Compare costs, NCLEX pass rates, and career outcomes for San Bernardino's vocational nursing schools
LVN students in San Bernardino face a stark trade-off between cost and speed. Accelerated private programs can graduate licensed vocational nurses in 12 months, while public community college tracks stretch to three semesters but carry tuition under $3,000.
Demand is clear: LVNs in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area earned a median annual wage of $61,880 in 2023.
The programs included here all meet BVNPT standards and are within commuting distance, yet NCLEX pass rates, bridge pathways, and net prices vary sharply.
Narrowing the field means deciding whether a lower upfront cost or a faster entry into the workforce better serves your long-term earnings trajectory.
The following programs are among the top options for aspiring licensed vocational nurses within commuting distance of San Bernardino. We evaluated each school based on cost, graduation outcomes, and program quality to help you find the right fit.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Citrus College | Glendora, CA | $4,000/yr (net price) | Budget-minded learners in Glendora area | |
Citrus College offers a Vocational Nursing certificate that prepares students for the NCLEX-VN licensure exam. The public community college’s program blends classroom theory with clinical rotations at local hospitals, and its curriculum applies toward an associate degree. The institution reports an overall graduation rate of 41%.
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| #2 | Riverside City College | Riverside, CA | ~$8,000/yr (est.) | Career changers needing a fast track | |
Riverside City College provides a 12-month Vocational Nursing certificate with ACEN and BVNPT approval. The program emphasizes hands-on clinical practice and a self-paced nursing lab, and admission requires a CNA certificate. The college’s overall graduation rate is about 37%.
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| #3 | Chaffey College | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | ~$6,000/yr (est.) | Students seeking diverse clinical experiences | |
Chaffey College offers a BVNPT-accredited Vocational Nursing certificate with clinical partnerships at 10 facilities, providing diverse hands-on experiences. The program has served the region since 1955 and includes advanced placement for transfer students. The college’s overall graduation rate is 36%.
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| #4 | California Career Institute | Anaheim, CA | |||
California Career Institute provides a hybrid Vocational Nursing diploma program totaling 1,574 hours, combining online and in-person coursework. Small class sizes and career services support are key features. The institution does not publicly report graduation rates.
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| #5 | North-West College-West Covina | West Covina, CA | ~$30,000/yr (est.) | ||
North-West College’s West Covina campus offers a Vocational Nursing program with flexible day and evening schedules. The program includes hands-on clinical training and covers key nursing topics. The institution’s overall graduation rate is 68%.
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| #6 | Platt College-Anaheim | Anaheim, CA | ~$23,000/yr (est.) | ||
Platt College’s Anaheim campus provides a Vocational Nursing program leading to an associate degree or diploma, with full-time and part-time options that can be completed in as few as 18 months. The program emphasizes clinical experience and NCLEX-PN preparation. The college reports a graduation rate of 64%.
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Most LVN program rankings give students a list of schools with little explanation of how they arrived at those picks. We built this list differently, every factor is disclosed so you know what went into the order.
Our ranking prioritizes affordable LVN programs by focusing on net price after grants and scholarships, because what you actually pay matters more than the advertised tuition. High institutional graduation rates also weigh heavily; a school that consistently moves students to completion demonstrates strong support systems. We set a 75-mile search radius from San Bernardino, which brings in schools across the Inland Empire, including Redlands, Riverside, and Ontario, because local access cuts commuting time and costs.
NCLEX-PN pass rates, tracked by the BVNPT, are checked where available, but they do not drive the ranking alone. A strong pass rate suggests solid test preparation, yet it says little about clinical placement quality or job readiness. We view it as one indicator among several.
Unlike many competitor rankings that offer no transparency or rely on subjective reviews, this approach lets you see why a school landed where it did and weigh what matters most to you.
LVN students in California can access federal Pell Grants, WIOA workforce training funds, and the California College Promise Grant, which covers enrollment fees at community colleges. Program-specific aid includes the HCAI Vocational Nurse Scholarship (up to $20,000) and the Project Heartbeat LVN Scholarship (up to $10,000). The table below compares costs and Pell recipient shares for ranked LVN programs serving the San Bernardino area.
| School | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Net Price After Aid | Pell Grant Recipients |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madera Community College | $1,378 | $8,638 | $4,179 | N/A |
| College of the Redwoods | $1,196 | $8,852 | $6,904 | 95.8% |
| Riverside City College | $1,428 | $12,498 | $8,377 | 99.1% |
| Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts | N/A | N/A | $32,427 | 74.9% |
| Glendale Career College | N/A | N/A | $49,195 | 82.0% |
| Career Networks Institute | N/A | N/A | $49,677 | 61.6% |
NCLEX-PN pass rates offer a direct measure of how well an LPN program prepares students for the licensing exam. Choosing a program with a strong track record can significantly improve your chances of passing on the first attempt, which can save you time, money, and the stress of retaking the exam.
The most recent data from the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT) covers testing year 2024. The average pass rate for California nursing programs during that period was 86%. Below are the first-time NCLEX-PN pass rates for LVN programs in the San Bernardino area, as reported by the BVNPT.1
Many programs in the area exceed the statewide benchmark, with several reaching pass rates of 90% or higher. A few programs fall below the state average, an important factor to weigh alongside cost, schedule, and clinical opportunities. Remember that pass rates can fluctuate from year to year, so reviewing the most current data during your program research is always worthwhile.
Licensing eligibility in California rests on a single non-negotiable requirement: your LVN program must hold approval from the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT). Without that stamp, regardless of a school’s reputation or other credentials, you cannot sit for the NCLEX-PN.
Institutional accreditation, such as that from the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) or the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), signals a school meets broad academic standards, but it does not replace BVNPT approval. A program can be institutionally accredited yet lack BVNPT authorization, which bars graduates from licensure. Conversely, a BVNPT-approved program at a community college or private vocational school may carry separate institutional accreditation, but the BVNPT status is what the California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians requires to issue an LVN license. Always confirm both, but prioritize the BVNPT stamp.
Because approval can lapse or a school may close its vocational nursing track, visit the BVNPT website directly before enrolling. Look up the program by name or location to see its current status. Do not rely on a school’s marketing materials alone; cross-check the official list. This simple step protects you from investing time and tuition into a dead-end program.
A common inquiry: “Does CSUSB offer an LVN program?” The answer is no. California State University, San Bernardino does not provide a standalone LVN certificate. What it does offer is the LVN 30-Unit Option, a non-degree pathway for current LVNs to challenge the NCLEX-RN. This option bypasses an associate degree in nursing and instead requires 30 semester units of specified coursework. However, it is not an entry point for aspiring LVNs; it is a bridge for those already licensed as vocational nurses. CSUSB’s nursing programs are approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN), not the BVNPT, because they lead to RN licensure.
Several nearby schools provide legitimate LVN-to-RN pathways. San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC), which does offer an LVN certificate, runs an Advanced Placement LVN to RN Program. Candidates need a current LVN license and at least one year of full-time or two years of part-time work experience. Successful completion leads to an associate degree in nursing and RN eligibility. For those aiming directly for a bachelor’s, CSUSB’s LVN 30-Unit Option is a faster but narrower route, it fulfills the BRN’s minimum requirements for the RN exam but does not award a degree. Afterward, graduates typically enroll in an RN-to-BSN program. CSUSB also collaborates with Riverside City College, Chaffey College, and SBVC through concurrent enrollment arrangements, allowing students to take general education courses at partner community colleges while progressing toward a BSN. Note that a direct LVN-to-BSN pathway does not exist at CSUSB; the sequence is LVN → ADN or 30-Unit Option → RN → RN-to-BSN.
Many LVNs use the credential as a springboard. By working in the field, they gain experience and an income while completing bridge coursework. This model keeps debt low and strengthens clinical judgment. In San Bernardino County, where demand for nurses remains strong, the LVN-to-RN route offers a practical, stepwise ascent into professional nursing.
In the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area, Licensed Vocational Nurses earned a median annual wage of $61,880 as of May 2023. This is below the California statewide median of $65,140 but above the national median of $59,730. The top 10% of LVNs in the region earn over $80,320 per year. The California Employment Development Department projects steady demand for LVNs in the Inland Empire, with hundreds of annual job openings expected through 2030.
Prospective nursing students often have questions about vocational nursing programs in the Inland Empire. Below are answers to some of the most common inquiries about LVN training in the San Bernardino area.
