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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 3 of 10

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

Schools (196)

Career Networks Institute

Private for-profitSpecialized institutionSanta Ana, CA

Career Networks Institute is a private for-profit specialized institution in Santa Ana, CA. It reported 279 nursing awards (LPN level and above) to IPEDS for 2023-24.

Nursing awards reported to IPEDS (2023-24)

LPN/LVN, RN Diploma, ADN, BSN

CCNE: BSN

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Carrington College-Sacramento

Private for-profitSpecialized institutionSacramento, CA

Carrington College-Sacramento is a private for-profit specialized institution in Sacramento, CA. It reported 191 nursing awards (LPN level and above) to IPEDS for 2023-24.

Nursing awards reported to IPEDS (2023-24)

LPN/LVN, ADN

CCNE: BSN

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Carrington College-San Jose

Private for-profitSpecialized institutionSan Jose, CA

Carrington College-San Jose is a private for-profit specialized institution in San Jose, CA. It reported 40 nursing awards (LPN level and above) to IPEDS for 2023-24.

Nursing awards reported to IPEDS (2023-24)

LPN/LVN

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Cerritos College campus

Cerritos College

PublicCommunity / two-year collegeNorwalk, CA

Cerritos College is a public community / two-year college in Norwalk, CA. It reported 58 nursing awards (LPN level and above) to IPEDS for 2023-24.

Nursing awards reported to IPEDS (2023-24)

ADN

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Cerro Coso Community College

PublicCommunity / two-year collegeRidgecrest, CA

Cerro Coso Community College is a public community / two-year college in Ridgecrest, CA. It reported 30 nursing awards (LPN level and above) to IPEDS for 2023-24.

Nursing awards reported to IPEDS (2023-24)

LPN/LVN

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CES College

Private nonprofitSpecialized institutionBurbank, CA

CES College is a private nonprofit specialized institution in Burbank, CA. It reported 32 nursing awards (LPN level and above) to IPEDS for 2023-24.

Nursing awards reported to IPEDS (2023-24)

LPN/LVN

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Chaffey College

PublicCommunity / two-year collegeRancho Cucamonga, CA

Chaffey College is a public community / two-year college in Rancho Cucamonga, CA. It reported 96 nursing awards (LPN level and above) to IPEDS for 2023-24.

Nursing awards reported to IPEDS (2023-24)

CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN

ACEN: ADN

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Chamberlain University-California

Private for-profitSpecialized institutionRancho Cordova, CA

Chamberlain University-California is a private for-profit specialized institution in Rancho Cordova, CA. It reported 279 nursing awards (LPN level and above) to IPEDS for 2023-24.

Nursing awards reported to IPEDS (2023-24)

BSN

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Charles A Jones Career and Education Center

PublicSpecialized institutionSacramento, CA

Charles A Jones Career and Education Center is a public specialized institution in Sacramento, CA. It reported 17 nursing awards (LPN level and above) to IPEDS for 2023-24.

Nursing awards reported to IPEDS (2023-24)

CNA, LPN/LVN

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Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science

Private nonprofitSpecialized institutionLos Angeles, CA

Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science is a private nonprofit specialized institution in Los Angeles, CA. It reported 241 nursing awards (LPN level and above) to IPEDS for 2023-24.

Nursing awards reported to IPEDS (2023-24)

BSN, MSN-CNL, MSN-FNP, MSN-PMHNP, Post-Master's-FNP, Post-Master's-PMHNP, DNP

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

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Citrus College campus

Citrus College

PublicCommunity / two-year collegeGlendora, CA

Citrus College is a public community / two-year college in Glendora, CA. It reported 93 nursing awards (LPN level and above) to IPEDS for 2023-24.

Nursing awards reported to IPEDS (2023-24)

LPN/LVN, ADN

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City College of San Francisco campus

City College of San Francisco

PublicCommunity / two-year collegeSan Francisco, CA

City College of San Francisco is a public community / two-year college in San Francisco, CA. It reported 98 nursing awards (LPN level and above) to IPEDS for 2023-24.

Nursing awards reported to IPEDS (2023-24)

CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN

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Clovis Adult Education

PublicSpecialized institutionClovis, CA

Clovis Adult Education is a public specialized institution in Clovis, CA. It reported 47 nursing awards (LPN level and above) to IPEDS for 2023-24.

Nursing awards reported to IPEDS (2023-24)

CNA, LPN/LVN

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College of Marin campus

College of Marin

PublicCommunity / two-year collegeKentfield, CA

College of Marin is a public community / two-year college in Kentfield, CA. It reported 42 nursing awards (LPN level and above) to IPEDS for 2023-24.

Nursing awards reported to IPEDS (2023-24)

ADN

ACEN: ADN (candidate)

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College of San Mateo campus

College of San Mateo

PublicCommunity / two-year collegeSan Mateo, CA

College of San Mateo is a public community / two-year college in San Mateo, CA. It reported 42 nursing awards (LPN level and above) to IPEDS for 2023-24.

Nursing awards reported to IPEDS (2023-24)

ADN

ACEN: ADN

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College of the Canyons

PublicCommunity / two-year collegeSanta Clarita, CA

College of the Canyons is a public community / two-year college in Santa Clarita, CA. It reported 102 nursing awards (LPN level and above) to IPEDS for 2023-24.

Nursing awards reported to IPEDS (2023-24)

CNA, ADN

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College of the Desert campus

College of the Desert

PublicCommunity / two-year collegePalm Desert, CA

College of the Desert is a public community / two-year college in Palm Desert, CA. It reported 124 nursing awards (LPN level and above) to IPEDS for 2023-24.

Nursing awards reported to IPEDS (2023-24)

LPN/LVN, ADN

ACEN: ADN

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College of the Redwoods campus

College of the Redwoods

PublicCommunity / two-year collegeEureka, CA

College of the Redwoods is a public community / two-year college in Eureka, CA. It reported 64 nursing awards (LPN level and above) to IPEDS for 2023-24.

Nursing awards reported to IPEDS (2023-24)

LPN/LVN, ADN

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College of the Sequoias

PublicCommunity / two-year collegeVisalia, CA

College of the Sequoias is a public community / two-year college in Visalia, CA. It reported 96 nursing awards (LPN level and above) to IPEDS for 2023-24.

Nursing awards reported to IPEDS (2023-24)

CNA, ADN

ACEN: ADN

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College of the Siskiyous

PublicCommunity / two-year collegeWeed, CA

College of the Siskiyous is a public community / two-year college in Weed, CA. It reported 1 nursing award (LPN level and above) to IPEDS for 2023-24.

Nursing awards reported to IPEDS (2023-24)

LPN/LVN

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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.