Compare tuition, NCLEX pass rates, accreditation, and admissions for every accredited nursing program near Ontario, CA.
The Inland Empire’s rapid hospital expansion has turned Ontario into a competitive market for nursing education. Students weighing a bachelor’s pathway face a practical split: a four-year traditional BSN at a public university like Cal State Fullerton, or a three-year accelerated curriculum at a private institution such as West Coast University’s Ontario campus.
Costs range from under $7,000 per year at state schools to over $30,000 at private colleges, while NCLEX pass rates vary even more. Ultimately, first-time licensure success, not just admission, defines the real value of any program.
We evaluated BSN programs within a 75-mile radius of Ontario, expanding the search when fewer than three schools were available. Schools are ordered by a blend of affordability, graduation rates, student outcomes, and program reputation.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University of California-Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | $13,000/yr (net price) | Ambitious students targeting elite nursing careers | |
UCLA's School of Nursing offers a highly selective BSN and a Direct Entry MSN, consistently ranked among the best nationally. With a 92.6% institution-wide graduation rate and a 9% admission rate, it attracts top students. As a public Hispanic-Serving Institution, it provides strong financial aid, with a net price around $12,548 for in-state students.
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| #2 | University of California-Irvine | Irvine, CA | $14,000/yr (net price) | Future RNs valuing top-ranked clinical training | |
UCI's Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing provides a top-ranked BSN and a Master's Entry Program in Nursing, with clinical placements often at UCI Medical Center and community health rotations in surrounding counties. The institution reports an 86.9% graduation rate and a 28.6% admission rate. UCI is a public Hispanic-Serving Institution with a net price of approximately $14,251.
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| #3 | University of California-Davis | Davis, CA | $10,000 – $15,000/yr | Career changers needing an accelerated MSN | |
UC Davis offers an accelerated 18-month Master's Entry Program in Nursing for students with a prior bachelor's degree, located in Sacramento. The program focuses on leadership, quality improvement, and diverse patient care, preparing graduates for the NCLEX-RN. With an 85.7% graduation rate and a $13,000 median graduate debt, it's a strong value. UC Davis is a public HSI.
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| #4 | Xavier College School of Nursing | Stockton, CA | ~$15,000/yr (est.) | ||
Xavier College School of Nursing in Stockton is a private institution offering an Associate of Science in Nursing. The campus-based program is state-approved and nationally accredited by ABHES, with a 80% graduation rate and a 35.6% admission rate. The net price for private payers is about $14,918.
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| #5 | San Jose State University | San Jose, CA | $14,000/yr | ||
San José State University's BSN is a full-time, on-campus program in the Bay Area. It emphasizes hands-on training and requires the TEAS exam for admission. The university is a public HSI with a 69.2% graduation rate and an in-state tuition of $8,410.
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| #6 | Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied Health | Los Angeles, CA | |||
Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied Health, a public county college, provides an Associate of Science in Nursing with strong ties to LA County health facilities. It boasts a remarkable 10-year median earnings of $115,318 for graduates and a 3:1 student-faculty ratio, though it does not have a published graduation rate.
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| #7 | San Diego State University | San Diego, CA | $15,000/yr (net price) | ||
San Diego State University's BSN is a direct-entry program for freshmen, with competitive admissions requiring a 3.0 GPA and strong science grades. As a public HSI, it has a 76.4% graduation rate and an in-state tuition of $8,728.
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| #8 | De Anza College | Cupertino, CA | $2,000 – $13,000/yr | ||
De Anza College in Cupertino offers an ADN and an LVN to RN transition program with low in-state tuition of $1,571 and a net price of $6,642. It is a public HSI with a 67.7% graduation rate, and graduates earn a median of $56,596 after 10 years.
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| #9 | California State University-Fullerton | Fullerton, CA | $7,000 – $20,000/yr | ||
Cal State Fullerton's School of Nursing offers a Traditional BSN and an Upper Division Transfer BSN, both full-time on campus. It is a public HSI with a 70.2% graduation rate and the lowest net price among CSUs here at $6,555, making it highly affordable.
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| #10 | California State University-Long Beach | Long Beach, CA | $7,000 – $20,000/yr | ||
Cal State Long Beach's BSN requires five semesters of full-time study after prerequisites, with a competitive 3.25 GPA minimum and Casper test. As a public HSI, it has a 68.9% graduation rate and an in-state tuition of $7,350.
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Among nursing schools near Ontario, California, in-state tuition ranges from roughly $1,180 to over $8,200, while the net price after aid can be as low as $536 at College of San Mateo. The table reveals a sharp divide between community colleges and public universities, with Cal State campuses charging three to seven times more in base tuition but often reducing out-of-pocket costs significantly through financial aid. These net price figures represent the institution-wide average after grants and scholarships, not a personalized quote for any individual student.
| School | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Net Price (After Aid) |
|---|---|---|---|
| College of San Mateo | $1,332 | $11,428 | $536 |
| Pasadena City College | $1,180 | $10,924 | $3,864 |
| California State University-Los Angeles | $7,164 | $19,764 | $3,967 |
| Saddleback College | $1,432 | $14,812 | $4,152 |
| California State University-San Bernardino | $8,088 | $20,688 | $4,564 |
| California State University-Stanislaus | $8,242 | $20,842 | $6,067 |
| Mt San Antonio College | $1,364 | $10,464 | $6,490 |
| California State University-Fullerton | $7,470 | $20,070 | $6,555 |
| De Anza College | $1,571 | $12,596 | $6,642 |
| California State University-Fresno | $7,341 | $19,941 | $7,000 |
A nursing school’s first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate cuts through marketing claims and reveals how effectively its graduates can transition into licensed practice.
Nationally, the 2025 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate averaged 87.5%.1 In California, the figure typically lands between 79% and 82%, reflecting the state’s rigorous standards.
Among nursing schools with a campus near Ontario, Pacific College stands out with a reported first-time pass rate of 95.83%2 for the 2024-2025 academic year. That figure puts the program well above both the national and state benchmarks. For other Ontario-area schools, prospective students should check the latest BRN school reports or request campus-specific pass rates directly, as institutional averages may combine multiple locations.
The BRN considers a program at risk of probation if its first-time pass rate falls below 75% for two consecutive years. Consistently surpassing 90% signals thorough preparation for the NCLEX and entry-level practice. Choosing a school with a high, stable pass rate minimizes the chance of costly exam retakes and employment delays.
Arizona College of Nursing’s Ontario campus offers a 36-month BSN program1, while West Coast University’s is 39 months2. Both are campus-based, full-time, and designed for students starting from scratch, so neither is a true accelerated BSN or a part-time evening track. West Coast University describes its pace as accelerated, but it does not require a prior bachelor’s degree and remains a multi-year commitment2.
For nurses seeking a faster transition, bridge programs like LVN-to-BSN or RN-to-BSN are common in the Inland Empire, but they are not currently offered by the Ontario campuses spotlighted here. The California Board of Registered Nursing maintains a searchable directory of all approved prelicensure and advanced placement programs statewide, which is the most reliable way to filter for accelerated or bridge options near Ontario. Admissions offices at nearby universities (including La Verne, Azusa Pacific, Cal Baptist, and Loma Linda) can confirm whether evening, weekend, or hybrid formats are running, as schedules can shift each term.
If you already hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, an accelerated BSN is typically a second-degree program lasting 12-to-18 months. No such program operates within the Ontario city limits, but several are available within a 45-minute drive. Contact each school’s nursing department directly; catalog descriptions often lag behind actual enrollment cycles.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $109,210 for registered nurses in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area. For context, California's statewide median stands at $140,330. Program-level earnings for BSN graduates are not yet available from federal data, but the BLS figure reflects the earnings of working RNs across all education levels in the region.
Selecting a nursing school involves weighing cost, accreditation, program format, and outcomes. With several quality options in and around Ontario, California, focusing on a few key questions can clarify which BSN program aligns with your career goals.
Choosing a nursing school ultimately means trading off upfront cost against long-term value. In-state tuition around Ontario can range from roughly $1,200 to over $8,200 per year, and the net price after aid may drop as low as $536. Meanwhile, a program’s true quality often shows up in its first-time NCLEX pass rate, which the California BRN publishes for every approved school. The rankings above surface options that balance affordability and strong outcomes, but only you can decide which format, traditional, accelerated, or bridge, fits your life. Visit school websites for current deadlines and confirm accreditation before applying. The right program will be both a financial fit and a launchpad for a career that, in this metro area, pays RNs a median of $109,210 per year.
