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.
Listed alphabetically. Inclusion is editorial selection, not a ranking — see our methodology. How schools are selected
Schools (196)
| School | Location | Ownership | Nursing awards / programs | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of San Diego | San Diego, CA | Private nonprofit | MSN, MSN-CNL, MSN-Leadership, DNP, PhD | CCNE |
| University of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN-CNS, DNP, DNP-FNP, DNP-PMHNP | CCNE |
| University of Southern California | Los Angeles, CA | Private nonprofit | MSN-FNP | CCNE |
| University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences | San Marcos, CA | Private for-profit | MSN, Post-Master's-FNP, DNP | CCNE |
| University of the Pacific | Stockton, CA | Private nonprofit | MSN | CCNE |
| Vanguard University of Southern California | Costa Mesa, CA | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN-Leadership | CCNE |
| Ventura College | Ventura, CA | Public | ADN | ACEN |
| Victor Valley College | Victorville, CA | Public | RN Diploma, ADN | ACEN (candidate) |
| West Coast University-Los Angeles | North Hollywood, CA | Private for-profit | BSN | — |
| West Coast University-Ontario | Ontario, CA | Private for-profit | BSN | — |
| West Coast University-Orange County | Anaheim, CA | Private for-profit | BSN, LPN-BSN, RN-BSN, MSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-Leadership, Post-Master's, Post-Master's-FNP, DNP, DNP-Leadership, MSN-DNP | — |
| Western University of Health Sciences | Pomona, CA | Private nonprofit | MSN, Post-Master's, Post-Master's-FNP, Post-Master's-PMHNP, DNP-Leadership | CCNE |
| Westmont College | Santa Barbara, CA | Private nonprofit | BSN | CCNE |
| World Mission University | Los Angeles, CA | Private nonprofit | BSN | CCNE |
| Xavier College School of Nursing | Stockton, CA | Private for-profit | LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| Yuba College | Marysville, CA | Public | RN Diploma, ADN | — |
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.