Cal State Long Beach’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing was ranked the best nursing degree in California and No. 2 in the nation, according to a new report by RNCareers.org. 

RNCareers.org reviewed more than 932 Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree programs across the United States for as many as seven years. The methodology to determine the rankings includes assessing NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination for the licensing of nurses) first-time pass rates, program accreditation and number of students taking the exam. 

CSULB’s NCLEX pass rate stands at 99.94%. The national average NCLEX pass rate is 87.22%, according to RNCareers.org. 

Melissa Dyo, undergraduate director of the School of Nursing, said the NCLEX attempts to capture the essential knowledge required for safe clinical practice for a registered nurse. 

“It is designed to be a multi-dimensional, critical thinking exam that tests not only fact-based knowledge about chemistry or biology, but also complex, real-life scenarios that are unique to each patient,” Dyo said. 

The Beach was the only California university in the Top 25 for BSN programs. In addition to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, CSULB’s School of Nursing also offers an RN-to- BSN program, and a Master of Science in Nursing.