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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glendale Community College | Glendale, CA | Public | RN Diploma, ADN | ACEN |
| Golden West College | Huntington Beach, CA | Public | ADN | ACEN |
| Grossmont College | El Cajon, CA | Public | ADN | ACEN |
| Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts | San Jose, CA | Private for-profit | LPN/LVN, ADN, BSN | — |
| Hartnell College | Salinas, CA | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Healthcare Career College | Paramount, CA | Private for-profit | CNA, LPN/LVN | — |
| High Desert Medical College | Lancaster, CA | Private for-profit | CNA, LPN/LVN | — |
| Homestead Schools | Torrance, CA | Private nonprofit | LPN/LVN, BSN | CCNE |
| Homestead Schools-Costa Mesa | Costa Mesa, CA | Private nonprofit | LPN/LVN | — |
| Imperial Valley College | Imperial, CA | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Lassen Community College | Susanville, CA | Public | LPN/LVN | — |
| Lemoore College | Lemoore, CA | Public | ADN | — |
| Loma Linda University | Loma Linda, CA | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN-Leadership, PhD, PhD-CNS, PhD-CRNA, PhD-FNP, PhD-PMHNP | CCNE |
| Long Beach City College | Long Beach, CA | Public | LPN/LVN, RN Diploma, ADN | ACEN |
| Los Angeles City College | Los Angeles, CA | Public | ADN | — |
| Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied Health | Los Angeles, CA | Public | CNA, ADN | ACEN |
| Los Angeles Harbor College | Wilmington, CA | Public | ADN | ACEN |
| Los Angeles Pierce College | Woodland Hills, CA | Public | ADN | ACEN |
| Los Angeles Southwest College | Los Angeles, CA | Public | ADN | ACEN |
| Los Angeles Trade Technical College | Los Angeles, CA | Public | ADN | ACEN (candidate) |
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.