P
Porterville College
With annual in-state tuition at $1,438, Porterville College in Porterville, California is among the more affordable public options in the region. Total enrollment is about 4,784 students.
Offering ADN Program
Nursing Schools in California: 2026-2027
Explore and compare 161 top-ranked, accredited schools in California. Our directory combines verified NCLEX-RN pass rates, IPEDS tuition data, and CCNE/ACEN accreditation status with authentic insights from our allnurses community members. Rankings are based on our Ranking Methodology — a 100-point composite score across 6 weighted categories.
Last updated: May 16, 2026
Sources:
IPEDS /
College Scorecard / Editorial Team
Santa Rosa Junior College
With annual in-state tuition at $1,318, Santa Rosa Junior College in Santa Rosa, California is among the more affordable public options in the region. Total enrollment is about 17,900 students.
2 Nursing Programs Offered
ADN, LPN
San Francisco State University
A public institution, San Francisco State University serves students in San Francisco, California. Annual in-state tuition is $7,950.
6 Nursing Programs Offered
BSN, MSN, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, MSN-PMHNP, Post-MSN-Cert
University of San Diego
University of San Diego is a private nonprofit school in San Diego, California offering nursing education. Annual in-state tuition is $59,486.
10 Nursing Programs Offered
BSN-DNP, DNP, DNP-FNP, DNP-NE, MSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-NL, MSN-PMHNP, PhD, Post-MSN-Cert
Butte College
With annual in-state tuition at $1,356, Butte College in Oroville, California is among the more affordable public options in the region. It offers 2 nursing programs across various degree levels.
2 Nursing Programs Offered
ADN, LPN
Copper Mountain Community College
With annual in-state tuition at $1,390, Copper Mountain Community College in Joshua Tree, California is among the more affordable public options in the region. Total enrollment is about 2,019 students.
Offering ADN Program
College of the Desert
With annual in-state tuition at $1,326, College of the Desert in Palm Desert, California is among the more affordable public options in the region. Total enrollment is about 12,900 students.
Offering ADN Program
San Bernardino Valley College
With annual in-state tuition at $1,196, San Bernardino Valley College in San Bernardino, California is among the more affordable public options in the region. Total enrollment is about 14,100 students.
Offering ADN Program
Cabrillo College
With annual in-state tuition at $1,270, Cabrillo College in Aptos, California is among the more affordable public options in the region. The school reports a 35% graduation rate.
2 Nursing Programs Offered
ADN, LPN
West Coast University-Orange County
West Coast University-Orange County is a private for-profit school in Anaheim, California offering nursing education. It offers 12 nursing programs across various degree levels.
12 Nursing Programs Offered
ABSN, BSN, BSN-DNP, Direct-Entry-MSN, DNP, DNP-FNP, MSN, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, MSN-NL, MSN-PMHNP, Post-MSN-Cert
Y
Yuba College
With annual in-state tuition at $1,128, Yuba College in Marysville, California is among the more affordable public options in the region. The school reports a 30% graduation rate.
Offering ADN Program
California State University-Fullerton
One of the larger institutions in the state, California State University-Fullerton is a public school in Fullerton, California with over 43,662 students. The school reports a 69% graduation rate.
10 Nursing Programs Offered
ABSN, BSN, DNP, DNP-FNP, DNP-NE, MSN, MSN-AGNP, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, PhD
E
East Los Angeles College
With annual in-state tuition at $1,238, East Los Angeles College in Monterey Park, California is among the more affordable public options in the region. It offers 2 nursing programs across various degree levels.
2 Nursing Programs Offered
ADN, LPN
C
College of the Redwoods
With annual in-state tuition at $1,198, College of the Redwoods in Eureka, California is among the more affordable public options in the region. Graduates earn a median of $36,243 within ten years.
2 Nursing Programs Offered
ADN, LPN
Southwestern College
With annual in-state tuition at $1,344, Southwestern College in Chula Vista, California is among the more affordable public options in the region. It offers 2 nursing programs across various degree levels.
2 Nursing Programs Offered
ADN, LPN
Fresno City College
With annual in-state tuition at $1,334, Fresno City College in Fresno, California is among the more affordable public options in the region. Graduates earn a median of $37,361 within ten years.
2 Nursing Programs Offered
ADN, LPN
California State University-Sacramento
One of the larger institutions in the state, California State University-Sacramento is a public school in Sacramento, California with over 31,943 students. The school reports a 55% graduation rate.
5 Nursing Programs Offered
BSN, MSN, MSN-AGNP, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP
California State University-Stanislaus
California State University-Stanislaus provides nursing education from its campus in Turlock, California. Graduates earn a median of $63,188 within ten years.
4 Nursing Programs Offered
BSN, MSN, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP
California State University-Fresno
A public institution, California State University-Fresno serves students in Fresno, California. Annual in-state tuition is $7,350.
10 Nursing Programs Offered
BSN, BSN-DNP, Direct-Entry-MSN, DNP, DNP-FNP, DNP-PMHNP, MSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-PMHNP, PhD
College of Marin
With annual in-state tuition at $1,558, College of Marin in Kentfield, California is among the more affordable public options in the region. The school reports a 34% graduation rate.
Offering ADN Program
California State University-San Bernardino
California State University-San Bernardino is a public institution in San Bernardino, California. The acceptance rate is 94%.
4 Nursing Programs Offered
BSN, MSN, MSN-AGNP, MSN-FNP
California State University-Chico
Based in Chico, California, California State University-Chico is a public institution. It offers 4 nursing programs across various degree levels.
4 Nursing Programs Offered
ABSN, BSN, MSN, MSN-FNP
Merritt College
With annual in-state tuition at $1,258, Merritt College in Oakland, California is among the more affordable public options in the region. The school reports a 21% graduation rate.
Offering ADN Program
California State University-East Bay
California State University-East Bay is a public institution in Hayward, California. Graduates earn a median of $71,401 within ten years.
5 Nursing Programs Offered
ABSN, BSN, MSN, MSN-AGNP, MSN-FNP
Contra Costa College
With annual in-state tuition at $1,312, Contra Costa College in San Pablo, California is among the more affordable public options in the region. Total enrollment is about 6,538 students.
Offering ADN Program
| # | School Name | Location | In-State | Completion Rate | Programs | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 76 | Porterville College | Porterville, CA | $1,438 | 27.6% | 1 | |
| 77 | Santa Rosa Junior College | Santa Rosa, CA | $1,318 | 32.2% | 2 | |
| 78 | San Francisco State University | San Francisco, CA | $7,950 | 52.3% | 6 | |
| 79 | University of San Diego | San Diego, CA | $59,486 | 82.1% | 10 | |
| 80 | Butte College | Oroville, CA | $1,356 | 32.8% | 2 | |
| 81 | Copper Mountain Community College | Joshua Tree, CA | $1,390 | 28.7% | 1 | |
| 82 | College of the Desert | Palm Desert, CA | $1,326 | 28.1% | 1 | |
| 83 | San Bernardino Valley College | San Bernardino, CA | $1,196 | 20.6% | 1 | |
| 84 | Cabrillo College | Aptos, CA | $1,270 | 35.3% | 2 | |
| 85 | West Coast University-Orange County | Anaheim, CA | $22,506 | 61.1% | 12 | |
| 86 | Yuba College | Marysville, CA | $1,128 | 30.3% | 1 | |
| 87 | California State University-Fullerton | Fullerton, CA | $7,470 | 69.3% | 10 | |
| 88 | East Los Angeles College | Monterey Park, CA | $1,238 | 31.1% | 2 | |
| 89 | College of the Redwoods | Eureka, CA | $1,198 | 24.7% | 2 | |
| 90 | Southwestern College | Chula Vista, CA | $1,344 | 31.4% | 2 | |
| 91 | Fresno City College | Fresno, CA | $1,334 | 23.5% | 2 | |
| 92 | California State University-Sacramento | Sacramento, CA | $8,018 | 55.1% | 5 | |
| 93 | California State University-Stanislaus | Turlock, CA | $8,246 | 56.7% | 4 | |
| 94 | California State University-Fresno | Fresno, CA | $7,350 | 55.5% | 10 | |
| 95 | College of Marin | Kentfield, CA | $1,558 | 34.4% | 1 | |
| 96 | California State University-San Bernardino | San Bernardino, CA | $8,093 | 54.5% | 4 | |
| 97 | California State University-Chico | Chico, CA | $8,472 | 63.9% | 4 | |
| 98 | Merritt College | Oakland, CA | $1,258 | 20.9% | 1 | |
| 99 | California State University-East Bay | Hayward, CA | $7,583 | 45.5% | 5 | |
| 100 | Contra Costa College | San Pablo, CA | $1,312 | 28.2% | 1 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
Data is sourced from the College Scorecard API and may not reflect the most current information. Please verify details with the school directly.