Reseda, CAprivate nonprofitwww.asn.edu/
Admit rate has ranged 80%–100% over the last 3 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
The Annenberg School of Nursing is a hyper-focused, ultra-practical vocational school in Reseda, California, with a singular mission: to turn out Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) as quickly and affordably as possible. It operates with the efficiency of a trade school—open admissions, tiny cohorts, and a curriculum laser-focused on clinical skills and passing the state board exam. This is not a traditional college experience; it's a direct pipeline into the healthcare workforce for a specific, in-demand credential.
Test-blind — scores not considered
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Outcomes & value
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Campus & location
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Admissions at Annenberg is defined by its open-access policy. The school has a 100% , admitting all applicants who meet its basic requirements. In 2024, it admitted all 4 of its applicants. The process is straightforward and does not involve the competitive hurdles of traditional colleges: it does not require or recommend SAT or ACT scores, and it accepts a GED equivalency diploma in lieu of a high school diploma. There is no Early Decision program. The admissions philosophy is one of minimal barriers, focusing on preparing students for its Vocational Nursing Program rather than selecting them through a rigorous academic filter.
Academics are exclusively centered on the Vocational Nursing (VN) program, designed to prepare students to sit for the NCLEX-PN licensing exam. The school promotes an "Annenberg Advantage" built on intimate class sizes, one-on-one instruction, and hands-on clinical training. It highlights an award-winning curriculum and accreditation. However, the experience is intensely focused and vocational; a review from a nursing forum suggests some students have found communication from the school lacking and have criticized its management. The program is not a broad liberal arts education but a targeted, skills-based training regimen aimed at a specific professional outcome.
Student life is defined by the small, cohort-based model of the program. The school emphasizes its intimate scale, with only about 7 undergraduate students enrolled and class sizes capped at 24 students per cohort. This creates a tight-knit, focused environment where students train together for the same goal. The school presents itself as preparing "emerging leaders in healthcare" for successful, rewarding careers. External reviews on platforms like Yelp note a "very supportive staff and faculty." There is no indication of a traditional residential campus, athletics, or Greek life; the experience is that of a commuter career school located on Victory Boulevard in Reseda.
Outcomes are measured by licensing exam passage and early-career earnings. According to its 2022 state report, 36 graduates took the state licensing exam, with 33 passing, yielding a passage rate of 91.67%. For earnings, data shows graduates earn a median of $36,427 one year after graduation and $45,519 five years after graduation. Another source cites a graduation rate of 66.7% and notes that 81.0% of graduates earn more than a high school graduate. The school's ROI is tied directly to obtaining a nursing license and entering the workforce quickly.
The average after aid is $18,067. Tuition and fees are listed at $25,164. Financial aid is available for students who qualify, with 100% of enrolled undergraduates receiving grants or scholarships, averaging $7,021 in aid. Potential funding sources include federal Pell Grants, Direct federal loans, and interest-bearing loans. The school offers a net price calculator on its website for prospective students. There is no indication of a "no-loan" policy or a commitment to meet 100% of demonstrated financial need; aid appears to be a combination of federal grants and loans based on eligibility.
Annenberg School of Nursing stands out for its radical clarity of purpose and accessibility. It is a pure vocational play: no frills, no campus life, no general education requirements. Its 100% and lack of standardized test requirements make it an open door for career-changers and those seeking a fast track into healthcare. The tiny cohort size (24 per class) promises highly focused attention, which is critical for hands-on clinical training. Its success is measured in a concrete, binary outcome: the 91.67% NCLEX-PN pass rate. For students whose goal is singular—to become an LVN in California as efficiently as possible—Annenberg offers a direct, affordable, and uncomplicated path, wholly divorced from the complexities and competitions of the traditional four-year college landscape.