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Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region

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2023 Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region

246 Colleges
$85,206 Avg Salary
$22,066 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Nursing School for You

Nursing is the most popular major in the United States with 26,717 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021.

There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which nursing program is right for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Also there are many trade schools that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Nursing Degree Search has developed this Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. This report analyzed 246 schools in the Far Western US Region to see which ones were the most popular programs for nursing students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Nursing program at each school on the list.

The colleges and universities below are the most popular for nursing majors pursuing a .

Our 2023 rankings named West Coast University - Orange County the most popular school in the Far Western US Region for nursing students. West Coast University - Orange County is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Anaheim.

Nursing majors at West Coast University - Orange County take out an average of $38,146 in student loans while working on their egree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $665, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

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#2

West Coast University - Los Angeles

North Hollywood, CA

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend West Coast University - Los Angeles. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Located in the large city of North Hollywood, West Coast University - Los Angeles is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at West Coast University - Los Angeles take out is $38,146. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $665, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Samuel Merritt University. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Located in the city of Oakland, Samuel Merritt University is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

Nursing majors at Samuel Merritt University take out an average of $25,500 in student loans while working on their egree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $551.

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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend West Coast University - Ontario. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Located in the midsize city of Ontario, West Coast University - Ontario is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

On average, nursing graduates from West Coast University - Ontario take out $38,146 in student loans while working on their degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $665, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

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A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Azusa Pacific University is a great place for nursing students. Azusa Pacific is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Azusa.

Nursing majors at Azusa Pacific take out an average of $26,740 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $246, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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#6

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, CA

With a ranking of #6, University of San Francisco did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students. Located in the large city of San Francisco, USFCA is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from USFCA carry an average student debt load of $27,000. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $639.

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#7

United States University

San Diego, CA

United States University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. USU is a small private for-profit school located in the city of San Diego.

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Washington State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for nursing students. It came in at #8 on the list. Wazzu is a fairly large public school located in the town of Pullman.

Nursing majors at Wazzu take out an average of $23,500 in student loans while working on their egree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $202.

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California State University - Fullerton came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Cal State Fullerton is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Fullerton.

On average, nursing graduates from Cal State Fullerton take out $18,607 in student loans while working on their degree.

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Oregon Health & Science University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. OHSU is a small public school located in the large city of Portland.

On average, nursing graduates from OHSU take out $31,651 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $332.

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#11

National University

La Jolla, CA

National University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for nursing students. It came in at #11 on the list. Located in the city of La Jolla, National University is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.

Nursing majors at National University take out an average of $37,500 in student loans while working on their egree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $198.

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With a ranking of #12, California State University - Long Beach did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students. CSULB is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at CSULB take out is $16,575.

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#13

Nevada State College

Henderson, NV

Nevada State College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. NSC is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Henderson.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at NSC take out is $27,747.

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California State University - San Marcos landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular nursing programs. Located in the large suburb of San Marcos, CSUSM is a public school with a fairly large student population.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at CSUSM take out is $25,000.

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California State University - Sacramento came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in the large city of Sacramento, Sac State is a public school with a fairly large student population.

On average, nursing graduates from Sac State take out $18,574 in student loans while working on their degree.

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#16

Seattle University

Seattle, WA

Seattle University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for nursing students. It came in at #16 on the list. Located in the city of Seattle, Seattle U is a private not-for-profit college with a medium-sized student population.

While working on their degree, nursing majors at Seattle U accumulate an average of around $26,000 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 $722.

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Roseman University of Health Sciences came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Roseman University of Health Sciences is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Henderson.

On average, nursing graduates from Roseman University of Health Sciences take out $27,448 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $566.

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California State University - Dominguez Hills came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. CSUDH is a large public school located in the small city of Carson.

On average, nursing graduates from CSUDH take out $17,500 in student loans while working on their degree.

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University of Washington - Seattle Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for nursing students. It came in at #19 on the list. Located in the city of Seattle, UW Seattle is a public school with a fairly large student population.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from UW Seattle carry an average student debt load of $18,723. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $234, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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With a ranking of #20, University of Nevada - Las Vegas did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students. UNLV is a very large public school located in the city of Las Vegas.

On average, nursing graduates from UNLV take out $17,500 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $203.

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University of California - Los Angeles ranked #21 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region list. UCLA is a very large public school located in the large city of Los Angeles.

Nursing majors at UCLA take out an average of $19,210 in student loans while working on their egree.

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#22

San Diego State University

San Diego, CA

San Diego State University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in the large city of San Diego, SDSU is a public college with a fairly large student population.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at SDSU take out is $19,448. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $250.

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Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science ranked #23 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Located in the large suburb of Los Angeles, CDU is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

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California State University - Los Angeles did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for nursing students. It came in at #23 on the list. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, Cal State LA is a public college with a very large student population.

On average, nursing graduates from Cal State LA take out $18,131 in student loans while working on their degree.

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University of Nevada - Reno ranked #25 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Located in the large city of Reno, UNR is a public school with a very large student population.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at UNR take out is $21,625. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $397.

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#27

Gonzaga University

Spokane, WA
#28

Loma Linda University

Loma Linda, CA
#29

San Jose State University

San Jose, CA
#29

Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA
#32

Fresno City College

Fresno, CA
#34

College of Southern Nevada

Las Vegas, NV
#35

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA

Honorable Mentions

Here are some additional popular schools for Nursing students in the Far Western US Region that almost earned our Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region award.

Rank College Location
37 University of Phoenix - California Costa Mesa, CA
38 Saddleback College Mission Viejo, CA
39 Glendale Community College Glendale, CA
39 University of Alaska Anchorage Anchorage, AK
41 Point Loma Nazarene University San Diego, CA
42 University of Washington - Bothell Campus Bothell, WA
43 California State University - Fresno Fresno, CA
43 Carrington College, Reno Reno, NV
45 Riverside City College Riverside, CA
46 California State University - San Bernardino San Bernardino, CA
47 University of San Diego San Diego, CA
48 Pacific Union College Angwin, CA
49 Seattle Central College Seattle, WA

Best Nursing Colleges by State

Explore the best nursing schools for a specific state in the Far Western US region.

State Degrees Awarded
Washington 3,851
California 18,329
Nevada 2,015
Alaska 177
Hawaii 535
Oregon 1,502

Nursing Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
Registered Nursing 266,651
Family Practice Nurse/Nursing 16,104
Nursing Administration 9,838
Nursing Practice 7,992
Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing 5,092
Nursing Science 4,600
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing 2,287
Adult Health Nurse/Nursing 2,021
Nurse Anesthetist 1,936
Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing 1,883
Critical Care Nursing 773
Geriatric Nurse/Nursing 563
School Nursing 553
Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery 509
Clinical Nurse Leader 444
Clinical Nurse Specialist 419
Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing 331
Maternal/Child Health and Neonatal Nurse/Nursing 181
Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing 57
Emergency Room/Trauma Nursing 53
Palliative Care Nursing 14
Forensic Nursing 14

Majors Similar to Nursing

Related Major Annual Graduates
Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants 84,274

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • 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.

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