Nursing is one of the most-searched and most-misunderstood UC transfer topics. The short version: most UC campuses do not have an undergraduate nursing program at all, and the ones that do are among the most competitive programs in the state, with very limited transfer entry.
If you are planning a nursing path, knowing this early saves you from completing prerequisites for a program that may not realistically admit transfers. Here is the honest landscape.
Which UCs actually have an undergraduate nursing (BSN) program?
Only two UC campuses offer a prelicensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing for undergraduates: UCLA (School of Nursing) and UC Irvine (Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing). Both are extremely impacted and admit the large majority of their students as first-year freshmen, not transfers.
UC Davis offers nursing only at the graduate level. The Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing grants master’s and doctoral degrees, not a BSN. The remaining campuses do not have an undergraduate nursing major.
- Has undergraduate BSN: UCLA and UC Irvine, both highly impacted and mostly freshman entry.
- Graduate nursing only: UC Davis.
- No undergraduate nursing program: UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz, UC Riverside, and UC Merced.
So “does UCSB or UC Berkeley have a nursing program?”
No. UC Santa Barbara and UC Berkeley do not have an undergraduate nursing major, and neither does UC San Diego. Students sometimes confuse “health” or “public health” and pre-health tracks with nursing. Those exist at several UCs, but they are not nursing degrees and do not lead to RN licensure.
If you want to be a nurse, what are the realistic paths?
- California State University (CSU) campuses are the primary public BSN route, and many have strong, transfer-accessible nursing programs.
- Community college ADN (Associate Degree in Nursing) programs lead to RN licensure, often followed by an RN-to-BSN completion program.
- Apply to UCLA or UC Irvine nursing knowing the odds are long, and confirm prerequisites and policies directly with each program for your application year.
- Major in a related field such as biology, public health, or psychology, then pursue an accelerated or entry-level master’s in nursing after your bachelor’s.
What this means for your transfer plan
If a UC is your target, build your plan around majors those campuses actually offer to transfers, and treat UC nursing as a reach that requires confirming current transfer policy. If nursing licensure is the real goal, a CSU or ADN-to-BSN path will usually get you there faster. Either way, mapping the exact prerequisites first prevents wasted semesters.
Frequently asked questions
Does UCSB have a nursing program?
No. UC Santa Barbara does not offer an undergraduate nursing degree. The same is true of UC Berkeley and UC San Diego.
Can you transfer into UCLA nursing?
UCLA's prelicensure BSN admits the vast majority of its students as first-year freshmen, and transfer entry is extremely limited. Always confirm current transfer eligibility with the UCLA School of Nursing for your specific application year before relying on it.
Which California public universities are best for nursing transfers?
CSU campuses are the primary transfer-accessible public BSN route. Many community college students also complete an ADN for RN licensure and then a BSN-completion program.