Rankings / Online
Best Online Nursing Programs in California
- 50
- Schools
- $45,411
- Avg. Earnings
- 38%
- Avg. Graduation
- $8,827
- Avg. Net Price
- $11,385
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Median graduate earnings across these 50 schools run from $32,172 to $83,438, a 2.6× gap. The category label alone says little about payoff.
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Irvine Valley College delivers the most for the money: roughly $49,156 in median earnings against $2,090 a year in net price, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio on the list.
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The most affordable option, Irvine Valley College ($2,090 net price), still posts $49,156 in earnings, at or above the list average. Paying more does not guarantee a better outcome.
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De Anza College graduates 68% of its students, versus a 38% average across the list. Completion, more than selectivity, signals whether a degree actually gets finished.
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De Anza College carries the healthiest debt load, with graduates owing just 0.10× their annual earnings.
Surprising Comparisons
- #1 National University ($67,548 earnings) outranks the list's highest earner, Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science ($83,438), because it does more on mobility and cost.
- Irvine Valley College costs $2,090 a year and Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science costs $35,558. Yet their graduates earn $49,156 and $83,438, nowhere near the $33,468 price gap.
- On value, Irvine Valley College beats Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science: comparable career payoff at a fraction of the net price.
The Takeaway
The schools that win this ranking are not the priciest or the most selective. They turn students into earners without burying them in debt, which is exactly what our outcomes-first methodology is built to surface.
What This Means for Students
If you are choosing from this list, start with Irvine Valley College and De Anza College. Pull each school's net price for your income band, weigh projected earnings against the debt you would take on, and let payoff rather than prestige drive your shortlist.
Why this ranking matters
Healthcare is one of the higher-return fields in the economy, but the payoff depends heavily on where you study it. Graduates of these programs earn a median of about $43K within a decade, and registered nurse roles are projected to grow 6%. We rank programs by the outcomes they produce for graduates, not by reputation.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-07-20
Source datasets
Methodology
Schools are scored on the CollegeRanker 4-Pillar Algorithm: Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25–35%), Academic Quality (15–20%), and Value (20–25%). Every weight is published and every figure traces to a public dataset.
See the full methodology and weights →Confidence notes
- Earnings, completion, and debt figures come from federal administrative records — tax data and student-aid filings — not surveys or self-reports, the highest-confidence tier of education data available.
- Social-mobility estimates are drawn from de-identified tax records covering more than 30 million students (Opportunity Insights).
- Where an institution is missing a metric, it is excluded from that metric rather than imputed, so averages are never inflated by guesses.
Limitations
- Federal earnings data primarily cover students who received federal financial aid; outcomes for non-aided students may differ.
- Earnings are measured roughly ten years after enrollment, so they describe how earlier cohorts fared — historical outcomes, not guarantees of future results.
- An institution's field-of-study mix affects raw earnings; scores reflect measured outcomes and are not fully major-adjusted unless explicitly noted.
- Net price is an average; the actual cost a given student pays varies widely by family income.
At a Glance
How the Top Schools Compare
| School | Earnings | Net Price | Graduation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 National University #1 overall | $67,548 ▲ +49% vs avg | $22,878 | 42% | 100 |
| 2 Coastline Community College #2 overall | $44,483 ▼ -2% vs avg | $16,341 | 30% | 100 |
| 3 Touro University Worldwide #3 overall | $40,803 ▼ -10% vs avg | $19,058 | 36% | 100 |
| $83,438 ▲ +84% vs avg | $35,558 | 37% | 100 | |
| — | $22,677 | 29% | 100 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best Online Nursing Programs in California
This analysis ranks 50 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $45,411 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 38% and an average net price of $8,827.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: Irvine Valley College — Net Price: $2,090 | Graduation Rate: 57%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: De Anza College — 68% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science — Median alumni earnings: $83,438
CollegeRanker Primary Research
The most expensive quartile of colleges costs 373% more than the most affordable — but their graduates earn just 34% more.
Healthcare Workforce Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about the U.S. healthcare workforce?
$43,145
Median earnings (10yr)
36%
Median graduation rate
$6,944
Median net price
1.9%
Avg. mobility rate
The healthcare workforce pipeline starts in classrooms and clinical rotations like the ones behind this list. An aging population, persistent nursing shortages, and rising demand for clinical services have made these programs essential infrastructure. The strongest ones stand out on clinical partnerships and licensure outcomes, the two factors that translate most directly into hiring.
Across the 50 schools on this list, graduates earn a median of $43,145 ten years after they first enrolled. The median graduation rate is 36%. Net price, what students pay after grants, runs a median of $6,944 a year, with about $10,147 in median federal debt at graduation. An average of 24% of students receive Pell grants, and the typical school moves low-income students into the top income quintile at a rate of 1.9%.
What we’re seeing: demographic pressure keeps demand high, and programs with embedded clinical networks convert that demand into employment fastest. National University leads the list, and graduates across these programs earn a median of $43,145 ten years after enrollment. The constraint is not jobs. It is clinical capacity and licensure throughput, and that is where the strongest programs pull away.
The podium
Build your ranking
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Tip: Check the box on any 2–4 schools below to compare them side by side.
Full rankings
Why it ranks #1
National University lands at #1 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (89/100) and pulled down by academic quality (46/100). Graduates earn a median $67,548 a decade after enrolling, 49% above this list's average, and net price runs $22,878 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #2
Coastline Community College lands at #2 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (72/100) and pulled down by academic quality (41/100). Graduates earn a median $44,483 a decade after enrolling, 2% below this list's average, and net price runs $16,341 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #3
Touro University Worldwide lands at #3 with a 100/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (57/100) and pulled down by academic quality (48/100). Graduates earn a median $40,803 a decade after enrolling, 10% below this list's average, and net price runs $19,058 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Los Angeles, CA · 39% accepted · $35,558 net
Why it ranks #4
Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science lands at #4 with a 100/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (79/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (33/100). Graduates earn a median $83,438 a decade after enrolling, 84% above this list's average, and net price runs $35,558 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #5
Los Angeles Pacific University lands at #5 with a 100/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (53/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (39/100). Net price runs $22,677 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #6
College of Alameda lands at #6 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (84/100) and pulled down by social mobility (43/100). Graduates earn a median $42,563 a decade after enrolling, 6% below this list's average, and net price runs $8,496 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #7
Los Angeles Southwest College lands at #7 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (89/100) and pulled down by social mobility (42/100). Graduates earn a median $32,172 a decade after enrolling, 29% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,964 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #8
Saddleback College lands at #8 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (91/100) and pulled down by academic quality (57/100). Graduates earn a median $50,874 a decade after enrolling, 12% above this list's average, and net price runs $4,152 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #9
Los Angeles Harbor College lands at #9 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (75/100) and pulled down by social mobility (38/100). Graduates earn a median $41,133 a decade after enrolling, 9% below this list's average, and net price runs $13,250 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #10
Sacramento City College lands at #10 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (85/100) and pulled down by social mobility (35/100). Graduates earn a median $42,214 a decade after enrolling, 7% below this list's average, and net price runs $6,614 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #11
Los Angeles City College lands at #11 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (78/100) and pulled down by social mobility (38/100). Graduates earn a median $36,190 a decade after enrolling, 20% below this list's average, and net price runs $10,261 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #12
Los Angeles Mission College lands at #12 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (75/100) and pulled down by academic quality (30/100). Graduates earn a median $39,834 a decade after enrolling, 12% below this list's average, and net price runs $13,380 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #13
Ventura College lands at #13 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (93/100) and pulled down by social mobility (46/100). Graduates earn a median $43,430 a decade after enrolling, 4% below this list's average, and net price runs $-982 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #14
MiraCosta College lands at #14 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (85/100) and pulled down by academic quality (58/100). Graduates earn a median $43,845 a decade after enrolling, 3% below this list's average, and net price runs $7,339 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #15
Folsom Lake College lands at #15 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (90/100) and pulled down by social mobility (45/100). Graduates earn a median $42,568 a decade after enrolling, 6% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,975 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #16
Moorpark College lands at #16 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (95/100) and pulled down by academic quality (48/100). Graduates earn a median $49,044 a decade after enrolling, 8% above this list's average, and net price runs $-2,296 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #17
Cosumnes River College lands at #17 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (86/100) and pulled down by social mobility (41/100). Graduates earn a median $42,446 a decade after enrolling, 7% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,981 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #18
Concordia University-Irvine lands at #18 with a 100/100 composite, led by academic quality (77/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (41/100). Graduates earn a median $65,083 a decade after enrolling, 43% above this list's average, and net price runs $28,115 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #19
De Anza College lands at #19 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (88/100) and pulled down by social mobility (56/100). Graduates earn a median $56,596 a decade after enrolling, 25% above this list's average, and net price runs $6,642 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #20
Lemoore College lands at #20 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (52/100). Graduates earn a median $40,292 a decade after enrolling, 11% below this list's average, and net price runs $10,832 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #21
San Joaquin Delta College lands at #21 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (94/100) and pulled down by academic quality (53/100). Graduates earn a median $43,212 a decade after enrolling, 5% below this list's average, and net price runs $2,407 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #22
Chaffey College lands at #22 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (90/100) and pulled down by academic quality (46/100). Graduates earn a median $42,975 a decade after enrolling, 5% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,672 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #23
Woodland Community College lands at #23 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (84/100) and pulled down by social mobility (46/100). Graduates earn a median $40,042 a decade after enrolling, 12% below this list's average, and net price runs $8,356 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #24
Clovis Community College lands at #24 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (92/100) and pulled down by academic quality (56/100). Net price runs $4,590 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #25
Golden West College lands at #25 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (90/100) and pulled down by social mobility (47/100). Graduates earn a median $43,145 a decade after enrolling, 5% below this list's average, and net price runs $4,824 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #26
Los Angeles Pierce College lands at #26 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (75/100) and pulled down by social mobility (42/100). Graduates earn a median $44,521 a decade after enrolling, 2% below this list's average, and net price runs $13,270 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #27
College of the Siskiyous lands at #27 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (78/100) and pulled down by academic quality (44/100). Graduates earn a median $39,098 a decade after enrolling, 14% below this list's average, and net price runs $11,120 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #28
Yuba College lands at #28 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (94/100) and pulled down by social mobility (43/100). Graduates earn a median $39,552 a decade after enrolling, 13% below this list's average, and net price runs $2,576 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #29
Oxnard College lands at #29 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (100/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (31/100). Graduates earn a median $41,393 a decade after enrolling, 9% below this list's average, and net price runs $-1,128 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #30
Cuyamaca College lands at #30 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (87/100) and pulled down by social mobility (46/100). Graduates earn a median $32,435 a decade after enrolling, 29% below this list's average, and net price runs $6,618 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #31
Sierra College lands at #31 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (86/100) and pulled down by academic quality (52/100). Graduates earn a median $45,294 a decade after enrolling, 0% above this list's average, and net price runs $7,245 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #32
Irvine Valley College lands at #32 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (95/100) and pulled down by academic quality (62/100). Graduates earn a median $49,156 a decade after enrolling, 8% above this list's average, and net price runs $2,090 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #33
Santiago Canyon College lands at #33 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (96/100) and pulled down by social mobility (48/100). Graduates earn a median $44,956 a decade after enrolling, 1% below this list's average, and net price runs $2,129 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #34
Evergreen Valley College lands at #34 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (77/100) and pulled down by social mobility (52/100). Graduates earn a median $53,077 a decade after enrolling, 17% above this list's average, and net price runs $12,414 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #35
Madera Community College lands at #35 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (92/100) and pulled down by academic quality (48/100). Net price runs $4,179 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #36
Contra Costa College lands at #36 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (83/100) and pulled down by social mobility (43/100). Graduates earn a median $40,850 a decade after enrolling, 10% below this list's average, and net price runs $9,490 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #37
American River College lands at #37 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (83/100) and pulled down by social mobility (39/100). Graduates earn a median $40,162 a decade after enrolling, 12% below this list's average, and net price runs $7,999 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #38
Cerro Coso Community College lands at #38 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (64/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (26/100). Graduates earn a median $34,963 a decade after enrolling, 23% below this list's average, and net price runs $18,306 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #39
Napa Valley College lands at #39 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (77/100) and pulled down by academic quality (54/100). Graduates earn a median $49,517 a decade after enrolling, 9% above this list's average, and net price runs $14,644 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #40
West Valley College lands at #40 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (95/100) and pulled down by social mobility (54/100). Graduates earn a median $51,688 a decade after enrolling, 14% above this list's average, and net price runs $3,423 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #41
Santa Monica College lands at #41 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (93/100) and pulled down by academic quality (45/100). Graduates earn a median $42,193 a decade after enrolling, 7% below this list's average, and net price runs $2,779 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #42
San Diego City College lands at #42 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (85/100) and pulled down by social mobility (37/100). Graduates earn a median $38,503 a decade after enrolling, 15% below this list's average, and net price runs $7,935 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #43
San Diego Mesa College lands at #43 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (91/100) and pulled down by social mobility (42/100). Graduates earn a median $45,120 a decade after enrolling, 1% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,814 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #44
Diablo Valley College lands at #44 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (85/100) and pulled down by social mobility (51/100). Graduates earn a median $51,378 a decade after enrolling, 13% above this list's average, and net price runs $8,312 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #45
College of the Canyons lands at #45 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (91/100) and pulled down by academic quality (53/100). Graduates earn a median $49,022 a decade after enrolling, 8% above this list's average, and net price runs $3,702 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #46
Mendocino College lands at #46 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (83/100) and pulled down by academic quality (45/100). Graduates earn a median $40,243 a decade after enrolling, 11% below this list's average, and net price runs $8,330 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #47
San Diego Miramar College lands at #47 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (94/100) and pulled down by social mobility (49/100). Graduates earn a median $48,224 a decade after enrolling, 6% above this list's average, and net price runs $3,337 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #48
Shasta College lands at #48 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (89/100) and pulled down by social mobility (47/100). Graduates earn a median $39,269 a decade after enrolling, 14% below this list's average, and net price runs $2,878 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #49
Moreno Valley College lands at #49 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (88/100) and pulled down by academic quality (46/100). Graduates earn a median $52,133 a decade after enrolling, 15% above this list's average, and net price runs $6,483 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #50
Santa Barbara City College lands at #50 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (79/100) and pulled down by academic quality (51/100). Graduates earn a median $47,647 a decade after enrolling, 5% above this list's average, and net price runs $11,315 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Cut it by what you care about
The same 50 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs — and the jobs are
Where these graduates work
Graduates of these programs most often become Registered Nurses and related roles — a field with $86,070 median pay and 6% projected growth.
See the Registered Nurse career guide →This ranking scores 50 institutions on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt burdens, and social mobility data from Opportunity Insights. Every data point comes from federal sources. No surveys, no opinions.
Social mobility carries the heaviest weight in our algorithm. We use Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card — built on 30 million anonymized tax records — to measure whether a college changes a family's economic trajectory across generations. Schools that take low-income students and launch them into higher earnings rank higher than schools that admit wealthy students and take credit for their success.
The transparency penalty matters here. Schools that don't report their data get scored lower than schools that do. If an institution won't show you its numbers, we think you should know that before you write them a tuition check.
The story behind the ranking
A ranking gives you an order; these charts give you the shape. They show how this group of schools spreads across the four things that decide whether a degree pays off — what graduates earn, whether they finish, how far they move up, and what it costs. Look for the standouts, the outliers, and the trade-offs the list alone can't show.
Earnings Outcomes
What graduates earn 10 years after enrolling. Data from College Scorecard.
Distribution of Median Earnings
Earnings vs. Net Price
Top-left = best value. Top-ranked schools are highlighted.
Completion & Access
Graduation rates and who gets in. Data from College Scorecard & IPEDS.
Graduation Rates
Pell Grant Rate vs. Graduation Rate
Right = more low-income students. Higher = more graduate.
What the Mobility Data Says
The backbone of this ranking is social-mobility data from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, which draws on more than 30 million tax records. A school's mobility rate is the share of its students who move from the bottom income quintile to the top. Among the 13 schools on this list with available data, that rate averages 1.9%. Santa Monica College leads the group at 4.4%, with Clovis Community College (2.5%) and Irvine Valley College (2.3%) close behind.
Who gets in matters as much as what happens after. Across these schools, an average of 15.6% of students start in the bottom income quintile. National University leads at 30.4%, which signals an admissions door that is actually open to low-income students. Schools that pair high access with high mobility are the ones driving generational change.
Once low-income students enroll, their odds of reaching the top income quintile average 13.7% across this list. Irvine Valley College posts the highest success rate at 19.6%. Access without completion and career momentum is an incomplete picture, and this is the number that completes it.
Social capital, measured by economic connectedness, captures the degree of cross-class friendship on campus, another dimension Opportunity Insights ties to long-run outcomes. Across these schools it averages 1.24 against a national benchmark of 1.0. Saddleback College reaches 1.72, the highest on the list.
Mobility, access, and social-capital figures from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card & the Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas.
Cost & Debt
What families actually pay and what students owe. Data from College Scorecard.
Median Debt at Graduation
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Online Nursing Programs in California: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best Online Nursing Programs in California ranking? +
National University in San Diego, CA ranks #1 in our 2026 Best Online Nursing Programs in California ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $67,548 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 42% graduation rate. Our score is built entirely from federal data on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt, and social mobility. Reputation surveys play no part.
Which school has the highest graduate earnings? +
Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science posts the highest median earnings on this list: $83,438 ten years after enrollment, well above the $45,411 average across the 47 ranked schools with earnings data. Earnings that outpace cost are what separate a degree that pays off from one that does not.
Which school offers the best value? +
On a pure return-on-cost basis, Irvine Valley College leads: graduates earn a median $49,156 against net price of about $2,090 a year, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio in the ranking. Applicants should weigh that payback against sticker price rather than prestige.
Which school has the highest graduation rate? +
De Anza College has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 68%, compared with a 38% average across the list. Completion matters because the students who finish are the ones who actually capture the earnings and mobility gains a degree promises.
How much does it cost to attend these schools? +
The average net price, meaning what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, is about $9,484 a year across the 47 ranked schools with cost data. Irvine Valley College is among the most affordable at roughly $2,090. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Best Online Nursing Programs in California ranking calculated? +
We score every school on a four-pillar algorithm: economic outcomes (graduate earnings and debt), social mobility (Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built on more than 30 million anonymized tax records), academic quality (graduation and retention), and value (net price and loan burden). Social mobility carries the heaviest weight, so schools that lift low-income students into higher earnings rank above those that simply admit wealthy students. Every input comes from federal data, and schools that withhold their numbers are scored lower for it.
How many schools are ranked and where does the data come from? +
This ranking evaluates 50 institutions using the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, the Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card and Social Capital Atlas, Times Higher Education, and NCES IPEDS. There are no opinion surveys or paid placements. The order is determined by the data alone and refreshed as new federal figures are released.
Sources & Citations
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