Best Nursing Programs in California (2026)
Nursing programs in California span community-college ADN paths, BSN programs at four-year universities, and accelerated BSN options. The schools below are ranked by NCLEX pass rates (where available), graduation rate, and net price — for families weighing both cost and outcomes.
#1
Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science
Los Angeles, CA
Net Price
$35,558/yr
Median Earnings
$83,438
Grad Rate
37%
Nursing Share
89.3%
#2
Glendale Career College
Glendale, CA
Net Price
$49,195/yr
Median Earnings
$41,472
Grad Rate
61%
Nursing Share
100.0%
#3
Loma Linda University
Loma Linda, CA
Net Price
—
Median Earnings
$89,816
Grad Rate
—
Nursing Share
100.0%
#4
Dominican University of California
San Rafael, CA
Net Price
$35,333/yr
Median Earnings
$84,713
Grad Rate
77%
Nursing Share
43.1%
#5
Lincoln University
Oakland, CA
Net Price
—
Median Earnings
$53,695
Grad Rate
76%
Nursing Share
63.6%
#6
Southern California University of Health Sciences
Whittier, CA
Net Price
$45,848/yr
Median Earnings
$70,649
Grad Rate
—
Nursing Share
100.0%
#7
Azusa Pacific University
Azusa, CA
Net Price
$22,212/yr
Median Earnings
$66,677
Grad Rate
63%
Nursing Share
53.0%
#8
Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA
Net Price
$21,413/yr
Median Earnings
$72,379
Grad Rate
53%
Nursing Share
51.7%
#9
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA
Net Price
$13,481/yr
Median Earnings
$92,446
Grad Rate
93%
Nursing Share
1.8%
#10
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA
Net Price
$16,665/yr
Median Earnings
$90,768
Grad Rate
86%
Nursing Share
1.0%
#11
University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CA
Net Price
$12,470/yr
Median Earnings
$84,943
Grad Rate
87%
Nursing Share
3.5%
#12
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
Net Price
$12,548/yr
Median Earnings
$82,511
Grad Rate
93%
Nursing Share
0.5%
#13
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, CA
Net Price
$14,251/yr
Median Earnings
$80,735
Grad Rate
86%
Nursing Share
6.2%
#14
University of California-Davis
Davis, CA
Net Price
$14,741/yr
Median Earnings
$80,838
Grad Rate
85%
Nursing Share
0.8%
#15
Concordia University-Irvine
Irvine, CA
Net Price
$28,115/yr
Median Earnings
$65,083
Grad Rate
60%
Nursing Share
28.9%
#16
La Sierra University
Riverside, CA
Net Price
$45,566/yr
Median Earnings
$61,824
Grad Rate
64%
Nursing Share
25.7%
#17
Chapman University
Orange, CA
Net Price
$46,555/yr
Median Earnings
$70,070
Grad Rate
81%
Nursing Share
4.3%
#18
California Baptist University
Riverside, CA
Net Price
$26,285/yr
Median Earnings
$61,504
Grad Rate
61%
Nursing Share
18.0%
#19
Biola University
La Mirada, CA
Net Price
$31,495/yr
Median Earnings
$56,778
Grad Rate
68%
Nursing Share
14.9%
#20
University of California-Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA
Net Price
$17,890/yr
Median Earnings
$68,396
Grad Rate
75%
Nursing Share
0.4%
#21
California State University-Fullerton
Fullerton, CA
Net Price
$6,555/yr
Median Earnings
$62,951
Grad Rate
70%
Nursing Share
8.2%
#22
California State University-Long Beach
Long Beach, CA
Net Price
$10,440/yr
Median Earnings
$64,403
Grad Rate
69%
Nursing Share
6.9%
#23
National University
San Diego, CA
Net Price
$22,878/yr
Median Earnings
$67,548
Grad Rate
42%
Nursing Share
24.4%
#24
California State University-Sacramento
Sacramento, CA
Net Price
$9,338/yr
Median Earnings
$64,876
Grad Rate
56%
Nursing Share
14.5%
#25
California State University-Chico
Chico, CA
Net Price
$14,480/yr
Median Earnings
$64,172
Grad Rate
63%
Nursing Share
8.2%
Why a Nursing degree?
Registered Nursing has 1.4% unemployment and a median salary of $93,600. The U.S. nurse shortage is structural, not cyclical — these jobs aren't going anywhere.
Common career paths: Registered Nurse · Nurse Practitioner · Critical Care Nurse · Pediatric Nurse · Public Health Nurse
Typical starting salary range: $70,000–$93,600
Find your best fit, not just the highest rank
Our 2-minute quiz weights cost, earnings, graduation rate, and other priorities to your family — and matches you to schools that actually fit, not just the top of a list.
Take the fit quiz →Other majors in California
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