nursing students in brick red taking blood pressure of another student with their instructor guiding them

Bridge to BSN

Study Bridge to BSN at Azusa Pacific University

You’ll rapidly accelerate your nursing career by getting an early start on Bachelor of Science Nursing (BSN) prerequisites at Azusa Pacific while completing your Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) with a community college at the same time. When you complete your ADN, we’ll help you seamlessly transition to Azusa Pacific to complete your BSN degree within one year. You’ll be ready to meet the increasing demand for bachelor’s degree-prepared nurses, equipped with the advanced skills and knowledge to provide a deeper level of patient care.

Program at a Glance

The nationally ranked School of Nursing prepares nurses to lead the way in healthcare by providing a deeper level of compassionate care in clinics, hospitals, schools, and beyond.

Upcoming Events

 

Dates coming soon

Program Information

  • Program Units: 40
  • Cost per Unit: $460

Base Cost

  • $18,400*

Location

  • Online
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Yellow Ribbon and Military Friendly School

Nursing students smiling

Gain Hands-on Experience

  • Prepare for a variety of evidence-based nursing practices.
  • Study in a cohort and progress through the program together.
  • Integrate ethics and faith in your nursing career.

By the Numbers

$132,660 is the average salary of a registered nurse in California.
Top 25 Best Schools for Nursing according to Niche.com
80% of students pass the NCLEX exam.

Get Started

Avery smiling

Avery Burn ’24: Sharing God’s Love Through Nursing

Avery Burn ’24 came to APU to both attend the top-tier nursing program and learn within a Christ-centered community as she pursues her calling in healthcare.

Program Details

Browse the tabs below—if you have questions, visit the Student Services Center page, and we’ll make sure you get the info you need.

Admission Requirements

We make it easy to progress through the admission process. Our recruitment counselors will work with you each step of the way, coordinating the application and registration processes with you.

Program admission requirements below must be met before an application is considered complete. In all cases, save copies of the documents you submit.

International students have a separate application procedure that precedes the standard admission process. View international requirements.

Note: This program is not recommended for students who lack proficiency in basic academic skills, especially collegiate-level English communication skills.

Applicants must have:

  • Minimum of 70 units of transferable credit (earned with a C- grade or better) from regionally accredited colleges or universities, documented on official transcripts from each institution attended. Transcripts must be mailed from the colleges or universities directly to APU. A maximum of 70 units may be transferred from a community college. A maximum of 90 units may be transferred if a student has university-level units.
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale in transferred courses. Provisional admittance may be granted to individuals who do not meet this criterion.

Applicants must submit:

  • Application for admission
  • $45 nonrefundable application fee
  • Official transcripts sent to APU’s Student Services Center for all college credit, degrees, certificates, or credentials earned prior to application to APU
    An official transcript is one that Azusa Pacific University receives unopened in an envelope sealed by the former institution and that bears the official seal of the college or university. A cumulative minimum 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) grade-point average is required for regular admission status. Provisional admittance may be granted to individuals with a lower GPA if competency can be shown through multiple measures.
  • Two letters of reference from persons qualified to judge academic or professional expertise
  • Current résumé

Send official transcripts to:

Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions
Azusa Pacific University
PO Box 7000
Azusa, CA 91702-7000
gpadmissions@apu.edu

What to Expect

Once APU receives your application, application fee, and official transcripts, your paperwork will be reviewed to determine transfer credit. Once your application and transcripts are reviewed, you will be notified of your admission status. You will need to turn in all required documents in order to be considered for admission.

If you are applying for Financial Aid, complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online for the corresponding academic year. Request financial aid transcripts from those institutions attended within the current calendar year. This is required by the U.S. Department of Education.

Qualified online program students will receive instructions for an invitation-only online registration process. Students will pay any outstanding fees and complete enrollment paperwork online with an enrollment counselor.

Some programs, including this one, begin as soon as enough students enroll to form a cohort. The students form a cohort and complete the program as a group. Students in cohorts need only register once for the duration of the program.

Estimated Cost Breakdown

See the table below for the tuition charges and fees that comprise your estimated total ADN to BSN program cost. Prices will be held constant for continuously enrolled students for the 15-month time period.

Tuition and Fees
Cost
Graduate and Professional Application Fee $45
Tuition ($460/unit) $18,400
Professional Nursing Health Assessment Lab Fee (per course UNRS 220) $90
Nursing Clinical Fee (per course; includes malpractice insurance) $200
Intent to Commence and/or Graduate Fee $100

All stated financial information is subject to change. Contact the Student Services Center at (626) 815-2020 for more information.

Paying for Your Degree

APU offers a variety of ways to help you pay for your degree. From scholarships and grants to loans and company reimbursement, we’re committed to being sure that cost doesn’t keep you from reaching your education goals.

Learn more about the financial aid opportunities available to you.

To view specific requirements and coursework information, visit the current academic catalog:

Academic Agreements

Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) students and graduates can advance their nursing education with the help of a partial tuition scholarship for Azusa Pacific’s accelerated RN to BSN program.

APU’s School of Nursing offers this preferential pricing to ADN graduates from community colleges that have entered into an academic agreement with APU for that purpose.

Through these academic agreements, ADN graduates of qualifying schools who enroll in the RN to BSN program receive a 10% partial tuition scholarship. View the list of eligible colleges below, and include the name of your school when you apply to the RN to BSN program.

Current Eligible Community Colleges

  • Antelope Valley College
  • Chaffey College
  • Citrus College
  • Cypress College
  • Glendale Community College
  • Imperial Valley College
  • Kern Community College District
  • Los Angeles City College
  • MiraCosta College
  • Moorpark College
  • Mt. San Jacinto College
  • Palomar College
  • Pasadena City College
  • Rio Hondo College
  • Riverside City College
  • San Bernardino Community College District
  • Southwestern College
  • Ventura College
  • Victor Valley College

Don’t see your school on the list? Have your school officials contact Ethel MacGregor, academic partnership specialist, at emacgregor@apu.edu for details on setting up an academic agreement. This discount cannot be combined with other institutional aid.

Academic Practice Partner Discount

For employees of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Methodist Hospital of Southern California, Rady Children's Hospital, Redlands Community Hospital, and Riverside University Health System, Azusa Pacific pays 10 percent of tuition for the RN to BSN program or 15 percent for the MSN in Healthcare Administration and Leadership, MSN in Nursing Education, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), or Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD) programs (limited to three doctoral DNP or PhD students) for the duration of the agreement with the employer.

Students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress, be continuously enrolled in fall and spring terms at least half-time, and must submit an MOU Discount Form along with verification of employment. This discount cannot be combined with other institutional aid. Contact Student Services Center for complete eligibility details.

Association of California Nurse Leaders (ACNL) Discount

For members of the Association of California Nurse Leaders, Azusa Pacific pays 10 percent of tuition for the RN to BSN program, MSN in Healthcare Administration and Leadership, MSN in Nursing Education, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), or Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD) programs for the duration of the agreement with the association.

Students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress, be continuously enrolled in fall and spring terms at least half-time, and must submit an MOU Discount Form along with verification of membership. This discount cannot be combined with other institutional aid. Contact Student Services Center for complete eligibility details.

If you have questions, we’re here to help! Connect with a representative who can walk you through the program details and application process.

Contact Your Admissions Representative

School of Nursing

Phone

(626) 815-5386

Mail

School of Nursing
Azusa Pacific University
PO Box 7000
Azusa, CA 91702-7000

Hours

Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
(voicemail messages left will be addressed on the next business day)

Student Services Center

Contact (626) 812-3016 or admissions@apu.edu, and visit apu.edu/ssc for details on the admissions process, financial aid, and class registration.

International Services

International students should contact +1-626-812-3055 or international@apu.edu, and visit apu.edu/international/.

  • Azusa Pacific University is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).  
  • The traditional baccalaureate nursing program, upper-division transfer (2+2/LVN to BSN) programs, entry-level master’s program, and the nurse practitioner program are approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN).

Featured Faculty

Elsa Murdoch, DNP, MSN

Elsa Murdoch, DNP, MSN

Department Chair, RN to BSN and Assistant Professor

Career Outlooks and Outcomes

Azusa Pacific campus

APU School of Nursing Receives $4.4 Million in Grants from HRSA

The School of Nursing received $4.4 million in Nursing Student Loan forgiveness grants from the HRSA for both baccalaureate and graduate students.

Note: This information is current for the 2024-25 academic year; however, all stated academic information is subject to change. Refer to the current Academic Catalog for more information.

*Base Cost (cost per unit x program units) is provided to aid in program comparison only.
All stated financial information is subject to change. View Tuition tab above.

Related Programs

RN to BSN

  • Online

Entry-Level Master’s in Nursing (ELM)

  • San Diego
  • Inland Empire
  • Monrovia

Available Concentrations:

School Nurse Services Credential (SNSC) and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), School Nurse Services Credential (SNSC) and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner–Primary Care (PNP-PC), Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP), Adult-Gerontology or Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Pediatric Nurse Practitioner–Primary Care (PNP-PC), Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Specialty, Healthcare Administration and Leadership, Nursing Education, School Nurse Services Credential (SNSC)