Sacramento State's competitive Traditional Pre-Licensure BSN admits up to 80 students to clinical nursing each semester. Applicants apply to the University and then submit the School of Nursing's separate application. Eligible applicants are ranked on Nursing GPA, TEAS results and documented optional criteria. The program does not currently use Casper or an admissions interview.
- Program
- BS in Nursing (Pre-Licensure)
- Credential
- BSN
- Location
- Sacramento, California, United States
- Casper
- Not required
- Next deadline
- October 1, 2026 (School of Nursing supplemental application)
- Interview
- No interview
- Seats
- Up to 80 per semester
- Length
- Four clinical nursing semesters after pre-clinical preparation; 120 units total for the BS degree.
Casper Requirement for California State University, Sacramento Undergraduate Nursing
California State University, Sacramento Undergraduate Nursing does not require Casper for the 2026-2027 cycle.
Casper is not used for admission to the Traditional Pre-Licensure BSN program.
California State University, Sacramento Undergraduate Nursing Application Deadlines 2026-2027
- Apply through
- Cal State Apply, followed by Sacramento State's in-house School of Nursing supplemental application; NursingCAS is not used.
- Applications open
- Cal State Apply: 2026-07-01; School of Nursing supplemental application: 2026-09-01
- Application fee
- $70 Cal State Apply fee per campus, plus a $35 nonrefundable nursing evaluation fee; eligible applicants may receive a CSU application-fee waiver.
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Cal State Apply university application for spring nursing entry | September 15, 2026passed |
| School of Nursing supplemental application | October 1, 2026upcoming |
| TEAS examination completed | October 1, 2026upcoming |
| Nonrefundable nursing evaluation fee paid | October 1, 2026upcoming |
| Optional-criteria documentation uploaded | October 1, 2026upcoming |
| Official transcript for TEAS taken outside Sac State | October 15, 2026upcoming |
| Continuing Sac State applicants: current college transcripts on file | October 15, 2026upcoming |
| New transfer applicants: initial official transcripts | November 13, 2026upcoming |
| New transfer applicants: final fall-term transcripts | January 8, 2027upcoming |
Apply to Sacramento State before submitting the in-house nursing application. Most applicants select Health Science on Cal State Apply; second-bachelor's applicants select Nursing, Second Bachelor. A SacLink account is needed for the supplemental application. Pay its evaluation fee after submitting it; late applications and payments are not considered.
California State University, Sacramento Undergraduate Nursing Admissions Statistics
Period: Spring 2026 enrolled cohort
- Seats / class size: Up to 80 per semester
- Applicants: 215
- Admitted: 78 enrolled
- Average GPA: 3.925 non-adjusted Nursing GPA; 3.992 adjusted Nursing GPA
- Average test score: TEAS 92.44%
- Spring 2026 admission-point cutoff: 71 points
- Spring 2026 last alternate selected: 20
Cohort averages describe enrolled students, not admission minimums. Applicant experiences are separate from these School of Nursing figures.
Eligibility Requirements for California State University, Sacramento Undergraduate Nursing
- Degree / credits
Admission is to the clinical portion of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing; Sacramento State does not admit first-year students directly to the nursing major.
- Residency
California residency is required for admission to the clinical nursing program. Exceptions apply to eligible DACA and AB 540 students and students with an approved military fee waiver.
- Citizenship
International transfer applicants are not eligible to apply for Nursing. Eligibility for the clinical program requires California residency or a stated exception.
Admission pathways
- Continuing, transfer and second-bachelor's applicants: These applicants receive equal consideration for available clinical nursing seats if eligible.
Group advising is strongly recommended but not required. Admission to the University alone does not admit a student to clinical nursing.
Other requirements
- Clinical health clearance: After selection, follow nursing instructions for immunizations, background check and drug screening before clinical enrollment.
- Insurance and transportation: Clinical students need health insurance, professional liability coverage, transportation to placements and applicable automobile insurance.
- BLS CPR certification: Nursing students must maintain current American Heart Association level-C BLS CPR certification with hands-on practice.
- Computer access: Clinical nursing students must own a personal computer and demonstrate basic computer competence.
Selection Factors California State University, Sacramento Considers
Prerequisites
| Course | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Oral Communication | required GE Area 1C; C- or better. |
| Written Communication | required GE Area 1A; C- or better. |
| Critical Thinking | required GE Area 1B; C- or better. |
| Statistics | required GE Area 2 statistics; C- or better. |
| Chemistry | required College-level general, inorganic, organic or integrated chemistry; lab if required by the institution; C- or better. |
| Anatomy or A&P I | required Lab required; C- or better. |
| Physiology or A&P II | required Lab required; C- or better. |
| Microbiology | required Lab required; C- or better. |
| Life Span Human Development | corequisite Adult content required; complete before the second clinical semester; C- or better. |
| Introductory Psychology | corequisite Complete before the second clinical semester; C- or better. |
| Nutrition | corequisite Complete before the second clinical semester; C- or better. |
| Societal-Cultural Patterns | corequisite Complete before graduation; C- or better. |
GPA
- How it is calculated
Nursing GPA uses completed grades from eight prerequisites and four corequisites, up to 12 courses. Adjusted Nursing GPA may omit two grades with 10 to 12 grades completed, one with nine, and none with eight or fewer; at least two science grades must remain. Science courses count as four units and other courses as three; plus/minus grades are ignored.
- Minimum
- 3.3 Nursing GPA and 3.0 science GPA
- Competitive
- Enrolled-student averages: 3.925 non-adjusted Nursing GPA and 3.992 adjusted Nursing GPA.
Each prerequisite and corequisite requires C- or better. At application, at most one science and one non-science prerequisite may be in progress; complete all eight prerequisites before spring entry.
Admissions tests
- ATI TEAS (required): Minimum score: 75%. Take an in-person proctored exam; up to three attempts are allowed. Complete the exam by the nursing deadline. If tested outside Sac State, arrange for an official ATI transcript to be sent to CA State Sacramento or CA State Sacramento TEAS by the separate transcript deadline.
Experience and volunteer hours
Not required.
Health-related paid or volunteer patient/client work is optional. Documented direct-care work earns one point for 100 to 149 hours, two for 150 to 199, or three for 200 or more; completed hours and documentation must accompany the optional-criteria claim.
Supplementary application
Submit the School of Nursing's online supplemental application using your SacLink account. Report coursework, TEAS results and any optional point categories; upload supporting optional-criteria documents through the Nursing Document Submission site. Send academic transcripts to the University, not the School of Nursing. No personal statement or mission-fit essay is listed.
How applicants are ranked
Eligible applicants are ranked by admission points, not a holistic interview: up to 40 for adjusted Nursing GPA, 30 for TEAS, 10 for optional criteria and 4 bonus points for no omissions or repeats. At least 60 points are required to apply. Ties are broken by non-adjusted Nursing GPA, then fewer course repeats, then TEAS score.
Interview Format at California State University, Sacramento
Format: No interview
The published clinical nursing selection process ranks applicants by admission points and does not include an admissions interview. An interview-style assessment applies only to applicants seeking optional bilingual-proficiency points.
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Start Practicing FreeCurriculum at California State University, Sacramento Undergraduate Nursing
- Program length
- Four clinical nursing semesters after pre-clinical preparation; 120 units total for the BS degree.
- Structure
The degree combines pre-clinical coursework with a four-semester clinical nursing sequence, including adult, family, mental health, community health and leadership nursing.
- Campuses
- Sacramento
Builds skills in patient care, pharmacology, and health assessment. Emphasizes real-world application through affiliations like UC Davis Health Medical Center, preparing students for licensure and diverse roles.
Campus and facilities
Located in Sacramento, California, with proximity to major healthcare hubs including UC Davis Health Medical Center. Nursing students access specialized labs for skills training and simulation. Housing options near medical centers, such as furnished private rooms, support clinical rotations. Technology requirements include reliable devices for coursework.
Tuition and Funding at California State University, Sacramento
- Spring 2027 California-resident undergraduate, more than six units: $3,419 tuition plus $1,409 mandatory campus fees; $4,828 total per semester
- Spring 2027 California-resident undergraduate, six or fewer units: $1,981 tuition plus $1,409 mandatory campus fees; $3,390 total per semester
Published registration charges are per semester and may change; clinical-program expenses may be additional.
California State University, Sacramento's Mission and Values
The School of Nursing emphasizes nursing science, collaborative practice, advocacy and service to help individuals, families and communities achieve optimal health.
The School of Nursing prepares nurses to lead diverse individuals, families, and communities in achieving optimal health
What Applicants Are Saying
Matriculated students describe the program as rigorous yet rewarding, preparing them for diverse nursing roles amid high demand. Students report a demanding pace from day one. One report noted that a 3.909 GPA and 81% TEAS resulted in alternate status at 43rd.
Shared by applicants and students on forums and communities. It is anecdotal, not official program information.
How to Prepare Your California State University, Sacramento Undergraduate Nursing Application
- Plan the eight prerequisites and four corequisites; check the in-progress and repeat-course rules before applying.
- Prepare for an in-person TEAS exam and arrange official ATI score delivery if testing outside Sac State.
- Calculate both Nursing GPAs and consider whether omitting an eligible grade improves adjusted-GPA points.
More About California State University, Sacramento Undergraduate Nursing
- Clinical affiliation
UC Davis Health Medical Center
Frequently Asked Questions About California State University, Sacramento Undergraduate Nursing
Does Sacramento State's pre-licensure BSN require Casper?
No. Casper is not used for admission; ATI TEAS is required.
What is the minimum GPA for Sacramento State Nursing?
Applicants need at least a 3.3 Nursing GPA and a 3.0 science GPA. Each prerequisite and corequisite requires C- or better.
What TEAS score do I need?
The minimum ATI TEAS score is 75%. Applicants are ranked partly on their TEAS results.
Is there a nursing admissions interview?
No. Eligible applicants are ranked by admission points. An interview-style assessment is used only for applicants claiming optional bilingual-proficiency points.
How competitive is the program?
The program offers up to 80 seats per semester. Eligible applicants are ranked on adjusted Nursing GPA, TEAS, optional criteria and bonus points.
What health requirements apply to clinical nursing students?
After selection, follow instructions for immunizations, background check and drug screening. Clinical students also need health insurance and other required coverage.
Can international transfer students apply?
International transfer applicants are not eligible for Nursing. California residency is required for clinical admission, with stated exceptions for eligible DACA and AB 540 students and approved military fee waivers.
How do I apply to Sacramento State Nursing?
Apply through Cal State Apply first, then submit the School of Nursing's supplemental application through SacLink. Check the application deadlines for the university application, supplemental application, TEAS and supporting materials.
Sources
- csus.edu: nursing
- allnurses.com: california state university sacramento sac t763805
- csus.edu: prereq req.pdf update4 3
- calstate.edu: how to apply
- catalog.csus.edu: bachelor of nursing pre licensure
- csus.edu: apppoolstat2docx
- ccctransfer.org: NursingCriteria2020
- statehornet.com: sac state nursing impaction
- catalog.csus.edu: bachelor of nursing pre licensure
- catalog.csus.edu: nursing
- rntobsnschools.org: sacramento state university rn to bsn program
- savvypremed.com: 250 sample mmi interview questions to practice in 2021
- csus.edu: job handbook 0518
- blackstonetutors.com: nursing university interviews the complete guide
Last updated: September 26, 2026