Associate Degree in Nursing at College of the Desert

Overview

Tuition $1,326

Licensure pass rate (2025) 89.1%

Duration 24 months

Accreditor ACEN

An associate-level nursing degree that qualifies graduates to take the NCLEX-RN and practice as registered nurses. RNs provide and coordinate patient care and educate patients and the public about health conditions.

Career outlook

Employers hire ADN-prepared registered nurses to provide and coordinate direct patient care, administer treatments, and educate patients across hospitals, clinics, and long-term care settings.

Getting in

What College of the Desert asks for, taken from its own admissions page.

Entrance exam TEAS

Minimum GPA 2.5

Apply through School application

What you'll need

Transcripts
Prerequisite courses
CPR certification

Multi-criteria selection (110 point worksheet dated for the January 2027 traditional application): minimum 2.5 GPA in Anatomy, Physiology and Microbiology completed within ten years, C or better in all courses, points for fixed set GE GPA, LVN/CNA/EMT experience, veteran status, Spanish and 12 COD units. TEAS 7 first attempt composite scored for points; below 62% is ineligible. Four semesters of nursing courses once admitted; AHA CPR card required.

Prerequisite courses

Checked Oct 2026 on the school's site. Requirements change each cycle, so confirm before you apply.

Prerequisites

The prerequisites you'll need to meet to apply to this program at College of the Desert. Open a category to see each one.

College courses

6

Entrance exams

1

Certifications

3

Health and background checks

1

Application basics

1

Experience

1

Paths

Routes into ADN. The first step is where you enroll today.

Pre-Nursing to RN

Community college ADN pathway

Pre-Nursing ADN

Ready to become a nurse? Start with Pre-Nursing, find community college ADN programs that fit your goals, and get help planning your prerequisites and applications.

Timeline: 2 to 3 years

View path

Pre-Nursing to RN

HSI community college ADN pathway

Pre-Nursing ADN

Ready to become a nurse? Start with Pre-Nursing, find ADN programs at Hispanic Serving Institutions, and get help planning your prerequisites and applications.

Timeline: 2 to 3 years

View path

CNA Exam Prep to RN

Community college ADN pathway

CNA Prep ADN

Ready to become a nurse? Start by preparing for your CNA exam, gain patient care experience, and get help planning your path into a community college ADN program.

Timeline: 2 to 3 years

View path

Georgia CNA to RN

Community college ADN pathway

CNA ADN

Ready to become a nurse in Georgia? Start with your CNA, gain patient care experience, and get help planning your path into a Georgia ADN program.

Timeline: 2 to 3 years

View path