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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career Networks Institute | Santa Ana, CA | Private for-profit | LPN/LVN, RN Diploma, ADN, BSN | CCNE |
| Carrington College-Sacramento | Sacramento, CA | Private for-profit | LPN/LVN, ADN | CCNE |
| Carrington College-San Jose | San Jose, CA | Private for-profit | LPN/LVN | — |
| Cerritos College | Norwalk, CA | Public | ADN | — |
| Cerro Coso Community College | Ridgecrest, CA | Public | LPN/LVN | — |
| CES College | Burbank, CA | Private nonprofit | LPN/LVN | — |
| Chaffey College | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Chamberlain University-California | Rancho Cordova, CA | Private for-profit | BSN | — |
| Charles A Jones Career and Education Center | Sacramento, CA | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN | — |
| Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science | Los Angeles, CA | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN-CNL, MSN-FNP, MSN-PMHNP, Post-Master's-FNP, Post-Master's-PMHNP, DNP | CCNE |
| Citrus College | Glendora, CA | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| City College of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| Clovis Adult Education | Clovis, CA | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN | — |
| College of Marin | Kentfield, CA | Public | ADN | ACEN (candidate) |
| College of San Mateo | San Mateo, CA | Public | ADN | ACEN |
| College of the Canyons | Santa Clarita, CA | Public | CNA, ADN | — |
| College of the Desert | Palm Desert, CA | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| College of the Redwoods | Eureka, CA | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| College of the Sequoias | Visalia, CA | Public | CNA, ADN | ACEN |
| College of the Siskiyous | Weed, CA | Public | LPN/LVN | — |
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.