Nursing Schools in California – CA

Select an area of interest to find Schools:

Featured Programs:
Sponsored School(s)
Purdue Global Visit School's Website
Selected Program:
  • Graduate and Undergraduate Degrees and Postgraduate Certificates in Nursing
Grand Canyon University Visit School's Website
Selected Program:
  • Online Nursing Degrees
Liberty University Visit School's Website
Selected Program:
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing for the Registered Nurse
Walden University Visit School's Website
Selected Program:
  • Online Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral Nursing Programs and Certificates
Sacred Heart University Visit School's Website
Selected Program:
  • Online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Nursing programs in California have been graduating talented nurses for over 50 years. The Nursing schools in California have, unfortunately, felt the nursing shortage pinch over the last 10 years and have not been able to keep up with the demand for nursing school graduates to fill all the open positions. It has become common to be on a 4-year wait list for a nursing school in California, primarily due to the lack of nursing faculty to teach courses. Fortunately, many nursing schools in California, both public and private, have begun offering online LVN to BSN, RN to BSN, RN to MSN and MSN nursing degree programs for those currently licensed as an LVN or RN in the state and neighboring states.

Pre-licensure nursing candidates should not be discouraged from pursuing their personal and professional goals of becoming a Nurse based on waitlists or stories about new graduates having a difficult time finding jobs. Nursing is still a noble and rewarding profession and once the economy begins its turnaround there will likely once again be a strong demand for new nursing school graduates in California. To learn more about a Registered Nurse career in California as well as licensure and educational requirements check out the article, How to Become a Nurse in California.

Online Nursing Schools in California

The University of Phoenix School of Nursing, Walden School of Nursing and Kaplan School of Nursing are three of the top online nursing schools in California and are accredited by the CCNE. These online nursing programs can accelerate your path to a nursing career as opposed to one of the campus based nursing programs in California without sacrificing any quality of education. Clinical time in preceptorships is part of each online program, just like any of the accredited campus based programs. Whether you live in Los Angeles, San DIego, San Francisco, San Jose, Long Beach, Fresno, Sacramento or some other city in California, these online nursing schools will help you find a place to complete your clinical rotations near your home.

Only 60% of California’s nurses practice in hospitals. The remainder are practicing in community settings such as out-patient clinics, home care, public health, and non-traditional case management settings (State of California, Department of consumer Affairs, Board of Registered Nursing [BRN], 1990, 1993, 1997). These practice settings need nurses prepared with at least the baccalaureate for the knowledge and skills necessary for service in the community. Yet, approximately 70% of nurses in California received their initial education at the associate degree level and of these, only 16% return to school for the bachelor’s degree in nursing (BRN, 1997; Sechrist, Lewis, & Rutledge, 1999).

California Nursing Job Outlook and Salary Information

The California Nurse Outreach website put it best, “Opportunities for nurses have never been better and the demand for nurses has never been higher!” California now mandates a 1 to 5 nurse to patient bed ratio in hospitals. As of June, 2005 California had 14,000 nurse job openings, according to the California Hospital Association. Other research showed that California has fewer nurses per capita than every state except Nevada. What all this means is that the nursing job opportunities in California are excellent and will continue to be excellent. Hospitals, Home Health companies, specialty clinics and other organizations are paying higher wages, offering flexible schedules, offering tuition reimbursement and much more.

According to The Occupational Employment Survey of Employers by EDD/LMID Nursing salaries in California were as follows:

*Hourly wages range from: $23.59 to $32.29
Average hourly wage: $27.82
Average annual wage: $57,855

*The Bureau of Labor Statistics, reports that California has one of the top five highest annual mean wages for nurses at $65,100.

*Minority Nurse Magazine reported recently that registered nurses in Oakland, CA earn an average yearly salary of over $80,000 a year.

Featured Campus Based Nursing Schools

USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work Department of Nursing

*If you’re an RN interested in entering advanced practice and becoming a nurse practitioner, earning a Master of Science in Nursing is your best option.

Nursing@USC — the Master of Science in Nursing program from the University of Southern California Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work — is preparing a new kind of family nurse practitioner (FNP) who will address both the biomedical and social factors affecting patient health. Through a first-of-its-kind integration of nursing and social work education, the program trains FNPs to deliver care across the life span in a variety of primary care settings.

Request more information

Eligible applicants are registered nurses who have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and at least one year of clinical experience.

Mount St. Mary’s College Department of Nursing

School Branding

The school is approved by the California State Board of Registered Nursing. LVN Mobility Option (Allows student to take the National League for Nursing Mobility Exam. Students who score 75% or better may select to complete a BSN in three years. For those who score less, they may continue on to complete their ADN.

Programs Offered: ADN, LVN Mobility Option (LVN to ADN or LVN to BSN), BSN, Accelerated BSN, RN to BSN, MSN, ADN to MSN

Mount St. Mary’s College Department of Nursing,
12001 Chalon Rd.,
Los Angeles, CA 90049-1599

Point Loma Nazarene University School of Nursing

School Branding

The School of Nursing is approved by the California State Board of Registered Nursing and accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Programs Offered: BSN, LVN to BSN, RN to BSN, MSN, RN to MSN, BSN – MSN, (MSN Tracks: Family Clinical Nurse Specialist, Gerontological Clinical Nurse Specialist, Medical-Surgical Clinical Nurse Specialist, Psychiatric/Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist), Post-Master’s Certificate – (Tracks: Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Educator)

Point Loma Nazarene University School of Nursing,
3900 Lomaland Drive,
San Diego, CA 92106-9971

University of California San Francisco School of Nursing

School Branding

The Master’s in Nursing programs offered by the University of San Francisco School of Nursing are Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredited. The UCSF School of Nursing was listed “Top Ranked” in the 2007 US News America’s Best Graduate Schools survey.

Programs Offered: Master’s of Science in Nursing – (Specializations: Health Policy Nursing, Community Based Care Systems, Nurse Midwifery, Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Cardiovascular Clinical Nurse Specialist, Critical Care (Adult) Clinical Nurse Specialist, Gerontological Nursing Nurse Practitioner & CNS, Occupational and Environmental Health, Oncology Nursing, Pediatric Nursing Advanced Practice, Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing – NP, Integrated NP and CNS)

University of California – San Francisco School of Nursing,
2 Koret Way,
San Francisco, CA 94143-0604

University of San Diego Hahn School of Nursing & Health Science

School Branding

The Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science baccalaureate and master’s programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Students that complete the pre-licensure component of the master’s program are eligible to apply for licensure by the Board of Registered Nursing. The master’s clinical nurse specialist and nurse practitioner programs are approved by the Board of Registered Nursing.

Programs Offered: RN-to-MSN, MSN, Direct-Entry MSN – (Tracks: Adult Medical-Surgical CNS, Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist, Clinical Nursing, Executive Nurse Leader, Adult NP, Family NP, Pediatric NP), Part-Time MSN, MSN/MBA, DNP, PhD

University of San Diego Hahn School of Nursing & Health Science,
5998 Alcala Park,
San Diego, CA 92110-2492

Western University of Health Sciences College of Graduate Nursing

School Branding

The Master of Science in Nursing – Entry program is designed to prepare applicants with a bachelor’s degree in another field for RN licensure and then continue with the program and graduate level coursework. Students have four areas of emphasis to choose from. The Master of Science in Nursing program is California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) approved, and nationally accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Programs Offered: Master of Science in Nursing – Entry (Emphasis Areas: Leadership and Management, Clinical Nurse Leader, Ambulatory Care, and Family Nurse Practitioner)

Western University of Health Sciences College of Graduate Nursing,
309 E. Second Street,
Pomona, CA 91766

Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Programs Approved by the California Board of Nursing

Kaplan College – San Diego

Kaplan College in San Diego offers an Associate’s in Nursing for Students interested in becoming a Registered nurse. Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX exam. This program is approved by the California State Board of Nursing and is currently accepting new nursing student applications. Request information today!

Additional ADN Programs Approved by the California State Board of Registered Nursing

Allan Hancock College
800 South College Drive
Santa Maria, CA 93454
Admits LVNs Only
American River College
4700 College Oak Drive
Sacramento, CA 95841
Antelope Valley College
3041 West Avenue K
Lancaster, CA 93536-5426
Bakersfield College
1801 Panorama Drive
Bakersfield, CA 93305
Chabot College
25555 Hesperian Boulevard
Hayward, CA 94545
Butte College
3536 Butte Campus
Oroville, CA 95965
Cabrillo College
6500 Soquel Drive
Aptos, CA 95003
Cerritos College
11110 Alondra Boulevard
Norwalk, CA 90650
Chaffey College
5885 Haven Avenue
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91737
Citrus College
1000 West Foothill Boulevard
Glendora, CA 91741
City College of San Francisco
50 Phelan Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94112
College of Marin
835 College Avenue
Kentfield, CA 94904
College of San Mateo
1700 West Hillsdale Boulevard
San Mateo, CA 94402
College of the Canyons
26455 North Rockwell Canyon Road
Santa Clarita, CA 91355
College of the Desert
43-500 Monterey Avenue
Palm Desert, CA 92234
College of the Redwoods
7351 Tompkins Hill Road
Eureka, CA 95501
College of the Sequoias
915 South Mooney Boulevard
Visalia, CA 93277
College of the Siskiyous
800 College Avenue
Weed, CA 96094
Contra Costa College
2600 Mission Bell Drive
San Pablo, CA 94806
Copper Mountain College
6162 Rotary Way
PO Box 1398
Joshua Tree, CA 92252
Cuesta College
Post Office Box 8106
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
Cypress College
9200 Valley View Street
Cypress, CA 90630
De Anza College
21250 Stevens Creek Boulevard
Cupertino, CA 95014
East Los Angeles College
1301 Avenida Cesar Chavez
Monterey Park, CA 91754
El Camino College
16007 Crenshaw Boulevard
Torrance, CA 90506
El Camino College – Compton Education Center
1111 Artesia Blvd.
Compton, CA 90221
Evergreen Valley College
3095 Yerba Buena Road
San Jose, CA 95135
Fresno City College
1101 East University Avenue
Fresno, CA 93741
Gavilan College
5055 Santa Teresa Boulevard
Gilroy, CA 95020
Glendale Community College
1500 North Verdugo Road
Glendale, CA 91208
Golden West College
15744 Goldenwest Street
Huntington Beach, CA 92647
Grossmont College
8800 Grossmont College Drive
El Cajon, CA 92020
Hartnell College
156 Homestead Avenue
Salinas, CA 93901
Imperial Valley College
Post Office Box 158
Imperial, CA 92551
Long Beach City College
4901 East Carson Street
Long Beach, CA 90808
Los Angeles City College
855 North Vermont Avenue
Cubcenter
Los Angeles, CA 90029
Los Angeles County College
of Nursing & Allied Health
1237 N. Mission+ Road
Los Angeles, CA 90033
Los Angeles Harbor College
1111 Figueroa Place
Wilmington, CA 90744
Los Angeles Pierce College
6201 Winnetka Avenue
Woodland Hills, CA 91371
Los Angeles Southwest College
1600 West Imperial Highway
Los Angeles, CA 90047
Los Angeles Trade-Tech College
400 West Washington Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90015
Los Angeles Valley College
5800 Fulton Avenue
Valley Glen, CA 91401
Los Medanos College
2700 East Leland Road
Pittsburg, CA 94565
Maric College
9055 Balboa Avenue
San Diego, CA 92123
Mendocino College
1000 Hensley Creek Road
Ukiah, CA 95482
Merced College
3600 M Street
Merced, CA 95348-2898
Merritt College
12500 Campus Drive
Oakland, CA 94619
Mira Costa
1 Barnard Drive
Oceanside, CA 92056
Modesto Junior College
435 College Avenue
Modesto, CA 95350
Monterey Peninsula College
980 Fremont Street
Monterey, CA 93940
Moorpark College
7075 Campus Road
Moorpark, CA 93021
Mount St. Mary’s College
10 Chester Place
Los Angeles, CA 90007
Mt. San Antonio College
1100 North Grand Avenue
Walnut, CA 91789
Mt. San Jacinto College
23287 La Piedra Road
Menifee, CA 92584
Napa Valley College
2277 Napa-Vallejo Highway
Napa, CA 94558
National University
11255 N Torrey Pines Rd
La Jolla, CA 92037
Ohlone College
43600 Mission Boulevard
Fremont, CA 94539
Pacific Union College
1 Angwin Avenue
Angwin, CA 94508
Palomar College
1140 West Mission Road
San Marcos, CA 92069
Pasadena City College
1570 East Colorado Boulevard
Pasadena, CA 91106-2003
Rio Hondo College
3600 Workman Mill Road
Whittier, CA 90601-1699
Riverside Community College
4800 Magnolia Avenue
Riverside, CA 92506
Sacramento City College
3835 Freeport Boulevard
Sacramento, CA 95822
Saddleback College
28000 Marguerite Parkway
Mission Viejo, CA 92692
San Bernardino Valley College
701 South Mount Vernon
San Bernardino, CA 91024
San Diego City College
1313 Park Boulevard
San Diego, CA 92101
San Joaquin Delta College
5151 Pacific Avenue
Stockton, CA 95207
San Joaquin Valley College
8400 W. Mineral King
Visalia, CA 93291
Santa Ana College
1530 West 17th Street
Santa Ana, CA 92706-3398
Santa Barbara City College
721 Cliff Drive
Santa Barbara, CA 93109
Santa Monica College
1900 Pico Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90405
Santa Rosa Junior College
1501 Mendocino Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
Shasta College
11555 Old Oregon Trail
Box 496006
Redding, CA 96049-6006
Sierra College
5000 Rocklin Road
Rocklin, CA 95677
Solano Community College
4000 Suisun Valley Road
Suisun City, CA 94585-3917
Southwestern Community College
900 Otay Lakes Road
Chula Vista, CA 91910
 Ventura College
4667 Telegraph Road
Ventura, CA 93003
Victor Valley College
18422 Bear Valley Road
Victorville, CA 92392
West Coast University – Los Angeles
4021 Rosewood Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90004
West Coast University – Orange County
2461 West La Palma
Anaheim, CA 92801
Carrington College
Sacramento Campus only
8909 Folsom Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95826
Yuba College
2088 North Beale Road
Marysville, CA 95901
 

Baccalaureatte Nursing Degree Programs Approved by the California State Board of Nursing

West Coast University

The West Coast University BSN programs are approved by the California State Board of Registered Nursing and are in the accrediting process with the CCNE.

Azusa Pacific University

Azusa Pacific University’s BSN program is accredited by the CCNE and approved by the California State Board of Nursing.

American University of Health Sciences
3501 Atlantic Blvd.
Long Beach, CA 90807
Azusa Pacific University
901 East Alosta Avenue
Azusa, CA 91702
Biola University
13800 Biola Avenue
La Mirada, CA 90639
California Baptist University
8432 Magnolia Avenue
Riverside, CA 92504
California State University, Bakersfield
9001 Stockdale Highway
Bakersfield, CA 93311-1022
California State University, Channel Islands
One University Drive
Camarillo, CA 93012-8599
California State University, Chico
Holt Hall Room 369
Chico, CA 95929-0200
California State University, East Bay
Dept of Nursing-College of Science
Hayward, CA 94542-3086
California State University, Fresno
2345 East San Ramon Avenue
Fresno, CA 93740-0025
California State University, Long Beach
1250 Bellflower Boulevard
Long Beach, CA 90840-0301
California State University, Los Angeles
5151 State University Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90032
California State University, Northridge
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330
California State University, Sacramento
6000 J Street
Sacramento, CA 95819-6096
California State University, San Bernardino
5500 University Parkway
San Bernardino, CA 92407
California State University, San Marcos
335 Twin Oaks Valley Road
San Marcos, CA 92096-0001
California State University, Stanislaus
801 West Monte Vista Avenue
Turlock, CA 95382
Dominican University of California
50 Acacia Avenue
San Rafael, CA 94901
Humboldt State University
Department of Nursing
Arcata, CA 95521
Loma Linda University
School of Nursing
— West Hall
Loma Linda, CA 92350
Mount St. Mary’s College
12001 Chalon Road
Los Angeles, CA 90049
National University
11255 N Torrey Pines Rd
La Jolla, CA 92037
Point Loma Nazarene University
3900 Lomaland Drive
San Diego, CA 92106-2899
Samuel Merritt College
435 Hawthorne Avenue
Oakland, CA 94609
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-4158
San Francisco State University
1600 Holloway Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94132
San Jose State University
One Washington Square

San Jose, CA 95192-0057
Sonoma State University
1801 East Cotati Avenue
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
University of California, Irvine
College of Health Sciences Building 802, Room 289
Irvine, CA 92697
University of California, Los Angeles
700 Tiverton Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90095
University of Phoenix at Modesto
(Northern CA Campus)
3600 Sisk Rd. #5a
Modesto, CA 95356
University of San Francisco
2130 Fulton Street
San Francisco, CA 94117-1080