2023 Best Nursing Undergraduate Certificate 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.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Nursing Degree Search has created the Best Nursing Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 21 schools in California to see which undergraduate certificate programs offered the best educational experiences for nursing students. Factors related to overall quality of the school, post-graduation earnings, average student debt, and more accumulated were considered when coming up with this list.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Nursing Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Glendale Community College to be the best school for nursing students who want to pursue a undergraduate certificate in California.
In-state students pay an average of $1,171 in tuition and fees if they attend GCC full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,531. On average, undergraduate certificate students take out $22,175 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since GCC does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 58% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
The excellent undergraduate certificate programs at Cuesta College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in California.
Students from California who attend Cuesta College full time pay an average of $1,338 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,702.
Cuesta College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 96% took at least some of their classes online.
Out of the 21 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Institute of Technology landed the # 3 spot on the list.
On average, undergraduate certificate students take out $12,757 in loans while pursuing their degree.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Napa Valley College is a great place for nursing students working on their undergraduate certificate.
Full-time students from California pay an average of $1,150 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Napa Valley College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,734.
One thing to take note of is that Napa Valley College does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 93% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Saddleback College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Nursing Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California list.
Full-time students from California pay an average of $1,332 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Saddleback College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,292.
Online courses are available at Saddleback College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 89% took at least some of their classes online.
Riverside City College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get an undergraduate certificate. It came in at #6 on the list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Riverside City College is $1,420. Out-of-state students pay an average of $10,120. Undergraduate Certificate recipients from Riverside City College accumulate an average of $16,109 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Riverside City College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 37% took at least some of their classes online.
Santa Barbara Business College - Bakersfield ranked #7 on this year’s Best Nursing Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California list.
The average tuition and fees at Santa Barbara Business College - Bakersfield is $11,658. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $6,984 in student loans.
Santa Barbara Business College - Bakersfield does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 66% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #8, Victor Valley College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their undergraduate certificate.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Victor Valley College is $1,424. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $9,374. Undergraduate Certificate recipients from Victor Valley College accumulate an average of $10,618 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Victor Valley College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 44% took at least some of their classes online.
Sacramento City College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Nursing Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California list.
Online courses are available at Sacramento City, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2019-2020 year, about 62% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Pasadena City College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best undergraduate certificate nursing programs.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Pasadena City College is $1,212. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,596.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Pasadena City College. In 2019-2020 about 100% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
College of the Redwoods landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best undergraduate certificate nursing programs.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at College of the Redwoods is $1,147. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,131.
Some students may be able to take online classes at College of the Redwoods. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 39% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #12, Bakersfield College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their undergraduate certificate.
Students from California who attend Bakersfield College full time pay an average of $1,430 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,380.
One thing to take note of is that Bakersfield College does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 97% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
College of the Desert did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get an undergraduate certificate. It came in at #13 on the list.
Students from California who attend College of the Desert full time pay an average of $1,326 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,970.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at College of the Desert. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 100% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Reedley College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California ranking.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Reedley College is $1,304. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,504. Undergraduate Certificate recipients from Reedley College accumulate an average of $5,807 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Reedley College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 34% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Rio Hondo College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Nursing Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California list.
Students from California who attend RHCCD full time pay an average of $1,360 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,780.
One thing to take note of is that RHCCD does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 30% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #16, University of Antelope Valley did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their undergraduate certificate.
By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,954 in student loans.
UAV does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 7% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Shasta College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get an undergraduate certificate. It came in at #17 on the list.
In-state students pay an average of $1,189 in tuition and fees if they attend Shasta College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $7,909. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,814 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Shasta College does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 95% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Antelope Valley College landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best undergraduate certificate nursing programs.
Full-time students from California pay an average of $1,124 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Antelope Valley College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,980. On average, undergraduate certificate students take out $14,432 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Antelope Valley College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 24% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Mission College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California ranking.
Students from California who attend Mission College full time pay an average of $1,204 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,572.
Online courses are available at Mission College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2019-2020 about 82% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #20, City College of San Francisco did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their undergraduate certificate.
Undergraduate Certificate recipients from City College of San Francisco accumulate an average of $13,738 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at City College of San Francisco. In 2019-2020 about 35% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Santa Barbara Business College - Santa Maria did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get an undergraduate certificate. It came in at #21 on the list.
If you want to attend Santa Barbara Business College - Santa Maria, expect to pay an average of $11,658 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid.
One thing to take note of is that Santa Barbara Business College - Santa Maria does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2019-2020 year, about 66% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Best Nursing Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Far Western US Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 21 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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