2023 Best Nursing Schools in California
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which nursing program is right 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. Or you may find the programs at a trade school or bootcamp to be a better alternative for you.
The Best Nursing Schools in California ranking is one of many tools that Nursing Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 105 schools in California to see which ones offered the best programs for nursing students.
View our full ranking methodology.
Top Nursing Schools in California
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found University of Southern California to be the best school for nursing students in California. USC is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 18,134 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $73,962 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $546, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from USC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $65,044 during the early years of their career.
The excellent programs at California State University - Monterey Bay helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in California. Seaside, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 2,220 students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $17,147 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $200, 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.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of California - Davis. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in California list. UC Davis is located in Davis, California and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 12,064 degrees to qualified students.
Degree recipients from UC Davis accumulate an average of $30,764 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $305, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from UC Davis, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $46,065 during the early years of their career.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Sonoma State University is a great place for nursing students. Rohnert Park, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 2,454 students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $22,290 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $332 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from SSU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $46,865 during the early years of their career.
Out of the 105 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Dominguez Hills landed the # 5 spot on the list. CSUDH is a public institution located in Carson, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 4,499 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,853 in student loans. During the early years of their career, CSUDH graduates make an average of $44,452 annually.
With a ranking of #6, California State University - Stanislaus did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. Turlock, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 2,885 students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Stan State accumulate an average of $18,814 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 $194 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Stan State graduates make an average of $39,835 annually.
With a ranking of #7, University of California - Los Angeles did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 14,845 students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from UCLA accumulate an average of $42,659 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 $327 if they 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.
With a ranking of #8, Dominican University of California did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. DUofC is a small private not-for-profit school situated in San Rafael, California. It awarded 636 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $56,856 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $907 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.
With a ranking of #9, University of San Francisco did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. Located in San Francisco, California, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 3,309 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $48,821 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $758. Once they receive their degree, USFCA graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $60,640 during the early year of their career.
California State University - Sacramento did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #10 on the list. Sac State is a large public school situated in Sacramento, California. It awarded 8,266 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,496 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $202.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 landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Located in Los Angeles, California, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 833 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $51,480 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $300. Once they receive their degree, MSMU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $46,449 during the early year of their career.
California State University - Channel Islands came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in California ranking. Camarillo, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,997 students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from CSUCI accumulate an average of $19,411 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $297, assuming you 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.
Read full report on California State University - Channel Islands
Merced College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in California list. This fairly large public school is located in Merced, California, and it awarded 2,892 degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, Merced Community College District graduates make an average of $54,460 annually.
Azusa Pacific University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #14 on the list. Azusa, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 2,893 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $57,692 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $380, assuming you 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 #15 on the list. PLNU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in San Diego, California. It awarded 1,342 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $30,160 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $687 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from PLNU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $47,716 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #16, National University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. National University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in San Diego, California that handed out 6,315 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from National University accumulate an average of $33,607 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $294. During the early years of their career, National University graduates make an average of $58,580 annually.
Vanguard University of Southern California ranked #17 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in California list. Vanguard University of Southern California is a small private not-for-profit school located in Costa Mesa, California that handed out 603 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $20,667 in loans while pursuing 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 #18, Modesto Junior College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. Located in Modesto, California, the fairly large public school handed out 3,073 degrees in 2021-2022.
Once they receive their degree, MJC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $42,887 during the early year of their career.
San Jose State University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in California list. Located in San Jose, California, the large public school awarded 10,459 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
After graduating from San Jose State, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $52,886 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #20, California State University - San Marcos did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. California State University - San Marcos is a fairly large public school located in San Marcos, California that handed out 4,089 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,385 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $231, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, CSUSM graduates make an average of $43,115 annually.
California State University - Chico came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in California ranking. Chico State is located in Chico, California and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 4,412 degrees to qualified students.
Degree recipients from Chico State accumulate an average of $19,477 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 $422 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Chico State graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $41,305 during the early year of their career.
San Diego State University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in California ranking. Located in San Diego, California, the large public school awarded 10,875 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $24,496 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $307. Once they receive their degree, SDSU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $45,826 during the early year of their career.
Pacific Union College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #23 on the list. PUC is a very small private not-for-profit school situated in Angwin, California. It awarded 224 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from PUC accumulate an average of $27,608 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 $204 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, PUC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $55,021 during the early year of their career.
California State University - East Bay landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. This fairly large public school is located in Hayward, California, and it awarded 4,942 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $22,467 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $175.After graduating from Cal State East Bay, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $52,422 during the early years of their career.
San Joaquin Delta College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in California list. Delta is located in Stockton, California and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 4,179 degrees to qualified students.
After graduating from Delta, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $31,671 during the early years of their career.
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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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