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Top Nursing Schools

Top Nursing Schools in California

This page lists 196 schools in California that reported awards in licensed nursing education to the U.S. Department of Education for 2023-24 — including 83 practical/vocational nursing (LPN/LVN), 94 associate degree (ADN), 60 bachelor's (BSN), 46 master's and 13 Doctor of Nursing Practice award levels. By ownership, 111 public, 28 private nonprofit and 57 private for-profit. 93 appear in the CCNE or ACEN accreditor directories for at least one nursing program level. The largest concentrations are in Los Angeles (16), San Diego (9), Ontario (5) and Sacramento (5).

Data last reviewed: October 6, 2026

Sources: IPEDS (U.S. Dept. of Education) / CCNE directory / ACEN directory / official school websites

Listing does not certify educational quality or guarantee licensure eligibility. Verify details with the school before applying.

196 schools · 20 verified program profiles · page 1 of 10

Listed alphabetically. Inclusion is editorial selection, not a ranking — see our methodology. How schools are selected

Verified program profiles (20)

See all 20 programs →

Individual programs whose details we verified on the school's own website, each fact with a source.

Azusa Pacific University

BS in Nursing LVN to BSN

BSNLPN / LVN-to-BSNPrelicensure
  • High Desert — CA · Inland Empire — CA · Monrovia — CA
  • On-campus · Full-time
  • 72 program units; 120 total units to graduate
  • $835 per credit · All students
  • For: Licensed practical / vocational nurse

Not yet verified: upcoming deadline

View Program

Azusa Pacific University

BS in Nursing Transfer

BSNPrelicensure
  • High Desert — CA · Inland Empire — CA · Monrovia — CA
  • On-campus · Full-time
  • Two years · 72 program units; 120 total units to graduate
  • $835 per credit · All students+1 more
  • For: New to nursing (no prior degree needed)

Not yet verified: upcoming deadline

View Program

Azusa Pacific University

BSN to DNP

DNPBSN-to-DNPFNPAGPCNPLeadershipFor licensed nurses
  • Azusa (Main Campus) — Azusa, CA · Inland Empire — CA · Monrovia — CA · San Diego — CA · Online — CA
  • Online coursework · On-campus · Part-time
  • 67-71 program units
  • $1,160 per credit · All students+1 more
  • For: RN with a BSN

Not yet verified: upcoming deadline

View Program

Azusa Pacific University

MSN with NP Specialties

MSNAGPCNPFNPPNP-PCPMHNPFor licensed nurses
  • Azusa (Main Campus) — Azusa, CA · Inland Empire — CA · San Diego — CA
  • On-campus · Full-time · Part-time
  • 44-56 program units
  • $895 per credit · All students+1 more
  • For: RN with a BSN

Not yet verified: upcoming deadline

View Program

Schools (196)

Allan Hancock College

PublicCommunity / two-year collegeSanta Maria, CA

Allan Hancock College is a public community / two-year college in Santa Maria, CA. It reported 117 nursing awards (LPN level and above) to IPEDS for 2023-24.

Nursing awards reported to IPEDS (2023-24)

CNA, LPN/LVN, RN Diploma, ADN

View School

American Career College-Anaheim

Private for-profitSpecialized institutionAnaheim, CA

American Career College-Anaheim is a private for-profit specialized institution in Anaheim, CA. It reported 287 nursing awards (LPN level and above) to IPEDS for 2023-24.

Nursing awards reported to IPEDS (2023-24)

LPN/LVN

View School

American Career College-Los Angeles

Private for-profitSpecialized institutionLos Angeles, CA

American Career College-Los Angeles is a private for-profit specialized institution in Los Angeles, CA. It reported 430 nursing awards (LPN level and above) to IPEDS for 2023-24.

Nursing awards reported to IPEDS (2023-24)

LPN/LVN, ADN

ACEN: ADN

View School

American Career College-Ontario

Private for-profitSpecialized institutionOntario, CA

American Career College-Ontario is a private for-profit specialized institution in Ontario, CA. It reported 379 nursing awards (LPN level and above) to IPEDS for 2023-24.

Nursing awards reported to IPEDS (2023-24)

LPN/LVN, ADN

View School

American River College

PublicCommunity / two-year collegeSacramento, CA

American River College is a public community / two-year college in Sacramento, CA. It reported 81 nursing awards (LPN level and above) to IPEDS for 2023-24.

Nursing awards reported to IPEDS (2023-24)

CNA, ADN

View School

American University of Health Sciences

Private for-profitSpecialized institutionSignal Hill, CA

American University of Health Sciences is a private for-profit specialized institution in Signal Hill, CA. It reported 124 nursing awards (LPN level and above) to IPEDS for 2023-24.

Nursing awards reported to IPEDS (2023-24)

BSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-Leadership, Post-Master's-FNP

CCNE: BSN, MSN, Post-Master's

View School

Angeles College

Private for-profitSpecialized institutionLos Angeles, CA

Angeles College is a private for-profit specialized institution in Los Angeles, CA. It reported 159 nursing awards (LPN level and above) to IPEDS for 2023-24.

Nursing awards reported to IPEDS (2023-24)

CNA, LPN/LVN, BSN

View School

Angeles Institute

Private for-profitSpecialized institutionArtesia, CA

Angeles Institute is a private for-profit specialized institution in Artesia, CA. It reported 71 nursing awards (LPN level and above) to IPEDS for 2023-24.

Nursing awards reported to IPEDS (2023-24)

CNA, LPN/LVN

View School
Antelope Valley Community College District campus

Antelope Valley Community College District

PublicCommunity / two-year collegeLancaster, CA

Antelope Valley Community College District is a public community / two-year college in Lancaster, CA. It reported 86 nursing awards (LPN level and above) to IPEDS for 2023-24.

Nursing awards reported to IPEDS (2023-24)

LPN/LVN, ADN

View School

Arizona College of Nursing-Ontario

Private for-profitFour-year collegeOntario, CA

Arizona College of Nursing-Ontario is a private for-profit four-year college in Ontario, CA. It reported 11 nursing awards (LPN level and above) to IPEDS for 2023-24.

Nursing awards reported to IPEDS (2023-24)

BSN

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Ashford University

Private for-profitUniversitySan Diego, CA

Ashford University is a private for-profit university in San Diego, CA. It reported 32 nursing awards (LPN level and above) to IPEDS for 2023-24.

Nursing awards reported to IPEDS (2023-24)

BSN

View School

Azusa Pacific University

Private nonprofitUniversityAzusa, CA

Azusa Pacific University's School of Nursing offers prelicensure BSN routes (traditional and upper-division transfer, including LVN to BSN), an online RN to BSN, an entry-level master's, MSN nurse practitioner specialties and a BSN to DNP pathway. Programs are delivered at the Azusa main campus and at regional locations including Inland Empire, Monrovia, San Diego and High Desert.

7 verified program profiles

BSN, LPN-BSN, RN-BSN, MSN, MSN-AGPCNP, MSN-FNP, MSN-PMHNP, MSN-PNP-PC, Direct-Entry MSN, DNP, DNP-AGPCNP, DNP-FNP, DNP-Leadership, BSN-DNP, PhD

CCNE: BSN, MSN, DNP, Post-Master's

View School
Bakersfield College campus

Bakersfield College

PublicCommunity / two-year collegeBakersfield, CA

Bakersfield College is a public community / two-year college in Bakersfield, CA. It reported 217 nursing awards (LPN level and above) to IPEDS for 2023-24.

Nursing awards reported to IPEDS (2023-24)

LPN/LVN, ADN

ACEN: ADN

View School

Beaumont Adult School

PublicSpecialized institutionBeaumont, CA

Beaumont Adult School is a public specialized institution in Beaumont, CA. It reported 39 nursing awards (LPN level and above) to IPEDS for 2023-24.

Nursing awards reported to IPEDS (2023-24)

LPN/LVN

View School
Biola University campus

Biola University

Private nonprofitUniversityLa Mirada, CA

Biola University is a private nonprofit university in La Mirada, CA. It reported 59 nursing awards (LPN level and above) to IPEDS for 2023-24.

Nursing awards reported to IPEDS (2023-24)

BSN

CCNE: BSN

View School

Blake Austin College

Private for-profitCommunity / two-year collegeVacaville, CA

Blake Austin College is a private for-profit community / two-year college in Vacaville, CA. It reported 142 nursing awards (LPN level and above) to IPEDS for 2023-24.

Nursing awards reported to IPEDS (2023-24)

LPN/LVN

View School
Butte College campus

Butte College

PublicCommunity / two-year collegeOroville, CA

Butte College is a public community / two-year college in Oroville, CA. It reported 119 nursing awards (LPN level and above) to IPEDS for 2023-24.

Nursing awards reported to IPEDS (2023-24)

CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN

View School
Cabrillo College campus

Cabrillo College

PublicCommunity / two-year collegeAptos, CA

Cabrillo College is a public community / two-year college in Aptos, CA. It reported 47 nursing awards (LPN level and above) to IPEDS for 2023-24.

Nursing awards reported to IPEDS (2023-24)

ADN

View School

California Baptist University

Private nonprofitUniversityRiverside, CA

California Baptist University is a private nonprofit university in Riverside, CA. It reported 229 nursing awards (LPN level and above) to IPEDS for 2023-24.

Nursing awards reported to IPEDS (2023-24)

BSN, MSN, PhD

CCNE: MSN, BSN, DNP, Post-Master's

View School

California Career College

Private for-profitSpecialized institutionCanoga Park, CA

California Career College is a private for-profit specialized institution in Canoga Park, CA. It reported 113 nursing awards (LPN level and above) to IPEDS for 2023-24.

Nursing awards reported to IPEDS (2023-24)

LPN/LVN, ADN, BSN

CCNE: BSN

View School

Before you apply in California

  • Prelicensure nursing programs must be approved by the state's board of nursing. Check the board's current list for the campus you will attend.
  • Program accreditation (CCNE, ACEN or CNEA) is separate from state approval and from the institution's own accreditation. Each school page shows which records we found and where.
  • Online programs based in another state may not accept residents of California. See online coursework and clinical requirements.