Associate Degree in Nursing at Cuesta College

Overview

Tuition $1,340

Licensure pass rate (2025) 95.2%

Duration 24 months

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 Cuesta College asks for, taken from its own admissions page.

Entrance exam TEAS

Apply through School application

RN applications accepted once a year, September 1 to 30, for the following August start on the San Luis Obispo campus (two years, four semesters). Multi-criteria screening up to 100 points covering degrees or licenses, prerequisite and math GPA, healthcare experience, life circumstances, language and ATI TEAS 7 (applicant pays; official score due October 31); ties broken by random draw, no wait list. Starting with the September 2026 cycle science courses may be no older than seven years.

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 Cuesta College. Open a category to see each one.

College courses

8

Entrance exams

1

Certifications

3

Application basics

2

Experience

2

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