2023 Best Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools in California
Finding the Best Nursing Bachelor's Degree School for You
Out of the majors we analyze each year, nursing was the most popular one in California. In total, 18,329 people earned a degree or certificate in the field from a school in California.
There are so many nursing programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools that offer fast-track entry to many fields.
The Best Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools in California ranking is one of many tools that Nursing Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 54 schools in California to see which bachelor's degree programs offered the best educational experiences for nursing students. The factors used to develop this ranking include those related to how in-demand the school is, the overall quality of the school, and post-graduation wages, and more.
View our full ranking methodology.
Featured schools near , edit
2023 Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California
The following schools top our list of the Best Nursing Bachelor's Degree Colleges.
Top 10 Best Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools
Our analysis found Samuel Merritt University to be the best school for nursing students who want to pursue a bachelor’s degree in California. Samuel Merritt University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Oakland.
Nursing majors at Samuel Merritt University take out an average of $20,444 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $601.
Out of the 54 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Stanbridge University landed the # 2 spot on the list. Stanbridge is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Irvine.
After completing their Bachelor's Degree, nursing graduates from Stanbridge carry an average student debtload of $31,470.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Pacific College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California list. Pacific College is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Costa Mesa.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Loma Linda University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California list. Located in the suburb of Loma Linda, Loma Linda University is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
Nursing majors at Loma Linda University take out an average of $25,098 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $383.
Out of the 54 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, West Coast University - Orange County landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in the large city of Anaheim, West Coast University - Orange County is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
While working on their Bachelor's Degree, nursing majors at West Coast University - Orange County accumulate an average of around $31,215 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $742.
West Coast University - Ontario came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California ranking. West Coast University - Ontario is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Ontario.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at West Coast University - Ontario take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $31,215. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $742.
Read full report on Nursing at West Coast University - Ontario
West Coast University - Los Angeles landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree nursing programs. West Coast University - Los Angeles is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of North Hollywood.
While working on their Bachelor's Degree, nursing majors at West Coast University - Los Angeles accumulate an average of around $31,215 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $742.
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts ranked #8 on this year’s Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California list. Located in the city of San Mateo, Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
California State University - Monterey Bay landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree nursing programs. CSUMB is a medium-sized public school located in the midsize suburb of Seaside.
On average, nursing graduates from CSUMB take out $7,530 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.
Read full report on Nursing at California State University - Monterey Bay
University of California - Los Angeles ranked #10 on this year’s Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California list. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, UCLA is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Full Nursing at University of California - Los Angeles Report
Best Nursing Colleges in the Far Western US Region
Explore all the Best Nursing Colleges in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Washington | 3,851 |
| Nevada | 2,015 |
| Alaska | 177 |
| Hawaii | 535 |
| Oregon | 1,502 |
Nursing Related Rankings by Major
Nursing Focus Areas
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | 262,974 |
| Family Practice Nurse/Nursing | 16,647 |
| Nursing Practice | 8,862 |
| Nursing Administration | 8,663 |
| Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 4,717 |
| Nursing Science | 4,701 |
| Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing | 2,895 |
| Adult Health Nurse/Nursing | 2,075 |
| Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing | 2,011 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | 1,768 |
| Critical Care Nursing | 747 |
| Geriatric Nurse/Nursing | 622 |
| Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery | 567 |
| School Nursing | 539 |
| Clinical Nurse Leader | 502 |
| Clinical Nurse Specialist | 340 |
| Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing | 269 |
| Women’s Health Nurse/Nursing | 262 |
| Maternal/Child Health and Neonatal Nurse/Nursing | 192 |
| Emergency Room/Trauma Nursing | 87 |
| Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing | 26 |
| Forensic Nursing | 23 |
| Palliative Care Nursing | 13 |
Most Popular Majors Related to Nursing
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants | 85,339 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Aleksahgabrielle.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
NursingDegreeSearch.com provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© NursingDegreeSearch.com – All Rights Reserved.