Samuel Merritt University

Samuel Merritt University provides a high-intensity, professionalized environment for nursing education across its campuses in Oakland, Sacramento, San Francisco Peninsula, and Fresno. The College of Nursing offers multiple entry points, including a two-year traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), a fast-paced 12-month Accelerated BSN (ABSN), and an Entry-Level Master of Science in Nursing (ELMSN) for career changers. The BSN curriculum focuses on core competencies such as acute care management, population health, and health assessment, with a heavy emphasis on serving underserved communities. At the graduate level, SMU is a regional leader in advanced practice, offering DNP and MSN tracks for Family Nurse Practitioners (FNP) and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNP), as well as a highly competitive Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP).

The "SMU difference" is defined by its massive clinical network, comprising more than 2,000 partner agencies, including Kaiser Permanente, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, and Stanford Health Care. Before entering these high-stakes environments, students undergo rigorous training in the Health Sciences Simulation Center (HSSC). This center utilizes computerized high-fidelity manikins and standardized patient actors to recreate complex medical crises, allowing students to debrief and learn from mistakes in a safe setting. This training is reflected in strong student outcomes; SMU's BSN and ABSN graduates achieve a combined NCLEX-RN pass rate typically between 86% and 95%. Notably, SMU is ranked #1 in California for post-graduation employment, with alumni securing some of the highest median salaries in the country ten years after graduation. Compared to larger public universities, SMU stands out for its 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio and its singular, laser-focused mission on preparing the next generation of healthcare leaders.