Our Vision in Action: Supporting Nursing Students
Key Takeaways
LACCD graduates over 300 nursing students each year across 7 campuses.
High nursing exam costs delay licensure and employment for many recently graduated students.
Nearly 2,000 graduates have received exam fee waivers since 2016.
$500 sponsors one recent graduate and $25,000 sponsors the graduating class at one college
Overview
The Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) is a leading force in building California's healthcare workforce. Seven of its nine colleges offer Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) programs that graduate more than 300 students annually. These students complete rigorous academic and clinical requirements and are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) exam, the final step to becoming a licensed Registered Nurse.
Many students, however, are forced to delay the exam due to its cost. With over half of LACCD students living at or near the poverty line, and nursing students facing especially demanding schedules, the $500 or more in licensing expenses often pushes the exam out of reach. This delay results in lower first-time pass rates and stalls their entry into the workforce.
Our Impact
In 2016, the Foundation for the Los Angeles Community Colleges created a targeted grant program to address this barrier. The initiative helped nearly 2,000 students cover NCLEX-related costs and encouraged them to take the exam within two to four months of graduation. The result was a boost in pass rates and timely employment. This program is more than financial aid. It is a strategic investment in educational equity, workforce development, and community health. By supporting students at a critical moment, LACCD is helping to close opportunity gaps and accelerate the path from graduation to career.
