Compare top-ranked BSN, ADN, and RN programs by cost, outcomes, and accreditation across California.
California employs more RNs than any other state, and its nursing schools reflect that scale: from UC BSN programs with median earnings above $80,000 to suburban community colleges that put graduates into six-figure roles. Los Angeles County College of Nursing, for instance, reports median earnings of $115,318 despite a net price under $10,000.
But price and prestige don’t always align. The top 10 programs in this year’s ranking show a $50,000 earnings spread and debt loads ranging from $5,625 to $16,652. In a state where RNs earn a median near $133,000, the program you choose can shrink or stretch the time it takes to turn your license into a strong return.
The 2026 rankings highlight standout nursing programs across California, from UC research powerhouses to community college pathways with strong local employer ties. Each school below earns its place through a mix of affordability, graduation success, and long-term earnings data.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University of California-Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | $13,000/yr (net price) | Academic medicine and research aspirants | |
UCLA combines a traditional four-year BSN and a Direct Entry MSN for career changers, both with deep clinical ties to UCLA Health and Southern California partners. The institution reports a 92.6% graduation rate and median alumni earnings above $82,000 ten years after entry. Its programs are designed to meet California public health certification standards.
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| #2 | University of California-Irvine | Irvine, CA | $14,000/yr (net price) | Orange County clinical immersion seekers | |
UC Irvine's nursing school is ranked in the top 6% nationally and emphasizes high-tech simulation plus extensive clinical placements at UCI Medical Center. The institution-wide graduation rate stands at 86.9%, and ten-year median earnings reach $80,735. Both the BSN and Direct Entry MSN incorporate a community health focus aligned with California licensure.
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| #3 | University of California-Davis | Davis, CA | $10,000 – $15,000/yr | Rural and community health nurses | |
UC Davis delivers an 18-month Direct Entry MSN on its Sacramento campus, drawing on partnerships with regional hospitals and rural clinics. The institution reports an 85.7% graduation rate and ten-year median earnings of $80,838. The curriculum is tailored to California's diverse communities and qualifies graduates for Public Health Nurse certification.
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| #4 | Xavier College School of Nursing | Stockton, CA | ~$15,000/yr (est.) | ||
Xavier College in Stockton offers an Associate of Science in Nursing approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing. The private, non-profit college reports an 80% graduation rate and a median student debt of $16,652. Its focused prelicensure track is built around a caring educational environment and professional accountability.
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| #5 | San Jose State University | San Jose, CA | $14,000/yr | ||
San Jose State University's BSN is a full-time, in-person program located in the heart of Silicon Valley. With a 69.2% institution-wide graduation rate and median ten-year earnings of $78,988, the program emphasizes hands-on training and comprehensive nursing education. Admission requires prerequisites and the TEAS exam.
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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 operates ASN programs tightly integrated with LA County hospitals and clinics. Graduates report the highest median earnings in this group at $115,318, with a median debt of only $9,500. The county-run school also offers a unique 30-unit LVN-to-RN pathway under California regulations.
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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 a 76.4% institution-wide graduation rate and median ten-year earnings of $64,909. The campus-based curriculum emphasizes evidence-based practice and professional development, with clinical rotations primarily in San Diego-area hospitals and community settings.
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| #8 | De Anza College | Cupertino, CA | $2,000 – $13,000/yr | ||
De Anza College in Cupertino offers Associate Degree Nursing and an LVN-to-RN transition track, both approved by the California BRN. The public community college keeps net price low at $6,642, and graduates carry a median debt of just $5,625. The programs feed into strong Bay Area employment networks.
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| #9 | California State University-Fullerton | Fullerton, CA | $7,000 – $20,000/yr | ||
Cal State Fullerton provides two BSN pathways: a traditional four- or five-year track and an upper-division transfer option for community college students. Net price is $6,555 among the lowest in the ranking and median ten-year earnings are $62,951. The programs are designed with California resident priority and straightforward admission requirements.
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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 and holds the No. 1 ranking in California from RNcareers.org. Institution-wide graduation rate is 68.9%, and ten-year median earnings reach $64,403. Admission is competitive, requiring a 3.25 GPA and the Casper test.
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The rankings at topnursing.org are built on a transparent composite score that balances cost, outcomes, and value. We combine five publicly reported data points into a single figure so you can compare schools side by side without getting lost in marketing gloss.
Our formula weighs these five factors:
Each metric is standardized and combined according to a fixed weight that prioritizes affordability and graduate outcomes. By surfacing the exact components, we let you decide which pieces matter most for your own situation.
You might expect NCLEX pass rates to play a starring role, but we intentionally leave them out of the ranking algorithm. Pass-rate data is often self-reported, lags a year or more, and can mask small-cohort volatility. Where a school does publish recent, verified first-time pass rates, we mention them in the school profile to add context, but they do not alter the composite score. This separates our methodology from directories that blend opaque, unverifiable metrics into their lists.
Only programs that hold full, active accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) are eligible for the ranking. Accreditation ensures the curriculum meets national standards and that graduates can sit for licensure exams. If a program isn’t on the list, it likely fell outside those guardrails.
We update the rankings annually with the latest available data so that the snapshot reflects the most recent cohort outcomes. When a school’s metrics are missing because the program is too new or the data hasn’t been released, we note that plainly rather than imputing a guess.
Both ADN and BSN pathways lead to RN licensure through the NCLEX-RN, but BSN-prepared nurses have greater career mobility and are preferred by Magnet hospitals. An RN-to-BSN bridge offers ADN nurses an expedited path to a bachelor's degree.
Gaining admission to a BSN program in California demands careful planning long before you submit an application. The state's public universities, both CSU and UC campuses, share a common set of prerequisite courses and exam thresholds, but competition pushes typical applicant profiles far above the minimums.
Regardless of the campus, nearly every prelicensure BSN program in California expects completion of core science and general education courses with a grade of C or better. The standard prerequisites include:
Most CSU and UC programs require a minimum overall GPA of 3.0. However, the classroom reality is far steeper. Admissions committees routinely recommend a cumulative GPA of 3.6–3.8, and competitive science GPAs stretch from 3.8 to 4.0. For example, one Southern California CSU campus sets a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 but also requires a separate cumulative GPA of 3.25, while another Bay Area program lists a minimum prerequisite GPA of just 2.0, though admitted cohorts consistently present marks well above that floor. Course recency matters: most programs expect prerequisite coursework to be completed within the last five to ten years.
The ATI TEAS is the dominant entrance exam for California BSN programs. The systemwide minimum score typically sits at 70%, but applicants who clear the 80–85% threshold are far more competitive. A handful of programs, notably at the community college level, accept the HESI Admission Assessment instead, yet for four-year public institutions, the TEAS remains the standard. In practice, a TEAS score below 70% will almost certainly disqualify an otherwise qualified applicant at selective campuses.
Even meeting every prerequisite and posting a strong TEAS score does not guarantee a seat. Most CSU nursing programs are designated as impacted, meaning they routinely receive five to ten times more qualified applicants than available spots. Institutional acceptance rates for the universities themselves illustrate the pressure: at the most selective UC nursing pathways, fewer than 10% of all undergraduate applicants are admitted. Among mid-tier CSUs, nursing program acceptance rates often fall between 15% and 25%. The mismatch between demand and capacity forces programs to use multi-criteria points systems that weigh academics, life experience, language proficiency, and even local residency.
Choosing a nursing program in California means navigating a mix of strict state requirements, competitive admissions, and a wide range of program structures. The right school for you balances four factors: licensure eligibility, clinical training quality, cost, and schedule flexibility. Use the framework below to compare options from the list of California nursing programs in this article.
California is unique: the state's Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) must approve any pre-licensure RN program, regardless of national accreditation. A school may hold CCNE or ACEN accreditation but still not be BRN-approved. Graduates of unapproved programs cannot sit for the NCLEX or earn an RN license in California. Always check the BRN's current approved list before enrolling. The ideal program holds both BRN approval and national accreditation, the first satisfies California licensure law, and the second signals quality and makes transferring credits or continuing to graduate school simpler. Every school included in this article's rankings has been screened for BRN approval.
Hands-on patient care hours are the core of nursing education. California's major health systems, Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Health, Dignity Health, and UC Health, partner with many nursing schools to provide clinical training. Programs located near these networks often secure preferred rotations. For example, UC Irvine places half of its BSN students at the on-campus UCI Medical Center, and CSU Stanislaus runs clinical sites across the Central Valley. When evaluating a program, ask about the total clinical hours, the variety of settings (medical-surgical, pediatrics, community health), and how placements are assigned. Strong partnerships can also lead to job offers after graduation.
Tuition varies dramatically, from around $1,200 a year at community colleges like Pasadena City College to over $50,000 at private universities. Net price after financial aid is often much lower; several CSU campuses show net costs under $7,000. While a higher price tag doesn’t automatically mean better training, some private schools offer accelerated paths or tailored support that may be worth it. Compare costs with the salary outlook in your target metro area. In California, RN wages differ by region: nurses in San Francisco and San Jose earn well above the national median, while inland areas may be lower. Factor in your expected debt payments when weighing program cost and length.
Several California BSN programs now offer hybrid study. Angeles College in Los Angeles and CSU-Chico, for instance, deliver classroom instruction online but require in-person clinicals. This model works well if you’re already near healthcare facilities where you can complete hours. Fully online pre-licensure programs are rare because the BRN mandates direct patient-care practice. If you choose a hybrid program, confirm that the school arranges clinical sites within commuting distance, you won’t need to relocate, but travel may be necessary.
If you may move to another state after graduation, look for a program with both CCNE accreditation and BRN approval. Many states accept California RN licenses through endorsement, but some impose additional requirements if the program lacked national accreditation. A program that checks both boxes gives you the most career flexibility.
Start your search by filtering for BRN-approved programs, then weigh clinical strength, affordability, and format. The program profiles and cost table that follow will help you compare your top California nursing school picks side by side.
Below, California nursing programs appear sorted by net price after aid. Net price captures tuition and fees after grants, but in California's high-cost metros, housing, textbooks, and clinical supplies often add thousands per year; budgeting for these indirect expenses is critical. The Pell grant share indicates the percentage of students receiving federal Pell grants, signaling affordability and access at each school.
| School | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Net Price After Aid | Median Graduate Debt | Est. Monthly Payment (10-yr) | Pell Grant Share | Sector |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| College of San Mateo | $1,332 | $11,428 | $536 | $14,695 | $122 | 97.9% | Public |
| Pasadena City College | $1,180 | $10,924 | $3,864 | $6,651 | $55 | 99.2% | Public |
| California State University-Los Angeles | $7,164 | $19,764 | $3,967 | $13,000 | $108 | 86.9% | Public |
| Saddleback College | $1,432 | $14,812 | $4,152 | $9,500 | $79 | 95.9% | Public |
| California State University-San Bernardino | $8,088 | $20,688 | $4,564 | $14,715 | $123 | 86.8% | Public |
| California State University-Stanislaus | $8,242 | $20,842 | $6,067 | $13,540 | $113 | 82.9% | Public |
| Mt San Antonio College | $1,364 | $10,464 | $6,490 | $5,880 | $49 | 99.4% | Public |
| California State University-Fullerton | $7,470 | $20,070 | $6,555 | $13,750 | $115 | 80.1% | Public |
| De Anza College | $1,571 | $12,596 | $6,642 | $5,625 | $47 | 94.9% | Public |
| California State University-Fresno | $7,341 | $19,941 | $7,000 | $14,505 | $121 | 86.3% | Public |
| California State University-Northridge | $7,458 | $20,058 | $7,021 | $13,872 | $116 | 86.0% | Public |
| MiraCosta College | $1,158 | $9,750 | $7,339 | $9,000 | $75 | 98.1% | Public |
| California State University-Sacramento | $8,018 | $20,618 | $9,338 | $15,000 | $125 | 80.9% | Public |
| California State University-Long Beach | $7,374 | $19,974 | $10,440 | $14,289 | $119 | 80.6% | Public |
| San Francisco State University | $7,846 | $20,446 | $12,278 | $15,371 | $128 | 76.3% | Public |
California RNs earn some of the highest wages in the country, but the state’s steep cost of living means those paychecks don’t stretch equally everywhere. Understanding where salaries peak, how demand is growing, and what graduates from top programs actually make can help you weigh your investment.
The median annual wage for registered nurses in California reached $133,990 in 2024, ranking first among all states and sitting well above the national median of $93,600. To put that in perspective, the California median outpaced the 90th percentile for RNs nationally ($135,320). While state-level percentile data is not broken out separately, national figures show that entry-level RNs (10th percentile) earn about $66,030, climbing to $78,610 at the 25th percentile and $107,960 at the 75th percentile before reaching the top earners above $135,320. California’s overall median suggests that even mid-career nurses in the state are operating near the upper end of the national wage distribution.
A statewide median can hide sharp regional differences. In the San Francisco Bay Area, RN salaries routinely exceed $160,000, driven by high demand and an extraordinarily high cost of living. Just inland, Sacramento-area nurses typically earn closer to $130,000. Los Angeles and the Inland Empire fall in the middle, with average wages around $120,000 to $125,000, while Central Valley RNs may see figures just under $110,000. These spreads of $20,000 or more mean that a Bay Area salary might look huge on paper, but a Sacramento or Inland Empire job could leave more disposable income after adjusting for housing and taxes.
Nationally, employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 5 percent from 2024 to 2034, adding about 189,100 openings each year on average. California’s own forecasts, driven by an aging population and a persistent nursing shortage, suggest even stronger demand. State employment projections point to thousands of additional RN positions needed in the coming decade, especially in primary care, home health, and acute-care settings. Competitive salaries and signing bonuses are becoming common tools for employers trying to fill gaps.
Looking at actual earnings data from U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard information, graduates of top-ranked California nursing programs often match or exceed state benchmarks. For example, alumni from Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied Health report median earnings of $115,318 a decade after enrollment, while University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) alumni see about $82,511. Other strong performers include San Jose State University ($78,988), University of the Pacific ($78,445), and University of California, Irvine ($80,735). These figures reflect median earnings for students who received federal aid, and while they vary by program type and student background, they demonstrate that carefully chosen programs can deliver salaries that align with or surpass the state’s $133,990 median over time. When paired with manageable debt levels and strong retention rates, these earnings underscore the long-term value of an accredited California nursing education.
The highest paying metro areas for registered nurses in California are San Jose, San Francisco, and Santa Cruz, where mean annual wages top $134,000. These figures reflect the cost of living in those regions, where housing and other expenses are among the nation's highest.
Navigating California's nursing education landscape can raise many questions. Below are answers to common inquiries about programs, licensure, and more, to help you make informed decisions.
The following directory includes all remaining programs from our full ranking beyond the top 10, organized by region for easy comparison. Each entry lists the school, degree level, format, and net price to help you find an affordable path into nursing.
