# Best Nursing Colleges in California

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-05-31 | Schools: 50 | Category: By State
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-nursing-california

## Methodology

Nursing programs in California ranked by outcomes and program concentration

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Summary

Nursing colleges in California are critical for aspiring healthcare professionals looking to make a meaningful impact in their communities. With the demand for nurses growing, families are weighing their options carefully. In fact, California is home to some of the highest-earning nursing graduates in the country, with average earnings around $59,869.

What separates the strong nursing programs in this list from the rest are key outcomes like earnings, graduation rates, and student debt. Schools that excel in these areas not only prepare students for successful careers but also ensure they graduate with manageable debt. The list below highlights 50 nursing programs, focusing on their ability to equip students for both immediate job placement and long-term career success.

For instance, the University of California-San Diego stands out with an impressive earning potential of $84,943 and a graduation rate of 87%. In contrast, California State University-Sacramento, while still a viable option, shows a lower earning average of $64,876 and a graduation rate of only 56%. This illustrates the trade-offs families need to consider when selecting a program that aligns with their goals and financial situation.

## Key Findings

- University of California-San Diego graduates earn an average of $84,943.
- Azusa Pacific University has a graduation rate of 63%, compared to California State University-Sacramento's 56%.
- Students at California State University-Fullerton graduate with an average debt of $13,750.
- The average earning for nursing graduates across California colleges is $59,869.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [Azusa Pacific University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/azusa-pacific-university) | Azusa, CA | 63% | $66,677 | $22,212 | $23,219 | 0.35x |
| 2 | [Dominican University of California](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/dominican-university-of-california) | San Rafael, CA | 77% | $84,713 | $35,333 | $27,000 | 0.32x |
| 3 | [Mount Saint Mary's University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mount-saint-marys-university) | Los Angeles, CA | 53% | $72,379 | $21,413 | $25,949 | 0.36x |
| 4 | [Pacific Union College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/pacific-union-college) | Angwin, CA | 55% | $70,484 | $41,008 | $27,500 | 0.39x |
| 5 | [San Jose State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/san-jose-state-university) | San Jose, CA | 67% | $78,988 | $13,760 | $15,000 | 0.19x |
| 6 | [Mendocino College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mendocino-college) | Ukiah, CA | 28% | $40,243 | $8,330 | $10,836 | 0.27x |
| 7 | [University of San Francisco](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-san-francisco) | San Francisco, CA | 71% | $89,812 | $41,431 | $23,000 | 0.26x |
| 8 | [San Francisco State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/san-francisco-state-university) | San Francisco, CA | 50% | $68,077 | $12,278 | $15,371 | 0.23x |
| 9 | [Point Loma Nazarene University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/point-loma-nazarene-university) | San Diego, CA | 76% | $63,998 | $38,729 | $22,990 | 0.36x |
| 10 | [University of the Pacific](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-the-pacific) | Stockton, CA | 68% | $78,445 | $25,447 | $19,500 | 0.25x |
| 11 | [Simpson University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/simpson-university) | Redding, CA | 45% | $54,340 | $27,817 | $18,750 | 0.35x |
| 12 | [La Sierra University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/la-sierra-university) | Riverside, CA | 64% | $61,824 | $45,566 | $27,000 | 0.44x |
| 13 | [Sierra College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/sierra-college) | Rocklin, CA | 40% | $45,294 | $7,245 | $10,500 | 0.23x |
| 14 | [Pasadena City College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/pasadena-city-college) | Pasadena, CA | 44% | $43,937 | $3,864 | $6,651 | 0.15x |
| 15 | [National University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/national-university) | San Diego, CA | 42% | $67,548 | $22,878 | $25,000 | 0.37x |
| 16 | [San Diego State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/san-diego-state-university) | San Diego, CA | 77% | $64,909 | $15,364 | $15,000 | 0.23x |
| 17 | [Vanguard University of Southern California](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/vanguard-university-of-southern-california) | Costa Mesa, CA | 56% | $59,541 | $21,241 | $22,000 | 0.37x |
| 18 | [Biola University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/biola-university) | La Mirada, CA | 68% | $56,778 | $31,495 | $23,875 | 0.42x |
| 19 | [Fresno Pacific University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/fresno-pacific-university) | Fresno, CA | 53% | $58,896 | $13,630 | $23,146 | 0.39x |
| 20 | [Sonoma State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/sonoma-state-university) | Rohnert Park, CA | 59% | $65,986 | $12,885 | $16,705 | 0.25x |
| 21 | [Saddleback College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/saddleback-college) | Mission Viejo, CA | 46% | $50,874 | $4,152 | $9,500 | 0.19x |
| 22 | [Westmont College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/westmont-college) | Santa Barbara, CA | 70% | $64,778 | $29,053 | $23,250 | 0.36x |
| 23 | [California Baptist University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/california-baptist-university) | Riverside, CA | 61% | $61,504 | $26,285 | $26,063 | 0.42x |
| 24 | [University of California-Irvine](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-california-irvine) | Irvine, CA | 86% | $80,735 | $14,251 | $15,000 | 0.19x |
| 25 | [Concordia University-Irvine](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/concordia-university-irvine) | Irvine, CA | 60% | $65,083 | $28,115 | $24,247 | 0.37x |
| 26 | [University of California-San Diego](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-california-san-diego) | La Jolla, CA | 87% | $84,943 | $12,470 | $15,500 | 0.18x |
| 27 | [College of the Sequoias](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/college-of-the-sequoias) | Visalia, CA | 36% | $39,092 | $480 | $4,500 | 0.12x |
| 28 | [College of Marin](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/college-of-marin) | Kentfield, CA | 38% | $42,654 | $12,351 | $10,062 | 0.24x |
| 29 | [College of the Canyons](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/college-of-the-canyons) | Santa Clarita, CA | 44% | $49,022 | $3,702 | $9,612 | 0.2x |
| 30 | [San Joaquin Delta College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/san-joaquin-delta-college) | Stockton, CA | 33% | $43,212 | $2,407 | $7,500 | 0.17x |
| 31 | [California State University-Sacramento](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/california-state-university-sacramento) | Sacramento, CA | 56% | $64,876 | $9,338 | $15,000 | 0.23x |
| 32 | [Saint Mary's College of California](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/saint-marys-college-of-california) | Moraga, CA | 70% | $78,812 | $30,378 | $23,691 | 0.3x |
| 33 | [California State University-Fullerton](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/california-state-university-fullerton) | Fullerton, CA | 70% | $62,951 | $6,555 | $13,750 | 0.22x |
| 34 | [California State University-Channel Islands](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/california-state-university-channel-islands) | Camarillo, CA | 52% | $62,152 | $9,849 | $15,000 | 0.24x |
| 35 | [California State University-Stanislaus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/california-state-university-stanislaus) | Turlock, CA | 56% | $63,188 | $6,067 | $13,540 | 0.21x |
| 36 | [Chapman University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/chapman-university) | Orange, CA | 81% | $70,070 | $46,555 | $20,500 | 0.29x |
| 37 | [Glendale Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/glendale-community-college-ca) | Glendale, CA | 35% | $41,540 | $8,365 | $8,972 | 0.22x |
| 38 | [Napa Valley College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/napa-valley-college) | Napa, CA | 37% | $49,517 | $14,644 | $10,147 | 0.2x |
| 39 | [California State University-East Bay](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/california-state-university-east-bay) | Hayward, CA | 47% | $71,401 | $9,320 | $16,544 | 0.23x |
| 40 | [California State University-Long Beach](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/california-state-university-long-beach) | Long Beach, CA | 69% | $64,403 | $10,440 | $14,289 | 0.22x |
| 41 | [University of California-Merced](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-california-merced) | Merced, CA | 69% | $64,368 | $11,983 | $16,144 | 0.25x |
| 42 | [College of the Redwoods](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/college-of-the-redwoods) | Eureka, CA | 30% | $36,243 | $6,904 | $8,080 | 0.22x |
| 43 | [Barstow Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/barstow-community-college) | Barstow, CA | 36% | $35,104 | $12,773 | $3,500 | 0.1x |
| 44 | [Santa Barbara City College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/santa-barbara-city-college) | Santa Barbara, CA | 34% | $47,647 | $11,315 | $11,000 | 0.23x |
| 45 | [California State University-San Marcos](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/california-state-university-san-marcos) | San Marcos, CA | 54% | $62,908 | $10,229 | $17,350 | 0.28x |
| 46 | [California State University-Dominguez Hills](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/california-state-university-dominguez-hills) | Carson, CA | 45% | $57,162 | $8,615 | $13,807 | 0.24x |
| 47 | [California State University-Los Angeles](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/california-state-university-los-angeles) | Los Angeles, CA | 53% | $59,211 | $3,967 | $13,000 | 0.22x |
| 48 | [California State University-Northridge](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/california-state-university-northridge) | Northridge, CA | 57% | $59,115 | $7,021 | $13,872 | 0.23x |
| 49 | [California State University-San Bernardino](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/california-state-university-san-bernardino) | San Bernardino, CA | 55% | $59,977 | $4,564 | $14,715 | 0.25x |
| 50 | [College of the Siskiyous](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/college-of-the-siskiyous) | Weed, CA | 32% | $39,098 | $11,120 | $10,750 | 0.27x |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Best Nursing Colleges in California." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-nursing-california

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.