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 2023 rankings named Glendale Community College the best school in California for nursing students working on their undergraduate certificate. This fairly large public school is located in Glendale, California, and it awarded 244 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.
Students from California who attend GCC full time pay an average of $1,171 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,438. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,800 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at GCC. In fact, around 65% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Cuesta College is a great place for nursing students working on their undergraduate certificate. Cuesta College is a public institution located in San Luis Obispo, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,268 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Cuesta College is $1,340. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,348.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Cuesta College. In fact, around 75% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Institute of Technology. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Nursing Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California list. Fresno Institute of Technology is located in Clovis, California and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 830 undergraduate certificates to qualified students.
Undergraduate Certificate recipients from Fresno Institute of Technology accumulate an average of $10,356 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
The excellent undergraduate certificate programs at Napa Valley College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in California. Napa Valley College is a small public school situated in Napa, California. It awarded 378 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from California pay an average of $1,156 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Napa Valley College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,388.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Napa Valley College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 83% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Out of the 21 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Saddleback College landed the # 5 spot on the list. Saddleback College is a public institution located in Mission Viejo, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,692 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.
Students from California who attend Saddleback College full time pay an average of $1,334 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $9,814. Undergraduate Certificate recipients from Saddleback College accumulate an average of $8,210 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Saddleback College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2020-2021 year, about 82% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Riverside City College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Nursing Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California list. Riverside, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out undergraduate certificates to 282 students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Riverside City College is $1,420. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,000. On average, undergraduate certificate students take out $8,527 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Riverside City College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 84% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Santa Barbara Business College - Bakersfield came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California ranking.
On average, undergraduate certificate students take out $5,840 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Since Santa Barbara Business College - Bakersfield is primarily an online school, it is an excellent choice for undergraduate students who need more flexibility than what is offered at some other schools.
Victor Valley College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California ranking. Located in Victorville, California, the fairly large public school awarded 1,786 diplomas to qualifed undergraduate certificate students in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $1,425 in tuition and fees if they attend Victor Valley College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,125.
Victor Valley College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 49% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Sacramento City College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Nursing Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California list. Sacramento City is a fairly large public school situated in Sacramento, California. It awarded 204 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.
One thing to take note of is that Sacramento City does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 94% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Pasadena City College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California ranking. Located in Pasadena, California, the large public school awarded 430 diplomas to qualifed undergraduate certificate students in 2021-2022.
Students from California who attend Pasadena City College full time pay an average of $1,172 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,572.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Pasadena City College. In 2020-2021 about 88% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #11, College of the Redwoods did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their undergraduate certificate. Eureka, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out undergraduate certificates to 68 students in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from California pay an average of $1,147 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend College of the Redwoods. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,131.
Online courses are available at College of the Redwoods, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 66% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Bakersfield College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California ranking. Bakersfield College is a large public school located in Bakersfield, California that handed out 2,353 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Bakersfield College is $1,430. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $9,560.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Bakersfield College does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 68% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #13, College of the Desert did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their undergraduate certificate. Palm Desert, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out undergraduate certificates to 726 students in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from California pay an average of $1,326 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend College of the Desert. Out-of-state students pay an average of $9,138.
College of the Desert 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 88% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Reedley College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best undergraduate certificate nursing programs. Reedley College is a medium-sized public school situated in Reedley, California. It awarded 99 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.
Students from California who attend Reedley College full time pay an average of $1,330 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,890.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Reedley College. In 2020-2021 about 68% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Rio Hondo 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 #15 on the list. RHCCD is located in Whittier, California and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,053 undergraduate certificates to qualified students.
In-state students pay an average of $1,388 in tuition and fees if they attend RHCCD full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $9,884.
Some students may be able to take online classes at RHCCD. In 2020-2021 about 37% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
University of Antelope Valley landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best undergraduate certificate nursing programs. This very small private for-profit school is located in Lancaster, California, and it awarded 103 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.
On average, undergraduate certificate students take out $8,827 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since UAV does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 17% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Shasta College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California ranking. Shasta College is a medium-sized public school located in Redding, California that handed out 431 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $1,191 in tuition and fees if they attend Shasta College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,271. Undergraduate Certificate recipients from Shasta College accumulate an average of $12,319 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Shasta College. In fact, around 79% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Antelope Valley College landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best undergraduate certificate nursing programs. Antelope Valley College is a fairly large public school located in Lancaster, California that handed out 1,074 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Antelope Valley College is $1,124. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,724. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,905 in student loans.
Online courses are available at Antelope Valley College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 58% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Mission 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 #19 on the list. Santa Clara, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out undergraduate certificates to 594 students in 2021-2022.
Students from California who attend Mission College full time pay an average of $1,480 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,180.
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. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 93% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
City College of San Francisco came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California ranking. City College of San Francisco is a public institution located in San Francisco, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 609 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.
One thing to take note of is that City College of San Francisco does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 44% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
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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