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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simpson University | Redding, CA | Private nonprofit | BSN | CCNE |
| Smith Chason College | Los Angeles, CA | Private for-profit | LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| Solano Community College | Fairfield, CA | Public | ADN | — |
| Sonoma State University | Rohnert Park, CA | Public | BSN, MSN | CCNE |
| Southwestern College | Chula Vista, CA | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Sri Sai Krish Institute | Orange, CA | Private for-profit | LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| Stanbridge University | Irvine, CA | Private for-profit | LPN/LVN, BSN, MSN | CCNE |
| The Chicago School at Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | Private nonprofit | BSN | — |
| The Nurse Academy | National City, CA | Private for-profit | LPN/LVN | — |
| Touro University California | Vallejo, CA | Private nonprofit | MSN, Post-Master's-FNP | CCNE |
| United States University | San Diego, CA | Private for-profit | BSN, RN-BSN, MSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-Leadership, MSN-Nurse Educator, Post-Master's-FNP, MSN-DNP | CCNE |
| Unitek College | Fremont, CA | Private for-profit | LPN/LVN, BSN | — |
| Unitek College | South San Francisco, CA | Private for-profit | LPN/LVN | — |
| Unitek College | Hayward, CA | Private for-profit | LPN/LVN | — |
| University of California-Davis | Davis, CA | Public | MSN-Leadership, PhD-Leadership | CCNE |
| University of California-Irvine | Irvine, CA | Public | BSN, MSN-Public Health, PhD | CCNE |
| University of California-Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | Public | BSN, MSN, PhD | CCNE |
| University of California-San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | Public | MSN, Post-Master's, PhD | CCNE |
| University of Massachusetts Global | Aliso Viejo, CA | Public | BSN, Post-Master's-PMHNP, DNP, DNP-FNP, DNP-PMHNP | CCNE |
| University of Phoenix-California | Ontario, CA | Private for-profit | MSN-FNP | — |
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.