2023 Best Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for nursing students. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. Or you may find the programs at a trade school or bootcamp to be a better alternative for you.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Nursing Degree Search has created its Best Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. This report analyzed 181 schools in the Far Western US Region to see which ones offered the best programs for nursing students.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named University of Southern California the best school in the Far Western US Region for nursing students working on their degree.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,661 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $489.After graduating from USC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $65,044 during the early years of their career.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Linfield University - Online and Continuing Education. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $30,181 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $346, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Linfield OCE graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $53,998 during the early year of their career.
Read full report on Linfield University - Online and Continuing Education
The excellent programs at California State University - Monterey Bay helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in the Far Western US Region .
On average, students take out $16,303 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $190, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, CSUMB graduates make an average of $43,457 annually.
The excellent programs at Bushnell University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in the Far Western US Region .
On average, students take out $30,261 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Bushnell University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $57,591 during the early year of their career.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Davis. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,449 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $281 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, UC Davis graduates make an average of $46,065 annually.
With a ranking of #6, Sonoma State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,130 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $267, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, SSU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $46,865 during the early year of their career.
Gonzaga University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #7 on the list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,118 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $773 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Gonzaga graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $51,213 during the early year of their career.
University of Portland landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
On average, students take out $22,718 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $668, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, University of Portland graduates make an average of $49,310 annually.
California State University - Dominguez Hills landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
On average, students take out $18,973 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, CSUDH graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $44,452 during the early year of their career.
California State University - Stanislaus ranked #10 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region list.
On average, students take out $17,714 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $138, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Stan State graduates make an average of $39,835 annually.
Read full report on California State University - Stanislaus
University of California - Los Angeles came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking.
Degree recipients from UCLA accumulate an average of $16,277 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $278, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from UCLA, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $53,838 during the early years of their career.
Dominican University of California ranked #12 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $27,447 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $734 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from DUofC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $53,232 during the early years of their career.
University of San Francisco did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #13 on the list.
Degree recipients from USFCA accumulate an average of $21,881 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $653 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from USFCA, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $60,640 during the early years of their career.
California State University - Sacramento ranked #14 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,924 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $172, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Sac State, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $45,098 during the early years of their career.
Mount Saint Mary’s University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #15 on the list.
Degree recipients from MSMU accumulate an average of $28,665 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $235 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, MSMU graduates make an average of $46,449 annually.
California State University - Channel Islands did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #16 on the list.
On average, students take out $18,841 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $243 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from CSUCI, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,739 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #17, University of Washington - Tacoma Campus did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
On average, students take out $18,619 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $258 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from UW Tacoma, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $52,004 during the early years of their career.
Merced College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking.
On average, students take out $9,785 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Merced Community College District, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $54,460 during the early years of their career.
Azusa Pacific University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking.
On average, students take out $26,855 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $276 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Azusa Pacific graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $46,840 during the early year of their career.
Point Loma Nazarene University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #20 on the list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,219 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $685, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, PLNU graduates make an average of $47,716 annually.
Columbia Gorge Community College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region list.
On average, students take out $22,392 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Columbia Gorge Community College graduates make an average of $77,917 annually.
National University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $31,362 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $198. Once they receive their degree, National University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $58,580 during the early year of their career.
Vanguard University of Southern California came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking.
Degree recipients from Vanguard accumulate an average of $24,961 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Vanguard graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $49,027 during the early year of their career.
With a ranking of #24, Modesto Junior College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,193 in student loans.After graduating from MJC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,887 during the early years of their career.
San Jose State University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region list.
During the early years of their career, San Jose State graduates make an average of $52,886 annually.
Rest of the Top 15% Best Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region
Not only did these schools make the top 28 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
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Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our best nursing schools ranking:
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 29 | Pacific Union College | Angwin, CA |
| 30 | University of Washington - Bothell Campus | Bothell, WA |
| 31 | California State University - East Bay | Hayward, CA |
| 32 | Seattle University | Seattle, WA |
| 33 | San Joaquin Delta College | Stockton, CA |
| 34 | Cabrillo College | Aptos, CA |
| 35 | George Fox University | Newberg, OR |
| 36 | Simpson University | Redding, CA |
| 37 | Butte College | Oroville, CA |
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- 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 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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