged to:
- Complete all courses without repeating or withdrawing
- Minimum of a 3.0 GPA in all Biology courses
- Minimum of a 3.0 GPA in all English courses
- Minimum of a 2.5 cumulative GPA
Licensed Vocational Nurse to Registered Nurse (LVN to RN)
The LVN to RN Career Ladder Program is currently not being offered.
Veteran's Challenge
Students who want to enter the nursing program and have a background in Military Health Care Occupations, specifically: Basic Medical Technician Corpsman (Navy HM or Air Force BMTCP), Army Healthcare Specialist (68W Army Medic) or Air Force Independent Duty Medical Technician (IMDT 4N0X1C) may advance into placement into N114 of the nursing program. Applicants must submit official documentation of education and experience qualifying for the specific Military Health Care Occupation.
Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN)
Right now, the COC Nursing program has partnerships with local universities to offer students in the current nursing program the opportunity to take classes for their BSN in nursing concurrently while working on the ADN degree.
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) can be completed in a year after completing the College of the Canyons Nursing program and successfully passing the NCLEX RN licensing exam.
The CCNE accredited universities include:
- California State University, Dominquez Hills
- California State University, Los Angeles
- California State University, Northridge
- Concordia University-Irvine
- National University
NOTICE: The recent decision by California State University, Northridge to close their Accelerated BSN (ABSN) program will not impact those students in the COC/CSUN Collaborative ADN/BSN Program. The ABSN program is for students who already have a bachelor's degree.
National Rankings
College of the Canyons (COC) has been ranked as one of the top colleges in the nation and No. 1 in Southern California for adult students by Washington Monthly magazine (2018-2019).
PayScale's 2016-17 College Salary Report ranked College of the Canyons in the top-15 community colleges by alumni salary potential.
Washington Monthly magazine's first-ever ranking of "Best Two-Year Colleges for Adult Learner" ranked College of the Canyons among the top 25 schools (2016).
Accreditation and Approval
The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc., (ACEN) accredited the College of the Canyons.
College of the Canyons is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC), Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
The COC Nursing programs are approved by the California Board of Registered Nurses.