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California State University-Long Beach vs University of California-San Francisco

DNP programs compared — side-by-side on NCLEX pass rates, tuition, admissions, and format.

Updated Reviewed by NurseWay Editorial Team

At a glance

Higher NCLEX pass rate
California State University-Long Beach
99.3% vs 89.5%
Lower tuition
California State University-Long Beach
$8,442 vs $14,192

Side-by-side details

Best value in each row is highlighted.

California State University-Long Beach
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.
University of California-San Francisco
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.
Program typeDNPDNP
Formatin personin person
LocationLong Beach, CASan Francisco, CA
Length36 months36 months
NCLEX pass rate99.3%BEST89.5%
Acceptance rate47.1%
Avg accepted GPA
Min GPA
Entrance exam
Total tuition$8,442 in / $17,946 outBEST$14,192 in / $29,294 out
In-state tuition$8,442BEST$14,192
Out-of-state tuition$17,946BEST$29,294
Clinical placement
AccreditationSCORECARD_BASELINECCNE

Frequently Asked Questions

Which has a higher NCLEX pass rate, California State University-Long Beach or University of California-San Francisco?

California State University-Long Beach's DNP program has the higher first-attempt NCLEX pass rate at 99.3%, compared to 89.5% for the other program. NCLEX pass rates are the single best signal of how well a program prepares students for licensure.

Which is cheaper, California State University-Long Beach or University of California-San Francisco?

California State University-Long Beach is the more affordable option at roughly $8,442, compared to $14,192. Factor in residency status, financial aid, and program length when deciding — total cost matters more than annual tuition.

Are California State University-Long Beach and University of California-San Francisco the same type of program?

Both are DNP programs, so they award the same credential. Compare them on NCLEX pass rate, tuition, length, and location to find the better fit.

How do I decide between California State University-Long Beach and University of California-San Francisco?

Start by ruling out programs you can't get into (compare your GPA against each school's admissions stats), then weight what matters most — NCLEX pass rate for quality, total tuition for cost, length for time-to-degree, and format (online, hybrid, in-person) for lifestyle. Use NurseWay's free intake to get a personalized fit score for both.

Want a personalized fit score?

Take the free 3-minute intake and we'll rank both programs against your GPA, location preferences, and budget.