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
Verified program profiles (20)
See all 20 programs →Individual programs whose details we verified on the school's own website, each fact with a source.
| Program | School | Award / pathway | Format | Tuition (basis) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BS in Nursing LVN to BSN | Azusa Pacific University | BSN, LPN / LVN-to-BSN | On-campus | $835 per credit |
| BS in Nursing Transfer | Azusa Pacific University | BSN | On-campus | $835 per credit |
| BSN to DNP | Azusa Pacific University | DNP, BSN-to-DNP, FNP, AGPCNP, Leadership | Online coursework, On-campus | $1,160 per credit |
| Entry-Level Master’s in Nursing (ELM) | Azusa Pacific University | MSN, Direct-Entry MSN | On-campus | $895 per credit |
| MSN with NP Specialties | Azusa Pacific University | MSN, AGPCNP, FNP, PNP-PC, PMHNP | On-campus | $895 per credit |
| Online RN to BSN Degree Completion Program | Azusa Pacific University | BSN, RN-to-BSN | Online coursework | $460 per credit |
Schools (196)
| School | Location | Ownership | Nursing awards / programs | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allan Hancock College | Santa Maria, CA | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, RN Diploma, ADN | — |
| American Career College-Anaheim | Anaheim, CA | Private for-profit | LPN/LVN | — |
| American Career College-Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | Private for-profit | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| American Career College-Ontario | Ontario, CA | Private for-profit | LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| American River College | Sacramento, CA | Public | CNA, ADN | — |
| American University of Health Sciences | Signal Hill, CA | Private for-profit | BSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-Leadership, Post-Master's-FNP | CCNE |
| Angeles College | Los Angeles, CA | Private for-profit | CNA, LPN/LVN, BSN | — |
| Angeles Institute | Artesia, CA | Private for-profit | CNA, LPN/LVN | — |
| Antelope Valley Community College District | Lancaster, CA | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| Arizona College of Nursing-Ontario | Ontario, CA | Private for-profit | BSN | — |
| Ashford University | San Diego, CA | Private for-profit | BSN | — |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA | Private nonprofit | BSN, LPN-BSN, RN-BSN, MSN, MSN-AGPCNP, MSN-FNP, MSN-PMHNP, MSN-PNP-PC, Direct-Entry MSN, DNP, DNP-AGPCNP, DNP-FNP, DNP-Leadership, BSN-DNP, PhD | CCNE |
| Bakersfield College | Bakersfield, CA | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Beaumont Adult School | Beaumont, CA | Public | LPN/LVN | — |
| Biola University | La Mirada, CA | Private nonprofit | BSN | CCNE |
| Blake Austin College | Vacaville, CA | Private for-profit | LPN/LVN | — |
| Butte College | Oroville, CA | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| Cabrillo College | Aptos, CA | Public | ADN | — |
| California Baptist University | Riverside, CA | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN, PhD | CCNE |
| California Career College | Canoga Park, CA | Private for-profit | LPN/LVN, ADN, BSN | CCNE |
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.